OldTimer1960

I like Addison, not crazy about Johnston.

Edmund big pay day is in part because he is still very young.

So, who are the great receivers that will be available when they pick? There are some options, if you want a very small slot receiver- not much outside.

Is Skinner going to play this year? I think he recently tore his pec.

Troup injured his back and cost him his career. I think unfair to call him a bust - could not know he would be injured when they play picked him.

Simpson is a tremendous athlete. Are the critiques of his instincts mainly a result of only play inside backer for 1 year? Will that improve with experience and coaching?

Especially Gibbs. I’m not saying he is terrible, but isn’t he just the same as Cook, except maybe 15-20% better? Still, a small RB isn’t going to play to his capabilities behind this line as currently constructed.

I would venture to say that Gunner does far more actual tape evaluation than most “NFL reporters”. I highly value his opinion- more than most of the media. Even the “draft gurus” like Daniel Jeremiah probably don’t put in much more time than Gunner. I like Jeremiah’s opinion and a few others who have actually scouted for teams. I respect Kiper and others who are similar. I don’t think that even NFL teams watch many more than 3 full games of prospects- probably more for the early round prospects, but not for all of them. There is more that goes into scouting than tape evaluation, such as learning about the player’s character, work ethic, are they a leader, what do coaches and others who have been around them say, physically do they have room to add muscle, lose weight, get stronger, does the player fit a given team’s criteria, do they fit the scheme? How much might they be able to improve with pro coaching….

I really like the aggressiveness that Bergeron shows in his blocking. He is looking to finish every block, form what I saw.

There is speculation that Jones has put on even more weight since the combine. He refused to weigh in or workout at Ohio State’s pro day. Jones is gigantic with super long arms, but because he is so big, his change of direction and quickness isn’t ideal. If he has put on more weight since the combine, that is a big concern.

These are only the meetings that we’ve heard about. The front office doesn’t announce who they are interested in/talked to (for obvious reason that they don’t want other teams to know).

I might take Matthew Bergeron before Harrison.

Every aspect of the team plays into it. I think the “paper tiger” comment is a little unfair. Of course, when you play the best teams (in the playoffs), that will challenge your defense more. OL has been a problem. They need to improve there by a good bit - whether that comes from the Gs they signed and health and improvement from Spencer Brown or comes from the draft. A really too WR opposite Diggs would help, no doubt. So would a top slot WR (maybe more than upgrading over Gabe Davis). Finally, a great RB would surely help. The more of a threat your run game presents, the more it opens your pass game and vice versa. Kelly’s Bills had all of those things - it was before FA/cap. The debate rages on. I don’t think that there is only 1 answer. Improving OL or WR or RB undoubtedly helps (as would a 2nd TE). Problem is the cap and picking late in the draft. On defense, I am sort of aligned that it is nearly impossible to stop today’s top offenses. Really only two options I see there: 1. Continuing with the bend don’t break defense hoping that offenses occasionally make a mistake, turnover or have a key penalty or 2. Focus on maximizing takeaways through dominant pass rush and DBs who have a propensity to make INTs.

We are aligned. My only comment was that trading draft assets to move up for him specifically in a deep TE class would be a stretch for me. That says more about the other TE options than me not liking Washington.

Not more than 2 weeks ago Trepasso was touting Rashee Rice in the first round. I don’t dislike the idea of Washington, but there would be no way I’d trade any picks to move up in the 2nd just to get him.

Campbell does seem to have the highest floor of the group. His position, while not completely devalued, is a tough one to be a real difference maker at. There could be worse picks than him there, but probably not going to get a big game-changer that stuffs stat sheets. Of course, far easier to quantify impact of skill positions.

Highlights are fun to watch, but by definition are meant to show the very best plays by a given player. Use caution when scouting from highlight videos - everybody looks good in their highlights.

I don’t know about that. He seems like a better fit as a 3-4 OLB than a 4-3 DE. I know he is a great athlete, but has he really played to the level of a first round pass rush specialist? In 4 seasons at Ga, he totaled 12.5 sacks. His highest 1 season sack total was 4.5 in 12 games as a junior. I’m not saying that he can’t be a good pass rusher in the NFL - his physical ability says he should be able to, but I don’t think he has produced dominant pass rush numbers yet. I watch game tape, but I defer to those who know how to evaluate better than I do.

I’m with you. His change of direction, as you noted, is tremendous.

I really like Josh Downs, but a slot only guy in round 1? I know there aren’t going to be great options at any position, but slot has to be the easiest to fill and hence need to think hard about whether to use a late first on one.

How are you going to fit Hopkins’ contract under the cap?

Thanks - I hadn’t read or watched many DEs because it doesn’t seem like a likely position for the Bills in round 1. Of course, a great pass rusher would be in their consideration, if one is available. I didn’t realize that Van Ness was that much more athletic than Epenesa was. I wonder how Epenesa would fare in some of those tests now that he has dropped considerable weight.

I don’t know how to view Van Ness. A first for a guy who wasn’t even a starter in college seems too high to me. I also wonder if his primarily power pass rush will be effective against NFL OL. Epenesa was a power rusher in college, too (and pretty effective), but they had him slim down a lot to add speed. I don’t see Epenesa as a total bust with 6.5 sacks last year, but I’d say fair to say they hoped for more from him.

And that’s OK with me.

It is only that low because of his high contract $19.5M this year and $14.5M next - and his age. But, if he was making $10M/year, the trade cost would be higher because there would be more teams interested.