OldTimer1960

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.

Not going to happen (2 receivers in first 3 pick) unless there are at least half-decent vets in place for DT, DE, S. I do think round 1 will be wr if there is one who is close to BPA. After that, they need to fill holes. Don’t buy into the “they have 11 draft picks” narrative. After the first two picks, the combined value of the rest is about one 2nd round pick.

I really like this re-signing. Now, go get Daquan Jones or another big DT who can play next to Oliver and keep the smallish LBs clean.

Why would Carolina trade early picks for Aiyuk when they are in position to get a good WR in the early 2nd this year?

I think this is unrealistic.

This is a very unrealistic expectation.

I don’t know that Beane will have the cap to do what you’re suggesting in FA, but I hope so. I agree on S. you did talk some about the mid-rounds, but right now the Bills have to wait 69 picks after 60 for their next pick. 3rd and up to mid4th are the meat of the mid-rounds. Not to say they can’t get lucky and find good players later (ex: Shakir, Poyer, Diggs, others), but counting on finding good ones there is not a sound strategy. In the end, I see no way that they can fill all of the holes they have this year unless they have some magic in FA. Maybe the best approach then is to load up the offense and expect to give up 28 a game on D.

I agree - at DE, I think they would have to think hard about Latu and consider Chop Robinson- after that no thanks until at least 60. The top 2 DTs and several of the next tier are a little too similar to Oliver and playing two smaller DTs would expose Terrel Bernard’s smaller size. Agree, not big DT worth 28. Also agree that S not worth the pick over WR.

I am not pounding the table to pick defense in round 1, but at present, the offense needs 1 starter and 1 depth receiver and maybe bakups at RB and IOL if a good player is there at one of their picks. I think the D needs starting DT, pass rushing DE, backup DT, starting S and probably a depth CB. I think the defensive needs are quite a bit greater than the needs of the offense. Now, if there is a WR there at 28 that they really like, I won’t be upset at all if they draft him. I know FA is yet to play out, but if we listen to Beane’s own words, he isn’t shopping at the high or even middle tiers due to cap restrictions. Maybe they will sign some players to fill those holes on D before the draft - if so great! I am just not expecting that to be the case and if you need defenders to play meaningful time this year it seems like you at least need to consider getting one early and settle for a lower tier, but still good WR prospect. Again, not arguing no WR in round 1, rather highlighting that I think many are not realizing how many true holes there are on D.

Got it and I agree there.

I don’t see any comparison between Franklin and Diggs. Diggs is a great route runner and Franklin can run fast in a straight line if there is nobody to push him off his route at 175lbs. Unless the Combine was just a really bad day for him, I would not be sure I’d take him at 60. I see the talent in Mitchell, but something still feels like it’s missing. I would certainly understand if they took Mitchell at 28.