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

[BillsFanForever19]

2 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

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

 

I mean, with them specifically telling the media that the plan is to start McGovern at Center and have Edwards start in his place at Guard - I don't see Center being something they're going to address highly in the Draft. Maybe in the mid Rounds. But I don't see it being something done very high.

[LABILLBACKER]

6 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I mean, with them specifically telling the media that the plan is to start McGovern at Center and have Edwards start in his place at Guard - I don't see Center being something they're going to address highly in the Draft. Maybe in the mid Rounds. But I don't see it being something done very high.

We're not drafting a C any earlier than the 5th round.

[GASabresIUFan]

We have more than one safety hole.  Rapp was signed and Hamlin is on the roster, but there is a real chance he doesn't make the team.  We need another starter and one or two players behind the starters who can develop and be ready to take over starters jobs in a year or two.  

[BillsFanForever19]

11 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

We have more than one safety hole.  Rapp was signed and Hamlin is on the roster, but there is a real chance he doesn't make the team.  We need another starter and one or two players behind the starters who can develop and be ready to take over starters jobs in a year or two.  

 

Cam Lewis is versatile and played more Safety than he did CB last season. And I'd suspect he was re-signed with Safety in mind. Joe Buscaglia has even predicted he could Start for us. Though I wouldn't go that far, I do think he's a Safety on the Depth Chart this season.

[GASabresIUFan]

2 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Cam Lewis is versatile and played more Safety than he did CB last season. And I'd suspect he was re-signed with Safety in mind. Joe Buscaglia has even predicted he could Start for us. Though I wouldn't go that far, I do think he's a Safety on the Depth Chart this season.

 I doubt it.  He only played 144 snaps on defense last year (13.4%).  By comparison Rapp played 421 (39.3%).  Dane Jackson played 463 (43.2%).  Hamlin played only 17 snaps total, which is why I think he won't make the team.  Lewis is fine for emergency use, but isn't stepping in for anyone long-term.

[BillsFanForever19]

6 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

 I doubt it.  He only played 144 snaps on defense last year (13.4%).  By comparison Rapp played 421 (39.3%).  Dane Jackson played 463 (43.2%).  Hamlin played only 17 snaps total, which is why I think he won't make the team.  Lewis is fine for emergency use, but isn't stepping in for anyone long-term.

 

Yes, because he was essentially Safety 4 last season, playing being Hyde, Poyer, Rapp, and in place of Hamlin.

 

While I doubt he'll Start, he probably will be Safety 3 this season. Just because he only took 144 snaps doesn't mean they don't feel he's in line for a promotion from that role this season.

 

Saying you don't think Lewis can be Safety 3 based on his usage last season is like saying you don't think Rapp can start because he only took 421 snaps as a Safety last season compared to Poyer's 987.

[GASabresIUFan]

27 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Yes, because he was essentially Safety 4 last season, playing being Hyde, Poyer, Rapp, and in place of Hamlin.

 

While I doubt he'll Start, he probably will be Safety 3 this season. Just because he only took 144 snaps doesn't mean they don't feel he's in line for a promotion from that role this season.

 

Saying you don't think Lewis can be Safety 3 based on his usage last season is like saying you don't think Rapp can start because he only took 421 snaps as a Safety last season compared to Poyer's 987.

I do have concerns about him being an effective 17 game starter.  There were times last year where he was a head hunter and missed tackles because of it (and got a few bad penalties).  His grades last year by both the Athletic and PFF were not great.  In fact, of the 36 Bills who played 200 or more snaps on either D or O, Rapp was 31st according to the Athletic.  They gave him a 2.5 grade out of 4 and PFF gave him a 56 out of 100.

 

 

 

Edited March 12 by GASabresIUFan

[BillsFanForever19]

Just now, GASabresIUFan said:

I do have concerns about him being an effective 17 game starter.  There were times last year where he was a head hunter and missed tackles because of it (and got a few bad penalties).  His grades last year by both the Athletic and PFF were not great.  In fact, of the 36 Bills who played 200 or more snaps on either D or O, Rapp was 31st according to the Athletic.  They gave him a 2.5 grade out of 4 and PFF gave him a 56 out of 100.

 

That's fair. I don't necessarily agree with Joe B. that he could start for us. I'd prefer another vet or a Top Prospect on Day 2 opposite Rapp.

 

But I do think Lewis was re-signed as a Safety. And along with Rapp and Hamlin (at least for the time being) - I do think Starting Safety opposite Rapp is the only Safety hole we *currently* have.

[SoonerBillsFan]

WR #1 by far.

[papazoid]

Round #1 - WR (4.3 speed or better) diggs, kincaid and shakir have the underneath

Round #2 - DL (beane cant help himself ) currently rousseau, epenesa, von, ed, daquan

Round #3 - NONE

Round #4 - OL ( bills have no depth right now)

Round #4 - Safety

[TD716]

Team needs . Starting free safety . Starting WR2. Number 2&3 RB.  Depth DLine

[GASabresIUFan]

I thought i'd bump this thread.

 

We have signed 2 WRs (Samuel 3 years, Hollins 1yr), 2 Safeties (Rapp 3 years & Edwards 1 year) and re-signed 2 key DL in Jones (2 years) and Epenesa (2 years).  We also extended Dawkins and T Johnson.  Key players on one year deals: Douglas (CB), Brown (DT).  Keys Players who could be cut after 2024: Diggs (WR) and Miller (Edge).  So far, Ty Johnson is the only RB behind Cook

 

Given this back drop what positions will the Bills target?

WR - This still has to be the highest priority even with 5 WRs currently on the roster.  Hollins is more a special teams players and we have no one to stretch the field.  1st pick.  Mitchel, Thomas, Coleman, Worthy, McConkey and even Burton interest me here

 

S - Neither Rapp or Edwards were starters last year and both played about 50% of their team's downs last season.  This is the weakest area on the team and the draft is full of safeties.  Edwards shares his job last year with a younger player (Cook) in KC, I don't see a reason McD won't do the same with a high drafted rookie.  2nd or 3rd rd (if we get one). Bullard, Bullock, Brade, Hicks, Kinchens, etc....  Tons of choice.  Later round sleeper - Tykee Smith

 

Edge - Miller is likely gone after next season.  This creates an opportunity to draft a kid now and develop him into a starter.  They like Jonathan, but enough not to draft another player?  Kamara, Kneeland & Eboigde

 

DT - Depth is the key here and we don't have much behind Oliver and Jones and Jones spent much of the last year injured. Sweat, Hall, Fiske, Wingo

 

OT - Depends on what they think about Van Denmark and the ability to afford to keep Brown.  Rosengarten mid to late looks very interesting. 

 

OG/C - Torrence is young.  Edwards was re-signed for two years.  Anderson is already on the roster.  Looks fine so far, but what if the McGovern to center experiment doesn't work or Edwards gets caved at guard as a starter?   I think they need more depth here.   Van Pran, Bortolini, Nugent

 

CB - Douglas is the key.  I was surprised they didn't extend him contract this off-season.  That means either they think Elam can take over long-term or they need to draft a long-term replacement.

 

RB - Cook, Johnson (1 yr deal) and ........? Beane will be drafting a RB.  Kendall Milton late?

 

LB - I think we are set here. 

 

QB - Once they signed Trubisky for two years, I guess they'll look at QB in 2025.

 

TE - Doubt it.

 

[Warriorspikes51]

Tier 1 need   -  WR   W I D E  R E C E I V E R 

 

Tier 2 need -  DT,  General Offensive Weapon  

 

Tier 3 need -  S,  C / OG,  OT Depth, RB 

 

Tier 4 need -  Edge Rusher,  CB,  LB 

Edited March 21 by Warriorspikes51

[BillsFanForever19]

3 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Tier 1 need   -  WR   W I D E  R E C E I V E R 

 

Tier 2 need -  DT,  General Offensive Weapon  

 

Tier 3 need -  S,  C / OG,  OT Depth, RB 

 

Tier 4 need -  Edge Rusher,  CB,  LB 

 

I'm confused by Tier 1 being WR, Tier 3 being RB, and Tier 2 being "General Offensive Weapon". The only other "offensive weapon" besides WR is RB (which you list in Tier 3) and TE (which we absolutely do not need). Are you saying Tier 1 is an Outside WR and Tier 2 is an Inside or Inside/Outside WR? I mean, even that is probably something we don't need as Samuel is an Inside/Outside tweener and Kincaid and Shakir are Inside guys.

Edited March 21 by BillsFanForever19

[Dr. Who]

22 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I'm confused by Tier 1 being WR, Tier 3 being RB, and Tier 2 being "General Offensive Weapon". The only other "offensive weapon" besides WR is RB (which you list in Tier 3) and TE (which we absolutely do not need). Are you saying Tier 1 is an Outside WR and Tier 2 is an Inside or Inside/Outside WR? I mean, even that is probably something we don't need as Samuel is an Inside/Outside tweener and Kincaid and Shakir are Inside guys.

I can't explain it, but I think OL should be moved up to tier 2. Not sure they will pay Brown; Dawkins is still solid, but not young.

And Oline has some depth this draft. More depth at Oline helps keep the wall in front of Josh stout.

[In Summary]

On 3/11/2024 at 10:26 PM, Virgil said:

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 ...

Agree. I don't like having to rely on the assumption that McGovern is a center and Edwards is as effective as McGovern at guard. 

[noacls]

     2 DT  are still needed that are going to play 35 to 40 percent of the snaps. 

     Does the 7th WR off the board get that % as a rookie? 

     

[without a drought]

On 3/11/2024 at 10:51 PM, Toyo321 said:

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.

All 5 of their 4th and 5th rounders would technically be enough to get back into the middle of the 3rd. But no team is going to want 5 more late picks.

[Beast]

Bill who?

[billsfan89]

Looking at the Bills current roster and the trend of how many and what type of players the team carries on the roster I think you are looking at the Bills likely being able to roster 9 maybe 10 draft picks. 
 

Positions where they can likely roster a draft pick or two. This is in no order.

 

1- WR: Bills usually carry 5-6 WR’s they have 3 players who are locks in Diggs, Samuel and Shakir and they have another player who is strongly likely to make it in Hollins. Justin Shorter is also there and will likely be given a good chance to make the roster. The Bills could add a 6th WR both for added depth and to develop an heir apparent for Diggs. Also I don’t think Shorter is enough of a quality WR that they shouldn’t pass on taking additional depth there.

 

2- RB - Cook and Ty Johnson are a solid 1-2 combo but the Bills usually roster 3 RB’s and probably could use depth and special teams help by filling this RB3 role in the draft.

 

3 and 4 Offensive Line - The Bills usually carry about 9-10 offensive line players. Dawkins, Edwards, McGovern, Torrence and Brown are the starters while Van Denmark and Alex Anderson are the current depth. Right now they could easily roster two picks here and likely should try to find a starting center or guard to take Edwards out of the starting lineup and move him to the bench.

 

5 and 6 DT - I am assuming they will sign at least one rotational DT but given that the Bills carry 5 DT’s they probably will have room for at least one draft selection if not two if they don’t sign more than one DT. 
 

7- DE - The Bills DE rotation is AJE, Von, Groot, Kingsley Jonathan and Toohill. They usually carry six DE’s and can likely add a pick to pad out the rotation and help add a long term piece.

 

8- Safety - Bills carry about 5 safeties. Right now they have 4 with the starting combo being Edwards and Rapp. Hamlin and Cam Lewis are on the bench. They likely will want to add a young player to add more depth and long term take over one of the spots.

 

9- Corner - Bills carry about 6 corners. Right now they have Douglas, Benford, Taron, Elam and Ingram. Easily can at least roster one more CB if not two depending on how they feel about Ingram.

 

I could see them spending late round picks at LB or TE to add competition for Spector and Morris but I don’t think they want to risk what happened last season where they lose draft picks to waivers. I think they could also draft a kicker or punter late but for whatever reason I don’t think they will do that.

 

1 hour ago, In Summary said:

Agree. I don't like having to rely on the assumption that McGovern is a center and Edwards is as effective as McGovern at guard. 

That’s my feeling. The Bills finally last season properly invested in the offensive line adding the best guard in the draft and adding McGovern to anchor the other guard spot while adding Edwards for depth. 
 

They even brought in Snell and Quessenberry to compete with Brown. But I don’t like how they gutting the line depth by cutting Morse and trading Bates and now have inserted Edwards as a starter. 
 

Ideally I would love to see the Bills address offensive line twice in the draft. But I fear they are very comfortable with what they have and will only be drafting for depth.