Draft options ???

[whorlnut]

49 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think we might be arguing semantics in that to me "ok to decent" means basic starting level players whereas good to very good is desirable starters that would be sought after in free agency. I think we have a lot of guys who are top 15 in the league in their position: Dawkins, Brown, McGovern, Cook, Shakir, Oliver, Milano, Taron, Bernard, Benford, Rousseau (Groot probably more like 20 than top 15 but close enough). Those are all guys that would get very good contracts if they hit FA. The problem is we don't have anyone top 5 at their position except Josh Allen (maybe Taron he is right there on the borderline but slot corner low positional value). 

 

We are all in agreement that a lack of elite is a major factor holding us back.

Yeah I agree. I would argue Dawkins and brown are both top 5 at their positions. But other than Allen, and those two, we don’t have any top 5 talent. Perhaps Benford can be that?

15 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Yeah he got asked one direct question about McDermott’s aptitude for the job and he said it’s not fair to blame one person.

 

And that may be valid if this was Year 1, 2, 3.

 

That was Year 8 for McDermott and he’s 0-5 now on the road in the Playoffs, with a defense that is giving up 32+ points in elimination games.

 

They have an emerging HC candidate in the building. 
 

I didn’t hear a hellbent mindset to

win a Championship. There was no fire, no anger, nothing different.

I heard a lot of look at the Division titles we won and what can you do its the Chiefs? He came to podium and said we’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing. 

 

Yeah this has been my gripe all along. We have a defensive minded coach that can’t figure anything out on defense when it matters. How is that not concerning to everyone in the building, let alone us fans?  

[Straight Hucklebuck]

17 minutes ago, whorlnut said:

Yeah I agree. I would argue Dawkins and brown are both top 5 at their positions. But other than Allen, and those two, we don’t have any top 5 talent. Perhaps Benford can be that?

Yeah this has been my gripe all along. We have a defensive minded coach that can’t figure anything out on defense when it matters. How is that not concerning to everyone in the building, let alone us fans?  

Yeah I hear you - of course I don’t need Beane to come out and just roast McDermott.

 

But instead of we acknowledge the problems on defense and we will work the offseason to improve the scheme and plan to counter what the best offenses are doing to us it was the same old - well injuries, well there were good plays and plays we want back, and rookies need time to develop. 
 

Sean loves to tell you how he’s seen it all, done it all, knows what it supposed to look like so where is the innovation?

 

2025 season opener, first defensive snap is it the same 4-down lineman, Taron in the slot, Benford and Elam playing 10-yards off, Bernard and Milano at linebacker, two high safety’s 25 yards down the field? 
 

Maybe the new Senior consultant from Jacksonville will add a new wrinkle, or became the primary path when McDermott uses Babich as a scapegoat to survive another year. 

[DCofNC]

19 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

I don’t know how he watched the 2023 Divisional against the Chiefs and concluded he did enough on offense, but in 2024 he did the same thing.
 

Low end FA investment and bare minimum draft investment. 
 

It’s been like that from the moment he stopped caring about WR2 and signed Emmanuel Sanders out of retirement. 
 

I mean who is holding out for Dalton Kincaid to become the #1 target in this offense? Anybody?

 

Did Beane get that pick correct? He certainly watched all the WRs get picked on a run right in front of him, and by all accounts the Bills liked Addison the most and he’s been a spotty deep threat as a #2.

 

You mention the Carolina philosophy and it’s killing this team. 
 

The Eagles have cap space and two elite WRs. Made the best trade in the past 5-years for AJ Brown.
 

Allen keeps the Bills in that conversation (at least for one more day) but Beane is no Howie Roseman - and that’s who you’re going up against - Roseman, Veach, DeCosta. 
 

I just shake my head at the 2024 Draft how you could only end up with one can’t separate WR that plays exactly like his Scouting Reports said he would and yet they still put him at the X. 
 

What faith does any fan have about this aspect of the team? 

Beane keeps looking for the guys other teams “missed”.  BTJ was the guy who slid and crushed it this year and my personal target the whole time, I don’t get it either.  I was more optimistic about Samuel, that was a flop. Unfortunately, it’s pretty easy to see there hasn’t  been enough WR talent going into the last 3 seasons and they keep going in hope as a strategy.   Allen covers a lot, but he can’t make up for everything.  The biggest hope for the coming year is Kincaid is healthy and ready to go and Brady remembers he has TEs with hands.  The lack of creativity on O this year was pathetic as was the use of Cooper who is/was a proven weapon, he couldn’t integrate.  How long do we excuse the Brady excuse, it “wasn’t his O” after taking over mid year, this year he couldn’t get a WR schemed open to save his life even after adding Coop.  He’s kind of treading on Greg Roman territory to me.

 

Personally, I think the whole regime is a product of Allen carrying their sorry asses.

[GunnerBill]

45 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Yeah I hear you - of course I don’t need Beane to come out and just roast McDermott.

 

But instead of we acknowledge the problems on defense and we will work the offseason to improve the scheme and plan to counter what the best offenses are doing to us it was the same old - well injuries, well there were good plays and plays we want back, and rookies need time to develop. 
 

Sean loves to tell you how he’s seen it all, done it all, knows what it supposed to look like so where is the innovation?

 

2025 season opener, first defensive snap is it the same 4-down lineman, Taron in the slot, Benford and Elam playing 10-yards off, Bernard and Milano at linebacker, two high safety’s 25 yards down the field? 
 

Maybe the new Senior consultant from Jacksonville will add a new wrinkle, or became the primary path when McDermott uses Babich as a scapegoat to survive another year. 

 

The problem on D this year was not lack of innovation. If anything it was too much of it. Too little focus on our fudamentals too much panicking and change ups. And that IS on Babich. Of course ultimately it is on Sean but we have a defensive coordinator who majorly lacks patience (which is a serious flaw in a DC) and got so far away from what the Bills do best during the season that he couldn't get back to it when it mattered.

[Big Blitz]

On 2/7/2025 at 9:57 AM, sunshynman said:

The don't have the best track record at the top of the draft. Trade for proven bluechip players (Garret, Crosby, Some WR). Draft rounds 3-7.  This is the year to go all in!

 

I’d trade the next 2 years first and seconds for Myles or Max.  
 

Thats what its going to cost - some team will have higher picks and be the more ideal trade for Cleveland.  
 

Obviously would try to trade less - but that’s my take it or leave it trade.   

[Pete]

1 hour ago, Big Blitz said:

 

I’d trade the next 2 years first and seconds for Myles or Max.  
 

Thats what its going to cost - some team will have higher picks and be the more ideal trade for Cleveland.  
 

Obviously would try to trade less - but that’s my take it or leave it trade.   

What happens if Myles has career ending injury next season?  Those first and second round picks would be nice to have, but got traded away.  Our cap is a mess now, Josh is 28- what have done to the Bills?

[OldTimer1960]

4 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Yeah he got asked one direct question about McDermott’s aptitude for the job and he said it’s not fair to blame one person.

 

And that may be valid if this was Year 1, 2, 3.

 

That was Year 8 for McDermott and he’s 0-5 now on the road in the Playoffs, with a defense that is giving up 32+ points in elimination games.

 

They have an emerging HC candidate in the building. 
 

I didn’t hear a hellbent mindset to

win a Championship. There was no fire, no anger, nothing different.

I heard a lot of look at the Division titles we won and what can you do its the Chiefs? He came to podium and said we’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing. 

 

I disagree.  I think McDermott is plenty driven to succeed.  I think Beane went light on the D because he knew the talent level isn't top notch and, seriously, not many Ds have answers for Mahomes and KC.  I will be very interested to see how the Eagles very good defense holds up today.

[JP51]

On 2/7/2025 at 9:34 AM, Jistafan said:

Seems to be consensus defensive line and true #1 receiver are hot commodities for Bills off season options. With that said, what are thoughts on trading up in 1st round, since we have draft capital. And if we do who? Enquiring minds want to know?

Honestly at this point please get the best player available.. I feel like we have reached for need and come up consistently short. 

[gonzo1105]

The way I’m looking at it is there is a bigger drop of from 30 to 56 at CB than there will be at DE or DT so if we don’t trade our first for a proven defensive player I would lean towards taking a CB at 30 

[Mat68]

Outside of a few spots you do not trade up for any position but Qb.  There are a good amount of players where the Bills are picking.  Whether its DT edge or Secondary take the best player regardless of positional importance.  

[The Jokeman]

If we stay at 30 my early target is Tyleik Williams. A combo of Princely Umanmielen and Trey Amos in Round 2 be a nice start depending what free agency brings.

[JP51]

On 2/9/2025 at 11:05 AM, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Yeah I hear you - of course I don’t need Beane to come out and just roast McDermott.

 

But instead of we acknowledge the problems on defense and we will work the offseason to improve the scheme and plan to counter what the best offenses are doing to us it was the same old - well injuries, well there were good plays and plays we want back, and rookies need time to develop. 
 

Sean loves to tell you how he’s seen it all, done it all, knows what it supposed to look like so where is the innovation?

 

2025 season opener, first defensive snap is it the same 4-down lineman, Taron in the slot, Benford and Elam playing 10-yards off, Bernard and Milano at linebacker, two high safety’s 25 yards down the field? 
 

Maybe the new Senior consultant from Jacksonville will add a new wrinkle, or became the primary path when McDermott uses Babich as a scapegoat to survive another year. 

I do like they are bringing in new sets of eyes... the game has changed and we have not changed with it, nor have we acquired players that standout especially on Defense in the draft. 

[schoolhouserock]

On 2/8/2025 at 5:33 AM, GunnerBill said:

 

I am not sure I'd trade up for either Green or Burden tbh. I like Green a lot but I think he is just a pass rush specialist as a rook (was also told by someone I trust the other day he won't get past the Cardinals at #16) which is valuable don't get me wrong but I am not sure it is trade up valuable. And Burden I don't see elite in. Honestly think you could stay where you are and take guys who are in the same broad range as them as prospects (Princely U from Ole Miss at DE and Matthew Golden from Texas at WR).

 

The only guy I'd be willing to trade up for in the first round of this class who I think has a reasonable hope of getting within say 10 picks of the Bills is Jahdae Barron. 

Oh, interesting!
 

Barron seems to fit really well into that nickel corner spot. Do you see more out of him? Such a trade up would be giving up a lot of draft capital for a position where the Bills already have a great talent.

 

Edit: Nevermind - saw that you answered the same Q later in the thread.

Edited 12 hours ago by schoolhouserock

[nosejob]

On 2/9/2025 at 1:34 PM, Pete said:

What happens if Myles has career ending injury next season?  Those first and second round picks would be nice to have, but got traded away.  Our cap is a mess now, Josh is 28- what have done to the Bills?

That's my fear and why I'd rather they go after Maxx.   Or....maybe pry away SexyDexy from the Gmen. Sign Slayton while they're at it.

[GASabresIUFan]

On 2/7/2025 at 12:32 PM, wppete said:

Mel Kiper day 2 value picks. Some good players will be available. 

Good video.  Shows that their is depth in this draft at CB, DE, and DT that will be available to us in the 2nd rd.  Kyle Williams looks very interesting as a 3rd/4th rd WR who might start immediately.

Edited 12 hours ago by GASabresIUFan

[OldTimer1960]

1 hour ago, The Jokeman said:

If we stay at 30 my early target is Tyleik Williams. A combo of Princely Umanmielen and Trey Amos in Round 2 be a nice start depending what free agency brings.

Those are the positions I would like them to address.  I do like Umanmielen from the games I've watched, but I'll be surprised if he makes it to the Bills' first pick in round 2 (I think 56).  Likewise, I'll be very surprised if Trey Amos is around late in round 2.  

 

I might be convinced to move off of Tyleik Williams in round 1 and shoot for someone like Alfred Collins (Tex) in round 2 as the big run stuffer, but Williams is a good player.

 

Just my thoughts - what you suggest would be very much welcomed!