OldTimer1960

Nice solid re-signing. Chandler is a good piece to have on the offense.

I agree with your question, but I'd be very surprised if Monroe could be signed for "only" $8m/yr!

Those "grades" are.not from NFL team scouts, they are from some non-NFL "scouting service". While Austin certainly appears to be a great talent, I think that there is legitimate concern that he will ever be a "#1elite WR" due to his lack of size. I would be surprised if many NFL teams (given the choice between them coming out of college) wouldn't have taken Watkins over Austin. Again, not meant to demean Austin in any way - he finished last season strong and is very exciting. Yet, many here would be labeling him a bust had the Bills selected him - heck he only had 9 more catches last year than TJ Graham had as a rookie. To be clear, I am not saying that Austin looks like a bust - here, I am harping on a pet-peeve that some here think that if a rookie struggles, then is is instantly and forever a bust.

So, from "Blind Side" to Right side to inside? Couldn't resist that one, but I hadn't t hadn't thought of it like that - you might be right. I didn't say that Bill Belichick was a bad drafter, just that he wasn't special. Yes, the Patriats DID pick Tom Brady in the 6th round - that he turned out to be an all-time great was more than a little lucky. I do agree with you that it takes more than 1 player to win 10 plus games a year, BUT Brady is one of those EXTREMELY rare QBs that can carry a team even when the rest of the team isn't that good. Still, all that being said, I: 1. take your point - I'd be a little wary of someone that BB doesn't want 2. am in agreement that in the VAST majority of cases, it takes more than a good QB to win

Why? BB's drafting hasn't been special. He lucked into Tom Brady and Brady counts for A LOT. BB has had his share of miss-fires in the draft - they ALL do

I wouldn't spend much on Michael Oher. I am on the fence about Mike Evans - he might be very good, but I don't think it is a slam dunk - think he is a risky pick. I think I'd rather take Marqise Lee if they want a WR at 9. I am not a fan of Sefarian-Jenkins. Of course, I could be wrong about all 3, but that is my current view.

How would this lower any one else's asking price? I agree if he is still highly regarded he *might* affect the market slightly, but I wouldn't think much.

I would not be completely against trading up, but it isn't high on my list. While I understand your point about WRs, I think the reason none went in round 1 that year is because the real NFL scouts didn't like them as much as the "draft experts". The players you listed, other than Desean Jackson, have not played to the "hype" level pre-draft. Avery has been good, not great, and Thomas, Kelly and Sweed never panned out at all. Interestingly, Thomas, Kelly and Sweed were all bg "open when they are not" WRs.

I know that I am in the minority, but I don't really like the TE group that much - though I certainly see the value in having a great one. I think Ebron is a good, not great prospect and I hope they can get a great prospect in round 1. Now, if they trade down in round 1, I could be happy to get Ebron. I am not a big Seferian-Jenkins fan, but he is the next best prospect I think. Beyond those two, there are a bunch that sound to me like Scott Chandler and Tony Moeaki. I'd just as soon keep Chandler, if they can. I'd be interested in the TE view from any of the members here who have an in with NFL scouts. As I said, a great TE can really help an offense, maybe I am missing something wrt this year's TE prospects...

I agree, I would be fine with an OT in round 1. I do not think that the argument "best OT over the 2nd or 3rd best Wr" is relevant. I am not arguing that this is the case this year, but it is certainly possible for the 2nd, 3rd, even 4th best player at position X to be rated higher than the 1st player at position Y.

+1

He had earned a starting position last year and had 10 tackles in 3 games before being injured. I don't know if he could have kept up that pace, but it would have projected to more than 50 tackle in 16 games. I am not saying he is a star, just a good solid player that teams need.

I think that Carrington is the kind of versatile hard working player that is good to have on your roster. Of course, price and health are important considerations.

I don't think this is correct.

They won't have much once his rookie contract is up.

I don't know if Alex Carrington is fully recovered from his injury, but if so, I hope that the Bills can retain him. I think that he is good against both the run and pass and he can be a valuable player on defense. Thoughts?

Oh Man, these are HORRIBLE commercials!

I think that they have been proactive in the past. They have signed young players to extensions before their contract is up. Any contract extension "locking up" their young players involves negotiation - just as it does for players who are about to become Free Agents. That negotiation still comes down to finding a dollar value that the team thinks matches the predicted future production of that player and the player believing that the $ value is in line with what he could get if he plays his contract out. Sometimes extensions include what looks like a "discounted" salary for the player, but the player in return for a slightly lower salary often gets an "extension" bonus and higher salary in the near term and with that bonus in hand, the player doesn't have to worry so much about injury. To sign a young player to an extension, that player needs to be open to it AND the team and he still need to negotiate a mutually agreeable set of terms. Your comment makes it sound like it is as simple as walking into the player's house and saying "here, we decided to extend you. Sign here".

While I am as frustrated as anyone that Byrd won't sign, I don't think that tagging him is the answer. If there were a trade market for him, I really think that they'd have traded him last year. Teams know that they don't have to give up a 1st or 2nd round pick for him as the Bills truly have almost no leverage. It does suck, but I think the best course of action is to let him go in FA and use the money that they'd have spent on Byrd to extend other good young players AND sign a FA that can contribute this year. No doubt that Byrd is a very good player, but there is really very little the Bills can do to force him to stay (that is, if they want good play for a full season AND to get something for him. Better to spend this money on player(s) that want to be here and contribute.

If that happened, I'd be happy with Taylor Lewan and could live with WR Mike Evans, WR Marqise Lee, TE Ebron and maybe LB CJ Mosley or Barr. Would strongly consider trade down if Lewan weren't available and an offer came in.

I was a bit skeptical given level of comp, but he proved his elite athletic ability at combine to confirm his production. Interview I heard with him on NFL Network was extremely impressive - the guy just wants to be great. No prospect is without risk, but he has the ability, production and attitude to more than warrant the 9th pick. If he is available, I hope that they take him rather than trade down.

Doug Flutie really didn't have a very successful NFL career. His good year with the Bills was pretty much it, if I recall correctly.

Just like all 31 other teams didn't in picks 1-68.

I think he is fast/athletic enough to come close to Vernon Davis' production, but I am not sure that he is the type that you can just throw the ball in his general area and expect that he will out-jump a DB or LB when he IS covered. If I KNEW that he would have the same career as Vernon Davis, I am still not sure that I'd spend the 9th pick in this draft on him. In my opinion, Davis is good, but not great.

I agree that TE is a need. I also think that Ebron could be in the conversation at the 9th pick, but I don't think he is a star. Vernon Davis is very good, a bit more athletic than Ebron - and yet Davis is not really a star. Davis has averaged about 50 catches and 7 TDs per year over his career. I also don't think that at 6'4", Ebron "is open when he is not". That's Calvin Johnson, Anquan Bolden, Alshon Jefferies, Brandon Marshal - not many other guys. I am not totally sold on Mike Evans, either, but I think that he better fits that description than does Ebron.