Nightcrawler

I'm a huge fan of speculating and mock drafts, but the Bills will not pick a corner or safety in round #1 unless they pick up an extra first round pick. Even then, I still think OC/DE/OLB/TE would be the positions addressed before the secondary. And, I love the Bills, but Buffalo won't be picking at #29. In all sincerity expect a 9-7 or 10-6 team likely picking between #19-#24. And, the Bills will either pick OC, Alex Mack, California, OLB, Aaron Curry, Wake Forest, or one of top 2-3 DE's in the first round. Random thought: If you were the Bills FO, would you trade a 1st round pick and James Hardy for Anquan Boldin?

LOL Yes. Huff has struggled mightly as a first round pick, but he still has some talent and is young enough that I think he could flourish in the right defensive system. I don't expect him to be a Pro Bowler or a top 10 FS in the league, but I think he has the potential to still be an above average player at his position and a starter in this league. Would you give up a 5th round pick in next year's draft to get him? I would. I like Ko Simpson, but he has so far been injury prone. And, I like George Wilson's hustle/effort, but I think Huff would be an upgrade over Wilson. Thoughts? a 5th rounder or 6th rounder for Huff?

BuffaninATL, I apologize that my thoughts didn't meet your specifications and/or your grammatical standards/evaluations. I will be sure to tread more carefully in the future. After all, I was only interested in creating a lively discussion. So, I will just resist the thought of telling you that in your response you had several comma splices and multiple misuses of both the colon and the use of the period. Why do I think Hardy will be a bust? Sometimes...it is just fun to speculate. After all, this is what Mel Kiper does, so I thank you for the comparison. Please allow me to share my last Mel Kiper "prediction", BuffaninATL. You are probably as arrogant as you sound in your response. Additionally, your goal on this site is to give worthless responses rather than contribute to a discussion. You are a pessimist by nature. Lastly, it is probably a fair assumption you live in Atlanta. Do me a favor and the rest of us on a post. Give a real thought or go play with your "Magic The Gathering" cards. All the best, Nightcrawler

It's eating me alive to think that the Bills traded a 2nd and 3rd round pick to get a first round bust in John McCargo. I remember this draft and how shocked draft analysts and media professionals were that Buffalo traded up for McCargo when he could have easily been picked up in the second or third round of that 2006 draft. Still, to get a 4th round pick from Indy for McCargo is a good deal for Buffalo. The question now is...how does this additional 4th rounder affect Buffalo's draft? And, how big of a need does DT become in April's draft with a noticeably lack of depth at the DT position? I welcome your thoughts. As for me, I know many people can point to OLB and TE as our biggest needs. The arguments are valid. But, I still think Buffalo needs to strengthen its offensive and defensive line play first in the draft. Buffalo gives up way too many sacks (a la Trent Edwards eating turf and having his brains scrambled), and let's face it...the Bills do not have a strong pass rush! Sure, there is talent on the line in Stroud, Schobel, and Williams. Yet, there is a lack of depth and versatility on the line to pressure the opposing quarterback. With an additional 4th round pick, I would approach the draft this way. 1st Pick-OC Alex Mack (Fowler is going to be a free agent and he is the weakest starter on the O-line) 2nd Pick-DE (bolster that pass rush, and we can get rid of Copeland Bryan) 3rd Pick-OLB (Digorgio, Ellison, and Bowen bring depth to the linebacking corp, but this pick adds a likely starter) 4th Pick-TE (We keep Royal for blocking and two tight ends sets. This pick replaces either Schouman or Fine) 4th Pick-OG/OT (We will lose Kirk Chambers, a swing tackle unless he resigns. Whittle and Preston are also free agents. I would resign Chambers and Preston for depth. Let Whittle go. I wouldn't mind resigning Fowler but he would only be a backup) 5th Pick-DT (Somebody to serve as the 4th/5th DT to rotate with the combo of Johnson, Stroud and Williams) 6th Pick-FS (Be honest...Ko Simpson is serviceable. George Wilson, Wendling, and Bryan Scott are all great special team contributors, but it never hurts to get a potential FS to either add more depth or replace one of these special teamers) 7th Pick-FB (He has only one job...block! Buffalo either needs to get a blocking FB or abandon the FB concept completely) Offseason signings 1. A veteran backup quarterback (Losman is gone, and Hamdan is not a legit backup) 2. A true #2 Receiver (unfortunately the Dallas Roy Williams signing makes it almost impossible for Buffalo to get a legit #2 without giving up a 1st and 2nd round pick. Evans, Reed, and Parrish form a good corp, but please know that James Hardy will not turn into a true #2. He'll become a competent goal line/red zone receiver but will never be more than a #4 receiver on a depth chart. What do you think? --Nightcrawler

I agree with "The Dean." A 3rd and 6th round choice for Tony Gonzalez is not breaking the bank. Tony is a class-act and a blue-collar type worker. He brings his best every day and is a fan favorite. Sure, he is on the downside of his career, but he really does have 2-3 years left as an above average TE in this league. Buffalo can then spend its first pick on OC Alex Mack. The Bills can then use their second pick on a DE to bolster a generally weak pass rush. Fill in an OLB with the 4th pick and a backup OG and Safety with the other picks. Resign Kirk Chambers, Duke Preston and Jabari Greer for depth. Let Fowler and Whittle go. Let Fine and Schouman battle it out for the 3rd TE on the roster next year behind Gonzalez and Royal. Let's go Buffalo!!!

Yes, The Bills use a "Zone Blocking Scheme." It can be highly effective with quick offensive lineman who are average blockers. Buffalo has average blockers, but they aren't quick. This is why you will often see Buffalo have huge gains on some running plays, and the majority of other running plays barely produce anything. This scheme is a feast and famine type running game with the line we have. It is very simple. Peters needs to shape up. Dockery needs to step it up. Fowler needs to be nothing more than a backup lineman. Butler is a blue-collar worker who is alright. Walker is a jack of all trades. He is decent at every position besides center at the line but not truly great at any position. Whittle we need to let go. Bell has tremendous upside but is at least two years away from cracking a tackle spot. Chambers and Preston are decent backups who are free agents at the end of this season. Buffalo should use its first round pick on a guy with a nasty demeanor and knows how to organize a line. The best OC in the draft is Alex Mack out of California. This should be Buffalo's first pick.

Adam "Pacman" Jones has talent, but the Bills won't go for a guy like that. Buffalo takes seriously the need to be a "high character" guy both on and off the field. Jones doesn't fit that, bill (pun intended). Buffalo let guys like Travis Henry, Anthony Hargrove, and Willis McGahee go because their poor character outweighed the performance on the field. There is no doubt skill wise that Jones is more talented than Reggie Corner, but our secondary is pretty deep. We have one of the deepest return units with Parrish, McGee, McKelvin, and Fred Jackson. Additionally, although it is always nice to consider getting a talent upgrade at any position, if Buffalo is going to make a trade, then it needs to be at Defensive End or on the O-line. Buffalo is a playoff caliber team; however, Jones isn't going to be enough of a difference maker to get the Bills in the AFC Championship game. Nice thought-wrong player. Jones doesn't fit our team's defensive scheme or character profile.

Absoultely right on! The Bills defense relies too much on their blitz packages for the pressure and for the sacks that should more often be coming from the defensive line. We have a good set of defensive tackles in Stroud, Williams, Johnson & McCargo. But, our defensive ends need to play with more consistently. An upgrade in skill through the draft is our best way to do it! Let's be honest. Copeland Bryan is a fringe player. Ryan Denney & Chris Kelsay are "hustle" guys but truly nothing more than backups on great-to-elite teams. Schobel is talented, but he really has only 1-2 years left as an above average starter in this league. Chris Ellis definitely needs some playing time to find out what he can bring to the table. If he turns out to be nothing more than a 3rd down pass rush specialist, then the Bills D-line is truly thin in talent and skill. Buffalo should spend a second round pick on a DE in the upcoming draft. And, the club should also consider bringing in a younger veteran (6 years or less) into the fold to replace Bryan and/or Denney.