OldTimer1960

I don’t think that describes Bond. It is much harder to find “first round talent” when picking late in the round. 29 players will be taken before the Bills’ first pick. Finding a good starter there will be a win. Of course, we all would like to hit on a great player at the end of the first, but that is the exception rather than the rule.

If they wait until where they sit in round 2, they will be lucky to even get Porter. They could be looking at worse options at CB by then. Now, to be clear I’m not excited about trading up in round 2 because I don’t like the idea of trading both 4ths and I very much don’t want to trade next year’s 1 or 2.

I didn’t mean to say that I would not consider him at 62, rather that it would not be a slam dunk “have to have him”. I could understand pulling the trigger there, but I think there should still be other players at least considered.

I would consider him at 62, I was just saying that I would not think he would slam-dunk be the obvious pick if still available at 62. I would not hate the pick even at 56, but I’d not be super pumped either.

Interesting- do you feel that is because he isn’t fast for his lack of size? I don’t like him at 30, but I think he can be somewhat effective as a pass rush technician- I know he probably already is maxed out.

I am not even sure I’d take Bond with pick 62. I know that just because the Bills met with him it doesn’t mean they are consider him at 30 - I hope not.

What WRs do you think will be available at 56/62? I agree, I'd rather them go DT, CB or DE but I think that might be an easy-needs-based decision because I don't think the WRs there will be enticing. Of course, I'll admit that I don't know what "type" WR they are in the market for. Are they going to continue trying to make Coleman the X? I know they need a deep threat that can beat press and has enough speed/pattern skill to get behind the D. I think for that role that they would prefer >= 6' height and probably 200lbs+.

I'm with you on not being a big fan of Luther Burden, but I think he is a better prospect than was Shenault or Burks. He is verifiably fast, has a solid build and has demonstrated agility/shiftiness. Still, if he quit on his team that's not "Bills DNA". Like you, I don't see any WR who could be available that I would say can't be passed on. Golden is fine and I wouldn't complain if they took him, but I don't think he would help the team more than improving the DL or finding a potential starting CB would. Unlike you, I think it will be surprising if any WR is available at 56 or 62 that is really interesting. Jake Bech - maybe, Jayden Higgins - probably, but he won't be there, Isaiah Bond - depends what CB, DT, DE is there.

Do you mean the Michigan CB who hasn’t done any workouts/drills? I agree that he is a good prospect, but for a CB not to run and do the jumps and agility drills It seems a bit of a red flag. Could be he has a minor, but legitimate, injury but it could also be that he knows he won’t time well. I would happily take him at 30 but I would be hard pressed to give up a lot (likely pick 62) to move to 18 without knowing how fast/explosive/agile he is.

As long as it’s a hamstring and not a knee, hip or ankle I don’t think that this will cause him to slide very far. His game is power and I think there is enough tape vs top competition to show he can play the role of a run stopping 1T. I don’t think he was going to convince anyone that he has a ton of pass rush potential with his 40.

Say it isn’t so! THAT would be suboptimal. in the fever of pointing out that the Eagles used a great DL to beat KC, few have mentioned that the Eagles had a nice secondary including Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

Agree - I wasn’t saying that I think WR is likely at 30. I was simply arguing that is where you might be more likely to find a WR that is roughly “worth” taking at that spot compared to the end of round 2.

I don’t think any of us are comfortable with the Bills’ WR group, but the value has to line up at least somewhat at one of their picks and they have glaring needs at other positions (CB, DT, DE) as well. I think that there is a better chance that value aligns with pick at 30 than there is at 56 or 62. By late 2nd, I don’t see a WR likely to be available that fits their needs and is better than the DT/DEs available there. Maybe they like Ayomanor or Bond enough to tale late 2nd?

That is a rough time for sure, but still if his routes are good enough he might still get open underneath. Likely offers little after the catch with that lack of speed.

That is a very frightening thought.

CB is a big problem (as you said). I am starting to wonder if they plan to pay Benford and have decided that they need the other starter on a rookie contract to make the cap $ work. If that's the case, I do understand - it's just that there is no guarantee that they will even have a shot at a CB who could be a decent starter as a rookie. Even if they do have a shot at one, what will they have to pass on at other positions to pull the trigger on the CB? Biggest concern is that this isn't a bad CB draft, but it also isn't a particularly strong CB draft class, either.

You could be right, but I don’t think they would take Collins at 30 over a CB, DE or WR. They DO need a big run stopping DT and I do like Collins, but he feels too much of a reach there. I think there will be players rated higher than a 2 down run stopper. Just my $.02 worth.

I don’t see how Seattle would accept that deal. Check your favorite draft trade value chart - I looked at Drafttek’s and the Richard Hill table and if you discount the 2026 first by a round (as teams generally do) then I don’t think the compensation from the Bills’ is enough to get 50 and 82.

I could live with that, but what CB are you getting at 46ish that would plug in and start as a rookie on a team that hopes to win a SB? I think Amos and Hairston are likely gone by then and (my bias) I’m not crazy about Darian Porter - I know he has great size and athleticism, but man he is an OLD rookie and he doesn’t have much experience at CB on top of being older. Seems to me, then the only other option would be Thomas who has size, but suboptimal speed. Note: I haven’t included Revel or Morrison due to their injuries- if medicals suggest they will be able to play this season then they could be considered but then you wonder how they would play coming off major injuries. On the flip side, if they suck it up and take a CB at 30 (maybe Amos or Hairston), they should still be able to find a big DT (who might not have Grant’s pass rush ability) at 56, or 62 or even 109. That DT doesn’t have to start this year whereas the CB would.

I really like having pick 109 early in round 4 - should be contributing players available there and trading that only gets you from 56 to maybe 49. I definitely don’t want to trade both 4ths to move from 56 to 44/45 and then sit out rounds 3,4 and most of 5.

Boy, I don’t know - the Eagles secondary was pretty darned stocked, too.

Gunner: thank you for that thorough analysis and projection. Great fun to read. I would be thrilled if the Bills could nab Grant, but then who is starting at CB opposite Benford? It looks to me like the remaining CBs will be picked over by pick 56, unless Thomas slides that far because of his decent, but not great speed. Possible, I suppose that the injuries to Revel and Morrison cause them to drop, but if that’s the case I don’t know if the Bills have the luxury of waiting for them to get healthy. Jackson or Ingram starting the first 8 games would be hard to watch. Thoughts?

I understand your argument and you may be right, but as much as I love the success that McDermott and Beane have had overall, I don’t think I want Beane trading away pick 109 to move from 30 to 25/26. He has made hay in the middle rounds and his early picks have been a bit hit and miss. Pick 109 is the 7th pick of day 3 and there are often decent players still on the board early in that round. I’d like to still have that pick for maybe a shot at a WR or maybe another CB (assuming that they pick a CB in round 1 or 2). There might also be a big 1T candidate available then. If I recall correctly (questionable for my aging mind), the Bills traded up for both Elam and Kincaid. I’m not as down on Kincaid as some are, but I admit I was hoping for more impact. On Elam, I can’t find any online scouting reports that suggested he was going to be a bust. Busts happen, so I’d just as soon sit tight or move down and have more picks than to trade up - unless they are absolutely sure that who they are trading up for is really going to be good. I am not sure that Grant is such a sure thing that I’d move up. If he is available at 30, fine. Just my view…

I am not one who thinks the 40 time is the most important metric, but at CB I do think it matters some. I wish Thomas were a smidge faster.

I would not mind them trading back from 30 up to about 10 spots later. I think they can still get a CB, DE or DT there and I think still about the same grade wise as they will have at 30. Interested in other’s opinions here.