OldTimer1960

Problem is, moving from 9 to 2 almost certainly would cost their 2nd and possibly 3rd this year and maybe next year's first also. If so, I think that is too steep for either Bradford or Clausen.

After Bradford and Clausen, the talent level DOES drop off precipitously at QB.

I am not sold on any of the QBs in this year's draft and, even if I were, I'd rather shore up the OL as NOBODY is going to be successful without decent OTs. I foresee disaster if the Bills pick Bradford or Clausen (or any other rookie) and throw him in behind Demtrius Bell and Jamon Meredith at OTs. Whomever is back there will get killed.

Not really. He is at best a long-shot to ever become a decent starting QB in the NFL. I think that you can get better odds on a future starter/contributor at another position in round 3. Just my opinion, but I'd be looking at the other positions and pick the guy that I thought would have the best chance of contributing. I don't think that is Tebow or Snead. When you are talking QB after early in round 1, then it means that most of the 32 NFL teams have significant reservations about the guy, because if not the guy would have been snatched up early due to the demand for and importance of good QBs. Now, I am clearly not saying that there are never QBs that are drafted later than round 1 that find success. However, I am saying that if a QB makes it past round 1, then most/all the NFL teams have concerns about the guy.

While the Bills may be way under the cap, the reality is that they are one of the low-revenue teams and they have a budget that they can/are willing to spend. Letting some older higher-paid players go frees up money that they can spend elsewhere. Just because the Bills are allowed to spend up to the cap, doesn't mean that they have the money to actually be able to afford that much. That being said, the FA crop is very weak this year (IMHO) due to many many players being restricted who would have been unrestricted had there been a collective bargaining agreement reached. I do not expect the Bills to be able to compete for the very few high-end FAs. Given what is available as unrestricted FAs, I wouldn't count on the Bills being able to find much besides hopefully serviceable players - no stars in FA this year. While I am at it, I thought that Ryan Denney was a pretty good backup DE. He certainly didn't embarrass himself when he was on the field. However, he is 33 and this is probably the end of the line for him.

Wasn't Larsen somewhere around a 5th round pick? It isn't unexpected for 5th rounders to have undistinguished careers. Larsen was big and strong, but not athletic enough to use the strength he had. He got out-leveraged by guys who weren't as strong because he wasn't quick or flexible enough to be in good position. Still, hard to knock Phillips for having picked a guy late in the draft who didn't pan out.

As weak as the Bills' current group of QBs is, Whitehurst is even worse - or at least more unproven. I wouldn't consider giving up much of anything beyond maybe a 5th round pick for a 4 year 3rd string QB who has never thrown and NFL pass. He is NOT the answer.

You argue that there will be "make-a-difference" WRs into the 5th round? This must be an exceptional year for WRs then, because if that were true every year, then no team would spend high picks on WRs and there would be such an abundance of WRs in the league that no team would be without. While I don't disagree that OT, QB (and NT) are more important positions to fill for the Bills this year, I do disagree that they can count on finding a good contributing WR in the 3rd round, much less 5th round. Note that I didn't say it couldn't be done, just that it is unlikely - no more or less likely (IMHO) than finding a decent contributing OT, QB or NT in those later rounds.

I think the switch to a 3-4 is an ugly scenario for a team with this many needs. Realistically, they need to find a starter AND a backup NT this offseason along with at least another viable starting LB (and 2 of those if Schobel leaves/retires). I would have rather seen them stick with the 4-3 this year and work on fixing the OL and get another LB for the 4-3. I guess, either way, they have more holes to fill than they can be expected to plug in one offseason, so maybe it is OK to just bite the bullet and change schemes. Just seems to me that a NT is hard to come by and is extremely important to the 3-4

There is no conceivable scenario (at least to me) that would justify the Bills giving up at least their 2nd and probably 3rd picks this year to move up and take ANY player in this draft. Go back a couple of years and change Suh's name for Glenn Dorsey and you'll get an idea. Dorsey was touted as a dominant DT and he has done nothing for a bad KC team in 2 years. None of these guys are sure things and the Bills have so many holes that they can't afford to give up picks.

Motivation most often must come from inside a person. External motivation won't help much if the kid is lazy and is handed millions (or even hundreds of thousands) of dollars. I say STAY away from fat, unmotivated underachievers with high picks. Now, if he were around in, say, the 4th, then the risk/reward ratio might be about right. I have seen at least some places who project Cody as a late pick due to the weight issue.

The answer to this question is never black & white. There are always gray areas. Of course, you never want to take a player just because he plays a position of need unless he is truly better than what you already have. No team, especially the Bills, has only 1 glaring need, so this is a matter of gradations. Perhaps it is the best player at one of your positions of need. For example, the Bills need OTs, NT, LBs, WRs, QB and some other lesser needs. You can prioritize those needs based on how important the position is and how bad your current players are at each position. However, let's say the Bills think that NT is the #1 need given their move to 3-4. That wouldn't justify passing over a higher rated OT, LB or QB to fill a need with a questionable prospect. Overall, I favor best player available, but it is with caveats. All needs being equal, I'd say an equivalent player at QB, LT, NT, or LB would be more important than one at S, RB, WR, TE or C/G. However, if the player at the "less important or less needed" position is clearly superior to any QB, LT, NT or LB, then I think that there is an argument to be made for the lesser position - to a point. I guess I didn't answer definitively, but I think that is because there is no real definitive answer.

The Bills will never get enough value for Evans to offset his loss (ie, the trade would be lopsided against the Bills). I say this assuming that Evans might get the Bills a 2nd round pick in return. I don't think any team would pony up a #1 pick for him. If someone does, then *maybe* consider it, but remember a #1 pick is not a sure-thing. In this case a bird (Evans) in the hand is worth more than the 2 in the bush.

I am with you on not addressing QB in the draft this year. I wouldn't spend a 3rd on one of the weak left-overs at QB. What's the point in that? They don't need another guy that can hopefully develop into a long-term backup. They have a stable of those guys already in Fitz, Edwards and probably Brohm. A 3rd in this year's draft should net you a pretty good player that has the potential to be a long-term starter at some position, provided that you don't reach for a weak prospect to fill a need. I'd anticipate that there will be much better LB, WR, RB and maybe DL prospects available at that point than any of the QBs will be. My only nit with your post is that you included Derek Anderson in the list of potential veteran stop-gaps. Man, he might be worse than Edwards and Fitzpatrick. Do you remember the Browns-Bills game? Anderson was AWFUL in that game.

I like Levitre at G. I would not like to see them move him to LT as he is, at best, a compromise at that spot. Putting Levitre at LT would take Levitre out of his best position and put him where he will be a marginal player due to lack of height and elite athleticism.

I disagree, I think that him not even making the active roster in GB one year after being a 2nd round pick speaks volumes about him. Now, I am not saying that he might not become a good QB, just that it certainly doesn't seem likely given his NFL career to date.

I don't understand all the excitement over Lefevour. I haven't read much that says anything other than his arm is marginal, he played at a slightly lower level of competition and he's pegged as a mid-round pick. I might be missing where folks scouts are that high on him.

I would be reluctant to spend a 2nd round pick, let alone another pick (for the trade up) and a 2nd for a big fat out of shape underachiever. If the guy couldn't be bothered to get in at least half decent shape for a job audition (Senior Bowl) that could mean $Millions to him, then what will he be like once he actually gets paid?

While I am concerned that he did SO little as a rookie, I am in general agreement with the last poster. Maybin should be given at least another season, maybe 2 before calling him a bust. EVERYONE knew that he was a project when he was drafted as a 20 y.o. sophomore. He needs time to fill out physicaly and also gain experience - remember, he only played 2 years of college football. It is fair to take issue with the Bills for drafting a project when it might have been preferrable to pick someone who may have been able to contribute more readily. However, that issue must be pointed at the Bills, not Maybin. I haven't heard anything from Maybin to suggest that he isn't a worker (maybe others have). Others here are right, his build isn't likely to change that much, though he can get stronger. There isn't just one set build to succeed in the NFL at any specific position. Aaron Schobel is built about the same as Maybin. Now with the switch to a 3-4 defense, neither fits as a DE, but Maybin might be a pretty good rush LB. I am not saying that he will or won't succeed, nor am I saying that we all have to like that the Bills spent a #1 pick on him, but this is a sunk investment - they might as well wait it out and see if he develops.

If there were any really good QB prospects in this draft, then I *might* consider taking a QB in round 1 in spite of the obvious problems on the OL and D. BUT, there ISN'T a top QB prospect in this entire draft. I don't want Clausen or Bradford and Pike, LeFeavre, etc aren't any better than Edwards or Fitz (IMHO). Just fix the OL and D and worry about QB next year (or after the lockout).

Suh would be great, but won't be available. I love all that I've read about Iupati, but I don't think a Guard would be much help with Levitre and Wood already here and I don't think he can really play T. Not much of a fan of either QB. I'd have to include some other LBs in the discussion such as Kindle from Texas.

I think that NT has moved to one of the top 3 needs. I think you have to see how the picks fall as the Bills definitely need LT, NT, QB, LB and WR help (assuming Owens and Reed are gone) . I am in the camp that thinks that they should build the lines (including LB) before spending high picks on a QB. This team is not ready to compete for the playoffs next year and I think they should build the rest of the team and aim for a QB next year.

I think (HOPE?) that Schobel would still fetch more than a 6th round draft pick. He is still a productive pass rusher. I'd hope that they could get a 3rd rounder for him, but hey, what do I know?

Thank you! From what I've read, Davis is all potential and not so much production. He was benched this season for being over-weight. I don't know how a team could really spend a high pick and hand $MILLIONS to someone who is that unmotivated - even if they are supremely talented.

Excellent, thank you. We could have played that game all day. Fact of the matter is that there are examples of good players drafted in every round and any team could be accused of passing over them. Just to add a few to your list, every team passed on Brett Farve and Drew Breese at least once. There are many many more...