OldTimer1960

That is interesting and encouraging. Bills expect their WR to block on run plays. He is certainly big enough to do it.

I think you are right, if you want a WR in this draft, that will be what you have to do. I’m right there with you on Rice - level of competition and then invisible at Senior Bowl are both concerns. I like Tillman’s hands and size, hope he can get open v. NFL DBs. Brings me back to TE question - I know Kincaid won’t be a strong blocker, but isn’t he already a better receiver than most WRs in this draft?

I’m guessing just a guy to bring to camp. Maybe he makes the team, maybe not. I’m going to bet they tell us he is a great ST player.

Do you think the Bills’ feel that they’re set in the slot with Shakir and Harty? If yes, then would you still consider Flowers and Downs? I think they are both better than Shakir/Harty, but how many slot guys are needed? I worry about Johnston because of drops/body catching. That isn’t a good pairing with Allen’s rocket arm, but if people are convinced that his hands are better than advertised, for sure he is intriguing. Do you see Tillman as having the juice to separate in the league? I worry about that with him and also with Rice, in spite of his athletic tests at the combine. I like Rice better than what I’ve seen of Tillman, but to me they both don’t seem to have the great ability to shake man coverage.

I think so, too.

Hi Gunner, do you think any of those guys will make it to pick 59? My guess is no, but I would not argue vehemently if someone said they will.

If they want an OT, think they’ll have to get him in round 1. I don’t think much will be left by pick 59. I think a guy like Mauch could be considered and give him a shot to play OT, but he probably ends up at G. Mauch also might need time to adjust from Northern Iowa opponents to the NFL, so he might not be ready to start right away. I could see them liking Dawand Jones, but he is RT only and risky because he will need to use his length to makeup for subpar quickness. If OL is the plan (and it should be), maybe best to try to trade out of first somewhere into top 10 of 2nd. I like Bergeron, Mauch, Avila, Wypler, maybe Schmitz (he is pretty old), but not especially in the first.

Interesting draft. I think with Shakir and recently signed Hardy that they are ok for slot WR and I worry that Flowers’ size might preclude hike from playing out wide, but I do think Flowers is good.

Who are locks depends on whom they may draft, still sign as FA or UDFA. I would not say that Doyle, Boettger or even Bates are lead-pipe cinches to make the team.

I don't disagree, I may be in the minority, but I still hold out hope that Spencer Brown will look significantly better next year after a (hopefully) healthy offseason where he can weight train, practice his position specific skills, etc. If I viewed Brown as a "no-hope" player, I would be arguing that adding a RT in the first is equally important to adding playmakers in the run and pass game. My view is also biased in that I don't think that any of the WRs, other than Addison, would be worth picking/good matches for the Bills. When you pass on nearly 70% of your plays, pass blocking becomes quite important - at least in my view.

See the thing is, if we believe in "positional value" (and I do, but not as an absolute), then the only positions worthy of a 1st round pick are QB, WR, LT, Edge rusher and CB. But, what if you either don't need those positions or there isn't a good player at those positions when you pick comes? For sure, if there are equivalent players at a number of positions and you have needs at those positions, then by all means draft one of the highest value positions. On the flip side, if neither of the above are true, then you are left with either forcing a pick on a player that you either don't need or one who isn't as good as the players available at other positions. I think there have to be scenarios where you could draft a "lesser position" and have it make sense. Indeed, every year some teams do just that and I don't think that every team that drafts a lesser position in round 1 is "just stupid".

Exactly, helping the pass blocking gives receivers a bit more time to get open and Allen a bit more time to find them. Helping run blocking forces defenses to respect the run more which will make it easier for receivers to get open, slow down the pass rush, etc. Offense is a system, you can improve the whole thing by making improvements in certain areas.

I dunno, Chicago just paid $18M/year for Edmunds and his lack of instincts. Edmunds was very young when he came into the league (20). Heck Edmunds is just 25 now after 5 yes in the league- there are guys in this draft that are 24 as rookies (John Michael Schmitz, for example).

I think you consider it, if the draft pick could also play OG if Spencer Brown plays well. I don’t think you could realistically move Brown inside, but some of the OTs could move inside - like Mauch.

Who do you like that could realistically be available at WR? I think in round 1 only Addison - Flowers and Downs are good, but slot only guys (or at least I think so) and I think between Shakir and Harty the Bills’ think they have enough there. Quentin Johnston’s questionable hands might let him slide to Bills, but guys who body catch are not a good mix with Allen’s fastball. I guess I could understand if they took Jalen Hyatt. Late in round 2, I don’t think I will be enamored with anyone who will likely be there. Late round 3 might find some value lining up with the pick, but are you going to find anyone as good as Davis that late in this class?

Nice post. I hope they resign Shaq Lawson - I thought he played quite well last season. I think they HAVE to bring in a young safety candidate, probably in the draft. Poyer and Hyde won't play much longer and would be nice to have a year or so with a young player learning from them - at least by watching how they study and play. They HAVE to bring in a LB to at least challenge for the position that Edmunds vacated. Maybe they believe in Terrel Bernard, but man he and Milano would have to be the smallest pair of LBs in the league. I generally don't like to dump on a recent draft pick as a bust because who knows how they'll come along, but I think everyone was surprised that Bernard was picked in round 3 and his almost complete lack of playing time was not a strong indication that they like him. I'd love to see WR addressed, but I don't know that I'd pay OBJ much coming off knee surgery and at his age. I can't see how they could possibly afford to trade for a vet who isn't on a rookie contract, so I think that leaves the draft for this position. I don't think there are any clear upgrades over Gabe Davis available in the draft after say, round 1 - if there is even one there. If Rashee Rice makes it to late 2nd, he might have a chance to challenge Davis or be his replacement in 24 if Davis leaves for a ton of $. They might be able to find a pretty inexpensive RB in FA to pair with Cook. I really like Singletary, but I think they are looking for a power guy to complement Cook. It would not shock me if they take 2 OL and a LB in the first 3 rounds. Still, I won't be shocked if they dip into a strong CB class to give them flexibility to release Tre White in 2024 - if he doesn't regain his pre-injury form, he'll be pretty expensive relative to performance. Best case, of course, is White returns to his pre-injury form and they'd be happy to keep paying him.

Yes, we can/could, but for some of us it is great fun talking about what they might do.

I’m not sure where the idea that WR is deep comes from. I hope I’m wrong, because Bills need help there, but man other than Addison, I’m not seeing much. I think even late round 2 there won’t be much there that will project to even an eventual decent starter.

Agreed - and he his contract is up next year, so he'll be fairly expensive.

The WR list is pretty depressing. I like Flowers and Downs, but I think they will go with Shakir and Harty in the slot. Would love a decent sized WR, but Johnston won’t be there and the rest are pretty uninspiring. Maybe Rashee Rice or Jonathan Mingo if he lasts to late 2nd. I don’t see Tillman as anything special, I don’t think he will be able to get open much in the league - late 3rd or later? Maybe then as a guy who might make some contested catches. I know John Michael Schmitz is highly regarded, but he is almost as old as Tremaine Edmunds who has already played in the league 5 years. i don’t mind Avila, but he might be a big reach in late first. I think TE or OT will be BPA on offense when their pick at 27 arrives. I think there will be some good defensive players, too. There will not likely be anyone available at 27 that in a few years fans will say lived up to “a first round pick’s expectations “.

I’m with you on more OL and you’re right that they need more play makers. I’d prefer no RB before @ least the 3rd this year, but I could understand taking Robinson. Like you, I can’t find a WR that I really like, other than a few small slot guys like Flowers, Downs and Dell. I don’t think they will take a small receiver - think they will roll with Shakir and Harty in the slot. I’d love a guy who can play outside and challenge Davis, but who? I could live with Rashee Rice if he lasts until late 2nd, after that I could see Mingo, Iosivas, Hutchinson or AT Perry. I think those guys can at least compete with Davis. Other than that, maybe Jayden Reed.

I think Washington won’t make it past the early 2nd round. I know that he didn’t catch a lot of passes in college, but man his size and speed are really impressive. His route running at the combine looked a lot smoother than I expected. I believe they said he had lost about 15 lbs from his playing weight last season.

Dude, I specifically said in the post that you are quoting: “ I (and I venture to say other “Singletary supporters”) have never said that he is a star. He is a solid starting RB that a team can win with.” And yet you say that I think he is great. BTW, it was you who started with the condescending tone suggesting that anyone who doesn’t think Singletary sucks “doesn’t understand burst to the line”. I’m happy to be done with this back and forth.

I understand your point, but Fergy was at least as good as Dennis Shaw even as a rookie. But the point is that they had built a very good OL by then. The Electric Company turned on the Juice!

Do you practice being arrogant or are you just gifted in that regard? There is no more dependent position in the league than RB. Blocking matters, schemes and when plays are called matter. I (and I venture to say other “Singletary supporters”) have never said that he is a star. He is a solid starting RB that a team can win with. Allen runs, in part, because it allows an extra blocker on those plays that isn’t available on RB carries - unless your QB is blocking. I don’t care if you put even a better back behind this OL, they aren’t going to thrive without better blocking and schemes. I think we can agree that OJ Simpson was a great RB - do you know that he didn’t top 800 yards in a season until his 4th year? That had to do with OL play and, I’ll concede, addition of a better passing game that defenses had to account for.