thurst44

Well, you know, we can't go back in time, so....

Made this same point in another thread...the compensatory 3rd pick is not as valuable as you might think. It's way more miss than hit. As for it definitively bringing you your left guard of the future, not too long ago, an NFL team with nearly a century's worth of history thought that same Williams was a tackle good enough to warrant the 14th pick overall in the draft. Branch was a solid piece of the D last year, likely worth a hypothetical late 3rd or 4th round pick. If three of this year's free agents are solid contributors, the loss of a mid-round pick was easily worth it.

Look back at the first compensatory pick for the past 10 years, and you'll find it's hardly idiotic. You've got 4 defensive players who had fewer tackles in their career than Branch had last year with the Bills, a couple skill players who bounced around practice squads, a guard who started 1 game in his two years in the NFL, two maaaaybe Alan Branch level defensive players in Landon Johnson and Eric Smith...oh, and of course, the greatest player of all time in Chasm Rinegartholtner.

So would you not have committed to Peyton Manning (28 ints, 3-13), Troy Aikman (9 tds, 18 ints, 1-15), John Elway (7 tds, 14 ints, 4-6), etc.? As rookie years go, Manuel's was average at worst.

You only closely study your own team and see the worst. The Seahawks let Mike James amass 158 yards; does that prove they are not a top defense? I hate to give you hopeful news, but in the second half the Bills D was near the top, and this is with the offense putting them on the field more than the average team. They have flaws, but they were a top 10 defense last year, and even with the loss of Byrd, they are on the rise.

They allowed the second fewest yards in the league during the second half of the season. There's reason to believe this defense is on the upswing and he's a large part of it.

They hired a new DC b/c of matters out of their control, and have been vocal they are NOT making major changes -- it's all been fan hypotheticals based on Schwartz's D in the past...maybe right, maybe wrong. Who are the 4-5 productive players who are being marginalized? Maybe Lawson, which would be unfortunate...but Alonso will likely be used more significantly.

Oh for crissake...his career is almost the exact same as Corey Graham, except Browner's a year older and has one third the tackles. Also, they're losing a ton of important players. Let's step back from the ledge here .

So Mario & Branch weren't enough for you? I'd say we're fine at DE. WRs have a lot of prospect. QB...seriously, look at the standard rookie qb season...Manuel actually played well for his level of experience and there's hope. The rest: well, it's early in the off-season....we'll see. But if you're questioning DE as "not very good," I question you.

We also signed K. Williams, A. Williams, Wood, etc....we tried to sign Byrd, but we can't tie him up and force him to be here....I mean, I understand that so many years of frustration is hard, but if it breaks you, find another distraction, another hobby, another obsession. Honestly, there was a lot of hope last year, and this off-season has been an intriguing gambit so far. It could fall apart and they could be 6-10 yet again. As optimistic as I am, I would not be shocked. But if you cannot have some hope, find some other pursuit. It's just f-ing sports. And I say that as an obsessive fan.

I do...over, way over...young team with a great defense and potential for a great running attack with improvement on line. Go Bills!

And complaining about it helps, how?

Word is we offered him 10mil...how is that stingy? Yes, it's not confirmed, but let's not just be negative for negativity's sake. This seems a good value pick...and considering their success with Hughes and Lawson, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt...kinda love what they're doing this FA season. Wish Byrd had signed with us, but that is in the past now.

Yes, we're all pretty frustrated at this point, but I don't see how offering 30mil guaranteed for first 3 yrs (and who knows for the rest of the contract) is "decid[ing] not to pay"

Plus a high ankle sprain may have been the WORST possible injury for a runner of his style. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does this year, healthy, and hopefully with upgrades on the line. That being said, if the start is 5-2 and he's nearing 1000 yards already, and contract talks start heating up, as ecstatic as I'd be, my superstitious side might begin to get a bit woozy. And, back to the subject of the thread, agreed that the Bills should just pay him the top salary. We are too close to being an elite defense to let a key piece (likely the most important one) go.

I know what you mean, but to counteract that negative, remind yourself what school did last year's first pick overall come from...and what conference that school is in.

Or we could look at it positively, as the Bills are building a team that is very young and very D heavy, and this can throw some cold water on the idea that D is irrelevant in this league. (and yes, Wilson had a great game, but essentially he built upon the defense who set the game's tone) I love Wilson too, but all 32 teams passed on him.

It's not the matter of QBs being spared competition, but wasting a good pick on a stretch at a position where there has already been a run when you could get a better player at a position which will immediately move this team up a level. If 4-5 QBs are taken for the Bills, it would be insane to grab a QB just for the sake of getting one, when you could get Mack, Matthews, Robinson, Watkins, Ebron. That said, I like EJ, but would love them to look into someone like Boyd, Mettenberger, or a directional Illinois QB in the 3rd (and get a combo of TE, WR, OT, OG with 3 previous picks).

This is kind of fitting as when I saw the headline, it took me a few beats to remember what Jackson was on our team this year and is on Seattle now. Was he even traveling with the team last year?

Well, as long as nobody's panicking!

Lynch is not > Spiller AND Jackson ... the two combined for 1800 yards to Lynch's 1200...and the second highest total for a 'Hawks RB was Robert Turbin's 200-something. The Bills running attack is the sum of its parts.

Even if Donnie Henderson is elevated to DC?

Counterpoint to that: KC put 5 players in the Pro Bowl last year while 2-14, and this year made the playoffs. A disproportionate number of players for a losing team can often be a harbinger of good things to come.

Many people here have said RG is a need. Urbik deserves a bit more love...he's a young guy who's been more-than-solid on the line, and every grading I've seen of him has been positive. Glenn, Wood, and Urbik are solid IMO...but, yes, LG & RT could definitely use replacing. As unexciting as it may be, would love if Matthews or Robinson fell to Bills in 1st and Richardson in 2nd.