OldTimer1960

I believe that he has the size, arm and athletic ability to succeed. I believe that he has the work ethic and intelligence to succeed. Because QB is such a difficult position to judge, I don't know for sure that he will succeed. I believe that it is foolish to judge him (or any rookie) too harshly after one season. In my opinion, he played pretty well (save two really bad games) for a rookie QB with mostly unproven and young receivers. I would hope to see significant progress from he and the offense overall, but I still would hope for further improvement the year after, too. As much as some here think that a rookie season defines a player, I strongly disagree.

Why is it logical to think that the offense and defense need good players in order to succeed, but the Special Teams coach is supposed to take any group of players regardless of talent and desire and make them into a good unit? I am not a huge Crossman fan, but he has been in the league for some time, so some coaches think he belongs. Not to defend him, but recall how decimated the secondary was to start last season? That caused turnover on the bottom of the roster as backups/special teamers were forced to play defense and Crossman had to make due with the guys signed off the street. At least give him a chance this year and see how they do. If they are still bottom of the league, then we'll suspect that it is mostly or at least partly Crossman's fault.

Except you can make that case for ANY position... Tom Brady was a 6th round pick and Kurt Warner wasn't drafted, so why pick a QB high? Andre Reed was a 4th round pick - don't need WR high, Antonio Gates was a 4th or 5th round pick - don't need TE high,....

I agree with your general point, but I think that you are being too generous calling Robinson, Mack and Watkins "once in a generation". Just two years ago, Andrew Luck came out and I'd say he was at least on level above these guys. No doubt that Robinson, Mack and Watkins are very good prospects - a level above others in this draft, but I don't think that they are clearly above other prospects in the last decade.

If a 4th round pick doesn't become a long-term starter, I wouldn't call tha a "miss". That is the most likely outcome that late in the draft. You hope to find starters, are reasonably happy if they are good backups and ST players and not too surprised if they don't stick around in the league very long.

I agree that QB is the most important position, but I disagree that it would never make sense to trade up to #1 for any other position. If some team thinks Jadaveon Clowney will be as good as Bruce Smith was, then I would say it would be worth it.

I agree with your point - it is a point that some here miss. I think of this every time I read someone criticizing the Bills for "blowing" a 3rd round pick on TJ Graham or some similar rant. Yet, you can't fill out a competitive roster with only 1st and 2nd round picks. Whether it be by skill, luck or a combination, a team has to hit on some of these later picks to be successful.

I didn't see any QB Needy teams lining up to trade a high pick for Cousins and RG 3 didn't play very well last year.

I think that your use of "stud" RT and "stud" WR are inconsistent. I think you can find an acceptable starting RT in the 2nd or 3rd round and a "stud" WR in round 1 or a "stud" RT in round 1 and an acceptable starter at WR in round 2. Of course I am just using general probabilities - you can get great players at any position in any round - if you are lucky (eg Brady in round 6) and you can get crap players at any position in high rounds (long list of busts at multiple positions) I'd love to get a top playmaker for the offense AND a top OT to help both the running and passing games, but chances are you might get one great player and one adequate starter. If you get both, then great, but I don't think you can just say that it is easy to find a great (or even good) starting RT in round 2 or 3 like it is nearly a sure thing. You might just as easily find a great WR in the 2nd or 3rd round...

+1 I am amazed at how impatient fans and media are with Manual. QB is HARD to learn in the NFL. Manual had some good games and a couple of very bad games - like most rookie QBs. Colin Kaepernick had some pretty bad games last year and he had a lot better OL and receivers AND is in his 2nd year... Good thing the impatient ones didn't run Aaron Williams out of town, he looked darned good in his 3rd year. I don't remember Stevie Johnson or Fred Jackson making much impact early in their career, either...

I think I might be able to make the counter argument (not to say that it is the only way to go). For years the Patriots have been competing at the highest level in spite of rarely having "play maker" WRs. Their formula seems to be to give Tom Brady excellent protection and then he can work with average receivers. No doubt that Gronkowski and his other TE (name escapes me, but the one in jail) were play makers, but they haven't been there the whole time that the Pats have been outstanding. I don't have stats to point to, but whenever I see the Pats, Brady seems to have all day to pass (perhaps because the OL is very good and partly because Brady does a very good job of getting the ball out before pressure gets to him)

I am in agreement that all draftees have some questions, but some have fewer questions than others. I will grant that Evans sure looks like he has limitless potential - great size, great leaping ability, good speed, good hands... However, we don't know if he can really get open in a normal offense. Many (most?) of his catches came after "Johnny Football" scrambled around like Fran Tarkenton for 10 minutes and DBs lost track of Evans. Can't count on that in the NFL and I am not totally convinced that you can just throw it up to him and expect him to out-battle the DB when he is covered. Does he look like he could do that? - Yes. Meanwhile, I am not seeing all of these great starting RT candidates that will be available in round 2 - 4. Maybe they CAN find a good prospect to come in and play RT in the next 1-2 years that will be better than Eric Pears, but I don't know who those prospects are. Is it Morgan Moses, Antonio Richardson, ???? I am pretty sure, though that most of the top WR prospects will be gone by the Bills' pick in round 2, so I am not sure what they should do....

Kaepernick has a near-perfect situation with an outstanding OL with 2 1st round OTs and a 1st round OG, a pro-bowl TE, WRs Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin and RB Frank Gore. Yet, he hasn't been all that great, so I think he is too unproven to give up 2 1st round PICKS for.

I am REALLY torn regarding which way to go. To me, most important is to get solid players in round 1-3. While I'd lean to WR in round 1 (because I think that by Bills' pick in round 2 5-7 WRs will be gone), I am not completely sold on Evans. I might even prefer Marqise Lee. I just don't know if I think Mike Evans will be a true top WR - if he can get seperTion in the NFL w/o Fran Tarkenton - err Johnny Manziel scrambling around for a long time then he could be GREAT, but I do fear that he could be midling to worse against NFL DBS. I'd MUCH prefer Sammy Watkins, but he won't be available. Between Evans and Lee, I think Lee is the safer pick. Remember, not every (or even many) of the top WRs are these monster tall guys. There is still room for the fast shifty guys who can truly get open.

How would you get both Ebron and Benjamin in that scenario? I don't think Benjanin will be available with Bills' 2nd round pick.

Thank you. + 1

Ahh, insights from Mama's basement while playing video games...

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.