BigBuff423

Just when I was about to strongly disagree with you about the BILLS trading up, I read a Bleacher Report update that just occurred on my iPhone at Noon that the BILLS and Lions are actively trying to trade into the top 5 at a "bargain price", citing the Jags as the most likely landing spot....I was convinced DW would be trading DOWN, but apparently all this "UP" talk is for real, as that report was from the NFL Network....if the BILLS do land at 5, Evans would be a nice consolation for giving up more Draft picks

Hindsight can be very interesting....some of the thoughts on Manuel and Kiko along with a couple posters burning A. Williams, not that I blame them at that point given he didn't do much...but still, funny how all of this stuff works out.... ^^^This....in recent years, since 2011, this has been the case on a number of players...after last year's Draft and FA class brought in by DW, I've come to the place where I know what *I* would like to see happen, but in the end, trust DW...I know it's a slow process to turn this thing around and realize that as long as we're working toward really competing to get better, based on empirical evidence, then I can stay with the plan....

I am, and have been, completely against trading UP for ANY player, including Watkins. That said, I don't think the BILLS will actually trade up but instead do their best to trade DOWN and assuming that's the case, I believe as DW said they will go BPA. For some, that will cause some consternation because in all honesty, depending on where they end up IF they do trade down, could be a CB or LB with a 2nd Round pick being a CB or LB or DE. So while DW has stated they are committed to getting EJ weapons and protection, he knows the Draft can NOT be based purely on need...that's how you kill a team quickly, not assigning proper value. And to DW's credit, he has said that you assign the grade and you stick to your board, do the preparation, and it takes all the anxiety out of the Draft process. So, I think none of us really know what the BILLS value or what their board looks like, but I DO think we will be in for a surprise or two in the first couple days.....just a hunch.

Fair enough, but Jackson had issues with staying healthy and Stacy was a Rookie last year when Bradford couldn't get healthy. So to be well-balanced, Jackson was a good RB, when healthy but his inability to stay on the field consistently caused problems, especially when game-planning as the Rams would plan to run to take some of the heat off of Bradford and then Jackson get injured early in the year or in a game and Bradford would be forced to pass 50+ times per game...so, it's a nuance of a distinction but an important one. Ane yes AP had a major injury but then he rebounded quickly and went on to have an incredible year after it healed...and AP has largely been considered healthy overall...and absolutely agree, Rams did NOTHING to help Bradford until last year when it came to getting good, big, fast WRs....sounds familiar doesn't it??

And IF he went to the Vikings, talk about helping a QB out with a stable running game and a real, dynamic playmaker at RB! Bradford would go to a much better environment, and hope that the Vikings would address some Offense issues to help him out, but despite the record, the Vikes aren't a total trash heap, they've got players and there's some real room for Bradford to make some difference on that team...and of course, going to another team with a Dome helps him, and the Vikes getting a ready and hopefully able QB to compete in the NFC North gets that team sort of on-par with the other QBs in that Division...no, he's not even close to Rodgers, but despite the billing, Stafford has had issues staying healthy and that team still can't seem to win consistently, and while Cutler is gifted, he can't seem to win consistently either...so, Bradford is at least in the mix of those other two...

Boom...goes the dynamite.

And if it's true and the trade is done, Houston just got a real gift as well...because anyone who wanted Manziel or Bortles, or any QB I suppose, would now know they have to leapfrog over the Rams to be assured to get their QB...Manziel would presumably be the best bet, but if Houston juked everyone out and took Bortles or Bridgewater or Carr 1st overall (think of the irony if they Drafted Carr 1st overall??? Wow...boom, mind ...blown) and that left Rams sitting with one less QB to choose from....essentially, if trade goes through and Team "A" wants to make sure they get the pick of the litter, better get a deal done with Houston....either way, all these deals for QBs at the top of the Draft do nothing but help the BILLS...for once, and I mean for ONCE, it finally helps the BILLS when they're not *desperate* for a QB

And that, blows my hopes / theory out of the water, in that I predicted the Rams to take Watkins and then trade with Buffalo, 9th, taking an OT....that's what I presumed they wanted to do, was take an Offensive Playmaker at 2, ableit I assumed they'd keep Bradford and Draft Watkins, and then trade back into the top 10 with Buffalo to grab their OT....

Yes, indeed...

I'm hoping there's only 30 teams in such a scenario...Buffalo should NOT be talking about trading UP, let alone to #1, at ALL!!! For any reason! Now, EJ fails to progress in 2014 or just doesn't show he has "it" to win, then I'm ALLLLLLL in for selling and trading everything in sight to get to #1 overall next year so the BILLS can finally put a Franchise QB behind center, IF the man known as EJ Manuel does not demonstrate the capacity to be their Franchise QB in 2014...but if that's the case, I think we'll be having this conversation next year with the BILLS at or near the top of the Draft....ughh!

Sad....but man, isn't that the truth!! Until Buddy (not including 2010) took over and then Doug last year, I really wondered in THE hell was going on over at OBD??!!! Because they could get the picks like Kyle W. and SJ right, but couldn't figure out to avoid like the freakin plague, Maybin?? Or Whitner with Ngata sitting ripe for the picking???? It was infuriating!!! Now, since 2011, it seems the BILLS are getting much better at Drafting and making some real strides toward depth of talent...hopefully, DW and Co. continue to get extra picks and Draft fantastic players at the right spots...

First, if I read too much into it, my bad. Second, not fast enough to be a 4-3 end? Really...? Well, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but looking at his Combine numbers, he's plenty fast enough and given his strength, he's great at DE man-handling the tackles...when it comes to, too short or arms not long enough stuff, I simply refer to watching him play...now, obviously you don't think he can play DE in a 4-3, fair enough, again all opinions (within reason) are valid...but to say that it isn't so just b/c others are writing articles about it, doesn't seem to hold water IMO...Russell Wilson was also too short to be a QB in the NFL, yet any other team - had they known what and how he could play at the NFL level - would have Drafted him in the 1st, assuming they needed / wanted a QB...he's just an easy one to pick, but the NFL is full of players who don't meet the measurable criteria and yet play well for their teams...how many former basketball players converted to TEs are playing now? How many DEs in college are OLB in a 3-4 scheme? Look at the Ty Powell kid the BILLS seem to really like and Seattle Drafted, who was converted to LB...there's a long list of players who have transitioned from one position to another, and going from DT to DE is not a huge leap, especially for a guy who is BIG and FAST and STRONG...and not for nothing, but given this team's issues against the Run, a BIG, STRONG, FAST DE is exactly what this team needs...plus, versatility is a nice bonus, can put him inside or if they Coach him up to DE, put him outside and switch on the line as an audible based on who's in the game....just a thought, and a way of getting the best talent on the field.

ASJ and Amaro will not be what they're projected to be in the NFL, unless they go to a team similar to the Saints...put either one of them in Buffalo and you have an average TE...put them with the Lions, Saints, or Colts and they will be very good...but Division, QB, and yes, even weather all have a role in how these new hybrid TE-WR Rookies fare in their first year or two...I'll take Evans and Niklas with a 3rd rount RT over Matthews and Amaro, every day of the week and 2x on Sunday... Edit: just re-read that it sounded conceited, I apologize, been a long week, I just feel strongly about the whole TE in the 1st situation..and the Draft set back two additional weeks is only make me more ornery...where's jw when you need him?

A few picks I agree with, the notable exception: Buffalo. 1. Clowney - no need for elaboration 2. Watkins - more than anything else, St. Louis needs a play-maker who is already someone Bradford can depend on and OT is deep, they'll grab one in 2nd or trade with Buffalo at 9 3. Manziel - you got this one right IMO and for the right reason, also IMO 4. Mack - ^^see above 5. Robinson - this is where McKenzie takes great value and need in the same pick 6. Matthews - ^^see above 7. Lewan - Lovie knows the value in a good Offensive line and it begins its rejuvenation process with Lewan 8. Bortles - Minnesota must have a succession plan for Cassel and Bortles is a guy who I think Minnesota will Draft and spend a year to develop. 9. Evans - assuming no trade with St. Louis at 13 due to Lewan being gone for the Rams, this is the best value for the BILLS; Ebron doesn't fit and NO TE is worth a 1st round pick 10. Darqueze Dennard - Lions need Secondary help and with OT and WR being very deep in this Draft, they take the BPA for their Secondary. Pick away.....

That said, next year's QB class is potentially far more impressive, depending on "who" declares....I'm in the "wait and see" mode for 2014. I truly hope EJ IS the QB of the future and he PROVES it in 2014. However, if he doesn't for ANY reason, I'm on the "sell everything not nailed down and every virgin you can get your hands on" to move to the #1 overall pick to make DEAD SURE the BILLS get their QB and Brand or Face of the Franchise in 2015....IF, IF it is not EJ

Reasoned balance...on this board...HAS NO PLACE!!! OFFFFFFF with your head!!

Um, maybe the timeline is screwed up accidentally but just to be clear, the BILLS traded down to 16 and got EJ, then Drafted Robert Woods with their 2nd pick and then Kiko with their 3rd pick, the second of the 2nd round...their starting LOT, Cordy Glenn if I understood LOT to be an acronym for Left Offensive Tackle, was drafted in 2012. But to your larger point, I agree..

To your point about Ebron, for the most part, I fully agree....at least for Buffalo. To your questions: listen Nancy, I admitted it was just a wild theory and this Draft dragging it's ass is driving me nuts, but given all the other wild and hair-brained theories out there, this is at least creative and original instead of the: "We trade CJ and SJ to the Texans for the 1st overall pick and Draft Johnny Football....then trade all the rest of our picks this year and next for Watkins and BOOM! Playooooooffffs!"....

Well, I'm not sold on either order for their Draft, so much depends on what happens leading up to and the day of the Draft...but if I'm compelled to choose in this order it would be OT and then TE. Such as Lewan and Niklas or Matthews and Niklas. Either way, NO Ebron and NO ASJ and NO Amaro...another thread had their metrics / analytics posted, and while I wasn't not a Ebron supporter before that info-graphic and I leaned toward Niklas, that information sold me on saying NO to any of the "top" rated TEs except Niklas....however, there's a *chance that neither Robinson, Matthews, or Lewan are available at 9th and if Ebron is not believed to worth a top 10 pick by the BILLS, you've got a problem if you're pigeon holed into a OT at that spot....another reason why I don't think the BILLS stay at 9, one way or another.

Hahaha! Awesome!! Listen, if there was ANY correlation whatsoever to Lucci getting a Daytime Emmy and the BILLS winning a Super Bowl...I would sell my kidneys and pay for whatever decadent sexual act was necessary to hire the professional to grease the wheels of the person who makes that decision for Lucci every-freakin' year to make the Lombardi icon stays IN Buffalo!! ....however, I might also have to take up a collection to accomplish that feat...

Hahahaha!! Thanks...it's Friday man, what can I say...the brain is already going batsh*t crazy!!

Not to argue, but that only tells you what? That Young wasn't the issue in Tampa and they did indeed have their QB of the future, but failed to provide him with the tools and resources to succeed...Young walked into a treasure trove of talent at San Fran and showcased his abilities...

Please allow me to posit a theory here: What if, and it's an enormous IF, the BILLS *were* actually trying to trade up before the Draft, but not for a player but rather for the purpose of acquiring more picks the day OF the Draft because it will inherently hold more value than possibly what they give up?? Follow me for a second, let's assume the BILLS were to trade with say, Jax from 9th to 3rd for their 1st (obviously), their 2nd (41) and SJ? The reason **may not be to Draft Watkins or Mack or whomever, but instead on the DAY of the Draft the BILLS would then be in position to acquire more picks in a trade DOWN scenario than they are now because assuming Clowney goes 1st and say, for sh*ts and giggles, Robinson goes 2nd to St. Louis, with the Browns picking 4th and Oakland picking 5th, the BILLS would be in a really good position to trade with someone who really wants to move UP while the BILLS want to trade DOWN and therefore a team like the 49ers or Rams who have a boatload of picks to give, could exchange their 1st round picks and give a couple of other picks to Buffalo, like two 2nds and a 3rd, which give the BILLS more flexibility because if the BILLS stay put at 9 and the following are gone: Clowney, Robinson, Manziel (Jags), Mack (Browns), Watkins (Oakland), Matthews (Atlanta), Evans (Tampa Bay), and Bortles (Minnesota), it leaves little currency as true trade bait. The "elite" players are gone and the difference between talent from 9th to 16th is relatively minor therefore, making a team's desire to trade UP and Buffalo's ability to trade DOWN more difficult...and, if there are no trade partners at say, 3rd overall - which almost certainly there would be, you still get the 3rd best player in the Draft, ala Watkins....just a conspiracy theory, since this damn Draft is dragging out like Susan Lucci's days on All My Children

To me, charisma is natural and bestowed at birth but leadership - to some extent - can be learned and it certainly can be refined. There are a great many books and seminars devoted to this very thing and some of the best leaders, take time to invest in their own development. Now, on field leadership occurs in winning and to that point I agree with the opinions posted so far, but to say that leadership can't be refined, honed, or enhanced based on an objective input and evaluation while providing some critical insight, in my mind is inaccurate. But, to each his own...and if I remember correctly, one of the things both Doug Whaley and his staff agreed with Mike Mayock on before last year's Draft when all the discussions were circling, was that EJ had a "presence" about him when he walked in a room. To me, that is natural, but some of the aspects of good leadership can be learned or developed.

I would say the one that got away...Steve Young