OldTimer1960

Even with the extra picks there is no certainty that they will be able to trade up for a QB. Both SF and the Jets will still likely draft ahead of them and neither of those teams would trade out so Buffalo could take the QB. The Bills will really have to bottom out and make sure that they lose both games to the Jets if they want a good QB prospect next year.

What does that strategy do for anyone? 5-11,6-10 does nothing except leave the Bills on the outside looking in on the "good QB prospect derby". In my view, they are straddling the line - half looking to get a QB in the draft and half looking to be decent in this season. Those goals are contrary to each other. Tyrod is not a QB that can be competitive in the playoffs without a GREAT team around him and this most certainly is not a great team.

I hope that you are right, but I don't see it that way.

sadly, that won't be enough ammo to get a good QB prospect unless the Bills' own pick is top 5.

My view is that the LBs and secondary are going to be very big weaknesses. With Darby gone, you have Seymour or Gaines (both downgrades) starting at corner. One CB injured and I don't know how they could even play nickel. No safety depth and only 2 starting caliber LBs on the team.

The point is that they weren't willing to pay him what the Franchise tag would require.

This deal is only about the draft picks they got. If they like either Mathews or Gaines enough to re-sign them, it will be a bonus.

Whether they admit it or not, this is about ensuring a poor record to be close enough to the top of the draft to even be able to pull off a trade up for a QB. KC's first is going to be in the 20s, so likely not enough to package with say the 10th pick to get into the top 2

I like the trades long term (only the draft picks). Mathews is one year here and gone as a FA and Gaines is of no consequence. This year is going to be very painful to watch - think nearly 2016 Browns bad. Sadly, the thing that could screw everything up for next year would be Tyrod sandlotting his way to 5 or 6 wins thus keeping us out of reach of a good QB prospect next year. Watkins will be a FA next year and they did not expect that they would be willing to pay enough to keep him.

There isn't enough talent on this defense to rebound. They have a nice DL, bottom of the league LBs 1 starting caliber cornerback 2 average safeties and zero depth in the secondary and LBs

I wasn't trying to criticize what they got for Watkins, I was responding to those who think that Gaines was an important part of the deal - that's all.

With today's fire sale, I would not be surprised to see them cut whomever is necessary in order to get a comp pick. It would accomplish getting the comp pick and adding more assurance that this will be a 4 or 5 win team that will be picking high in each round. Next thing they'll be tipping the league off to when to do Dareus' drug tests to get him suspended

I think those are some rose colored glasses you got on. Mathews is ok, but is nowhere near the threat that Watkins was. Heck, if he was that good the Eagles would not have had to add a 3rd round pick to get Ronald Darby. Mathews was the throw-in the real price for Darby was the 3rd rounder. Gaines is no great answer at CB. He is a 5'9" cornerback who has started 10 games the last two years after starting on an awful 2014 Rams team as a rookie. I know INTS don't tell the whole story, but he has only 2 in his career. The trade was Watkins for a second rounder with Gaines an after thought

Likely they will fumble their way to 5 wins somehow and miss out on the good QB prospects

Gaines was their starting CB in 2014 - on an awful team. He missed all of 2015 and was a backup as best I can tell last year only playing in 11 games. Watkins was traded for a 2nd round pick and a throw in who will make this team only because they have no CBs beyond Tre White. Corrected: Gaines started 10 games last year for the Rams, but is still not a quality starter at 5'9".

Gaines is 5'9" and isn't a starting caliber CB - he started on an awful Rams team as a rookie, missed all of 2015 and was a backup last year playing in only 11 games

I think they are CLEARLY building draft picks for next year in order to take a good QB prospect. It is risky business because there a lot of draft "misses" even among very highly drafted QBs. Still, they now own 2 1sts, 2 2nds and 2 3rds. The Bills' own picks look to be almost sure to be top 10, maybe top 5. These trades weakend both the offense and defense, in my opinion. Mathews is an OK starting WR, but he doesn't provide the threat that Watkins (when healthy) does. The trade of Darby means that Seymour will likely be starting at CB and there is now practically NO depth at CB, S and LB on defense. I will not be surprised if another trade is made for more picks. Also, watch for some of the FAs signed this year to be cut in order to try to get an additional comp pick - maybe at the end of round 3. No way to spin it other than they are looking to the future.

That was one of his skills, but not the only one. Cribbs was a very good RB, in my opinion.

Thank you for the detailed reports! I am looking forward to the next.

The next post said he just missed making a diving reception. One person sees the guy make a bad drop and the other sees a great attempt at a bad throw

I had the honor of watching OJ Simpson's full career and he was incredible. Still, I think that some of the things that Barry Sanders did were even more amazing. Both were essentially the only offensive threat on their team and, as such, defenses knew what was coming and still couldn't stop it. THAT is true dominance.

I am excited to see how he does in the NFL. He certainly had a very good college career and I think that those who question his speed are a bit off base. As someone up thread said, he isn't Von Miller fast, but he has similar speed to some very good NFL LBs. I think getting him and Lawson back this year is a lot like having and extra 1st and 2nd round picks this year. Main fear with Ragland is him being over his best playing weight. Hope he is in great shape.

I think that Lawson will be a good-very good all-around DE, but don't expect a lot of sacks. 7-8 sacks a year and very good run defense is what I hope for from him. If he is able to do that for several years, he will have been well worth the draft selection. I think his game is similar to the inexplicably much maligned Chris Kelsay, whom I always thought was a very good player. I'd hope for a bit better pass rush from Lawson, though.

Yet, every year several CBs are drafted in the first round. Those NFL teams still think it is a premium position.

And they are both considerably lighter than Ragland.