Bills Related Draft News & Discussion

[MrEpsYtown]

I am trying to prepare myself for what looks like a bunch of perceived reaches in the first round. More than any other year, there does not appear to be any consensus on stuff aside from Ward is going 1 and Carter and Hunter are the two best players. Outside of that, it seems that mocks are really all over the place. 

 

I think we just have to prepare ourselves for more "Ricky Pearsall" type of moves where guys go in the first round who draft people had going in round three, creating perceived reaches. This draft feels like it may be a little unconventional. 

[mjt328]

10 hours ago, DJB said:

I’m just ready for the draft to happen. This week is always smoke week 

 

Every year, there are leaks about the Bills being heavily interested in a player.  It always happens a couple days before the draft.  And we never draft that player.  I'm convinced it's our staff purposely putting out nonsense to throw other teams off.

 

For 3-4 years it was always a running back.  Then James Cook emerged and that rumor wasn't really believable anymore.

 

I'm just going to assume these rumors about Carson Schwesinger are the same.  Drafting a linebacker that high just doesn't make sense.  We play mostly Nickel, which means only two LBs on the field for most of the game.  LB is a position that guys play 95-100% of snaps.  We just handed Terrel Bernard a big contract.  And even if Matt MIlano doesn't return to his old self, Dorian Williams played well in his place most of last year.  It's hard to see a rookie getting ANY snaps in this defense.  Much less any meaningful playing time.

 

[OldTimer1960]

1 hour ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I am trying to prepare myself for what looks like a bunch of perceived reaches in the first round. More than any other year, there does not appear to be any consensus on stuff aside from Ward is going 1 and Carter and Hunter are the two best players. Outside of that, it seems that mocks are really all over the place. 

 

I think we just have to prepare ourselves for more "Ricky Pearsall" type of moves where guys go in the first round who draft people had going in round three, creating perceived reaches. This draft feels like it may be a little unconventional. 

I think you’re spot on.  

1 hour ago, mjt328 said:

 

Every year, there are leaks about the Bills being heavily interested in a player.  It always happens a couple days before the draft.  And we never draft that player.  I'm convinced it's our staff purposely putting out nonsense to throw other teams off.

 

For 3-4 years it was always a running back.  Then James Cook emerged and that rumor wasn't really believable anymore.

 

I'm just going to assume these rumors about Carson Schwesinger are the same.  Drafting a linebacker that high just doesn't make sense.  We play mostly Nickel, which means only two LBs on the field for most of the game.  LB is a position that guys play 95-100% of snaps.  We just handed Terrel Bernard a big contract.  And even if Matt MIlano doesn't return to his old self, Dorian Williams played well in his place most of last year.  It's hard to see a rookie getting ANY snaps in this defense.  Much less any meaningful playing time.

 

I get the feeling that they are a little down on Williams.  I like what I see when he plays, but some say he isn’t good in pass coverage.

[DJB]

Please no reaches this year . 
 

We need elite talent take the BPA

[Sestak4ever]

3 hours ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I am trying to prepare myself for what looks like a bunch of perceived reaches in the first round. More than any other year, there does not appear to be any consensus on stuff aside from Ward is going 1 and Carter and Hunter are the two best players. Outside of that, it seems that mocks are really all over the place. 

 

I think we just have to prepare ourselves for more "Ricky Pearsall" type of moves where guys go in the first round who draft people had going in round three, creating perceived reaches. This draft feels like it may be a little unconventional. 

I saw where some teams do not have a first round grade on any of the quarterbacks this year, but you know some will reach for them. Got to hope we can land some starters.

[OldTimer1960]

1 hour ago, DJB said:

Please no reaches this year . 
 

We need elite talent take the BPA

There is likely not going to be “elite” talent at 30 let alone later.

[Royale with Cheese]

3 hours ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I am trying to prepare myself for what looks like a bunch of perceived reaches in the first round. More than any other year, there does not appear to be any consensus on stuff aside from Ward is going 1 and Carter and Hunter are the two best players. Outside of that, it seems that mocks are really all over the place. 

 

I think we just have to prepare ourselves for more "Ricky Pearsall" type of moves where guys go in the first round who draft people had going in round three, creating perceived reaches. This draft feels like it may be a little unconventional. 

 

I honestly think this is the weakest draft class I have ever seen.  

I have been a fan of the NFL my whole life but really paid attention to the draft since I was in college....so 25 drafts and this is #25.

[TheWeatherMan]

1 hour ago, DJB said:

Please no reaches this year . 
 

We need elite talent take the BPA

We need elite talent yes, but ever more so we need players that contribute and can’t afford to whiff on players.  The Kincaid, Elam, Coleman and Bishop picks have crushed this team. 

Edited 2 hours ago by TheWeatherMan

[boyst]

27 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

I honestly think this is the weakest draft class I have ever seen.  

I have been a fan of the NFL my whole life but really paid attention to the draft since I was in college....so 25 drafts and this is #25.

God we are old. 

[mjt328]

24 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

There is likely not going to be “elite” talent at 30 let alone later.

 

Elite prospect at #30?  That never happens.  Those guys are gone in the Top 5-10 picks every year.

But lots of guys drafted later turn out to be elite once in the NFL.  Just like some of those Top 5 elite prospects will bust.  

It's just a lot harder when you draft later, and requires much better scouting.

 

Always picking in the late 20s/early 30s is only one reason we struggle to find elite talent.  Personally, I think we focus too much on roster needs, instead of the best player available (particularly early).  We draft heavily for pure scheme fits, rather than find different ways for coaching to utilize high-end physical talent.  Beane also seems to prefer stockpiling picks and getting more swings, rather than trading up and trying for the homerun.

 

[jahnyc]

This might be the year to trade up if the draft is weak overall and there are not many players with first round grades.

[stlbills13]

1 minute ago, jahnyc said:

This might be the year to trade up if the draft is weak overall and there are not many players with first round grades.

If you can get a discount, I'm in 

[Royale with Cheese]

7 minutes ago, boyst said:

God we are old. 

 

I think God is older than us.

[Bullfrog]

While I can't think of many but lightning does strike once in a while for pick 30.

 

T.J. Watt and Reggie Wayne I believe were pick 30. It can't be very good odds though.

 

Honestly a DT would probably have the biggest impact for Buffalo 

 

[boyst]

8 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

I think God is older than us.

His scouting report is strong. His RAS is great but needs to bulk up.

[MrEpsYtown]

25 minutes ago, jahnyc said:

This might be the year to trade up if the draft is weak overall and there are not many players with first round grades.

 

I could see them trying to get up for that elite talent, but it seems unlikely. 

 

I think it's just going to be a plug-the-holes kind of draft. A corner, probably two DTs, and edge. It may feel pretty underwhelming. 

 

 

12 minutes ago, boyst said:

His scouting report is strong. His RAS is great but needs to bulk up.

 

Arms are too short for my liking and I hear there are off-the-field concerns. 

Edited 1 hour ago by MrEpsYtown

[SoonerBillsFan]

39 minutes ago, boyst said:

God we are old. 

I really started getting into the draft about 93'.  Chris Berman made it cool to watch. 

[sven233]

28 minutes ago, TheWeatherMan said:

We need elite talent yes, but ever more so we need players that contribute and can’t afford to whiff on players.  The Kincaid, Elam, Coleman and Bishop picks have crushed this team. 

 

Wow.....I think calling these players "whiffs" is not really warranted yet.  Elam, sure.  He was a big swing and a miss.  But to say Kincaid hasn't helped this team is just wrong. 

 

He hasn't hit the superstar levels we have hoped for yet, but it has only been 2 seasons.  And quite honestly, he hasn't been used correctly based on his strengths.  In college, he made his living up the seams and on deep crossers and overs.....a lot of down the field stuff.  So far, we haven't played to those strengths as much as we should have.  He is being used on screens and short flairs and stick routes.  We started using him more down the field last year later in the season and then he got hurt and was never healthy again.  Is he a good blocker?  No.  Does he have to work on getting stronger?  Absolutely.  But to say his a "whiff" is just wrong (especially for a late first round pick.  He will be better.  It could also simply come down to a usage thing......  Tre McBride is considered one of the best young TEs in the league.  Some may even say he is the best and he just got a massive contract.  He averaged 10.3 yards a catch.  Kincaid, the guy you just called a "whiff"......you know what he averaged?  10.2 yards a catch.  The difference?  Kincaid had 75 targets for 447 yards.  McBride?  He had 147 targets for 1146 yards!  So yeah.....do the math.  If nothing else changes, and you just double Kincaid's targets, all of a sudden the difference is pretty negligible.  But, with the "Everybody Eats" philosophy this team has, no pass catcher will approach 150 targets and therefore will not put up the yards.  That said, Kincaid needs more targets and I think he will produce a lot more.

 

As for Bishop, he was a 2nd round rookie that got hurt and missed the entirety of camp.  Then, he is thrust into important snaps and was learning on the job.  Not sure what you expect there.  And the fact is, he did get better.  He wasn't great, but he showed improvement and still a very athletic dude that now has a year under his belt and he will have every opportunity to win a starting spot this season.  So to say he is a "whiff?"  Makes no sense.  

 

And finally, we have Keon.  It's no secret that I didn't like the pick and would have never made it.  I had him as a late 3rd or 4th round guy and would have never drafted him where he was.  That said, even as one of his harshest critics, there is no way you can call him a "whiff" yet.  He was a rookie that again, in my opinion, was over-drafted but also did make a few plays last season.  Had 2 of his best games before he got hurt.  Do I like the way he finished the season after coming back?  Absolutely not.  He was pretty useless.  But to call him a complete bust after his rookie season is a bit of a stretch.  That said, I don't have the highest of hopes for him and I don't think he will ever develop into a WR1, or maybe even a WR2.  But that's my opinion now.  It's not fair to the guy to say for sure he won't get there after his rookie season.  You have to give him a chance to prove he was a "whiff."

[MrEpsYtown]

8 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

I really started getting into the draft about 93'.  Chris Berman made it cool to watch. 

 

I remember the Eric Moulds draft, so 96ish is probably how far back I remember. 

 

Since then, the only draft I missed was 2003. I was playing college football, and we were in spring ball, having our intrasquad scrimmage. That year, one of my HS teammates was drafted in the first round. The only time a guy in my life, a teammate of mine got drafted and missed that darn thing. 

[TheWeatherMan]

3 minutes ago, sven233 said:

 

Wow.....I think calling these players "whiffs" is not really warranted yet.  Elam, sure.  He was a big swing and a miss.  But to say Kincaid hasn't helped this team is just wrong. 

 

He hasn't hit the superstar levels we have hoped for yet, but it has only been 2 seasons.  And quite honestly, he hasn't been used correctly based on his strengths.  In college, he made his living up the seams and on deep crossers and overs.....a lot of down the field stuff.  So far, we haven't played to those strengths as much as we should have.  He is being used on screens and short flairs and stick routes.  We started using him more down the field last year later in the season and then he got hurt and was never healthy again.  Is he a good blocker?  No.  Does he have to work on getting stronger?  Absolutely.  But to say his a "whiff" is just wrong (especially for a late first round pick.  He will be better.  It could also simply come down to a usage thing......  Tre McBride is considered one of the best young TEs in the league.  Some may even say he is the best and he just got a massive contract.  He averaged 10.3 yards a catch.  Kincaid, the guy you just called a "whiff"......you know what he averaged?  10.2 yards a catch.  The difference?  Kincaid had 75 targets for 447 yards.  McBride?  He had 147 targets for 1146 yards!  So yeah.....do the math.  If nothing else changes, and you just double Kincaid's targets, all of a sudden the difference is pretty negligible.  But, with the "Everybody Eats" philosophy this team has, no pass catcher will approach 150 targets and therefore will not put up the yards.  That said, Kincaid needs more targets and I think he will produce a lot more.

 

As for Bishop, he was a 2nd round rookie that got hurt and missed the entirety of camp.  Then, he is thrust into important snaps and was learning on the job.  Not sure what you expect there.  And the fact is, he did get better.  He wasn't great, but he showed improvement and still a very athletic dude that now has a year under his belt and he will have every opportunity to win a starting spot this season.  So to say he is a "whiff?"  Makes no sense.  

 

And finally, we have Keon.  It's no secret that I didn't like the pick and would have never made it.  I had him as a late 3rd or 4th round guy and would have never drafted him where he was.  That said, even as one of his harshest critics, there is no way you can call him a "whiff" yet.  He was a rookie that again, in my opinion, was over-drafted but also did make a few plays last season.  Had 2 of his best games before he got hurt.  Do I like the way he finished the season after coming back?  Absolutely not.  He was pretty useless.  But to call him a complete bust after his rookie season is a bit of a stretch.  That said, I don't have the highest of hopes for him and I don't think he will ever develop into a WR1, or maybe even a WR2.  But that's my opinion now.  It's not fair to the guy to say for sure he won't get there after his rookie season.  You have to give him a chance to prove he was a "whiff."

Whiffs and/or don’t contribute.  Not a single player mentioned above positively contributed to the teams loss in the playoffs.  Compare that to the chiefs draft picks.