OldTimer1960

Would take a King’s ransom to move up high enough to get Hamilton. I have no inside information, but I can’t imagine moving that far up for Hamilton. I can easily imagine that they would want to move up for a CB. Other needs are OL, but I don’t see moving up unless it is for a OT that would push Dawkins into G or if they aren’t happy with Spencer Brown starting at RT. Can’t see trading up far for a WR given team has 3 viable starters, though a need for next year or to push Gabe Davis out of the starting lineup (and I don’t think that is in the cards). With investment at DE, I don’t think they’d go up for that and I don’t see a LB as such a glaring need that they would trade up for that. I can’t even imagine going up for a RB because of position value, Singletary is fine and because Breece Hall is the top RB in THIS draft, but would not have been a top RB in past few classes.

Diggs was, I believe, a 5th rounder and Cooper Kupp was 3rd round. Lots of good starting WR have come beyond to me 1. Doesn’t mean to stay away from ok WR in round 1, but very good receivers have been found after round round as well.

I think that Dotson would be a fine pick, but he is probably only going to play out of the slot in the NFL with his smaller stature.

Really nice observation. Team’s try to copy successful models or counter those models. One example was way back when the league had been moving to larger DBs and Washington went the other way and got small, quick fast “Smurf” receivers that the bigger DBs struggled to stay with. As you pointed out, Tenn, Indy and now NE have moved to run-heavy offenses with two TEs. That counters, to some degree, the smaller faster pass rush specialists that teams have loaded up on to compete with the high flying pass offenses. By running clock, they keep the ball away from the opponent.

I favor Daniel Jeremiah Bucky Brooks Ourlads Draft Guide Used to love GM Jr, forget his name, but he worked as a scout in the NFL and did a stint with a CFL team, too. Forgot Kiper - he is OK, but I don’t think he puts in as much time now that he does college games and ESPN stuff.

Well that is true for sure!

And if he doesn’t heal as fast as you suggest, then what? I am only saying prepare as if he will miss time, because that is a real possibility. The team doesn’t have an established starter opposite White, so even if White is ready to go, a highly drafted rookie can compete with Jackson for the other spot. No other position on the team appears as weak as CB. OG is a weakness, too, but at least they have Bates back to start unless they find a player who is better. But, OL is a “play together” position where player deficiencies can be covered up a bit. CBs are really exposed to 1-1 matchups and can easily be targeted by the opposition. I understand that WR isn’t super deep on this roster as well and a good reinforcement would be welcomed there, but there at least they have a clear top 3 (Diggs, Crowder, Davis) and could survive if McKenzie were pressed into the starting lineup. I *hope* that they address CB before the draft, leaving the possibility of taking a WR or OT/OG early if the value warrants it, but as of today, I think they need to lean CB, unless there is nobody remotely close to a good prospect there. Agree, I don’t want them to reach for a need, but teams do reach in some ways on many picks - they all say they take BPA, but need and scheme fit must play into their rankings somehow.

Wait, you dismiss Gordon as being slow, but he is faster than Dane Jackson who you claim is capable of being a really good corner? I’m not saying that Jackson might not be the answer, but I don’t think we should just pencil him in as the answer, either. Even if Jackson is good enough to be the starter opposite White, they still need to have someone competent to start until White is healthy - perhaps the first month or two of the season.

If Diggs, Crowder and Davis are the starting WRs and McKenzie is the ”gadget guy”, any improvement from a rookie (this year) would be taking opportunities from those players. An investment at CB in the first. Is not only (an attempt at) filling a gaping hole, but likely a big step up in mid-term over last year’s starter (Levi Wallace) and the guy who was Wallace’s backup (Dane Jackson). The only other position where a first round rookie might provide as big an improvement over last year is at OG. But, OG is a position that works in coordination with the rest of the OL while CB is a position where they have high rate of 1on1 responsibility. Bad play by WR is an incomplete pass, by an OL it is a sack with risk of injury to the most important player (Allen), bad play by a CB is possibly a TD given up or an easy first down that allows another 3 downs for the opponent.

Are you arguing that it is a passing league and everyone is stacking their receiving corps with great athletes, so best to leave below NFL average athletes oat CB trying to cover them?

I seem to recall that the Chiefs passed their way downfield in 13 seconds for a FG and then again in OT for the win. I know that some want to blame the pass rush, the DBs have to take a lot of that heat. I don’t remember Mahomes having all day to throw on either drive. Of course coverage is helped by a strong pass rush, just as the pass rush is helped by strong coverage in the secondary.

I don’t see Singletary as being very limited because of his speed. He is fine as long as he isn’t being hit in the backfield or having to elude defenders jut to get to the line of scrimmage. A faster RB behind a weak OL will still have nowhere to run. RB and other positions are not just about straight line speed. Vision, quickness, decisiveness and a bit of power all play into it. Nobody is saying that Hall might not be an upgrade over Singletary. Only that the position in today’s game is less important than it used to be. Beyond Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor, what RB in the league is really dominant?

3rd-5th are mid-rounds in my view. I understand the cap issue and that they can’t afford to sign a top level FA CB. It is an uncomfortable position to go into the draft with such a glaring need at an important position. Every round that they pass on CB in this year’s draft increases the urgency and lessens the chances of finding someone who would be good/ready enough to play early. I would like another very good WR prospect and to shore up the OL, but I think they almost have to take a CB in the first regardless of whether it might be a bit of a reach.

Keyshawn Johnson was very good. The Bills would be doing well to get that level of player with the 25th pick.

We all are, but season could be lost early if you trot out Dane Jackson and a mid-round rookie or Cam Lewis as starters for the fist month or more.

Who is CB1 if White misses the first month or two?

Don’t rule out an OT, especially if he can also play G. What would you use to trade up 24 spots? That’s going to cost a lot of draft capital.

Who is going to block for him? OL needs reinforcements more than the RBs do. CB is a MUCH bigger need. I would put another WR above RB as well. Think back over the past several drafts. Every year ther are “great” RB prospects, but yet there are only a few RBs in the league who really cause defenses problems consistently.

Would love it, but I think the trade value is too much in Bills’ favor for Seattle to be interested.

If the secondary can’t cover for a bit, pass rush doesn’t have time to get the QB. In addition, if the corners can cover they can play more aggressively on D which would also help the pass rush. I’m not saying that you are wrong - both are important.

I look at it differently. I think they would play more varied defenses if they had a good CB opposite White.

Or they could try to trade up in round 1 for a corner that they like. I would not be surprised if Kyler Gordon was available and they liked him enough to take.

Unsure what they could be looking at that they would like right now. Siran Neal, Dane Jackson and Cam Lewis - don’t think any of them should be starting at CB for a team that hopes to get to and win the Super Bowl. Really, they need to do better than that if they want to beat Miami who now has maybe the best WR and TE combination in the league.

Do you think it likely that the Bills would consider a small trade up in round 1 to nab a CB?

Like the idea of Olave and your rationale, but I just think that unless addressed, the CB position will negate the additions on the DL. If you can’t cover, it is hard to get home on the pass rush. Bills are in an uncharacteristic and uncomfortable position at corner with White’s injury. I don’t agree that the Bills are really confident in Dane Jackson, either. They really need someone who can start if White is out and challenge Jackson for CB2 when White is healthy.