OldTimer1960

You're kidding, right? Jackson is a sub-par athlete by NFL standards and was a 6th (I think) round pick. I *hope* that he is as good as you think, but I'm very skeptical of that. Elam has better size and athletic ability, played in a better conference than Jackson did and has NFL blood-lines. Best case, both Elam and Jackson are starting calibre and White returns to his previous form. How is that bad? I'm not the biggest fan of the Cook pick, but he can play and make an impact at the NFL level. He is more receiver than RB, but he can for sure tote the rock a few times a game. His hands and speed make him a threat. Could they have found a WR there? I don't think so - I think he is a better fit than Skyy Moore who went just a pick or two earlier and he does more, too.

He was picked for his receiving ability and he can handle 10ish carries a game as well. I like this pick better than dropping a 1st on Hall who is bigger, but a lesser receiving option. They run empty backfield sets relatively frequently and Cook can play in that without worrying about his blocking. Few, if any, RBs come into the league as good pass blockers.

Call me an old curmudgeon, but that Brandt sh*t was embarrassing. I know that it was meant as entertainment only, but it was horrible. Combine that with the head-scratching pick and I'd rather not talk about it...

I don't think that is the case. They only have a few high picks per year. Just because they have not taken a WR in the first or 2nd round so far does not mean that they don't value the position. They had a HUGE hole at CB with White recovering from ACL surgery and only Dane Jackson - a questionable athlete by NFL standards beyond White. If they hadn't found a CB that could step in and play major minutes right away, they risked dumping the season with early losses. I don't think that is overstating the situation at all. 5 CBs were picked before the Bills' pick in the second - and they KNEW that there was going to be a premium on that position because the depth wasn't that good. Look at where this board's darlings Tariq Woolen and the kid from Sam Houston State went - they weren't snatched up early. Cook is essentially a WR. What can Skyy Moore do that Cook can't? Cook can also run the ball from scrimmage. Note that I am not the biggest fan of taking Cook there, but I understand why they did it and it fills several needs.

Great post and I'm aligned with almost all of it. Specifically with regards to Skyy Moore, what can he do that Cook can't and hasn't done against better competition? I never saw what the hype was about Moore - the stellar quickness eluded me when I watched him. Maybe he is so smooth that the quickness isn't evident, but from my vantage point Cook is quicker, equally as fast, about the same size and has hands that are at least as good as Moore. Is Cook an ideal primary RB? I would say no, but he can run effectively 10 or so times a game and make a major impact in the passing game.

Yep. Araiza is an athlete. I strongly believe that he can learn the nuances of punting at the NFL level. I think he will work to succeed. Still, there will be some growing pains and the Bills will have to accept that. In the worst case it could cost them a game, but I think the upside is worth it. On the flip-side, I imagine that several NFL punters could kick it as far as Araiza does if hang time isn't a consideration.

I voted Elam. He wasn't my first-choice CB, but if they like him better than Gordon or Booth then fine. I was not a big fan of his tackling, but they must think they can fix that. He has size, speed and competed at the highest level in college. I didn't originally realize that he was related to former NFL players as well. He sounds like he is quite mature and very serious about being a pro. I will admit that I wasn't originally very excited about Cook, but he is essentially a receiver with the ability to run the ball rather than vice-versa. He has great speed and quickness with very good hands. While Breece Hall was touted as a good receiving back, I think Cook is a considerably better receiver. Shakir in the 5th was a nice pick, but how many slot WRs do they need? They have Crowder as the starter and McKenzie showed a major flash at the spot vs. NE. They say Shakir can play outside, but better in the slot. They did need receiving talent and missed out on the outside WRs, so he was a nice "get". Nobody asked, but my least favorite was Terrel Bernard. Not because they didn't need LB depth or even because of the player himself. My disappointment was just using a 3rd rounder on such an undersized LB. Maybe they catch lightning in a bottle and have drafted the next Matt Milano, but if not, they likely picked a special teams ace and sub-package LB at the end of round 3. I'm usually the one trying to emphasize that the hit-rate for finding starters in the 3rd is maybe 25%, so maybe in that light this isn't a bad pick. I like that they took a shot on Matt Araiza, but it will not surprise me if he doesn't beat out Haack. Haack was horrible last season, but has had a good career before that. Araiza has a very strong leg, but he has to learn how to be a pro punter - show that he can get good hang time, punt directionally and pin opponents inside their 20. It isn't enough to just boom long, low punts that can be returned. Excited to see what he can become, but not a sure thing at all.

I suppose that it is possible that the team won't be able to insure him or perhaps he/his agent are asking for more than an undrafted free agent is worth. It could also be his 4.68 40 time or his 31" vertical leap. https://www.si.com/college/clemson/tigers-in-the-nfl/former-clemson-wideout-justyn-ross-not-selected-in-nfl-draft#:~:text=During spring practice ahead of,he would ever play again. I would think with his size and past success, that teams would be lining up to take a chance on him - even if it takes a red-shirt year. I don't know if they know whether the poor athletic test numbers are from rust/injury recovery or if they are just his real athletic ability.

Directional punting and pinning teams inside the 20.

Punt God is no sure thing. Very strong leg, but lacking in hang time and nuanced punts. Hope he can learn to do those because his leg can be a weapon.

A punter and shooting forward from Villanova.

Super Bowl!

At this point, unless medically off their board, Justin Ross might make sense.

Mathis was picked in the 4th.

“Punt God” Matt Araiza shunned by a couple teams who picked others. Possible pick at top of 6th?

I don’t think that anyone said that we couldn’t use a WR. We NEEDED a CB and took one. Note that not many CBs were picked last night after Booth and Gordon went early - people touting Tariq Woolen and McCollum as 2nd round options were wishful thinking trying to rationalize not filling the glaring need at CB. I’m not a huge fan of the Cook pick, but he does a lot of what someone like Sky Moore would have done had they taken him. Cook is listed at RB, but his value is as a receiver. By late round 3, there were few WRs of value left after the Cowboys nabbed Tolbert. I’m really struggling to see what they like about Bernard, but who was the WR that they could have taken there? For a draft where ther was supposed to be great value in the middle rounds, It sure didn’t feel like that when looking at available players at the Bills’ picks.

Gunner - outstanding as always. My concern with Cook and Bernard is that they are, at best, role players. I clearly see the role for Cook and it has value, but I can’t really see him as a viable starting RB at his size. Bernard seems like a pick where they are trying to replicate Milano’s success, but Bernard is probably only a nickel LB and special teamer. I know it gets dicey late in the 3rd, but there have to have been players available who at least have the size and athleticism to possibly become starters. I think with Cook to some extent and Bernard especially they took role players rather than potential starters. For sure, the Bills have earned our trust and I am only a fan, but these picks perplex me.

Owuso-koramoah is quicker as evidenced by his much better 3-cone and shuttle times vs Bernard.

I get it, but it isn’t like He is coming from South Central Alaska State. I’m sure that Baylor has a top notch strength and conditioning program and facilities.

True, but it isn’t that most anyone they picked would sit behind someone for a time, my concern is that it is a stretch to see him ever developing into more than a sub-package coverage guy and special teamer. I realize that there is only about a 25% chance of finding an eventual starter that late in round 3.

Do they not have weights at Baylor? Now, maybe his coaches wanted him playing that light, but I suspect that he has already been training hard.

Impact starter is a lot to expect late in round 3. Still, like to think they could find a guy who at least has potential to eventually be a starter. Not sure Bernard has that potential at his size. I don’t see the conversion to S that some are suggesting here.

I get the Cook pick - I can see where he can be of value and he’ll get touches. Bernard seems like someone that has no chance ever to compete for a full-time position on defense. I know that finding starters late in the 3rd is very iffy, but this seems like he was drafted to be a special teamer and role player only.

I was on-board with the Elam pick. In the 2nd, I can understand taking Cook, but he is really a part-time “specialist” role and the 2nd seems high for that. The Bernard pick is baffling - a special teams player and maybe sub-package coverage LB? I think they might be outsmarting themselves trying to fill very specific roles with guys who are too undersized to really be full-time players.