NFL Analyst Says 31 of Top 100 are Defensive Lineman

[st pete gogolak]

So Matt Miller of ESPN says that 31 of his top 100 prospects for upcoming draft are defensive lineman. Have no idea whether he’s correct or wildly mistaken.  Assuming the Bills’ brain trust agrees, shouldn’t that dictate how the Bills approach not only the draft but free agency as well?

 

We are close to set on offense. So little in the way of needs.  If we trade Knox or Kincaid, we’re still pretty much set at TE.  If we can’t sign Ty Johnson, we draft a RB in the 4th or 5th round.  Only real difficult question is if we don’t sign Cooper and/or Hollins.  At that point we should dip into FA for a vet boundary WR (Hollywood Brown?).  Add a speedster in the mid-rounds.

 

Assuming we can’t pull off a mega-trade for Garrett or Crosby, we should target a top end CB (DJ Reed?) in FA and use our #1 and 2 #2’s on D-line.  Add mid round safety and call it a day.

[Aussie Joe]

12 minutes ago, st pete gogolak said:

So Matt Miller of ESPN says that 31 of his top 100 prospects for upcoming draft are defensive lineman. Have no idea whether he’s correct or wildly mistaken.  Assuming the Bills’ brain trust agrees, shouldn’t that dictate how the Bills approach not only the draft but free agency as well?

 

We are close to set on offense. So little in the way of needs.  If we trade Knox or Kincaid, we’re still pretty much 

 

Assuming we can’t pull off a mega-trade for Garrett or Crosby, we should target a top end CB (DJ Reed?) in FA and use our #1 and 2 #2’s on D-line.  Add mid round safety and call it a day.

Im not banking on the Bills getting Garrett or Crosby either … likely at least one of them will stay with their current team .. so he other one will have a long list of suitors…

 

Tell me …are you confident of the guys they draft for  the D Line moving the needle much in Year 1 ? Likely they will need some time to find their feet …. 

 

I would feel better if they can bring in an experienced guy from somewhere, even if they miss out on the two big dogs ..

 

Also…I’m looking for a WR to replace Cooper … so they are not quite set on O..

[GunnerBill]

I just totted up and Draftek has 32/100 and PFF has 28. 

 

My board isn't yet advanced enough to count but I'd say my guy Matt is in the ballpark.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

They’re taking a couple for sure.

 

This would also help make trading for top veteran DL more realistic. The teams trading those players can get multiple assets back and draft their replacement at a cheaper cost.

Edited Thursday at 11:22 PM by Buffalo_Stampede

[SoonerBillsFan]

27 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

Im not banking on the Bills getting Garrett or Crosby either … likely at least one of them will stay with their current team .. so he other one will have a long list of suitors…

 

Tell me …are you confident of the guys they draft for  the D Line moving the needle much in Year 1 ? Likely they will need some time to find their feet …. 

 

I would feel better if they can bring in an experienced guy from somewhere, even if they miss out on the two big dogs ..

 

Also…I’m looking for a WR to replace Cooper … so they are not quite set on O..

No. I have no confidence in Beane to draft DL.  And we need a guy who starts NOW, and we need a DL who is a 10+ sack guy who OC'shave to account for.

 

We aren't getting that at #30.

[gonzo1105]

I’ve been saying their taking 3 DL this draft 

[Aussie Joe]

28 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

No. I have no confidence in Beane to draft DL.  And we need a guy who starts NOW, and we need a DL who is a 10+ sack guy who OC'shave to account for.

 

We aren't getting that at #30.

They need to be finding a way to give themselves the best chance to win it all in  2025 ….They have just gone very close, and the Chiefs look more vulnerable than they have in the Mahomes era … Put some chips on the table Beane …

[finn]

The NFC champs just humiliated the Chiefs by rushing just four and dropping seven. Beane sees this and eyes the upcoming draft, determined to build a dominating defensive line. In fact, he's so eager, he may double dip and draft two defensive ends in the first two rounds AND add one of the best defensive linemen in the league, even if it blows up the cap for years to come. 

 

That was 2021. Four year later, he's in the exact same position.

 

My point: Don't get your hopes up. Like McDermott, Beane might be just good enough to lose. 

 

(P.S. I'm a Bills fan. My hopes are up no matter what. Sigh.)

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

We all know what happened last time when we desperately needed a DT in a very deep class. Then the perfect guy fell right to us!!! 

 

(And we picked Donte Whiff-ner).

[Governor]

Which one is most like Epenesa? We need his backup.

[Charles Romes]

The eagles DL crushing the chiefs was great for the bills because it destroyed the chiefs aura of invincibility if there was such aura. But it likely also caused DL draftees in 2025 to be over valued in a year we really need to draft DL.  I would be okay with DL the first three picks and hope to go 2 of 3. 

[Comebackkid]

is it me or does it seem like we always go against the strength of the draft.   Plus it seems like there is a big run on what ever

we are trying to draft right before our turn comes up.

[Whkfc]

And this year you won't have qbs pushing other guys down the board. You have 2 qbs for 4 teams looking.

[gonzo1105]

2 minutes ago, Whkfc said:

And this year you won't have qbs pushing other guys down the board. You have 2 qbs for 4 teams looking.

Do not be surprised when Jaxson Dart goes somewhere in round 1 

[Whkfc]

7 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

Do not be surprised when Jaxson Dart goes somewhere in round 1 

You think? I was thinking mid round 2 possibly the Jets early. It would not shock me but from what I've heard he prolly gonna need a year on the bench to learn.

[gonzo1105]

41 minutes ago, Whkfc said:

You think? I was thinking mid round 2 possibly the Jets early. It would not shock me but from what I've heard he prolly gonna need a year on the bench to learn.

Too many QB needy teams and he is the clear # 3 guy. Teams like the Steelers, Raiders, Browns, Rams,  Jets, Seattle are all gonna need QBs now or in the near future 

[K D]

Makes me think we can give up 30 (and next year's 32) for Garrett and still get a good DT at 60. Who's with me?

[ghostwriter]

Obviously we need a WR at some point, but we need a DT and DE also. I think we should go BPA within that construct. 

[billsfan89]

7 minutes ago, ghostwriter said:

Obviously we need a WR at some point, but we need a DT and DE also. I think we should go BPA within that construct. 

 

Beane's drafting seems to be identify 3-4 needs or urgent depth areas and draft the best player from that area. I think that's the best way to balance need/BPA. You need a DT/WR/DE/CB take the highest ranked player on your board from one of those positions. 

[ghostwriter]

5 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

Beane's drafting seems to be identify 3-4 needs or urgent depth areas and draft the best player from that area. I think that's the best way to balance need/BPA. You need a DT/WR/DE/CB take the highest ranked player on your board from one of those positions. 

I’m hoping we re-sign Rasul Douglas as I don’t think he will cost much. Benford, Douglas and Taron Johnson is a pretty good group but depth behind them would be nice. McD has a stellar track record when it comes to late round DBs (Levi Wallace, Dane Jackson, Christian Benford etc.) Take one then.