OldTimer1960

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.

I hope not.

Has anyone seen or heard how Azereyah Thomas did at his pro day yesterday?

I don’t think Farmer will make it out of round 2.

Boy, Scourton has come down A LOT in weight. He was 280 if he weighed an ounce during last season and not all of it was good weight. I’m still thinking that Scourton at 260 is still considerably more powerful than Ezeiruaku. I would say that Ezeiruaku has the advantage in pass rush moves and flexibility. It will be interesting to see their 40 times and 10 yard splits. i do worry that putting an undersized DE in Ezeiruaku out there with undersized DT (Oliver) in front of two undersized LBs playing 4-2-5 with a small nickel CB might not be a good idea. But *maybe* not so impressive that he would be a lock to be taken before 30. I am not counting on him lasting until 30, but there is at least a slim chance.

Agree- problem is they are probably picking (if they are lucky) among Trey Amos, Maxwell Hairston, Azereah Thomas or injured Shavon Revel or injured Benjamin Morrison. Each would be a reasonable 2nd round pick, but likely none of them make it to pick 56, so if you want one better grab them at 30 (or trade down a bit out of the first). That statement is also probably applicable to DT or DEs who might be available at 30 - Bills are going to be choosing from guys who better fit early/mid 2nd round at pick 30. Revel's value depends a lot on the medical reports leading up to the draft. I would be very surprised if he is picked before 30. I would not be surprised if he (or Benjamin Morrison) were available at pick 56. Also have to recognize that Revel played at East Carolina and hasn't been able to prove his athletic traits are real (speed, strength, agility) at the combine due to his injury - more questions...

I can't decide if I like Ezeiruaku or not. I've watched a few of his games and I can see a good pass rusher - bend, flexibility, ability to set up the blockers for moves, but I'm not sure whether he can win wide with pure speed and that would be important at his size. Likewise, I think there is a tradeoff with Ezeiruaku where you get pass rush, but weakish run defense. He's not really the size you want playing the run. Collins in round 2 would be nice - I know he isn't a pass rusher, but I think he is a very good run stopper and would fit well next to Oliver. Porter at the end of round 2 seems too good to be true - I'd be happy with that if it happens. I might be inclined to double dip at CB in round 4 instead of Horton or the OG, but not if there aren't decent CB prospects available. Just my opinion!

I do think Benford is a quality starter - who is under contact only for this year. I also think Taron Johnson is a quality starter. There is nobody else at corner that fits the description of even a credible stop-gap starter. That's my concern and I'm not crazy about hoping that a starting caliber rookie corner drops to pick 30 (or 56 or 62). They are in a position of weakness and I'm hopeful that they'll add someone who could start and not be a glaring weakness if the draft doesn't fall the way they want or in case they don't hit on the drafted CB. If they go into the draft as-is at CB, they will almost be forced into taking a corner at 30 - and that could cause them to have to pass a player at another position that they might rate higher. For example, they may be forced to reach for Azereah Thomas and pass on, say, Derrick Harmon at DT. I don't like the option of trading up in round 2 for a CB much because to get far enough up from pick 56 to make a difference, they'll have to give up both 4ths (or equivalent) - and even then that doesn't move them that far - they might be able to trade 56, 109 & 132 (their 2 4ths) to get to pick 45. You're right on that. I should have said that they have nobody on the roster who can be a credible starter along with Benford and Johnson - that was what I meant. And I agree that it's *possible* that they could find a CB in round 4, 5 or 6 that could become a decent starter this year - but I would argue that depending on that is not a good strategy.

First one seems totally unrealistic unless reported character concerns with Nolan are true. 2nd one at least is in realm of possibility.

Do you think it’s a good idea to look for a STARTING Cb as a rookie late in the draft?

Now that would be a BIG DT group.

The CBs on the roster currently comprise 1 4th round pick (Taron Johnson), 1 6th round pick (Benford), 1 7th round pick (Dane Jackson) and two undrafted guys (Cam Lewis and Jamarcus Ingram). They currently have NOBODY who could be a credible season opening starter.

Don't think he will make it to round 3. I don't think he will even be available at the Bills' first 2nd round pick.

He is going to need to be paid BIG after 2026 and may be unhappy if he isn't paid after this season. I don't expect that the Jags would take pick 30 for him, either.

That floor is a dirt floor. I'm happy to have Dane Jackson back as depth/competing for a spot, but if he is starting on a defense that hopes to be a Super Bowl contender then it's a disaster.

Almost HAS to happen. Worst way to enter draft is with a dire need for a starter at a given position - especially a position that isn’t great in the draft.

Just watched Deone Walker vs. Georgia and he is big. I don't think that he is the power player that you would guess based on his height and weight. The Georgia OGs pushed him around some. He has mass, but not much of it is in his lower-half which is where most power comes from and he is so tall that blockers often can get leverage on him. I saw some plays where he had success using his long-arms to keep blockers away from his body, but I don't think that was very often. He also did block a pass at the LOS - his height and arm length can be useful for clogging passing lanes. To be clear, I consider myself a fan, not a draft expert though I have followed the draft obsessively since the mid-80s. Thoughts/opinions on Walker? To me, he isn't what the Bills' need, but certainly I could be wrong.

Well, little doubt there!

Neither has much speed for CB. Now, can they be successful in a zone scheme? Yes maybe they can, but lack of speed is a problem in man coverage. It’s not just that he is an older candidate, he also doesn’t have a ton of experience at the position. Height, weight, speed and played well last year- he’s a prospect, but might not be who you want if you’re counting on him to start/play a lot this year.

Trading down 2 spots is only worth about a mid-5th.