OldTimer1960

So, is it your view that it is futile to play defense, so just load up to score on every possession? If yes, why would they have signed Von Miller, just take a bunch of receivers and go 5 wide!

I don’t disagree with that at all. My concern is that there is nobody to play CB this year. Counting on a developmental prospect to play a lot early with White likely out is a daunting proposition. It would be shaky even with a first round corner who has plenty of experience in a major conference,, but worse if you are counting on a raw small school prospect. Again, if they sign a decent vet, then I could see passing on CB in round one and taking one in the 2nd.

Problem is that it is likely that the rookie will have play a lot early - or Siran Neal will. I just expect White to miss the first part of the season and I don’t want to see Jackson and a 2nd/3rd round rookie or Neal lining up as starters. They don’t have time to “develop” a 2nd or later round rookie. Someone has to play the first month or two if White is out.

What would they do with Hill? He isn’t beating out Hyde or Poyer this year and Taron Johnson is fine covering slot receivers. Hill has no experience in covering outside receivers. if they were set at Corner for this year, maybe, but I would not like this idea. I think that Kyler Gordon may be the best CB that is left at 25. Think he would be a decent fit. As tempting as a top WR prospect would be, I can’t see how they fill a starting CB position early in the year if White is out and the defer CB to 2nd or later. Nightmare is starting the season with Dane Jackson and Siran Neal or 2nd round (or later) rookie. That would negate most of the expected improvements in pass rush.

Love Dotson, but the Bills have nobody that is not injured who has proven that they can cover NFL receivers.

Sign me up, if that is true!

I get it. How much do you think Bradberry would/will command on the open market? My guess is that it will be significant $.

No, too expensive by a lot.

If there were no other significant needs on this team, I could get behind drafting a RB in the first or second, but that is not the case this year. Singletary is fine as a main back, Duke Johnson is an attempt to fill the specialist role of 3rd down back. While this team needs a corner who can star/play significant snaps early in the season in case Tre White isn’t ready. Ideally, they would ink a vet to fill that role, but they look to be out of cap space. They need another WR that can challenge McKenzie in the slot and in case Gabe Davis isn’t as good as he has looked so far. There is no solution at WR on the roster beyond those 3. OG is a long-standing problem and moves even higher in the needs list if they lose Bates as a FA. Even with Bates returning, this is a big need area. I’ve been a Cody Ford apologist, but even I am ready to admit that he is a long-shot to be an answer for this team.

Counter argument is no cap space likely next year to fill holes, so it would hurt to not have their 1st next year.

Outstanding response, thank you very much!

What makes McCreary suited for man coverage, but not so in zones? I would think it would take a better overall athlete to play man. It seems in zone, you can hide some athletic limitations. I’m really asking whether it is reasonable to think that a good man coverage corner could learn to play zone well, but not necessarily the other way around?

Thank you, that is why I asked. I really think that if they don’t take a corner in round 1, they will have to consider trading up in the 2nd to get someone at corner who can play meaningful snaps this year. If they sign a vet who can start, the need for playing early lessens some.

If they go WR in round 1, can they find a corner in 2nd that can play meaningful snaps early this season?

Interesting thought. I’m not sure that would help the team much this year as he is primarily a safety. He has played some slot corner, but I don’t think he has played outside. Slot corner is ably manned by Teron Johnson, but outside is a wasteland currently.

I agree it has to be a fit. I probably should have said that “they will be in trouble if they miss out on the first round corners” instead of “they have to take a corner in round 1”.

Seems quite a drop. If it were me, if they pass on CB in round 1, I would be looking to trade up in round 2 to try to get Kyler Gordan or Roger McCreary. I haven't read a lot of flattering scouting reports on Emerson and I wouldn't want to count on small school guys having to play a lot of snaps this year. The equation changes significantly (at least for me) if they sign a vet who can be a viable starter this season. I think you have to assume that White will miss the first month or more of the season. So, you really need to find to players to start at outside CB for at least that time - maybe one is Dane Jackson, but I would not count on that.

Who do you see available at corner after the first that could play meaningful snaps this year? Guys that are predominantly slot corners won't be of much help to the Bills in filling their outside corner need. On the flip side, I think there will be one or more WRs at 57 who could help the Bills replace Beasley in the slot. Interior OL is going to be a problem to fill with a draft choice. It doesn't look like a really good year to find a G.

If they don’t shore up corner, it erodes the gains they added to the pass rush. I am not crazy about it being basically mandatory to draft a corner first, because it is possible that the good ones will be gone by 25 and then what? But that is how it shapes up as of today. Got to get another receiver somewhere as well unless you want to be the offense on McKenzie being a good slot guy

I agree that CB in round 1 is best shot to get a good one. I don’t agree that if you don’t take one until pick 57, then you might as well wait until the 4th or later. Regarding no above average talent at outside corner, they don’t currently even have average talent there. Maybe Dane Jackson is OK, but he is very unproven and there is zero beyond him. Neal is ok in the slot, but will be a constant target for opposing offenses. What if teams go 4 wide and you have to play Jackson, Neal, Johnson and Cam Lewis? That doesn’t sound good to me…

Beyond it wanting to spend this year’s 2nd and next year’s first or 2nd on a RB, I don’t think Hall is “elite”. He is a good prospect, but I don’t see him as great.

So, who is playing CB if White misses, say, the first month of the regular season? Jackson is not a proven starter and has is not a special athlete for the position. Do you want to line up with Jackson and Siran Neal at outside CB with Taron Johnson manning the slot? Do you really think that the pass rush is going to be so much better that you can put anyone with a pulse at CB and expect to be good?

That will likely cost next year's first and if they draft Williams, still leaves a very shallow WR group until Williams is ready to contribute (if he gets there this year). I like Williams and Dotson, but I can't imagine the secondary playing as it is currently configured - even if they get some old vet on his last legs to play opposite of Dane Jackson if White isn't ready for the season start. I also recognize that receiver is a need area, but that position seems deeper in the draft than corner. I don't have any interest in trading this year's 2nd and next year's first or 2nd for Breece Hall. Too many needs at CB and WR to be doing that - in my opinion.

And that offense will have to score 40 points a game to win much. The CB position (currently) is a mess. A "cheap vet" isn't going to be the answer - hasn't been the past few years when they've brought in aged vets who previously were good.

As the roster is currently configured, they would have to. There are two glaring holes on the roster right now: CB is mess beyond White who is injured and Taron Johnson and WR is a very weak position beyond Diggs and Gabe Davis. Since this is a post about the offense, I think they are in a bad spot WR currently with only McKenzie who has shown flashes, but not consistent production in the slot and basically nothing behind Diggs and Davis on the outside. Considering this is a heavily pass-oriented offense, this is obviously not a great position to be in. Unfortunately, CB is in worse shape so they almost have to take a corner in the first because it looks like the talent at that position falls off quickly. The receiver class is deeper than CB (or so all that I am reading says), hoping that they can find a WR that can contribute this year in the second. This need for a rookie to contribute probably means that they can't afford to pick Jameson Williams in the first, even if they would ordinarily wait for him to develop.