BigBuff423

Fitz actually led one of the Bills' best Offenses since the drought, Brohm was a 2nd round selection and a Heisman candidate at one point so it's not like he was some scrub, and Peterman was just a guy fans "hoped" would be better at Quarterbacking than the dude who didn't turn the ball over but failed to throw or threw high / low / wide. As for Tuel, yeah that was pure desperation, otherwise take a quote from the movie American President in reference to leadership (just substitute QB) "They're so thirsty for it, they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand."

Over the last couple of weeks, I've thought Mayfield was the top option for the Browns. Just a few reasons: 1. Accurate, no issues with hitting the open receiver, 2. Style of play - and improvise 3. Good enough arm 4. Competitive leadership style 5. Proven commodity, essentially low risk in terms of resume leading up to the Draft That said, I'm not particularly sold on him - again to beat the same dead horse - because I question how well he'll do without a clean pocket and enough space to throw over the Defenders. I realize it wasn't an issue in college, but the man nearly had a whole dorm room to himself to throw from while knitting a sweater. He'll have to be able to stay within the pocket, move in it, and throw while it's collapsing in many cases. Now, I'm sure Todd Haley can devise a scheme that utilizes his strengths and minimizes his weakness, but IMHO, since Mayfield is so scheme dependent, I just don't know that I, personally, would want to take that risk at #1.

Talk about a whole new AFC East: Mayfield, Darnold and Rosen in the same Division?? Then add in that aging GOAT, and that makes for an interesting new dynamic. While I can't complain about Darnold, I just hate the idea of giving up picks. I know, I know....but man it really stinks. What makes it juuuuuuust a bit easier is since 65 is essentially Tyrod and 12 is Cordy Glenn, that means the Bills basically traded Cordy Glenn, Tyrod Taylor and their 1st Round pick for 5th overall....that, helps ease the pain.

This...in a nutshell is how I feel. I'm not an Allen fan, but IMHO the McBeane consortium of talent evaluators and coaches have earned the benefit of the doubt for another two years. The opportunity to mold their QB into the kind of player they need...in whatever form that it arrives, is fine with me and I will trust them and hope for the best.

7/9 Correct.....not bad, but not sure it's really telling at all about an ability to spot a QB.

No, No, NO, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....(Steve Carell) Edit: The QB class is wide / deep, not elite at 1 and 2; therefore, based on QB depth, Bills needs, and what positions the Draft IS deep at, ala RB / LB / DT and interior OL, the Bills need all those Draft picks.

Here's the other thing: based on just last year, and inferring some information from Beane's past Drafts with Carolina, I think they value experience, maturity, and production over time more than anything else. That tells me, as for QBs, Mayfield, Rudolph and Falk are the guys that meet that criteria. Lauletta and Mike White as mid round guys - Falk too for that matter - but honestly, with Daboll, I have more faith in his ability to tailor the Offense to a Falk or Rudolph than I ever would have in the last 18 years. He took a guy who could barely pass the ball as QB to the National Championship game, then Saban made the call to change QBs, and lo-and-behold 'Bama came out smokin' in the second half with a passing QB. Daboll will be able to use Rudy, Falk or Jackson to his advantage. They all probably need a year, but that's what AJ is here for....hopefully to be "good enough" to compete, and if the Bills keep all those picks, they might be. With the FA additions, and probably a combination of new MLB, O-line, WR, OLB, DT and slot CB, this team might surprise a few people.

That's a reasonable train of thought. However, if the Bills stay put at 12 and take Allen, while I'm not a big Allen guy, and they keep all of their current picks or even add some through more trades, the argument could be made that AJ was brought in to give himself a one year audition. Not just for the Bills but for other teams to see that he can play in this league....or he can't. Simply put, if the Bills sit still at 12, I think AJ playing out the year is a consideration. IF the Bills trade up into the top 5, then IMHO, I agree with your take. I don't see them taking a guy like Allen at 5 and still needing so much. They would need to take a guy who could at least legit push AJ to start this year.

In other words: 6,497 mock drafts and 1,244,700 rumors later.

I've said from the beginning: this QB class is deep in "good" QBs or "potentially great" QBs, but there is no one like Luck that says, YOU MUST get THIS guy or else! Additionally, I think five or six of these QBs could be interchangeable in terms of wins per year. Meaning, you could get a guy like Darnold who is awesome, but because of his style of play, may not translate to more "wins" but more exciting and a more roller coaster type of Offense. Then with a guy like Rudolph, he's ready to go but maybe give him a year to learn an NFL Offense, but because he's not throwing the ball like some QBs, his wins will come by careful management and the occasional deep ball which won't necessarily get you to 13 wins. Rosen, Mayfield, Jackson....all QBs whom I'd like the Bills to have but each have their warts. So, trading UP in this type of QB class does not make sense to me. If Peyton were sitting there at 1 and you were willing to trade everything you've got this year to get him, I would HATE to give up all those picks, but I definitely would understand it. In this type of draft year, nope. Keep in mind, the areas this Draft is deep: QB (duh) / RB / LB / DT are all areas the Bills need as well. Making the price to move up, even harder. Because the guys you need, will be there in the 2nd / 3rd / 4th and even 5th round.

The criticisms of Mayfield’s game are concerning and often willfully ignored by those who are enamored by his positive traits. I totally understand the love for his play and he’s got real potential but what Cosell highlights in terms of detractions are difficult to overcome at the NFL level. JMO

To me the general idea is that the old standard of drafting all your best players is the “only” way to win, has changed based on an adapted business model. There is now more value placed on Vets in new ways, which based on the structured pay scale for Rookies, is most likely what the league was looking to accomplish.

I’m so freaking happy about no Thursday game and no 4:25 game....not sure which is worse! Love the 1:00 games...would prefer SNF over MNF and much rather not have the Pats in MNF due to history, but really can’t complain.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes an interesting piece, found here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2018/04/18/why-nfl-draft-isn-important-used/9Tk5GkUu82JtyBX2hItrsI/story.html The impetus of the article is that due to the new CBA and the lack of time a team can spend in practice, it is so much harder and with so many more obstacles to truly develop a player. Consider these quotes: "The problem, the Rams found out, was that they didn’t have enough time to develop their young players, thanks to the new practice rules established by the 2011 collective bargaining agreement." "The biggest change in today’s NFL: Time, not money, is the scarce resource." "The biggest reason has been the reduction in practice time. Teams used to hold full-contact practices in the offseason, two-a-days during training camp, and had no limitations on full-contact practices during the regular season.....But under the new CBA, spring practices are strictly regulated with no contact, no pads, and only four hours per day at the facility. Two-a-days in training camp have been eliminated, and teams can hold only 14 padded practices throughout the entire regular season" "These restrictions are great for the players’ health and safety, but terrible for developing young players — especially those that play in college offenses that don’t translate to the NFL." I thought this quote was truly revealing: "Demoff said that the Rams ran a study, and concluded that it now takes players about three years to have the same amount of practice time they would have gotten in one year under the old CBA." I just thought this type of information is truly relevant given where the Bills are and what they're trying to accomplish. If you read the article, the Rams reference how they learned this was by getting so many picks in the RGIII trade and learning that despite all of this young, promising talent - very few panned out. You can make an argument either way for what the best way to operate the Draft would be, as the article states Demoff still believes building through the Draft is still "the best way to go", but it shows just how much the NFL has changed. It also means, projecting these young guys has been even harder than first realized (edit: under the new CBA).

Fair enough...for me, when I consider value, I think about what Bills would get for him, his replacement value in terms of a Rookie RB, and Cap money spent. Given the depth at RB this year, to me it just makes sense. But, it’s not like I’m on a soap box screaming about the end of the world if he stays, lol....I just happen to think his highest value to Bills at this point, is now.

Oh, I see...I thought you were saying you responded in a separate post about Shady....that's why I was confused. As for worth a 3rd or 4th Rounder, given his age, I think a mid to low 3rd or high 4th is probably fair compensation. And, yes Shady has been the best Offensive player for the team since his arrival, but this isn't about 2018, which is why the Bills would be giving up so much to get their QB of the future. This is about setting the team up for 2019 and beyond. This Draft is unusually deep at RB, where a 3rd round or even 4th round RB could be a legit starter for the rest of his career and one who can do it all, except for maybe pass block. That's why you turn Shady in for that pick. It gives you flexibility to choose a RB or a WR or a CB or LB, and still be able to get a younger, cheaper, and able RB while adding to the core of your players for the next five years. JMO, I know you disagree, I was just expounding on the reasoning in my mind.

I have no idea what you're referring to....you quoted me directly with the response that you don't trade Shady, I countered with, "Yes, you do - given the depth at the RB position in this Draft and the intent to get younger and cheaper". Then you mention what "the poster values Shady at"....but the OP doesn't mention Shady at all. He merely indicated the two teams talking about going 6, per NFL Network. So, I guess you'll have to fill me in...?

Yup, you're right....my bad. Quickly typing to make my point and not even considering the math....thanks.

I disagree. Shady is expendable on the wrong side of 30 and one of the positions this Draft is loaded with? Oh yea, RB. You use the pick and continue to unload contracts and get younger.

So, in that scenario - not saying good or bad just putting it into a different perspective - you've traded Cordy Glenn and Tyrod Taylor, for Josh Rosen. That would be a steal. And in *that* case, I could get on board with trading up....because, I have a feeling Shady and Hughes are Draft day moves resulting in more picks if the Bills trade up. IMHO, I think that's one reason why Beane is considering it, because he believes he can recoup those picks via player trades. Hughes and Shady both probably come in a 3rd to 4th round compensation. And in THIS Draft, that's exactly what they need, in addition to the two 2nd round picks. DT / LB are deep this year, and the Bills need to add those guys.

I've got no issue with Drafting Lamar at 12 because he is a MUCH better pocket passer than some fans give him credit for. I've said it for over a month now, but the video on him is good about being in the pocket and his accuracy completion % is at 59.1%, just .09% shy of the benchmark 60% most say is needed to be considered a truly viable QB prospect going into the NFL. When you add in the fact that out of the top 6 his receivers had the highest drop rate and as you mentioned his talent and running a Pro Style Offense, there's true promise there. He does need to work on his footwork to avoid the errant throws, but considering all of these QBs have some issues that need to be developed or refined, Lamar Jackson is a tremendous prospect and could be the centerpiece in an NFL Offense with the right coaching staff.

No, they’re very similar, just arriving at the same destination by a different path. Either way, we disagree and this is old. Deuces...

No...the purpose of the statement was to highlight the difference between what the poster indicated as a sex romp with a hottie at a bar vs. what this truly is in terms of relations; a marriage, not a one night stand and that the forfeiture of assets is much, much more significant. More to the point, that's fine (not for me, but I get it) but make sure you know the terms of what you're agreeing to....I was clarifying that it is not waiting for the "beast" just because you waited. It's a careful evaluation of what you're sacrificing in order to take the hot girl home. As to your final sentence, if you think signing a 6th round, under sized QB with issues in being an actual NFL Quarterback is the same as selecting a QB in the 1st round of a Draft that is deep with QB talent, then you sir have reached an entirely new level of density.

Nice try....but no, not really. Also, please read more carefully....in my analogy I simply said the difference as not taking the hot girl home for a good night, it was taking her home via marriage, not a one night stand. In other words, the marriage analogy is much closer to the football equivalent of trading up and giving up said assets than just taking a chance on the hot girl at the bar for an evening. I just.....can't.....

But that had nothing to do with me...someone posted about getting the hottest girl at the bar instead of waiting for closing time and hoping to take home a beast. I clarified the analogy to be much more like marrying a virtual stranger based on looks, and all that such a commitment entails and what is at risk in terms of assets and major changes. That's all.... I'm fine with staying at 12, and I'm fine with trading up....just not so far up that it cripples the ability of the team to address not only QB but other areas as well. So, trading up and giving up the extra 1st and a 2nd....sucks, and that's about the line, I personally could stomach. But in the scenario posted, that was NOT the asking it price. To me, the price was much, much steeper and that's where I waded into the conversation to say, if you do that, be so sure about your pick, you know you're married to this person for the next five years with no way out and without knowing what you're getting. That's all.....