Bills Related Draft News & Discussion

[JGMcD2]

48 minutes ago, MikePJ76 said:

The Athletics Nick Baumgardner did a draft power ranking over the past 5 years.  Its pointless but whatever.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6284249/2025/04/20/nfl-draft-power-rankings-lions-chiefs-ravens/

 

 

8. Buffalo Bills (8.46)

 

Top 50 picks: 4
Pro Bowls: 1
Starting seasons: 33

Best pick: edge Gregory Rousseau (No. 30, 2021); Worst pick: CB Kaiir Elam (No. 23, 2022); Best value: WR Khalil Shakir (No. 148, 2022)

Like the Chiefs, the Bills have done a terrific job maxing out the draft, despite spending most of the last five years near the bottom of the first round. The Elam miss hurts, but picks such as Shakir, James Cook, O’Cyrus Torrence and Spencer Brown have been huge — and a testament to Buffalo’s scouting department.

Why is trying to apply some objectivity to a complex topic pointless? 

Edited 17 hours ago by JGMcD2

[TBBills Fan]

I don't understand why people want us to trade down and acquire more picks.  

 

As it stands now, we won't be able to roster all of our picks. 

 

I'd like to see us moving up in the 2nd round for guys we like if need be and/or trading some late rounders for picks next year

[Dr. Who]

6 minutes ago, TBBills Fan said:

I don't understand why people want us to trade down and acquire more picks.  

 

As it stands now, we won't be able to roster all of our picks. 

 

I'd like to see us moving up in the 2nd round for guys we like if need be and/or trading some late rounders for picks next year

If you think the roster more than just this year, there are more needs, because a competent GM has to plan to draft and develop players to be ready to replace veterans you may not keep beyond 2025. Without even going into that deeply, I could see WR, G, RB, TE on offense, and it would be a nice idea to draft a QB to turn into a decent and cheap backup. On defense, there are positions you need at least one, and could easily double up on such as DT, Edge, CB. They are looking at LB, and may draft one higher than folks expect, and S could still use upgrading, imo. 

 

In short, there really isn't an excess of picks. I'm alright if they leverage some day 3 picks to move up, but they could plausibly use them all.

[KOKBILLS]

4 minutes ago, TBBills Fan said:

I don't understand why people want us to trade down and acquire more picks.  

 

As it stands now, we won't be able to roster all of our picks. 

 

I'd like to see us moving up in the 2nd round for guys we like if need be and/or trading some late rounders for picks next year

 

Trading down could provide additional picks to help move up from 56 and 62 into what I think is the real nice area of this Draft for the Bills needs... 30-50...

 

Also... I keep hearing this argument about all the roster spots that are locked up... Are we saying that players like Baylon Spector, Dwayne Carter, Damar Hamlin, Ja'Marcus Ingram, Dane Jackson, Cam Lewis, Buffalo Joe, Edefuan Eulofushio, and Javon Soloman are roster locks? I mean... Sure... Some, maybe even most of them, will make it. But to think we can't bring in competition to push a few of these guys is a little short sighted IMHO... 

I don't have any issue with 10 or more Draft picks because Christian Benford and Khalil Shakir things happen. Later round guys show up every now and again and on day one they may not be 100% ready, but coaches know for sure they are better depth than what we have and that makes the overall roster better... And probably cheaper. 

[3rdand12]

2 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

If you think the roster more than just this year, there are more needs, because a competent GM has to plan to draft and develop players to be ready to replace veterans you may not keep beyond 2025. Without even going into that deeply, I could see WR, G, RB, TE on offense, and it would be a nice idea to draft a QB to turn into a decent and cheap backup. On defense, there are positions you need at least one, and could easily double up on such as DT, Edge, CB. They are looking at LB, and may draft one higher than folks expect, and S could still use upgrading, imo. 

 

In short, there really isn't an excess of picks. I'm alright if they leverage some day 3 picks to move up, but they could plausibly use them all.

There really is Never an excess of picks lol

 But the point was , i think , more picks than Bills can get on the field this year or keep on PS.

 Beane will adjust accordingly I suspect

1 minute ago, KOKBILLS said:

 

Trading down could provide additional picks to help move up from 56 and 62 into what I think is the real nice area of this Draft for the Bills needs... 30-50...

 

Also... I keep hearing this argument about all the roster spots that are locked up... Are we saying that players like Baylon Spector, Dwayne Carter, Damar Hamlin, Ja'Marcus Ingram, Dane Jackson, Cam Lewis, Buffalo Joe, Edefuan Eulofushio, and Javon Soloman are roster locks? I mean... Sure... Some, maybe even most of them, will make it. But to think we can't bring in competition to push a few of these guys is a little short sighted IMHO... 

I don't have any issue with 10 or more Draft picks because Christian Benford and Khalil Shakir things happen. Later round guys show up every now and again and on day one they may not be 100% ready, but coaches know for sure they are better depth than what we have and that makes the overall roster better... And probably cheaper. 

yes. teams need to invest in the future each year.

 But I for one and am in The Win now mode with this draft.

[Dr. Who]

3 minutes ago, 3rdand12 said:

There really is Never an excess of picks lol

 But the point was , i think , more picks than Bills can get on the field this year or keep on PS.

 Beane will adjust accordingly I suspect

I agree. I was just pushing back on that narrow focus, though as I said, I'll certainly be fine if they decide to use some picks to improve draft position.

 

This is also a function of spending far too much time on mock drafts, and discovering one has left out a position, or forgotten what one drafted just five minutes ago, so you end up with something embarrassing like two safeties and the like. My advice, don't drink and draft.

Edited 15 hours ago by Dr. Who

[3rdand12]

7 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

I agree. I was just pushing back on that narrow focus, though as I said, I'll certainly be fine if they decide to use some picks to improve draft position.

 

This is also a function of spending far too much time on mock drafts, and discovering one has left out a position, or forgotten what one drafted just five minutes ago, so you end up with something embarrassing like two safeties and the like. My advice, don't drink and draft.

Oh heck go ahead and have fun ! Neither of us are in the running as GM for a Day 😂

[MikePJ76]

2 hours ago, JGMcD2 said:

Why is trying to apply some objectivity to a complex topic pointless? 

it's pointless for a bunch of reasons and maybe the first one is that he is weighing pro bowls as a reason a draft pick was good.

 

That is a good starting point for why it is kind of useless excercise.

[gonzo1105]

49 minutes ago, TBBills Fan said:

I don't understand why people want us to trade down and acquire more picks.  

 

As it stands now, we won't be able to roster all of our picks. 

 

I'd like to see us moving up in the 2nd round for guys we like if need be and/or trading some late rounders for picks next year

People also said we wouldn’t roster all the guys last year and we did between active and PS and a UDFA made the roster. 
 

Trading down though isn’t necessarily about acquiring more picks to me. It’s more about acquiring a more valuable pick like in the 3rd and then that allows the Bills to move around in the mid rounds for guys if they like if they choose. Right now I don’t think the Bills will move up in round 2 because they won’t want to give up a 4th unless they get an additional 3rd or 4th 

[MikePJ76]

2 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

People also said we wouldn’t roster all the guys last year and we did between active and PS and a UDFA made the roster. 
 

Trading down though isn’t necessarily about acquiring more picks to me. It’s more about acquiring a more valuable pick like in the 3rd and then that allows the Bills to move around in the mid rounds for guys if they like if they choose. Right now I don’t think the Bills will move up in round 2 because they won’t want to give up a 4th unless they get an additional 3rd or 4th 

yea trading back is about multiple similar players being available at 30 after the guys you actually wanted are gone.  So from this perspective you try to move back a few spots and grab another top 100 pick which would give them 4.

 

its not about grabbing 3 more 6's.

[OldTimer1960]

2 hours ago, Mr Info said:

Tremendous story and makes me proud to be a Bills fan. Also, now feel that Beane will not be trading out of the first to draft in the top of the 2nd like last year. He’s going to let this young man be on the stage with Goodell.

While the story is nice, I don't think that it will have any bearing at all on whether the Bills trade out of the first.  If they do trade down, they will still let this young man announce the pick.

[TBBills Fan]

1 hour ago, Dr. Who said:

If you think the roster more than just this year, there are more needs, because a competent GM has to plan to draft and develop players to be ready to replace veterans you may not keep beyond 2025. Without even going into that deeply, I could see WR, G, RB, TE on offense, and it would be a nice idea to draft a QB to turn into a decent and cheap backup. On defense, there are positions you need at least one, and could easily double up on such as DT, Edge, CB. They are looking at LB, and may draft one higher than folks expect, and S could still use upgrading, imo. 

 

In short, there really isn't an excess of picks. I'm alright if they leverage some day 3 picks to move up, but they could plausibly use them all.

I could see WR and we need a TE3. We draft a RB, then we are gonna roster 5 RBs?  We have Gilliam, Cook, Ty, and big play ray. There isn't a spot unless we move one. 

 

We are set at guard, but a argument can be made we take one if we are thinking about 2 years from now.  But who we got waiting me be the guys. RB and G I see being next year picks. 

 

We need CB, DT, DE. Those are the first three 

 

Then let's add a WR, TE3, and maybe a LB, maybe a guard. 

 

That's what 7 rosterable spots. We have 10 picks now 

59 minutes ago, KOKBILLS said:

 

Trading down could provide additional picks to help move up from 56 and 62 into what I think is the real nice area of this Draft for the Bills needs... 30-50...

 

Also... I keep hearing this argument about all the roster spots that are locked up... Are we saying that players like Baylon Spector, Dwayne Carter, Damar Hamlin, Ja'Marcus Ingram, Dane Jackson, Cam Lewis, Buffalo Joe, Edefuan Eulofushio, and Javon Soloman are roster locks? I mean... Sure... Some, maybe even most of them, will make it. But to think we can't bring in competition to push a few of these guys is a little short sighted IMHO... 

I don't have any issue with 10 or more Draft picks because Christian Benford and Khalil Shakir things happen. Later round guys show up every now and again and on day one they may not be 100% ready, but coaches know for sure they are better depth than what we have and that makes the overall roster better... And probably cheaper. 

Those are fair points. If we move back to move back up. 

 

Most of those guys are on the roster next year. Competition is good. But we have to be okay with those draft picks being wasted if they don't push the incumbents out and are cut before the season starts 

 

Spector- definitely could upgrade.

Edufan and Carter are picks last development guys in year 2. They aren't going anywhere. 

Ingram and Lewis are jacks of all trades. Going to be hard for a rookie to take those spots

Jackson-isnt a roster lock as it is

Hamlin-could be bumped but is a good in case of emergency Fill in a game or two guy. But is there 4-6th round safety that is capable of that?

Edited 14 hours ago by TBBills Fan

[SoonerBillsFan]

I would rather go quality vs quantity this year.  Trade the 5ths and 6ths to move up a little 

[Bigvinny]

 

[TBBills Fan]

19 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

People also said we wouldn’t roster all the guys last year and we did between active and PS and a UDFA made the roster. 
 

Trading down though isn’t necessarily about acquiring more picks to me. It’s more about acquiring a more valuable pick like in the 3rd and then that allows the Bills to move around in the mid rounds for guys if they like if they choose. Right now I don’t think the Bills will move up in round 2 because they won’t want to give up a 4th unless they get an additional 3rd or 4th 

Yeah but if we want players that .and an impact right from the get go (I do), we may have to move up to get those guys and we have the ammo to do so. 

 

That doesn't mean we need to go crazy like Dad gave us the CC and said go get what you want, but I'd like to see us not wait and see who's left and have the bills really want to get difference makers with our first 3 picks. 

[gonzo1105]

1 minute ago, TBBills Fan said:

I could see WR and we need a TE3. We draft a RB, then we are gonna roster 5 RBs?  We have Gilliam, Cook, Ty, and big play ray. There isn't a spot unless we move one. 

 

We are set at guard, but a argument can be made we take one if we are thinking about 2 years from now.  But who we got waiting me be the guys. RB and G I see being next year picks. 

 

We need CB, DT, DE. Those are the first three 

 

Then let's add a WR, TE3, and maybe a LB, maybe a guard. 

 

That's what 7 rosterable spots. We have 10 picks now 

 

Its not about what we have right now though necessarily. I'm not trying to harp on you as they easily could just roster 7 guys like your saying and be fine. With that said, the Bills have safety depth but I'm not sure that Hamlin/Forrest are by any means locks to make this roster so they should have some competition. We need 1 CB and wouldn't surprise me if we add a 2nd to challenge Ingram & Dane Jackson who I don't think are locks to make it. We have 6 LB's but really only 3 of them are locks to make this roster as Andreessen, Spector, and Ulofoshio are going to have to battle for a spot with a draft pick.

 

Then we look at the Dline. Epenesa and Bosa are free agents, Jones and Ogunjobi are free agents. To me we need to draft 2 DT's in this draft and one edge with the depth of the class. We are pretty set on the offensive line with the exception of David Edwards who is a UFA after this year. Most Bills fans will tell you that Alec Anderson should step into that role and he could for sure but then they need to either find a position versatile guy like him to replace him or they need to find a starting guard and leave him in that role. TE3 you already discussed and WR. This doesn't even include Punter which we can probably get another UDFA guy to compete but if they want to lock it down they can use one of their 6ths.

 

So to me if you really want to press for spots

 

TE3, WR, OG, DE, DT, DT, LB, CB,CB, S, P. Thats 11 possible positions. Will they all make it probably not but there is enough space on the roster for legit competition for 10 guys to be selected. I personally think they'll take 8 or 9.

[SoonerBillsFan]

7 minutes ago, Bigvinny said:

 

Depending on who is there, trade back and get that 3rd round pick back

[gonzo1105]

6 minutes ago, Bigvinny said:

 

 

I 100% agree with this. I think I have 15 but I have like 30+ players in the 2nd and 3rd round graded but even the 4th and 5th round will have some good value.

[TBBills Fan]

5 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

 

Its not about what we have right now though necessarily. I'm not trying to harp on you as they easily could just roster 7 guys like your saying and be fine. With that said, the Bills have safety depth but I'm not sure that Hamlin/Forrest are by any means locks to make this roster so they should have some competition. We need 1 CB and wouldn't surprise me if we add a 2nd to challenge Ingram & Dane Jackson who I don't think are locks to make it. We have 6 LB's but really only 3 of them are locks to make this roster as Andreessen, Spector, and Ulofoshio are going to have to battle for a spot with a draft pick.

 

Then we look at the Dline. Epenesa and Bosa are free agents, Jones and Ogunjobi are free agents. To me we need to draft 2 DT's in this draft and one edge with the depth of the class. We are pretty set on the offensive line with the exception of David Edwards who is a UFA after this year. Most Bills fans will tell you that Alec Anderson should step into that role and he could for sure but then they need to either find a position versatile guy like him to replace him or they need to find a starting guard and leave him in that role. TE3 you already discussed and WR. This doesn't even include Punter which we can probably get another UDFA guy to compete but if they want to lock it down they can use one of their 6ths.

 

So to me if you really want to press for spots

 

TE3, WR, OG, DE, DT, DT, LB, CB,CB, S, P. Thats 11 possible positions. Will they all make it probably not but there is enough space on the roster for legit competition for 10 guys to be selected. I personally think they'll take 8 or 9.

I'd be fine with that. 

 

I guess I'd rather take those picks that would be on say P, LB, 2nd CB, G and move up for someone that is going to move the needle right away. 

 

If we see a potential playmaker, I'd rather they move up and get them than stand pat and gave guys battling it out for reserve roles 

 

Edit: plus we could add some UDFAs for that back end depth and competition 

Edited 14 hours ago by TBBills Fan

[Dr. Who]

2 minutes ago, TBBills Fan said:

I'd be fine with that. 

 

I guess I'd rather take those picks that would be on say P, LB, 2nd CB, G and move up for someone that is going to move the needle right away. 

 

If we see a potential playmaker, I'd rather they move up and get them than stand pat and gave guys battling it out for reserve roles 

Bills have been looking at some day 2 LBs. It might be a surprise position of priority. For me, it should be DT, CB, Edge, and boundary WR with speed. (I'm not sold on Palmer being much more than replacement level, even though they spent a decent amount on him in FA.) 

 

Early on, over on some other sites, I saw a fair amount of speculation that they want to upgrade G. Personally, I would take a day 3 developmental fella, but there was some innuendo there. I don't know if it was about some dissatisfaction with Torrence or not.

 

And overall, I agree that Beane needs to go after impact players, even if that means having less depth.