OldTimer1960

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.

Here we go with the 40 time obsession. Way overblown. Yes, better to be faster than slower, but RBs very rarely just run straight through gaping holes. They need to have vision, ability to avoid or run through tackles - both of which Singletary does well. No doubt, there are occasions when, after he has gotten to the open field with the above mentioned skills, he gets caught where a speedier player might have gotten more yardage, but I think it is unrealistic to think that there are tons and tons of yards left on the field due to that. Singletary is a good starting RB is he perfect? No, but neither are most other RBs. There is considerably more to being a good NFL player than straight line speed.

This is a fair assessment. Singletary is a good RB, but his skills are replicated by Cooks’ who is cheaper, younger and faster. They tried to pair Singletary with a more powerful runner in Moss, but Moss didn’t pan out (maybe due to injury?). I think they are looking for what they hoped Moss would be to go with Cook.

He caught 36 passes for 15.8 yard average in 2021 before being injured for most of last season.

Well, the salary cap started in 1994, that might have something to do with your observation that the Bills were better back then.

I was impressed by the videos that I found of him. Instant acceleration. I would guess that this takes small slot-only receivers like Josh Downs, Tank Dell and maybe Zay Flowers out of play in the draft. Would still be nice to get someone to push Gabe Davis for snaps, but I think OL, S and LB are top priorities now pending other moves.

Has better hands than McKenzie and looks like a smoother, more fluid mover. He is tiny, though.

I like McKenzie and wish him well, but they need to do better at slot receiver.

I would have a heart attack on the spot.

3rd this year & Boogie Basham (who might be a nice fit in their 3-4) for Jeudy. Gonna have to pay Jeudy either next year or in 2025. Or, Ed Oliver straight up for Jeudy.

Somewhat plausible. I am no fan of Boutte, but at end of round 3? Ok!

Gronk was off a lot of team’s draft boards due to back problems. Obviously, he had a very good career, but it did bother him some and for sure it was a medical risk. There is so much we are not privy to regarding the draft eligible players. We can watch game tape and read pundits’ opinions, but we don’t know their medicals, we might be able to guess if they are physically maxed out or if they have room to grow, we don’t get to interview the players or their coaches to find out how well they understand the game or how dedicated they are. We can estimate how those players might fit the Bills’ system, but we don’t know for sure. We don’t know what young players already on the roster the staff might think is really developing, etc.. Those are some important factors.

Dude, yes there are exceptions, but that doesn’t mean that most 5th round picks turn out that way.

Not sure you find a WR even as good as Davis in round 2 this year - not that Giants would even entertain that trade.

I’m simply responding to your post from 3 hours ago that Bill Polian would expect most 5th rounders to be good starters. I am hoping that Shakir can fill the slot role well, but hoping is different than planning on it.

Go look up success rate for 5th round picks. It isn’t high if the standard is “becomes decent starter”. Certainly, there are exceptions to that, but if you get a decent starter in round 5, you did well.