It’s time for a generational talent, blue chipper

[gonzo1105]

44 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

Here's a question - if Jihaad Campbell slides because of his shoulder surgery, should we take him? It could be an 8-9 month recovery so he might miss a good portion of his rookie season, and torn labrums are at risk of re-injury if not managed correctly. The book on him is he could be the next Micah Parsons who transitions from LB to pass rusher at the next level. 

Yup I would,  especially if he was best available by a lot at that point. Milano is out after this year. Williams provides depth and Campbell gets essentially a redshirt to replace Milano next year 

[GunnerBill]

54 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

Here's a question - if Jihaad Campbell slides because of his shoulder surgery, should we take him? It could be an 8-9 month recovery so he might miss a good portion of his rookie season, and torn labrums are at risk of re-injury if not managed correctly. The book on him is he could be the next Micah Parsons who transitions from LB to pass rusher at the next level. 

 

I don't know if I see him as a full time edge rusher personally, but you can certainly have a package where he rushes the passer. I think he is a stud. If we are talking about guys with the potential to reach elite.... Jihaad is one of those guys.

[BillsFanForever19]

3 hours ago, HappyDays said:

Here's a question - if Jihaad Campbell slides because of his shoulder surgery, should we take him? It could be an 8-9 month recovery so he might miss a good portion of his rookie season, and torn labrums are at risk of re-injury if not managed correctly. The book on him is he could be the next Micah Parsons who transitions from LB to pass rusher at the next level. 

 

In another year, yes I would. This year, no. We didn't do enough in Free Agency and especially after the suspensions to Hoecht and Ogunjobi - we can't spend our 1st on another guy we won't have to start the year. And knowing how conservative McDermott is with his Rookies, i'd doubt he would see much playing time or any at all in Year 1, having no Training Camp or Pre-Season.

 

If we had done more and/or those suspensions didn't come in - go for it. But we're in a much poorer situation than I thought we would be to this point when it comes to building the roster.

Edited Saturday at 09:36 PM by BillsFanForever19

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

In another year, yes I would. This year, no. We didn't do enough in Free Agency and especially after the suspensions to Hoecht and Ogunjobi - we can't spend our 1st on another guy we won't have to start the year. And knowing how conservative McDermott is with his Rookies, i'd doubt he would see much playing time or any at all in Year 1, having no Training Camp or Pre-Season.

 

If we had done more and/or those suspensions didn't come in - go for it. But we're in a much poorer situation than I thought we would be to this point when it comes to building the roster.

 

Using the screw ups in FA as an excuse to play it safe in the draft makes me genuinely want to vomit.

[BillsFanForever19]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Using the screw ups in FA as an excuse to play it safe in the draft makes me genuinely want to vomit.

 

I mean, it's not so much an excuse, but an unfortunate neccessity. We need a Starting CB. We only have 3 rosterable DT's total and Jones shouldn't even be on the roster IMO. We need another Edge. Another WR. 

 

Ogunjobi and Hoecht could have made those needs lesser. But now we're going into the year with just Ed Oliver, Daquan Jones, and Dewayne Carter at DT. And Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, AJ Epenesa, and Javon Solomon at Edge. One injury to Edge and you're using Bosa way more than we should or starting Solomon. And we don't even have the ability to take Daquan Jones and Ed Oliver off the field at DT. And that's not even taking into account Dane Jackson or Ja'Marcus Ingram starting across Benford. Or our WR core being just Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, and Curtis Samuel.

 

The situation is what it is. It sucks. But there's no way we can Draft a guy with our most valuable asset that also won't be able to play for us Week 1 and is probably unlikely to play for us in Year 1 at all, with how conservative McDermott is.  

Edited Saturday at 11:44 PM by BillsFanForever19

[Mikie2times]

3 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I mean, it's not so much an excuse, but an unfortunate neccessity. We need a Starting CB. We only have 3 rosterable DT's total and Jones shouldn't even be on the roster IMO. We need another Edge. Another WR. 

 

Ogunjobi and Hoecht could have made those needs lesser. But now we're going into the year with just Ed Oliver, Daquan Jones, and Dewayne Carter at DT. And Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, AJ Epenesa, and Javon Solomon at Edge. One injury to Edge and you're using Bosa way more than we should or starting Solomon. And we don't even have the ability to take Daquan Jones and Ed Oliver off the field at DT. And that's not even taking into account Dane Jackson or Ja'Marcus Ingram starting across Benford.

 

The situation is what it is. It sucks. But there's no way we can Draft a guy with our 1st Round Pick that is unlikely to play for us in Year 1.  

Daring Double Down Dingle, but hard to argue (even if on principle I also agree with Gunner). But we did this. This is why the nice things aren't meant for us. 

Edited Saturday at 10:33 PM by Mikie2times

[BillsFanForever19]

1 minute ago, Mikie2times said:

Daring Double Down Dingle, but hard to argue (even if on principle I also agree with Gunner). But we did this. This is why the nice things aren't meant for us. 

 

Oh, I don't disagree with Gunner. It's gross. But it doesn't change the situations.

[FireChans]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Using the screw ups in FA as an excuse to play it safe in the draft makes me genuinely want to vomit.

Bad, wasteful process. Again and again.

 

I bet we take an RB in top 3 rounds again too.

[GunnerBill]

5 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Oh, I don't disagree with Gunner. It's gross. But it doesn't change the situations.

 

If I was Terry Pegula I'd be telling Brandon Beane he made his bed. His aim is still to find me an elite difference maker in this draft not some role players who can play snaps for me at defensive tackle the first 6 weeks. 

[Warriorspikes51]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

If I was Terry Pegula I'd be telling Brandon Beane he made his bed. His aim is still to find me an elite difference maker in this draft not some role players who can play snaps for me at defensive tackle the first 6 weeks. 

Grant, Collins, possibly others  immediately helps the entire defense.

 

Now if we trade up for a Pearce Jr.  as an example….& still manage to secure a legit 1T great! 

Edited yesterday at 04:43 AM by Warriorspikes51

[GunnerBill]

38 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Grant, Collins, possibly others  immediately helps the entire defense.

 

Now if we trade up for a Pearce Jr.  as an example….& still manage to secure a legit 1T great! 

 

Nobody is disputing we need a 1T. We need a corner too. But Brandon Beane needs to say "screw my needs" and take the guy there at #30 he thinks has the best chance to be a legit elite playmaker 2 years from now. Not the guy who can play the most snaps for him for the first 6 weeks because he went out and blew his free agency wad on two guys who got caught juicing. 

 

We all make mistakes in our professional lives. The one thing I have learnt in mine is never chase your mistake or compound it by allowing it to influence your next decision.

 

Passing on someone you think could be elite because you "must have" a guy who can start week 1 as a rookie would be chasing your mistake. 

[BillsFanForever19]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

If I was Terry Pegula I'd be telling Brandon Beane he made his bed. His aim is still to find me an elite difference maker in this draft not some role players who can play snaps for me at defensive tackle the first 6 weeks. 

 

I'm sorry, but in the situation of spending our 1st on a player who won't play this year - I couldn't disagree more. And we'll just have to agree to disagree there I guess.

 

We needed to improve this team to overcome the Chiefs and especially to compete with the Eagles if we want to win a Championship.

 

We didn't do that in Free Agency. Outside of upgrading Von Miller to Joey Bosa (who given his health history is a bit of a risk) and Mack Hollins to Joshua Palmer - we've made no moves that move the dial and in multiple places we have outright holes and guys that should have been replaced.

 

We need to lean on this Draft a lot harder than I was expecting to. Even before the suspensions of Ogunjobi and Hoecht. It's a large reason why OP's idea can't happen, even if someone was willing to move all the way down there. We need to hit on multiple picks that can make an impact immediately after what we did (or didn't do) in FA.

 

In my opinion, this roster is not in the position where we have the luxury to Draft a guy that won't play for us at all in 2025 with our most valuable asset. 

Edited yesterday at 07:18 AM by BillsFanForever19

[BarleyNY]

5 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I'm sorry, but in the situation of spending our 1st on a player who won't play this year - I couldn't disagree more. And we'll just have to agree to disagree there I guess.

 

We needed to improve this team to overcome the Chiefs and especially to compete with the Eagles if we want to win a Championship.

 

We didn't do that in Free Agency. Outside of upgrading Von Miller to Joey Bosa (who given his health history is a bit of a risk) and Mack Hollins to Joshua Palmer - we've made no moves that move the dial and in multiple places we have outright holes and guys that should have been replaced.

 

We need to lean on this Draft a lot harder than I was expecting to. Even before the suspensions of Ogunjobi and Hoecht. It's a large reason why OP's idea can't happen, even if someone was willing to move all the way down there. We need to hit on multiple picks that can make an impact immediately after what we did (or didn't do) in FA.

 

In my opinion, this roster is not in the position where we have the luxury to Draft a guy that won't play for us at all in 2025 with our most valuable asset. 

 

Who said that drafting a player who can be elite in two years means that player won’t contribute their rookie season?

[H2o]

We find ourselves in need of an infusion of young talent across the board. Too much to push all of our chips onto the table for any one player that we would get from this draft. 

[SoCal Deek]

I think the entire premise is a false choice. Every year there are players that become a significant talent even without being taken in the top of the First Round. The league has plenty of them. I’ve said this before…the Bills need to upgrade their scouting department AND connect them with the coaching staff. 

[MarlinTheMagician]

On 3/20/2025 at 9:05 PM, JohnNord said:

Here’s my question - what makes you think Carter will be any good.  It seems that Bills fans are clinging to #1 his one great stuff against Tennessee and #2 struggling due to his wrist injury.  I’m not sure we can put much stock into either.  
 

Carter was one of the worst lineman on the defense which is why he was scratched late in the year.  Just like Coleman, I don’t think he can be much more than a depth piece.  Not what you want out of your second and third round picks.  
 

Jury is out on Bishop who made some good and bad plays his rookie season.  He too was injured but at least he was active on game day 

I think Carter could be good because from what I saw he has good movement skills for someone with his thickness/density.  I think with a year in an NFL weight room, team prescribed diet, and familiarity with the scheme and play speed of the NFL, it could lead to a meaningful jump in year #2.  Plus he is a very high-character player that has shown a lifetime of high-motivation to improve and excel.  Seems it is more reasonable to believe he could work out than to not believe he could.

On 3/21/2025 at 11:42 AM, gonzo1105 said:

Mike Williams, Marcell Dareus, JP Losman, EJ Manuel, Aaron Maybin, Leodis McKelvin, CJ Spiller, Donte Whitner, Erik Flowers, John McCargo, Sammy Watkins. 
 

These 11 guys were drafted by the Bills in the first round of the drought era. They were either flat out busts or they were players they didn’t come close to being as good as their draft spot. 
 

Winfield doesn’t count because he was drafted in 99 the last year we were in the playoffs if you want to get technical. 
 

The other guys Nate Clements, Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans, Willis McGahee, Eric Wood, Stephon Gilmore were good NFL players so 6 guys but….

 

They did re-sign Eric Wood

Stephon Gilmore hated Buffalo and became the #1 paid CB in the league. Same thing happened for Nate Clements if I recall correctly minus the hatred of Buffalo 

 

They did re-sign Lee Evans who was a very good NFL player for a short period and the Bills have been well documented they they wanted Ben Roethlisberger badly which led to the ill fated Losman pick. 
 

Marshawn Lynch thought Buffalo was boring and hit a woman while driving so he wanted out of here. 
 

Cant recall why the Bills let McGahee go but overall during the drought they had 11 terrible picks and 6 good ones. 2 RBs, 2 DBs, 1 WR, and a Center. They reupped two of them , 2 couldn’t wait to get out of here, 2 became the highest paid player at his position (Clements), and 1 I don’t recall. 
 

 

So yes the Bills drought did last so long because they drafted terrible and B. Couldn’t find a QB 

Gosh that is atrocious.  I almost forgot how bad that was - and all top 15 picks or so.  That is part of why I think jumping up is not the right strategy.  Draft picks are lottery tickets, and I would like to play more rather than less.

[boater]

15 minutes ago, MarlinTheMagician said:

Draft picks are lottery tickets, and I would like to play more rather than less.

Exactly. I'd rather buy a handful of scratchers than one Mega-Millions. Besides, you have to be an Uber driver from California to win the Mega-Millions.

 

Beane is an above average GM when selecting talent after the first round, let's pick more there. Late round picks also have good long term implications for the salary cap.

 

 

[finn]

19 hours ago, FireChans said:

Yeah it’s a shame because it may be another 6 or 8 years before we get talent pushed so far back. Was probably our best shot of being in striking distance. 

The Diggs and Miller moves were both bold, but they didn't take much imagination or shrewdness, which I think Beane lacks, much like McDermott. It would have been bold AND imaginative  to move up for Verse, Bowers, or Brian Thomas (finding trade partners aside). I would happily trade Coleman, Bishop, and Carter for any one of these players, just like I would happily trade Kincaid (who also cost a fourth-rounder) and Torrence, two solid players, for Christian Gonzalez, a star. The Bills have one--one!--star. Even if that one star is a supernova, he can't do it all. 

 

Beane has ten picks and four pressing needs. If he holds to his past patterns, he'll come away with three or four good players, a few more pretty good ones, and zero blue-chip players. Better to draft one absolute blue-chipper, one very good player, and a few prospects that McDermott can coach up. 

[SoTier]

7 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I'm sorry, but in the situation of spending our 1st on a player who won't play this year - I couldn't disagree more. And we'll just have to agree to disagree there I guess.

 

We needed to improve this team to overcome the Chiefs and especially to compete with the Eagles if we want to win a Championship.

 

We didn't do that in Free Agency. Outside of upgrading Von Miller to Joey Bosa (who given his health history is a bit of a risk) and Mack Hollins to Joshua Palmer - we've made no moves that move the dial and in multiple places we have outright holes and guys that should have been replaced.

 

We need to lean on this Draft a lot harder than I was expecting to. Even before the suspensions of Ogunjobi and Hoecht. It's a large reason why OP's idea can't happen, even if someone was willing to move all the way down there. We need to hit on multiple picks that can make an impact immediately after what we did (or didn't do) in FA.

 

In my opinion, this roster is not in the position where we have the luxury to Draft a guy that won't play for us at all in 2025 with our most valuable asset. 

 

JJ McCarthy says "Hi".  There is no guarantee that any draft pick is going to play in his rookie season.   

 

Lots of CBs, including Tre White, have gone in bottom third of the first round and played well their entire rookie seasons.   In a draft rich in defensive talent, the Bills can probably find a DLer at #30 or even a 2nd rounder,  who can start playing decently some time in his rookie season, especially since the Bills use a DL rotation.  

 

I think you are making too big a deal of Bills rookies, most of whom are likely to be taken at the end of each round,  making significant contributions.   The Bills are not going to miss the playoffs because the rookies they draft aren't ready to start on Opening Day.   That said, if the Bills were to trade up into the top half of the first round, I would expect that rookie to be good enough to play well as a rookie.

[nosejob]

I just want to see Beane have some stones and use a pick from next year to create opportunity in the 3rd. ( There are teams with more than one pick in rds. 2 and 3).  I do not want to see him trade back or sit on his hands through entire rounds. We pick at the end of the 1st....well every round. Why not keep your picks and use next year's 1st or 2nd to get picks to help put a complete board in place this year.

 

I think we're at the point where worrying about a stock of future picks is stupid....especially if players generally excel year 2 over the rookie season.

It's time to think about winning now and have the nuts to take a shot. A repeat of last year IMO is a reason to start looking at possible changes.

Edited yesterday at 03:04 PM by nosejob