OldTimer1960

I love this discussion, but I think we have to brace for the possibility of not taking a WR in round 1. I don’t know what Beane might be able to pull off to address DT, DE in FA, but I know that the cap situation is bad and, despite what some want to believe, the cap is not completely elastic (meaning you can’t just keep kicking money down the road forever). At present, the team doesn’t even have enough DL to start, much less have backups. That is real and, while it is fun to think that the Bills could just score every drive if only they could add Thomas Jr, that isn’t true. LSU had BOTH Malik Nabors AND Thomas Jr AND Jayden Daniels at QB and they didn’t score every drive against college defenses. Whether in 1st or 2nd and 3rd, DL needs attention.

Lots can change (in public draft rankings) at the Combine next week. I imagine that some receivers will run/jump better than expected and some will lose status to poorer workouts than projected). Coleman and Mitchell assessment can change a lot depending on their testing. Likewise, Franklin could move up or down depending on his strength and weight.

Agree - I think finding someone who is as good as Gabe (after some experience) can be done as late as 3rd, but if they want a big outside receiver who has really great speed too, that has to come in first - if they can even get that there.

This is not a bad idea, probably would net the Bills’ the Panther’s top of fourth pick, if Carolina would do it.

I like Leggette quite a bit. I think he is fast, but we’ll see what his 40 time is. It won’t bother me if he is at 4.5, but some will think that is slow. Comparison to Rousseau is a good one except Rousseau (and Edmunds) were very young when they came out whereas Legette is older than typical. Legette is yong at the position, but not in age. Isn’t Corley mostly a slot guy? Of course, doesn’t hurt to have competition for Shakir.

I think McConkey is going to run a good 40 next week at the combine. I don’t think he is slow. I’m not saying he is the 5th best receiver in this class, but I think he will run better than 4.5. I also think Worthy and Corley are listed higher than I would expect.

That might be manageable from cap this year, but almost certainly they will be eating a lot of the cap next year moving on from Miller. He will be 36 during 2025 season.

Just wondering what you think Diggs’ and Miller’s answer would be when approached? I think they already paid each of them A LOT up front anyway.

If they can get a 1st for Diggs at this age and not destroy the cap in trading him, then go ahead. I don’t know the cap hit if they trade him now, but I don’t think it would be trivial.

I’m not saying no to an elite receiver. I’m simply saying that I don’t want to trade the 2, 3 or 4 to move up a few spots in round 1. Exceptions exist, of course. If there is only 1 receiver remaining at a certain tier on their board and there is a big drop off from there, fine trade up a few slots. What I don’t want is to wait until pick 99 to make a 2nd pick that is likely to have to play a lot on D. If you feel Thomas Jr is considerably better than Franklin, then I hear you, but from my vantage point I think it’s likely that at least 2 of picks 2, 3 and 4 need to be a S and DT. Those are the rounds where I would rather use the 5ths or 6ths to move up to address D needs. My view will change a lot if somehow they can keep Jones at DT and Rapp a S. Even then, would be wise to get a young player at both positions this year so they have a year before Jones and Poyer leave. I am really not anti-WR, I am strongly in the camp that either 1st or 2nd pick needs to be used there.

Worthy’s speed is enticing, but wouldn’t he almost have to play in the slot to be most effective? I think he will struggle big time out wide at 170lbs. To me, they would be pushing Shakir out of the lineup and still have nobody to play where Davis did.

Straw man? Come on. Yes, free agency is yet to happen, but even if they resign Jones they still need a young DT, young S, young DE. They are not all coming with their 5th round picks on. Further to your point, I didn’t say don’t use their 1st on a receiver. They NEED a receiver to replace Davis - I think we agree on that. I’m mainly saying I don’t want to trade 2, 3 or 4 to move up in the 1st. I don’t think any of us knows who will be the best among Thomas, Franklin, Coleman, Legette, Mitchell and I don’t think it is wise to draft to block the Chiefs or any other team.

Kind sir, my post was not about doom and gloom, but anyway you look at it, right now Chiefs have about $20M cap and Bills are about $40M over. That is significant, but but my point was Bills have a lot of defensive holes to fill - and need players there that can play meaningful snaps. I understand that the 2 5ths and 3 6ths won’t all make the team and I’m not against trading some of those to move up, but I’d rather do that in the 2-4th round where those 5ths and 6ths can move you up to target a player at a position of need when the overall remaining talent in the draft is drying up. The idea that if the Bills can add a potentially outstanding receiver, then holes on D don’t matter is appealing to us fans, but I remember watching horrible defense and that is terribly frustrating. D matters- basically the top playoff teams had very good defenses, including the two SB teams.

That’s all true, but KC is in much better shape cap wise. As it stands currently, the Bills could not even field a starting DL. Now, maybe they can find a way to re-up, say, Daquan Jones and Epenesa in FA. If they can do that, they would have a DL of Jones and Oliver at DT with Eli Ankou the only reserve and Rousseau, Miller, Epenesa and Jonathan at DE. That still leaves the team in need of a starting S and competent DT backup to find in the draft, I totally agree that they need WR help - very likely someone who can play at least the majority of snaps in Davis’ position, if not being the outright starter there, but I think the other needs preclude being too aggressive in trading up. Outside of the top 3 (Harrison, Odunze, Nabors) who are way out of range, I think Coleman, Thomas, Leggette, Franklin, Mitchell, and maybe Rice and Polk could fill that role as well as Davis. Obviously, they are not all on the same tier amongst that group, but they could fill that role. Beyond them, there are other wr in this class that probably can’t fill that role, but would contribute to the offense. I don’t think that any of the group that could fill Davis’ role are going to become top level #1 receivers, but then nobody thought Stefan Diggs, Amon Ra St. Brown and Cooper Cupp would ever be high volume dominant receivers. Long way around to say that I would not want to trade anything more than a 5th this year to move up in round 1 because they need cheap competent labor this year and may need starters at S, DT and might need depth there as well.

They need some bodies to play meaningful snaps on D. I don’t see any way that they would be willing to part with their compensatory 3rd or 4th to move up. This might be the year to trade out of the 1st round to the top of the 2nd and maybe pick up an early 4th in the deal.

Late in round 1, if they are likely looking at “early-mid 2nd talent” no matter what position they take. They need to find someone who can develop further (like Rousseau has). There are a fair number of wr in this draft who could help the Bills, but most still have limitations or require development. Only a few, though, fit the description of outside receiver with size who can also stretch the field.

Look at Xavier Worthy and Franklin looks like the hulk.

I think it might be Legette or Franklin or bust (pick a different position) for Bills in round 1. (I don’t think Thomas Jr will be available and I would not trade up).

Franklin’s strength work at the combine is going to be pretty important. He looks like just what the Bills need, except he is very light for his height. I can see Legette’s speed on game tape, but I’m guessing he will run about 4.5 at the combine. Not sure he has the instant acceleration to kill the 40. That doesn’t concern me much, though.

I’m not a big fan of Devontez Walker, but how late might he go after doing nothing at the Senior Bowl? Would he be in play at 60?

Burton was accused of punching a female fan from another team. Now, I don’t know if that’s true or not, but there are vague “character concerns” floating around him. Again, don’t know if that is right, but teams will know.

A lot of the value for teams is from medical checks and interviews- valuable to teams even if some don’t do the drills.

I think the priority order depends on whether they are able to retain/replace some of their DL FA. Currently, the only DEs under contract are Greg Rousseau, an aging Von Miller and Kingsley Johnathan. The only DTs are Ed Oliver, and, Eli Ankou, If the above is the situation at draft time, I think they have to make DE and DT priority 1. If they can retain maybe Daquan Jones and AJ Epenesa, then I can see WR being priority 1.

I’m not dumping on White who has played well and worked hard for the team, but he will have missed almost two full consecutive seasons and will be trying to return from an Achilles tear - notoriously difficult to come back from - especially at DB. I am rooting for him, but not counting on him.

Seems to me that the two Super Bowl teams both play strong defense. Yes, Bills need at least 1 more strong receiving option, but would you say that KC’s receiving group is great? The Bills, like every other team, have missed on a few high picks. But, I think we are too quick to judge the young players. I was guilty of writing off Terrel Bernard and he played great.