OldTimer1960

I’m not sure there is much room for him to put on much more mass. At the combine, he didn’t look rail thin at 183lbs, but he is pretty small.

Good call on Curry. I remember thinking he was the safest, highest-floor player in that draft. I’m not sure what happened with him - I don’t think he had off-field issues or injury that derailed him. I think teams just badly misjudged his talent. Has anyone mentioned Tony Mandarich? He was supposed to be a super-dominant OL, but turned out he was a roided up guy who wasn’t very good at football.

I like Downs very much and I think that he would provide a nice target in the short to intermediate area - sort of a bit faster Cole Beasley. If that comparison is accurate, it would certainly help the offense, but can you not find reliable slot receivers in other ways and use the pick to help an area that isn’t as easy to address?

Excellent point on Robinson - against Alabama and TCU his avg per carry was sub 3. Nobody (except maybe Barry Sanders) is effective when there is no place to run.

Need the cheap labor - can’t afford to take on expensive veteran contracts.

There are very few Pro-Bowler rookies in any year. By “can’t miss”, do you mean will be great or will become a good starter?

I’m with you on Kincaid. He is a receiving weapon and may be better than the WRs that will be available. Good chance Kincaid is gone before 27, though.

I agree that Kincaid would be a nice option. I’m not sure that I’m as sold on Mayer, but he is probably worthy of consideration. Mayer’s blocking would be helpful to free up Knox for passes and Mayer is a reliable short-intermediate option. You’d have to hope that Allen would not ignore Mayer in the short areas for riskier downfield shots. He did show he would do that when he had Cole Beasley before his decline.

I think that the majority here agree that, if equally good prospects are available on offense and defense, then they should lean towards the offense this year. But, that’s the rub - will there be good prospects available on offense when they pick? In a weak draft like this, I think job 1 has to be to find a good player at most any position in round 1. If that means having to take defense because the remaining offensive players aren’t as good, then so be it (in my opinion). It doesn’t do any good to force a pick on offense because that’s what they need/want most. I am hoping that there will be a few good offensive players available at 27, but if a run on OTs happens and JSN and Addison are gone, do you reach for another player on offense or do you look at potentially better prospects on D? I think you have to avoid a reach, especially in this draft.

I voted for Benton because of positional need. I don’t know that Tillman is different enough from or that much better than Davis in terms of size, speed and, importantly, route running. He does appear to have better hands - and, of course that matters.

I don’t think Avila will be there at pick 59. All the WRs are compromises. I could see Flowers or Downs helping in the slot, love they’re quick, but so small. I would understand if they took Hyatt, but he is slightly built and is he a one-trick pony? JSN will be a very good slot receiver- if he stays healthy and I would not touch Quentin Johnston- his hands and not-so-great contested catch ability are a big red flag for me. None of the above are what people think of as great value for round 1 in most years. I can’t find any player who’s likely to be available at pick 27 that they “gotta have”.

I don’t think he’ll be there late in round 2 where Bills pick. Think they would need to trade up for him in round 2, but I think they would have to pass on prospects at more important positions if they took him in round 1.

Offensive playmakers are in short supply in round 1 of this draft. FWIW, Pat Kirwan thinks only 2WRs will go in round 1. I’m hoping for a good OT who can slide to G in the case that Spencer Brown improves. I could be on board for Dalton Kincaid as the playmaker. Not crazy about Bijon Robinson in round 1, but I could at least understand if the went that way.

I’m not sure that he was drafted to be Edmunds’ replacement. I think he was drafted to play a role similar to Milano’s. If they really did draft him to be Edmunds’ replacement, it is an even bigger head-scratcher than it already appeared to be.

My only point there was that Edmunds isn’t anywhere as bad as many here think. He was very young when drafted and still played well. Was he Bruce Smith of LBs? No, of course not, but he was a quality starting LB and I believe we will miss him in pass defense this year. People will say that Poyer and Hyde are declining, but missing that huge agile presence in the middle zone will be the problem.

And that guy is now making $18M/year. Are you sure you are right on this?

I would argue that his rookie year won’t be a peak year as he would be learning a new position and trying to put on enough muscle to get on the field. If the Bills were a 3-4 base defense, it would be a similar issue with McDonald needing to learn how to play off ball and in coverage. Add in that in both scenarios, you don’t know for sure how good he will be in new role and with more weight. Regarding 2nd contracts, I think that depends on where a given team is. If a team has a bonafide star QB taking up a huge chunk of the cap (or young QB about to be), it will be hard to sign anyone to a second contract. On the flip side, if you have a a good young QB on a rookie deal or don’t have an answer at QB, then easier to sign 2nd contracts with your draftees.

That would be a pretty nice draft!

McDonald is fast, very undersized and a pretty old player to be a rookie. McDonald is one year younger than Tremaine Edmunds and Edmunds already has 5 years NFL experience. That doesn’t disqualify McDonald or mean that he can’t be good, but factor in that he probably needs a year to learn a newish position and bulk up (then you don’t know for sure he won’t lose critical speed) and that he will be 29 when his rookie contract is up and I would be hesitant to do this.

I think Downs, Flowers or even Dell would eventually beat out Shakir. I’m not dogging Shakir, I just think those three are a bit better.

I would not move up for Campbell. I could consider taking him at 27, but if he isn’t there happily take a player at another position. I think Campbell will be a good pro and I know the cupboard looks bare now, but I think there will be better players available at pick 27- or I hope so.

I just don’t see a way to fit Hopkins’ $19M cap hit under our cap (and $14.5M next year). I wouldn’t want to extend his contract far enough to lower the cap hit for next two years by much - he is turning 30, was recently injured and suspended for steroid use. The steroids, in particular, may be a sign he is breaking down.

I think slot receiver is a place a rookie has a chance to play or even start. I agree that there probably isn’t an outside guy who could beat out Gabe Davis, but there is room fo a rookie there to play some behind Davis. Have to ask why Denver wants to dump Jeudy with two years left on rookie contract. There must be a reason.

I sort of have the feeling Oliver will be traded, too. I’m not sure how I feel about that, either. I think Oliver has been good, not great, so far and if they have already determined that they don’t want to pay him after next season then, I can understand why they might move him.

I agree that he is an outstanding RB prospect. If they draft him, do you think he would get more than 15 touches a game and will they be productive behind an as-yet modest OL? As much as I think Robinson could have a big impact, I’m not sure they would alter the offense enough to take advantage of his talent and I don’t think they are a top run blocking unit.