2024 Rookies

[GreggTX]

So far, this rookie class shows real promise. Everyone has noticed Keon and Ray Davis, but they are not alone. In limited snaps, Javon Solomon has really shined with 2 sacks, a FF and a PD. I'm not sure if he's had any TFL, but I wonder why he hasn't earned more snaps. Carter, despite 1 bad outing (Ravens) has looked solid too. Bishop has real potential, but has made what I consider correctable 'rookie mistakes' . The jury's still out on guys like Grable, Granger, Andreesson, Ulofoshio and Hardy (Who looked good at CB in preseason). What's your midseason impression of this group? I think this may Beane's best draft considering where he picked.

Edited October 29 by GreggTX

[GunnerBill]

It looks really good so far. Coleman, Davis, Solomon, Grable (I know only played pre-season and now hurt but I was super impressed with him and he had passed Van Demark on the depth chart to be their swing tackle as a 6th round rookie) are the highlights to me. 

 

Carter was a bit up and down. I think his ceiling is a rotational piece and I am just not sure that is round 3 value but we will see. Bishop was horrible the one game he got in but he missed almost all of camp in a scheme where safeties have to rely on their brain and knowledge if the defense more than physical ability so I am willing to give him something of a pass for now.

 

And then I still think Van-Pran Granger has potential to be a starter at some point too albeit he is well down the depth chart right now.

[No_Matter_What]

Solomon has 2 sacks in 39 snaps, that has to be best ratio in the league

 

Agree with OP, draft class looks great so far. But they will need to prove much more to say that it is better than 2022 draft - Cook/Bernard/Shakir/Benford/(Elam) 

[Matt_In_NH]

2 hours ago, GreggTX said:

So far, this rookie class shows real promise. Everyone has noticed Keon and Ray Davis, but they are not alone. In limited snaps, Javon Solomon has really shined with 2 sacks, a FF and a PD. I'm not sure if he's had any TFL, but I wonder why he hasn't earned more snaps. Carter, despite 1 bad outing (Ravens) has looked solid too. Bishop has real potential, but has made what I consider correctable 'rookie mistakes' . The jury's still out on guys like Grable, Granger, Andreesson, Ulofoshio and Hardy (Who looked good at CB in preseason). What's your midseason impression of this group? I think this may Beane's best draft considering where he picked.

I agree the class looks good.  They like grable but sure he has not played as a swing tackle.   He can come back at some point.  I would like to see bishop get more play time because he has physical tools Hamlin does not but need to be patient I guess.  With Solomon yes it’s good he has gotten home but keep in mind he gets to play at the end of games and can pin his ears back , might loook a lot different if he has to play meaningful snaps. 

[ganesh]

We need great draft classes to win the super bowl (cost controlled).   Good is not enough.   

[T master]

Moving forward into the Bills future Beane & company have made some really solid picks that i feel will prove to be some starters after they have to move on from some of the players brought in that could be getting up in age in NFL years like possibly Rasual D, Jones & others .

[Joe Mama]

4 hours ago, ganesh said:

We need great draft classes to win the super bowl (cost controlled).   Good is not enough.   

With JA17 it is. With lesser QB maybe true.

[Sojourner]

6 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

It looks really good so far. Coleman, Davis, Solomon, Grable (I know only played pre-season and now hurt but I was super impressed with him and he had passed Van Demark on the depth chart to be their swing tackle as a 6th round rookie) are the highlights to me. 

 

Carter was a bit up and down. I think his ceiling is a rotational piece and I am just not sure that is round 3 value but we will see. Bishop was horrible the one game he got in but he missed almost all of camp in a scheme where safeties have to rely on their brain and knowledge if the defense more than physical ability so I am willing to give him something of a pass for now.

 

And then I still think Van-Pran Granger has potential to be a starter at some point too albeit he is well down the depth chart right now.

Agree. Promise across the whole class, specifically with those you mentioned initially. 
 

Carter landed in a great situation for him seeing as the heavy rotation on the DLine from this staff. Maybe he develops into a bigger snap count down the road. The past few games Ed was out really allowed him to showcase the talent he has while getting his feet wet. Would like to see more from him going forward. 
 

Bishop & SVPG; it’s a hope, wait and see game there. 
 

The only guy on the draft class that puzzles me is Ulofoshio. Big dude, had a nice senior season at Washington to finish his collegiate career. He’s on the roster but never gets a call up on game day. Thought he would become a ST for us like Andreesen. Guess not. 

[YattaOkasan]

6 hours ago, GreggTX said:

So far, this rookie class shows real promise. Everyone has noticed Keon and Ray Davis, but they are not alone. In limited snaps, Javon Solomon has really shined with 2 sacks, a FF and a PD. I'm not sure if he's had any TFL, but I wonder why he hasn't earned more snaps. Carter, despite 1 bad outing (Ravens) has looked solid too. Bishop has real potential, but has made what I consider correctable 'rookie mistakes' . The jury's still out on guys like Grable, Granger, Andreesson, Ulofoshio and Hardy (Who looked good at CB in preseason). What's your midseason impression of this group? I think this may Beane's best draft considering where he picked.

Suspect Solomon has some work to do against the run, but agree his pass rush ability is already starting to flash.  Agree with others on Grable.  He seems to be a great swing tackle find.  Also agree with you on Bishop, those should be correctable rookie mistakes.  That seems like a ton of hits for this draft class so far.  If Keon can be elite we may say this was the class that started a dynasty.  

[TOboy]

4 hours ago, ganesh said:

We need great draft classes to win the super bowl (cost controlled).   Good is not enough.   

Given where we are picking each round these results are great!

[Utah John]

The only thing holding back some of these rookies is the veterans playing their positions and doing very well.  Granger might have been called on to play center on another team, but McGovern seems to have figured out how to make line calls to protect against defensive stunts.  Andreesen probably would be playing on other teams.  I'm a little surprised Bishop isn't playing more since Hamlin is still the same, too-slow and out of position, player he's always been, but safety in McD's defense is probably the most complex position for a rookie to figure out.  

 

Don't forget that deep in McD's genes is a reluctance to play rookies.  And who can argue that letting rookies just watch and learn is a mistake, when there's a veteran playing great on the field already?

[Utah John]

5 hours ago, ganesh said:

We need great draft classes to win the super bowl (cost controlled).   Good is not enough.   

The Bills have one of the strongest rosters in the league, even despite some drafts that really weren't good at all.  So many high picks wasted over the past few years.  And yet the front office continues to assemble complete rosters with no gaping holes anywhere.  

 

Anyway my point is that bad drafts keep the Bills from winning SBs, but a string of good drafts will put them into a very strong position.  Good being good enough, if maintained year to year.

[corta765]

6 hours ago, No_Matter_What said:

Solomon has 2 sacks in 39 snaps, that has to be best ratio in the league

 

Agree with OP, draft class looks great so far. But they will need to prove much more to say that it is better than 2022 draft - Cook/Bernard/Shakir/Benford/(Elam) 

The greatest irony of the 2022 class is Elam not really making it as they literally drafted 4 impact starters and two of which Benford/Bernard are all pro level and Shakir might not be far off either.

[ganesh]

2 hours ago, Sojourner said:

Agree. Promise across the whole class, specifically with those you mentioned initially. 
 

Carter landed in a great situation for him seeing as the heavy rotation on the DLine from this staff. Maybe he develops into a bigger snap count down the road. The past few games Ed was out really allowed him to showcase the talent he has while getting his feet wet. Would like to see more from him going forward. 
 

Bishop & SVPG; it’s a hope, wait and see game there. 
 

The only guy on the draft class that puzzles me is Ulofoshio. Big dude, had a nice senior season at Washington to finish his collegiate career. He’s on the roster but never gets a call up on game day. Thought he would become a ST for us like Andreesen. Guess not. 

you can only dress 46 on game day...some of them have to sit.

[Sojourner]

Just now, ganesh said:

you can only dress 46 on game day...some of them have to sit.

 

Yeah, I know. Which is why I find it puzzling they wouldn’t call him up for a game here or there for a couple of plays on ST and essentially waste the roster spot. Clearly they feel he wouldn’t last on the practice squad. 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Wasn't Solomon out for the Tenn game?  Just started to earn snaps then missed a week,, so likely this past week was rampimg him back up.

[Dan in Owego]

Good grief could you imagine if the Chiefs drafted Shakir😮

[Saxum]

5 hours ago, Utah John said:

Don't forget that deep in McD's genes is a reluctance to play rookies.  And who can argue that letting rookies just watch and learn is a mistake, when there's a veteran playing great on the field already?

 

Lots of rookies have played - rookies have to show enough to be worth the risk since especially in this defense being in wrong place can result in long play or a TD.

4 hours ago, corta765 said:

The greatest irony of the 2022 class is Elam not really making it as they literally drafted 4 impact starters and two of which Benford/Bernard are all pro level and Shakir might not be far off either.

 

He just must not grasp zone defenses.   Brady needs to define a defense where he goes one-on-one with a teams opposing player to be useful.

[JohnNord]

12 hours ago, GreggTX said:

So far, this rookie class shows real promise. Everyone has noticed Keon and Ray Davis, but they are not alone. In limited snaps, Javon Solomon has really shined with 2 sacks, a FF and a PD. I'm not sure if he's had any TFL, but I wonder why he hasn't earned more snaps. Carter, despite 1 bad outing (Ravens) has looked solid too. Bishop has real potential, but has made what I consider correctable 'rookie mistakes' . The jury's still out on guys like Grable, Granger, Andreesson, Ulofoshio and Hardy (Who looked good at CB in preseason). What's your midseason impression of this group? I think this may Beane's best draft considering where he picked.

I think it’s a little early but overall I’d say it appears to be a solid draft with Coleman showing the most promise.

 

The fact that Cole Bishop isn’t good enough to play meaningful snaps midway through the season is disappointing for a 2nd round pick is disappointing but like I said - it’s early.  
 

The rest appear to be your typical Brandon Beane single or double draft picks.  

[buffaloboyinATL]

12 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

And then I still think Van-Pran Granger has potential to be a starter at some point too albeit he is well down the depth chart right now.

I agree with this. I am pretty sure that he is our center of the future, they are just going to bring him along slowly.