OldTimer1960

Do you still think KC wants to jump the Bills now that they have signed Marquise Brown? I would say that would take them out of that mindset, but of course I don’t know that.

I don’t know about Coleman. I’m not the “he has to run 4.4 to be good” guy, but Coleman’s speed is pretty questionable for round 1 and while he is smooth, he lacks the lateral quickness to really shake coverage - of course those are just my unqualified opinions.

The DL depth and Safety position need to be addressed for sure. If they don’t add at least a viable backup DT and a vet Safety who could start if he had to, then I think we will see trades made to allow them to add this and a WR. Maybe it’s a trade down from 28 to get more ammo to trade up later or may it’s stand pat at 28, but move up in the 2nd or try to get back into the 3rd. As the roster stands today, I don’t think they will want to leave day 2 without addressing WR, DT (or DE) and S - they don’t have 3 picks in day 1 and 2 and that is what I think they will try to do. I mean it would be nice to leave day 2 with Legette or Mitchell (if they are satisfied that he isn’t a loafer) and maybe a candidate to start at S, but then you’re watching 69 players go before your next pick which would almost be forced to be a DL late in the 4th that will have to play a lot of snaps.

I think the list you laid out are the narrowed down candidates. With the signing of Samuel, they filled a need for a proven vet with speed, but did nothing to add size and strength to play the boundary. If they still want a bigger boundary guy it seems to me that there are only a few in this draft: Mitchell, Legette, Coleman and maybe you could add Polk to that list. Later, they might consider Walker, Javon Baker or Brenden Rice. I suspect that the Samuel signing lowers the interest in smaller options like McConkey, Worthy, Franklin and Roman Wilson. Some of them are very good prospects, but they lack the size that I would think they are after now. I am not saying that they will completely rule out these guys, but rather I think they want to fill the “power forward” spot on their offense. The counter to my point here is Miami who really only has 2 5’10” receivers in Hill and Waddle.

They have had Diggs who has been top part of the league and they added Kincaid last year. I know the narrative is that they have ignored Allen, but those two were big investments and an argument can be made that you are paying Allen to be able to elevate lesser receivers. I am not saying that they should not draft a receiver early, only that the cupboard hasn’t been completely empty.

I think the signing of Samuel really narrows down the WR candidate field in the draft. They now have three receivers without great size and nobody with a strong body and above average height and speed. I would think that makes guys like Worthy, McConkey, Franklin and Wilson less attractive to the Bills. If they really want a big X, it would seem to come down to only a few who fit that description: Mitchell, Legette, Coleman, maybe Polk or Walker or Rice. I yield to others who know how to evaluate tape better than I do. What are your thoughts? What do you think of DeJean? If he has to play S in the NFL, would it be a little rich for one at 28 given that the league seems to not want to pay safeties?

I think waiting until late 4th for WR would leave them with not much. It is a strong class, but the top 12 or more will likely be gone by the end of the 2nd, surely by late 4th.

I think CB is a possibility to brace for. DeJean has CB experience, but might play S in the league. I would be a little surprised if they took a S in the 1st given the low $ the league is paying for the position.

But, in spite of the volume of picks, it isn’t a lot of “draft capital” those late 4ths and 5ths are not worth a lot in trades and, while Beane has found some pretty good players late, they won’t fix all the holes in the D with them, either. I think trade down early and trade up strategically in 4th, 5th, 6th if there are a few guys left that they like. Exactly- it’s worth about a late 2nd this year.

In my opinion, that would be a bad pick. Go find video of Franklin falling twice running routes against air at the combine and watch him struggle through the “gauntlet” drill. He is also only 175lbs. Now, I acknowledge that doesn’t erase what he accomplished last year, but combined that would leave him off my list of options for round 1. Maybe at 60, I’d take him. I hope you’re right, but I think you’re underestimating how much they will miss their rotational guys (Floyd, Phillips, Settle, and I think I’m forgetting someone.)

Down is the play, in my opinion. Unless they pull a miracle in FA, the defense is going to take a step back this year - if Miller doesn’t return to some form close to what he was for the Bills before his injury, defense could be pretty bad. I would really need to be sure of the guy I want to trade next year’s 1st because it could be considerably higher than 28 next year.

This year’s first plus next year’s first might get them to around pick 15 which isn’t high enough to get Harrison, Odinze or Nabers. It *might* get you Thomas jr

There are at least a dozen WRs in this draft who would help the Bills, but not all of them would complement Diggs, Kincaid and Shakir. Finding a big, fast outside guy to hopefully be better than Davis was is hard. I think of the top WRs it is really Mitchell, Coleman and Legette that fit that bill. Of that group, I would exclude Coleman - he could be dominant, but I would hope for someone who can get open and he hasn’t shown that and he lacks top end speed. In spite of the current hype around him, I think he will languish on the board until late 2nd. That, for me, would leave the decision in round 1 to Mitchell or Legette or trade down or pick another position.

Excellent explanation - thank you.

Agreed, but “better than Gabe” hopefully is not the bar to clear at 28. To be clear, I’m not saying I don’t like Legette, but 28 feels rich for him.

I think trading down is the play, IF they can get enough to do so. A high 4th would be ok to go down 5 spots. I would be willing to move even further back. I’m not loving the likely options at 28 - Mitchell I would understand but he isn’t a certain star, Coleman I’m not sold on and it isn’t just his 4.6 40, Franklin - no interest until 60, Worthy is too small for my taste in the 1st. I think they could go back 15 and still likely have a shot at Legette.

I think the Mitchell hype is too high. I guess I won’t be disappointed if they take him, but I won’t be dancing, either. I see the movement skills and ability to cut fairly well, but I’ve watched a couple of full games and I think he has potential, but he has to work harder than he appears to.

I don’t see the comparison to Epenesa in college. Epenesa was almost completely a power pass rusher and Latu is a very good technical pass rusher, though he has a serious neck injury in his past.

Kinchens is a fringe athlete for a safety and I don’t think he will go in round 2, but the Bills did hire his coach from Miami… I’m not grooving on Mitchell or Franklin or Coleman or Worthy in the first. Of that group, I guess I’d take Mitchell, but athletic ability aside I worry a bit about his effort - both from game tape and scouting write-ups. Doesn’t seem very much like Beane/McDermott type.

With very long arms. I wonder if they would have interviewed different players than they did if they had known they don’t have a pick between 60 and 129? Going to be a lot of waiting and watching after round 2 unless they can parlay some of their late picks into one earlier pick. I don’t think they will make it back to round 3 unless they trade out of the first. They might be able to find a way to get to fairly early round 4.

I would stay away from Johnny Wilson.

With very long arms.

True, but I don’t think any team expects their 4th and 5th receivers will make much impact. I do agree that we need a bit more from those spots than we got last year (though Sherfield was fine on Special Teams).

Well OK then. I guess that is what they should do. I would just remind people that two teams with outstanding defenses were in the Super Bowl this season.

With the state of the defense, I think it is imprudent to trade next year’s picks. A future draft pick is usually devalued by a round in a trade, so next year’s 2nd is worth about the same as a 3rd this year. In addition, I think the Bills could be drafting earlier next year due to a step back on defense. If that happens, I would not want to be sitting at about the middle of the 2nd next year wishing we had a pick because we traded it for a late 3rd in the 2024 draft.