OldTimer1960

It is common for college team's to put their best (OL) athletes at OT. Some of those might guys might not be good enough to stay at OT in the NFL (maybe not fast or quick enough), but are still better athletes than most of the OG-only candidates coming out of college. I expect both Hairston and Sanders to get a shot at the open OG spot.

With recognition that QB IS the most important position, I think this argument doesn't go deep enough. I fully agree that they need a young QB that they believe can sooner or later become a good starter. I agree that they need to look very closely at the available QB prospects this year (and every year until they find a good one). By all appearances, the Bills are doing just that - they have interviewed/worked out basically every QB in this draft that has a pulse. I also agree with pretty much everyone on here, that IF they think that there is a QB in this draft that has a good chance to become a good starter then they should draft him. I'll go a step further and say that if they believe that, then they should spend their 8th pick on that guy. If they feel that there is a good starter in this draft they shouldn't be messing around with trade downs in round 1 or trade ups in round 2 to "match value with the pick" - because any good starting QB in the NFL is by definition worth a high pick. Where my view differs from yours is that, if after all of their due diligence they still don't feel that any of the QBs in this draft are very likely to become a good NFL starter, then I don't see any value at all in spending a high draft pick on one. There are, of course, shades of gray to that. If there is a guy who they think *might* be a good starter if he can overcome some limitations or inexperience, then 2nd round on makes sense to take that chance.

In short passing game, I think Barkley is the best/most accurate. I'd pick Nassib or Manuel next for that kind of game. I am no fan of Geno

If they don't plan to move Aaron Williams to safety (as I expect they will), then I agree that safety becomes a higher priority in the draft - but still not before the 3rd in my opinion. I do believe that Williams will be playing safety or splitting time between CB and Safety. He was considered a good candidate to move to Safety when he was in the draft 3 years ago. I suspect they would draft another CB before another Safety and move Williams, but I don't have any inside info to substantiate my thoughts.

I have seen Safety listed as a "need" for the Bills in this draft, but I don't see it as a position that they will address early - unless there is a truly great prospect available. With Byrd at one Safety spot and Searcy in line to compete with (likely) Aaron Williams for the other spot, I think that the top 3 safety spots are in reasonable hands. I could imagine them selecting another safety in rounds 4-7 for depth. The only safety that I see in this draft that could alter that approach (IMHO) would be Kenny Vaccaro and I think it would be a stretch to take him at the 8th pick with much greater needs elsewhere. I don't see another safety that would be a great enough value to trump needs at other positions in rounds 1-3. Opinions/opposing views welcomed.

I've read many times on this board that the Bills' "have very few picks" and "have only 6 picks" in this draft. There are only 7 rounds in the draft and that means that the nominal number of picks is only 7. Further the Bills are only "missing" their 7th round pick - a pick that occurs after approximately 200 players have been selected. There will be approximately 25 picks after that missing pick in the entire draft. I see this as no great loss. They received a viable backup QB possibility (Tarvaris Jackson) for that 7th round pick. Odds are reasonable that whomever they could have selected with that pick wouldn't have the career that TJax has already had. 25ish more players will be selected after that missing pick and then the Bills are on equal footing with all other teams competing for undrafted free agents. I just don't see this as the issue it has been made out to be. Comments/opposing views welcomed.

I would not touch Bray before round 4. He had 2 OUTSTANDING WRs and really did not excel. Between Cordarelle Patterson and Justin Hunter, he had a better set of WRs than he is likely to see in the NFL. Now, I understand that he might have the best "arm talent" in the class, but what makes him likely to improve in the NFL against better competition with lesser WRs?

I think that the only thing that changes is the media catching on to what the NFL really thinks of these players. The media then adjusts their ratings and it looks like the player's stock is "rising" or "falling".

I don't fully agree with your assessment of Nassib's arm strength. I think he has a pretty solid arm - not great, but pretty good. I'll admit that he isn't very mobile, but not all (or even most) top QBs are very mobile. His intensity, drive, effort and football intelligence is reportedly quite high and I believe that is very important. I also put some stock into the fact that he was a major reason for Syracuse rising from laughing stock to reasonable football program. That has to count for something. I also admit that I like Russ Lande's draft analyses and he has Nassib rated highly. Lande has been a NFL scout and is now Director of College Scouting for Montreal of the CFL. No scout is always right, but he has to be afforded some credibility for his past and current pro football jobs. BTW, he had Colin Kaepernick rated as a 1st round pick when few others did.

+1

I love following the draft, too. As with all who follow the draft fanatically, I had had favorite players in the draft who turned out to be good - and others that I was shocked at how little they did in the NFL. My perspective is that it is not just the Bills' scouts who passed on Kaepernick and Wilson - and these guys really are outliers as most 2nd round QBs really don't turn out to be good starters. It wasn't like no other teams had a need for a QB. I agree that they missed great opportunities with Kaepernick and Wilson. So, who is that QB this year?

Completely agree.

Do you think that the other QB's TD-INT ratio might have been as good or better in that offense with two very highly regarded NFL prospects at WR? I am admittedly not a Geno Smith fan, though I can respect his reported good work-ethic, intelligence and good arm/athleticism. I just think that there is something missing about him - I could be really wrong about that, but I'd like him a lot more if he led his team to a better record...

No doubt, not intending to excuse the Maybin pick. My only point was that not all draft classes are chock full of great players. Some classes are downright poor.

I don't really understand your point? Are you saying that there are lots of opinions (good and bad) on Geno Smith and that the truth is in the eye of the beholder? Or are you saying that because Smith was once-hyped as a certain high pick and best QB available, that you won't consider changing your opinion when someone who has at least scouted and been an NFL GM for years has a contrary opinion? FWIW, Casserly and former NFL scouts Daniel Jeremiah and Russ Lande are all not very high on Geno Smith.

But it is a person who has considerable experience as a scout and NFL GM.

Have a look at the top 10 selections in the 2009 draft and tell me that the Bills were the only "stupid" team when they picked Aron Maybin. http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/What-happened-here.html Knowshown Moreno, Larry English and Robert Ayers were also picked shortly after Maybin. My point is that some drafts are weak, some are strong and overall the "hit rate even among first rounders isn't as high as many think.

Way better options (IMHO) than the QBs available...

I would start considering him in round 3. He is a great talent, but there is risk that he will never recover fully. In the 3rd round, the probability of finding a long-term starter is sufficiently low that I'd strongly consider taking a shot at him there. You have to love his work ethic and attitude.

I am not in disagreement and (I) don't believe that it is "all about the QB". However, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have taken some weak defenses deep into the playoffs. If folks believe that the QB is by far the most important position on the field, then he should be able to elevate sub-par surrounding talent to better results. In direct opposition to Geno Smith, Ryan Nassib (whom many here sneer at) elevated his Syracuse team to levels that they likely couldn't have hoped for without him. Now, I am not saying that Nassib should be picked at 8 either, but the discussion is interesting. Does he have those intangible skills to get better results from his team than their talent dictates?

Cool inside info, thanks for sharing! Can your contact share why they really like Geno Smith? How do they rationalize his team finishing 2-5 in their last 7 games while he had two very highly regarded NFL prospects to throw to? I know that their defense was bad, but I'd like to think that a #1 pick QB could elevate his team to a better finish than the team's overall talent level would otherwise dictate - isn't that what the team would be expecting if they brought him in?

Are you saying that their top 5 rated players are all QBs or are you saying that is how they rank the QBs without regard to other positions?

Best of luck to him. I hope he is healthy enough to compete for a roster position.

True to an extent, but it isn't quite true that they aren't taking any shots. They have chosen instead to take their shots on other positions that they perceived had better options. Now, people can point out that they could have had Kaepernick, Dalton or Wilson, but there isn't any other QB that the "smart" money was on that was available to the Bills over the past 3 drafts that I'd have traded Spiller, Dareus or Gilmore for. Non-QBs yes, but none of the other 1st round QBs. I am in alignment with taking shots at QBs regularly in mid to late rounds until they find one. I wish that there was a really good one to nab in round 1 this year. I could even be on board with Manuel, Nassib or Wilson as early as the 8th pick IF they are really sure of their research.

And Doug Maroone was 3-0 against Geno Smith with a less talented Syracuse team...