OldTimer1960

I think finding one future good starter and another good backup would be a win with the class and picking late in each round with no 4th round pick.

Like Daviyon Nixon. I know he isn’t a 2 gap guy or 1T, but do you think he and Oliver cold play at the same time? That would be much more quickness and penetration than Star provides.

I don’t think they would get and extra 2nd in return for moving down 10 spots.

Agreed, but those picks don’t have much trade value.

Problem is move up with what? Value of the Bills’ picks is pretty low 1st and 2nd might get you to pick 19 if you can find a willing partner.

More than wishful...

My guess is that interior OL, WR and RB will represent the best and safest players available at 30. Of corse, I would love to get a pass rusher, but all of the likely available players there will be risky - think Carlos Basham highest floor there. I think Therace Marshall, Landon Dickerson, maybe Vera-Tucker will be best available, but not at need positions or premium positions

Even Ojulari is a risky pick. He is under-sized for 4-3 DE, but at least produced in the SEC.

I think those are nice aspirational goals, but I think overly ambitious in this class. 1T, in particular, looks bleak. CB has a number of players with upside and question marks. WR at 30 like Terrace Marshall may be best bet for a “safe” player.

I especially agree with this. in a strong draft class, opt-outs would be down-graded some for uncertainty. In this class it seems not only are they not down-graded, but they seem to be elevated because those that played this year were quite uninspiring. Now, some of those opt-outs will be studs and some of hose opt-outs will be over-drafted duds. My inclination is to go with whomever they think are High-floor guys to hopefully at least find some contributors. Many players in this draft have only one year of production and/or tape to go off of. I could understand swinging for the fences on athletic traits this year, but I think I would lean towards those who have shown real production over athletic traits. I think this might be a year to take productive players even if they aren’t at a “premium” position. This is such an odd year, that (I think) it would be wise to lean into positions where players are lesser valued like interior OL and RB. I know the arguments against that, but what premium position players do you really like at 30 and 61? Bills have really very little draft ammo, but it might be wise to try to move up in round 1 or particularly 2. At the end of round 2 in this draft, you will have to be sharp to even find good backups who might eventually start.

I think we’ve been depressed by our own mock drafts with who might be available at the Bills’ picks. Just heard Gil Brandt claim that players picked in this year’s 4th round would have been roughly 6th round picks in the 2020 draft. That certainly fits my perception. Thoughts and counter arguments?

Me too, but I don’t think either will *really* be available at 61 in the actual draft.

If they hadn’t taken Ossai in round 1, I would look at Joe Tryon, Carlos Basham or Ronnie Perkins here. I know Basham isn’t the gazelle pass rusher that we all want, but I think he can be a good (not great) starting DE and at 61, that would meet reasonable expectations.

I think he means that he doesn’t like any of those options at 61.

He doesn’t have a lot of football experience. I believe he first played as a HS Junior and didn’t play a ton of games at Penn State before declaring for the draft. I don’t know if it will eventually click for him or if he will disappoint and disappear. I see him as a very risky pick early, but respected football people including Gil Brandt think he will have impact even this coming season. There is some truth in your statement about Maybin.

I could get on board with OL there. By pick 61 it might be tough to find positions of greater need without reaching.

I don't think he will go that high, but someone might like him enough to do that. I'd think maybe late 3rd given he hasn't run due to injury.

Eskridge is an exciting prospect, but his athletic ability at Western Michigan set him apart a lot more than it will at the NFL level. I'm not saying he can't/won't be good, just an added consideration when scouting players who played not the best competition. If he is a LB, isn't that just a 4-3 defense with him on the field with Milano and Edmunds? I think they have to be careful not to look too hard for a "big nickel". Sure, if you can get JOK great, but if they are taking someone and force-fitting them into a role that isn't ideal for them, just to say you have a "big nickel" it is a risky proposition.

A 4.69 at Indy would be a decent time for a TE, but it is disappointing with the “home field” 40 times coming out of pro days. Add in that he doesn’t have prototypical size for the position and pretty good, but not stellar production in college and it makes me think he isn’t a top prospect. Maybe he can sneak into the 3rd or 4th round - or maybe someone will like him more than that.

And not much in this TE class after Pitts. Freiermuth is OK, but it is depressing after that.

That’s true, but I have a hard time liking any of the 1T DTs in this draft. I know several people seem to like Tyler Shelvin, but I worry about him being and staying in shape and he offers almost nothing in pass rush. Rotating him out in passing situations might be hard because he will take a bit of time to get on/off the field. I don’t think that either will make it to pick 61.

Well that is possible. Still, with many players who opted out of last season and teams that didn't play or played reduced schedules, it has to be an added level of uncertainty.

I understand that is the logic, but I think this is over-hyped. Force-fitting an OK prospect at a high value position over a better prospect at a lesser position does not make much sense, to me. Sure, roll the dice on an OK DE prospect and *maybe*, just maybe he will turn out to be good enough to exercise the 5th year option, but there are many where the option isn’t exercised. I can certainly imagine a scenario where a player at a “lesser” position does have 5th year option exercised. I am not advocating for this, but I it hard to imagine someone like Landon Dickerson getting healthy and being good enough at C or G to use that option?

Yes, not a really strong group of DL at either DE or DT.

I don’t think that they need impact this year - would be happy to get it, but they need to balance who is most ready to help immediately vs who can help most in the long-term. I don’t like taking super athletes who did not produce in college, but likewise I am not crazy about taking a highly productive player with low ceiling, either.