This year’s (2022) draft may turn out to be shockingly good

[AuntieEm]

4 hours ago, FireChans said:

Literally the first link is the 2021 draft.....

 

For a point of comparison, this is the list of players drafted in 2016 that were retained in 2016 (similar to what would happen if all of the rookies from 2022 made the team or weren't outright cut).

 

1st Round Shaq Lawson

2nd Round Reggie Ragland

3rd Round Adolphus Washington

4th Round Cardale Jones

5th Round Jonathan Williams

6th Round Colby Listenbee

6th Round Kevon Seymour

 

 

The big difference here is in 2016 the Bills had less talent on the roster so it was easier for draftees to replace vets that underperformed.  The rookies in this class have to try to Crack a solid lineup that has superbowl aspirations.  So if the rookie shows enough to at least make the ps he has a chance to win a ring the first year in the league.  All the rookies are gonna be trying to make the team while in the past there likely were rookies that only wanted to get tape out there to catch on elsewhere. 

[Dr. K]

17 hours ago, Utah John said:

That's six players who would have to displace returning vets to get a roster spot.  Not counting the massive FA turnover on the D line and O line, since none of the six you mentioned are linemen, which six players from last year's strong team would you drop in favor of one of these rookies?  Levi Wallace left as a FA so that opens up one job, and Cole Beasley was cut so that might open up a receiver position -- but we have receivers from the last couple of drafts already waiting in the wings.  Araiza might beat out the incumbent punter, so that's at least one that's not a problem.  

 

My point is that it's going to be really hard to hold on to all six of these players AND to keep the core team together for what we all think is a SB year.  

The Bills roster has already dropped a half dozen or more players (some of whom like Beasley and Wallace you mention) who were on the team last year. There's always a churn like this that opens up space for draft choices. Some of the other players who are not back this year include Breida, Butler, Hughes, Addison, Klein, Lotulelei, Matakevich, Phillips, Sanderson, Williams, Zimmer. etc. Yes, some of these (notably the defensive linemen) were replaced by veteran pickups, but not all. 

[BuffaloBill]

15 hours ago, Utah John said:

That's six players who would have to displace returning vets to get a roster spot.  Not counting the massive FA turnover on the D line and O line, since none of the six you mentioned are linemen, which six players from last year's strong team would you drop in favor of one of these rookies?  Levi Wallace left as a FA so that opens up one job, and Cole Beasley was cut so that might open up a receiver position -- but we have receivers from the last couple of drafts already waiting in the wings.  Araiza might beat out the incumbent punter, so that's at least one that's not a problem.  

 

My point is that it's going to be really hard to hold on to all six of these players AND to keep the core team together for what we all think is a SB year.  

 

No doubt it is  numbers game and probably 2 of the 5 are headed to the practice squad.  With that said, no secret that the Bills want a pass catching RB so Cook takes the roster spot that last year was held by Matt Brieda. Shakir may very well displace Crowder. The rest are probably normal “tug of war” placements between the roster and the practice squad.  No doubt the Bills will have some tough decisions to make.  This is a good problem to have.

[nucci]

why would it be shocking? We have one of the best GMs in the league.