OldTimer1960

I think that Chandler is a decent middle of the pack NFL starting TE. There are much better receiving TEs and better blockers, but he is an adequate combination of both. If there is a great TE prospect in the draft, they should consider him, but I think that WR is a bigger need.

So, what would you have them do? Should they just sit on their hands until after the draft to see who they might get? They can define an offensive system and pare out the plays that whomever plays QB isn't that good at. I don't think this is all that shocking at all.

Lighten up, man. Those were plays that a great player makes (ie the interceptions). Wilson is a competent, try-hard, professional who isn't quite good enough to make those game-changing plays. He deserves far more respect than you've given him in your post.

Agree with your general idea, but 2-3 difference makers and 3 solid contributors out of 6 draft choices would be a draft for the ages, unless you count good special teams players as "solid contributors" - even then it would be a GREAT draft. Regarding FA, I think the Bills main priority should be re-signing Byrd and Levitre with McKelvin a consideration as well. It seems unlikely that they'll be able to keep both Byrd and Levitre, so one of those holes needs to be addressed during the draft, too.

I respectfully disagree. I believe that "Round Grades" are a matter of supply and demand. There are definitely years where a 2nd round grade that year would easily equate to a 1st round grade in another year and cases where a first round grade one year would be a 2nd round grade in another year. If you believe that QB is a more important position than all other positions, then if the demand (number of teams needing an upgrade at QB) exceeds the available good talent in the draft, it logically follows that the available QBs will be over-valued vs years where the supply-demand ratio is different. Even last year, when there were two clear stars, there were still QBs picked much earlier than one might have expected (Tannehill for example). Several teams are desperate for a QB including the Bills, Chiefs, Jets and Cards. Many others would be interested, too. I suspect that there will be a fairly early run on QBs (maybe mid-late round 1). While it would be great to get the next Jim Kelly, it doesn't look like that kind of player is available this year. Depending on who is left by the 10th pick in round 2, the Bills *might* get a shot at a guy who has a 50-50 chance of becoming a good starting NFL QB. Whether they should pick that guy depends on who else at other positions is available. No debate that QB is the most important position, just a question of how big of a gamble do you make to take one.

A convert? I am pretty sure that most players in the NFL have played several positions from HS through the NFL. In particular, my understanding is that it is not that big of a conversion to go from CB to S, however it is big to go the other way. Aaron Williams has the size to play S and his CB skills would likely translate there. The only question, in my mind, would be whether he has the mental aspect of S down (not that it is rocket-science, but the safety (one of em) is sort of a QB of the D). Williams has the size necessary and has demonstrated that he will hit and tackle. He might be a bit too big to play CB effectively, but he would be considered a pretty good cover-safety.

They have to take a QB in the top 3 rounds? Even if they are convinced that none are future NFL starters? I believe that the Bills are VERY desperate to find a QB in this draft. If they don't take one in the first two rounds, they clearly didn't think any were likely future starters. Again, just because we all know they need a QB does not mean that there are any good ones in this draft. A bunch of other teams need QBs too and this reality sucks for them just as much as it does for the Bills. The truly foolish teams will take flyers early on someone that they aren't convinced of and end up like Cleveland - looking for a QB a year after they spent a #1 on Brandon Weeden and 3 years after a #3 on Colt McCoy. I will admit, that there *might* be a decent QB prospect among Geno Smith, Matt Barkley, Ryan Nassib, Mike Glennon and Tyler Wilson. However, I suspect at least 4 of those 5 will be career backups. Which one, if any, will become good starters, I don't know. I think that there are other positions of need that can be addressed early with much greater probability of successfully filling a great need (LB, WR, and lesser needs: DB, OL, DL). If you whiff on a QB early, you not only still need a QB, but you still need another position that you might've found a very good starter at. While I am at it, I know that some here are saying "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take". Well, sometimes taking a shot costs a lot more than the expected payoff. For instance, I agree that you can't win the lottery if you don't play. However, I know that the lottery is a losing proposition (ie, I will very likely come out negative in terms of dollars spent vs dollars won).

They may be considering any of those ex-Jets (and might be negotiating with them), but IMHO re-signing Byrd and Levitre is FAR more important than going after any of the players cut by other teams recently. We know that Byrd and Levitre have played well for the Bills. We also know that the Jets think that the players that they've cut haven't performed up to their high dollar contracts. I think the Bills should be all-in on trying to re-sign both Byrd and Levitre even if it means signing zero FAs from other teams. I can't think of a FA from another team that could help as much as it would hurt to lose either Jairus Byrd or Andy Levitre.

I agree with your sentiment to stay away from QB in round 1, but disagree that there is good QB talent to find "later". I think that all of these guys are very questionable and that the half-decent prospects will be gone by early round 2. Now, I don't know if any of them are good enough to take early in round 2, but I do think it is looking at the world with rose-colored-glasses to think that there will be good QB prospects available in round 3 on in this draft.

I agree, it would be WONDERFUL to just go to the QB store and get a very good starting NFL QB. However, it is highly questionable whether there is a good QB prospect at all in this draft. Unfortunately, no matter how much in denial some folks are, there may not be a better QB prospect in this draft than Fitz. Simply drafting a QB in round 1 or 2 to say that you've drafted a "QB of the future" that isn't any better than Fitz is foolish.

Agreed, there are guys worth a "shot" in round 2 at the 10th pick. I also agree that they should pick a QB relatively early every year until they find a good one. I am just VERY skeptical that there is a good starting NFL QB in this draft. Of the QBs, I look at Nassib, Wilson, Glennon, and Manuel as possible round 2 picks. There may be others, such as Bray, but I would shy away from QB at 8. One analyst that I follow (Russ Lande) does think that Nassib is worth a round 1 pick.

With the re-signing of Tarvaris Jackson and keeping Fitz around, I don't think they'll go after Alex Smith now - unless it was a trade something like our 3rd and Fitz for Smith.

I'd have concerns drafting him. Not because he isn't a choir boy, but because I'd wonder what level of effort and dedication he'd have to being the best pro he can be. Now, if the scouts think that he is so gifted that he can play at a high level in the NFL without effort and dedication then you have to consider him - but beware, the majority of your team has to get by on effort and dedication and guys that don't have that can erode that effort in the rest of the team. Further, with his record, you have to wonder if he'll end up being suspended.

Well, the obvious answer is that the Bills' didn't think he was very good. I guess if you think a guy with a 1-5 record, 6TDs and 5ints is a promising young QB then the Bills' certainly blew it again.

I don't understand your point. Are you saying that Mayock is no good because he didn't have Cam Newton at the top of his QB list before they went to the Combine that year? There were a lot of people (analysts and I suspect scouting departments) who were leery of Cam Newton. He had only played 1 year of major college football and played in a simplified offense. Most of his thows were set up by his and his ultra talented RB's runs. He had had a string of questionable decisions off the field. Obviously, he has shown that he could handle and excel with the transition to the NFL, however that doesn't mean that everyone who was skeptical was an "idiot". Locker was picked 8th, Gabbert 10th, Ponder 12th, Tannehill 8th and Wheeden 22nd. I am not saying that the Bills absolutely shouldn't pick a QB with their 1st round pick. I am only saying that pointing to the guys listed above as proof that it is a good idea is a little premature. Maybe they will all turnout great, but so far the jury is still out on all of them.

Todd Collins - is he an option, too? He has played a long time and never got a chance after he failed to take over for Jim Kelly.

I think the question is whether Locker, Gabbert, Ponder, Tannehill or Wheeden are any good. Gabbert is struggling badly after 2 years. Locker has not burned up the track and the Browns are not giving Wheeden a vote of confidence by naming him their starter going into his 2nd year after picking him in the first round last year. Ponder has not done anything beyond cleanup after AP wins the game for the Vikes. I am not saying that none of those guys will become good starting QBs, but I don't think any of them have proven that it was wise to take them early in round 1 either.

The Bills have absolutely no say in who Nassib hires to help him prepare for the draft. I doubt that Paul Hackett asked his son for permission to be hired to help Nassib. It is definitely NEVER in Nassib's (or anyone's) best interest to not put your best foot forward. The pay difference between the 8th pick and the 10th pick in round 2 is many MILLIONS of dollars. Nassib might think it'd be nice to play for Hackett/Marrone in Buffalo, but I am 100% certain that he would be thrilled to get an opportunity to play anywhere else in the NFL. His focus is on getting better and trying to be picked as high as possible in the draft.

I'll play devil's advocate for a moment. I am not saying Nassib will or won't be a good NFL QB, but what are you looking at when you say his "ceiling isn't that high"? He has improved every year - he hasn't plateaued. There might or might not be continued improvement. He has good size and strength. His arm is plenty strong - certainly as strong or stronger than Tom Brady's and Drew Brees'. Arm strength is not the most important factor in NFL QB success - to be sure, you need "enough" arm to make the necessary throws and threaten the defense deep or you end up with lots of turnovers and a very limited offense. However, Brees, P. Manning and Brady are certainly 3 of the very top QBs in the NFL and none of them have cannons for an arm. By accounts I've read (don't know for sure if they are accurate or not), he is supposedly a good leader and hard worker. I'll agree that he isn't a tremendous running threat like RG III, Cam Newton or Colin Kaepernick. But there are different formulas for success. Again, I don't know if he will be good in the NFL or not, but I don't see any physical limitations that limit his "ceiling".

I think worrying comes with being Bills fans.

You are right! I could break a hip or something.

I will be glued to the combine and any draft related stuff that I can record while I am at work. I love following the draft and it gives me something to do while I am working out in the AM trying to maintain my old-timer body in some semblance of shape. Anyone know where I can get one of those "Hurry-cane's" that they show the commercials for now?

Agreed, but it also cuts the other way too. While some of the 1st and 2nd year QBs have looked good so far, some of them may fall by the way-side. I remember many of us thinking that the Bills had found their long-time starter in Trent Edwards. His is a story that plays out at least as often (good-to-bad) as guys who have weak career starts morph into good players.

It should be the case that the use of the TE in a given offense is more a function of what the TE can/can't do rather than the scheme limiting them. I know that most coaches say that, but I do believe that Marrone and Hackett have been insistent that they will tailor their offense to take best advantage of the talent on the roster. Point being, maybe Syracuse's offense didn't feature the TE on many plays because they didn't have a TE who excelled as a pass receiver?

I am not sure that I understand your point. Are you saying that based on the league drafting Gabbert, Harrington, Ramsey etc in the first round that surely Barkley and Smith (at least) will be taken in round 1 this year? If so, I agree with you. If, however, you are saying that because the busts that you listed we're drafted in round 1 that it proves that Barkley and Smith have a high probability of becoming high end starters - then I disagree.