Scouting the DTs in the 2025 Draft

[The Jokeman]

1 hour ago, LyndonvilleBill said:

I'd be good with Grant and Williams being our 1st 2 picks. 😉😇😁

 

But, realistically, I don't think it'll happen. 

I think we can get one of the two with pick #30. 

[LyndonvilleBill]

4 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

I think we can get one of the two with 

Not sure if Grant will make it to 30 and most of what I have seen is Williams has been 2nd rnd. Will Beane pull the trigger at 30 for Williams? With our D-line rotation is DT even a rnd 1 option for Beane?🤔

 

Thing is, I have a feeling we go CB or Edge if D is our 1st pick. 🤷‍♂️

[nosejob]

5 minutes ago, LyndonvilleBill said:

Not sure if Grant will make it to 30 and most of what I have seen is Williams has been 2nd rnd. Will Beane pull the trigger at 30 for Williams? With our D-line rotation is DT even a rnd 1 option for Beane?🤔

 

Thing is, I have a feeling we go CB or Edge if D is our 1st pick. 🤷‍♂️

One thing is for sho. No one can predict what he'll do rd.1.  I've been way off every time. LB from Ga. wouldn't surprise me.

Edited March 17 by nosejob

[LyndonvilleBill]

5 minutes ago, nosejob said:

One thing is for sho. No one can predict what he'll do rd.1.  I've been way off every time. LB from Ga. wouldn't surprise me.

No doubt. Watch,  this is a deep DLine draft, so we'll go OLine or RB and freak everyone out.🫣🤣

[Augie]

17 minutes ago, LyndonvilleBill said:

No doubt. Watch,  this is a deep DLine draft, so we'll go OLine or RB and freak everyone out.🫣🤣

 

That would be worth it, for entertainment purposes at least. This place would be hysterical! 😂 

[DJB]

8 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

That would be worth it, for entertainment purposes at least. This place would be hysterical! 😂 

Im one of the few that wouldn’t be super mad if we went RB in round 1 . Obviously not my preference but I have suggested it. 
 

Deep RB class with top end talent galore, would allow us a cost controlled RB for upwards of 7 years and we won’t have to drastically overpay an average RB in Cook. 
 

I wouldn’t hate it . 
 

But it better be Hampton or Henderson we take lol

[nosejob]

5 minutes ago, DJB said:

Im one of the few that wouldn’t be super mad if we went RB in round 1 . Obviously not my preference but I have suggested it. 
 

Deep RB class with top end talent galore, would allow us a cost controlled RB for upwards of 7 years and we won’t have to drastically overpay an average RB in Cook. 
 

I wouldn’t hate it . 
 

But it better be Hampton or Henderson we take lol

F....in BOOOO!!!

[BigAl2526]

If you're picking a guy in the first round, you generally want as close to you can get to a complete skill set and some traits that are at least close to elite.  Ideally, it is at a position of need, or at least at a position where the draftee would be an immediate and significant upgrade.  That's why I'm not especially interested in a 3 tech in round 1.  That includes Walter Nolen and Derrick Harmon, both of whom I like, just not so much for the Bills.  

 

As the draft proceeds, you're less and less likely to get a complete prospect.  He is going to lack several physical traits (from among size, speed, agility, arm length, strength, endurance), a complete skill set (tackling, pass rush ability run defense etc.), college production and/or experience.  You may pick a guy who has the physical traits you like and gamble that you can coach his skill set up and make him a productive player.  Or, you may pick a guy that has the physical traits and was productive at a small school, hoping he can make the leap to the NFL.  Or you might pick a guy that is undersized and short armed but tore it up as a player in a big time college football program.

 

Late in round one, Kenneth Grant is the only defensive tackle I'm seriously interested in.  He was not as productive as his teammate, Mason Graham, but he oozes traits and it might be that some of the discrepancy in production is due to the roles each player was asked to play.  For the Bills, I think the hope is that Ed Oliver's production will soar if they can line him up to a beast like Grant at 1 tech. 

 

In round 2 I like Alfred Collins.  Deone Walker is loaded with physical traits like Grant but has a bunch of technique issues that need to be cleaned up.  I'm not averse to drafting him if the Bills think they can coach him up, but at the very least, it might take some time.  Tyliek Williams is the same way, except it's more of a case (as Gunner points out) he just doesn't produce much in pass defense.  The question is, would Ed Oliver produce more next to Tyliek Williams than he does next to Daquan Jones.

Edited March 18 by BigAl2526

[Mark Vader]

22 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Grant & Collins

 

End this nonsense of our IDL being undersized 

You really think we can get both?

[DJB]

1 minute ago, nosejob said:

F....in BOOOO!!!

 

Well I was also the guy that pounded the table to draft Breece Hall a few years ago

 

And we took Elam instead 

 

Im always of the mindset an elite RB does so much for your offense and at the time Josh needed a ton of help ….turns out he still kinda does 

[BigAl2526]

21 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

For fans best player available means one thing 

 

For someone in The scouting industry it's completely different 

 

As you said there's a whole bunch of things when you're talking best player available.. we have Josh Allen.. if the best player available is a quarterback in the first or second round we're not taking him 

 

We run a nickel four down base set.. if the best player available is a 34 outside linebacker pass rusher probably not going to take him 

 

Every GM wants to take the best player available for their scheme fit.. scheme trumps everything at the NFL level 

 

You're not taking a 300lb 5 tech when we don't use that even if he's the best player available... We're looking for the best 6-7 technique

 

Best player available is subjective because a 34 and a 4-3 team are not looking for the same types of players

Say it's your turn at the draft.  You have one player on your board that is graded quite a bit higher than anyone else available, but his is not at a position of need.  Then you have a 4 or 5 players graded similarly behind him.  Everyone in that group is at a position of either minor or major need.  Ideally, you find a trade partner that allows you to move down a few spots.  You then get a player you need and you are keeping to your BPA philosophy.

[BigAl2526]

5 hours ago, OldTimer1960 said:

Hi Gunner, who in this DT class is a good match with Oliver?  I imagine that the list is a fairly small subset of this touted DT class.  I’m thinking Grant, Collins, Harmon, Nolan, Alexander, Williams, Farmer, Phillips, Pegues, Caldwell and maybe West.

Harmon, Nolen and Alexander are all more generally regarded as 3 tech guys.  Williams is too, at least somewhat, but he has 20 -30 lbs more weight that might make a move to 1 tech more desirable.  He tests well too.

57 minutes ago, Mark Vader said:

You really think we can get both?

Grant in the first and Collins in the second are not impossible, but I don't think the Bills would do it. 

2 hours ago, The Jokeman said:

I think we can get one of the two with pick #30. 

I think Williams is something of a reach at #30.  I don't think the Bills would pick him there.  They could trade down to the top of the second and still do it if they wanted IMO.

Edited March 17 by BigAl2526

[BigAl2526]

5 hours ago, HOUSE said:

DK Metcalf was the BPA but we end up with Cody Ford??

You didn't like the fact that Buffalo passed on a Porsche and drove off in a Ford?

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 hour ago, LyndonvilleBill said:

Not sure if Grant will make it to 30 and most of what I have seen is Williams has been 2nd rnd. Will Beane pull the trigger at 30 for Williams? With our D-line rotation is DT even a rnd 1 option for Beane?🤔

 

Thing is, I have a feeling we go CB or Edge if D is our 1st pick. 🤷‍♂️

While odds are you are correct, If I were Beane I would flip the script and go 1 Tech DT

[The Jokeman]

8 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

Harmon, Nolen and Alexander are all more generally regarded as 3 tech guys.  Williams is too, at least somewhat, but he has 20 -30 lbs more weight that might make a move to 1 tech more desirable.  He tests will too.

Grant in the first and Collins in the second are not impossible, but I don't think the Bills would do it. 

I think Williams is something of a reach at #30.  I don't think the Bills would pick him there.  They could trade down to the top of the second and still do it if they wanted IMO.

They could but why risk it? I'm tired of continually missing out on 1 tech/NT  defenders as the good ones are so hard to find and Williams got some seriously speed to go with it. 

[Maine-iac]

I really like Harmon but I don't see Amos being there late second.  Where as we don't take Harmon there will still be some really good DT's left late 2nd.  After Amos my favorite CB might be Nohl Williams but that's a pretty big drop off from Amos.  Two things I would love to see is a stouter DL interior and better coverage (as in coverage sacks) and I feel like we can get stouter at the DT position outside of pick 30.  I'm not sure who's going to stop guys from running wide open like last year other than Benford.  No offense to our secondary other than Benford but Dane, Forrest, Rapp, Hamlin, and Bishop do not move the needle for me in terms of thinking lock down coverage.

[Mark Vader]

4 hours ago, MrEpsYtown said:

 

Yep. Beane needed a RT. 

 

Really good thread...if someone wants to make one for cornerback that would be cool, since right now that is going to be our first round pick. 

Which CB do you see the Bills taking in the first round?

[TheBeaneBandit]

23 minutes ago, Maine-iac said:

I really like Harmon but I don't see Amos being there late second.  Where as we don't take Harmon there will still be some really good DT's left late 2nd.  After Amos my favorite CB might be Nohl Williams but that's a pretty big drop off from Amos.  Two things I would love to see is a stouter DL interior and better coverage (as in coverage sacks) and I feel like we can get stouter at the DT position outside of pick 30.  I'm not sure who's going to stop guys from running wide open like last year other than Benford.  No offense to our secondary other than Benford but Dane, Forrest, Rapp, Hamlin, and Bishop do not move the needle for me in terms of thinking lock down coverage.

If we go CB at 30, I'd be cool with trading up with both 2nd rounders to ensure we get an effective 1tech and either a pass rusher or WR with the other pick.

[3rdand12]

On 3/16/2025 at 4:18 PM, gjv said:

I hope this draft is deep enough at DT that we can draft a 1t and 3t that can make a meanful contribution to the defense this coming season. Beane is overdue in drafting a difference maker in round 1.

After the suspensions , I agree. I wanted two guys to fill up the middle . One starter and one to rotate in to spell him

But now I see they will need another player to spell Oliver and perhaps improve much as compared to Phillips

On 3/16/2025 at 4:41 PM, SoonerBillsFan said:

Because I watched this guy toss SEC guards, the closest thing to NFL guards,around like rag dolls more often than not.

I was all excited until they had to make me re live the OU disaster 

I'm in

[3rdand12]

On 3/16/2025 at 6:04 PM, Big Blitz said:

 

 

sees the play for sure on most clips

Where do you want to pick him ?