How do the team's moves so far impact the Bill's draft needs?

[GASabresIUFan]

After the giant cap dump of White, Poyer, Morse, Bates (trade), Harty, and Hines coupled with the loss of Davis, Dobson, Floyd and possibly Jones to free agency it was pretty clear the Bills were going younger and cheaper for this coming season. Thank G-d.

 

However the moves created roster holes at C, 2 starting safeties, Edge rusher, DT and boundary WR, among other depth issues.  With 11 draft picks, you have to figure that much of the needed depth was going to through the draft.  Add that both OTs were on one year deals, and 2 of the 3 starting CBs are on one year deals, you start to get a feel for where our draft priorities maybe.

 

However, Beane has already erased many of the starting needs by moving McGovern to center and re-signing Edwards to replace McGovern at guard.  He has extended Dawkins to lock one of the two starting OTs.  He has also re-signed Rapp and Epenesa to fill starter openings at S and Edge.  These moves leave one starting safety job open and one starting DT still available.  He also re-signed Trubisky to be Josh's backup for the next two years.

 

Besides the two D starters, what these moves haven't done yet is fill the depth needs at RB, or finding at boundary WR, or added further depth along the D Line.

 

How do these moves affect the draft?  One note: Losing the 3rd rd comp pick is a real kick in the ........  I wouldn't be surprised to see Beane use some picks to get back into the 3rd round.

 

QB - I can see a QB drafted late to serve as a developmental player. 

RB - Beane likes to draft RBs and there are some interesting RBs who will be available on day 3.  I'd also still like to see Ty Johnson return.

WR - I don't see Davis' replacement coming through free agency.  I expect our 1st pick to be a WR.  I'm also hoping they take another guy late, but that may depend on how they feel about Shorter.

OL - I thought center was going to be a sneaky need, but now we could see an OG earlier than thought to compete with Edwards for the starting job.  I can also see a developmental OT on day 3 especially if they aren't happy with Doyle, Anderson or Van Denmark long-term.

 

DL - The Epenesa signing gives us 5 DL heading into next season in Oliver, Rosseau, Miller, Espensa, and Jonathan.  I think they like Cline as well.  Still that's 3 short of the team's needs.  I'm expecting at least one DT and one Edge player in the draft, as well as another FA or two.  Re-signing Jones or finding a FA replacement has to be a priority as  Beane and McD like to rotate rookies in on the Dline.

LB - We need a late round guy to play special teams.

CB - Lewis is a special teamer and I think they have hopes Elam improves enough to take over for Douglas in a year.  Still Johnson is still on the last year of his deal and we need  at least one developmental player in case Johnson leaves and/or Elam doesn't develop

S - I'd like to see two guys  

 

If I had to guess right now. (No idea after that)

28 - WR - Mitchell, Thomas, McConkey etc...

60 - S - Bullard, Kitchens, Bullock

127 

133

143

159

162 

188

199

203

248

   

Edited March 12 by GASabresIUFan

[Ya Digg?]

You said they lost Dodson…did he sign with someone today?

[Virgil]

It overall doesn't.  You could argue they will want to draft a G/C, but I think that was already the case before Morse was released.  

The team needs overall stay the same before we made out cuts.  We knew Poyer/Hyde's replacements were going to be drafted.  We knew our D-Line was going to be decimated by FA. 

[GASabresIUFan]

5 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

You said they lost Dodson…did he sign with someone today?

No but with Milano, Benard, Williams and Spector under contract it is doubtful (but not impossible) that they are going to bring him back.

Edited March 12 by GASabresIUFan

[BBFL]

10 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

After the giant cap dump of White, Poyer, Morse, Bates (trade), Harty, and Hines coupled with the loss of Davis, Dobson, Floyd and possibly Jones to free agency it was pretty clear the Bills were going younger and cheaper for this coming season. Thank G-d.

 

However the moves created roster holes at C, 2 starting safeties, Edge rusher, DT and boundary WR, among other depth issue.  With 11 draft picks, you have to figure that much of the needed depth was going to through the draft.  Add that both OTs were on one year deals, and both starting CBs are on one year deals, you start to get a feel for where our draft priorities maybe.

 

However, Beane has already erased many of the starting needs by moving McGovern to center and re-signing Edwards to replace McGovern at guard.  He has extended Dawkins to lock one of the two starting OTs.  He has also re-signed Rapp and Epenesa to fill starter openings at S and Edge.  These moves leave one starting safety job open and one starting DT still available.  He also re-signed Trubisky to be Josh's backup for the next two years.

 

Besides the two D starters, what these moves haven't done yet is fill the depth needs at RB, or finding at boundary WR, or added further depth along the D Line.

 

How do these moves affect the draft?  One note: Losing the 3rd rd comp pick is a real kick in the ........  I wouldn't be surprised to see Beane use some picks to get back into the 3rd round.

 

QB - I can see a QB drafted late to serve as a developmental player. 

RB - Beane likes to draft RBs and there are some interesting RBs who will be available on day 3.  I'd also still like to see Ty Johnson return.

WR - I don't see Davis' replacement coming through free agency.  I expect our 1st pick to be a WR.  I'm also hoping they take another guy late, but that may depend on how they   

        feel about Shorter.

OL - I thought center was going to be a sneaky need, but now we could see an OG earlier than thought to compete with Edwards for the starting job.  I can also see a

        developmental OT on day 3 especially if they aren't happy with Doyle, Anderson or Van Denmark long-term.

 

DL - The Epenesa signing gives us 5 DL heading into next season in Oliver, Rosseau, Miller, Espensa, and Jonathan.  I think they like Cline as well.  Still that's 3 short of the team's

        needs.  I'm expecting at least one DT and one Edge player in the draft, as well as another FA or two.  Re-signing Jones or finding a FA replacement has to be a priority as   

        Beane and McD like to rotate rookies in on the Dline.

LB - We need a late round guy to play special teams.

CB - Lewis is a special teamer and I think they have hopes Elam improves enough to take over for Douglas in a year.  Still Johnson is still on the last year of his deal and we need           at least one developmental player in case Johnson leaves and/or Elam doesn't develop

S - I'd like to see two guys  

 

If I had to guess right now. (No idea after that)

28 - WR - Mitchell, Thomas, McConkey etc...

60 - S - Bullard, Kitchens, Bullock

127 

133

143

159

162 

188

199

203

248

   

 

Good post, would absolutely hate it if they gave up a 3rd rounder for a year and a half of Douglas to hold Elam’s, a first rounder, spot as a boundary CB… Hope they keep him around unless he absolutely bombs in play quality this year. 

[Toyo321]

I would not be surprised that Bills will package the 5 and 6 round picks to somehow get back into the 3rd round from some team.  It could possibly even be SF or Philly with all the comp picks they received.

[SCBills]

Our WR room is absolutely hilarious right now and we have one DT.  

Those two positions are sirens blaring attention needed. 

 

 

[Dr. Who]

1 minute ago, SCBills said:

Our WR room is absolutely hilarious right now and we have one DT.  

Those two positions are sirens blaring attention needed. 

 

 

And as it happens, there's very good depth at WR in the draft, and pretty good depth at DT, though not so great at 1T.

I think they take WR early, at least 1 S, and 2 DL. I'm sure they'll take a mid-round RB, as well.

Personally, I don't like the edge players. Take a flyer late, I suppose, but I would spend my DL picks at DT.

 

Lot of good free agent safeties. I bet you can get someone decent on the cheap if you wait on that.

In the draft, I hope they take a UGA safety. Bullard early, or Smith later, though I like that fella Bishop from Utah as well.

 

My spidey sense, which could be way off, is suggesting that Beane may be more aggressive in the first than folks anticipate.

I'm not sure he's going to wait at #28 for the sixth WR off the board.

[The Wiz]

13 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Our WR room is absolutely hilarious right now and we have one DT.  

Those two positions are sirens blaring attention needed. 

 

 

But which one needs to get better faster?

[HurlyBurly51]

5 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

 

My spidey sense, which could be way off, is suggesting that Beane may be more aggressive in the first than folks anticipate.

I'm not sure he's going to wait at #28 for the sixth WR off the board.

I hope so.  Unlike last year, he needs to get ahead of the run on receivers.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Doesn't change anything for me.

My plan was bring back Jones which may still happen.

Then draft WR, Edge, WR with top 3 picks

Bringing back Epenesa is dumb. Hate the move. It however may signal Jones is not coming back and they will draft DT instead of edge.

[78thealltimegreat]

Probably two project oline for Kromer to work with 

Two WRs probably two of the first 4 picks

One RB even though I think they really are happy with Damien Harris as the guy behind Jimbo 

That leaves 6 picks for the defensive side of the ball 2-3 dlinemen

A Lb for depth and 2 for the secondary 

 Thats of course if they do nothing in free agency and decide to just maintain their picks to get them on rookie contracts and judging by how Beane is operating that’s probably what he’ll do. 

[LABILLBACKER]

28...Thomas, (if gone) Mitchell

60...T. Sweat

127....another WR

133....Pass Rusher

143....Safety

159.... Center

[QLBillsFan]

40 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Doesn't change anything for me.

My plan was bring back Jones which may still happen.

Then draft WR, Edge, WR with top 3 picks

Bringing back Epenesa is dumb. Hate the move. It however may signal Jones is not coming back and they will draft DT instead of edge.

And they brought them both back. Good news. WR, S, Edge, C/OG, DL, OT, LB. 

[Warriorspikes51]

With DQ signed, DT should be removed from Round 1 consideration unless Murphy drops but he wont.

 

WR is the clear pick.

[GASabresIUFan]

4 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

With DQ signed, DT should be removed from Round 1 consideration unless Murphy drops but he wont.

 

WR is the clear pick.

DT likely moves to an early day 3 slot.  Looks like WR and Safety are the most pressing needs and that matches where the depth in this draft is.  

[Ethan in Cleveland]

14 minutes ago, QLBillsFan said:

And they brought them both back. Good news. WR, S, Edge, C/OG, DL, OT, LB. 

I agree with some of this list. I would just move edge to second round and safety to 3rd or fourth round. I am all for drafting two WRs. I agree with C/G. I would pass on OT and draft another CB or RB. Depth LB for special teams makes sense. 

I also would still draft the best punter and cut Martin

[Warriorspikes51]

8 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

DT likely moves to an early day 3 slot.  Looks like WR and Safety are the most pressing needs and that matches where the depth in this draft is.  

there are so many safeties in free agency. I’d think a mid level - high level starter is possible along with a decent backup and a draft pick

[BillsFanForever19]

Taylor Rapp covers 1 of our 2 starting Safety holes

 

Daquan Jones covers our starting 1T hole

 

AJ Epenesa covers the role of DE3/possible DE2 insurance in the event of Von being well and truly done

 

This leaves our major holes being Starting WR opposite Diggs and Starting Safety opposite Rapp. There's other holes like Rotational DT's behind Oliver and Jones, RB2/3, WR4/5, DE4, MLB2, CB4, and Backup Interior OL and OT.

 

But as far as Round 1 goes - it was always looking like WR and Free Agency thus far has emphasized it even more.

Edited March 12 by BillsFanForever19

[Warriorspikes51]

2 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

Taylor Rapp covers 1 of our 2 starting Safety holes

 

Daquan Jones covers our starting 1T hole

 

AJ Epenesa covers the role of DE3/possible DE2 insurance in the event of Von being well and truly done

 

This leaves our major holes being Starting WR opposite Diggs and Starting Safety opposite Rapp. There's other holes like Rotational DT's behind Oliver and Jones, RB2, WR4/5, DE4, and Backup OG and OT.

 

But as far as Round 1 goes - it was always looking like WR and Free Agency thus far has emphasized it even more.

Is there a Center in the draft that’s a surefire solid starter? That could be something as well