BigBuff423

To me, thus far, the only thing that we, as fans, can predict for Beane and McD, is that they're unpredictable....I agree with OP in that I don't think it all shakes out in the end the way many of us think it will, but I DO think the team finds a way to acquire players, including a QB, that they believe will be much improved from last year. However, this is a 3 year rebuild....looking at last year, this year so far, and what is probably likely to happen next year, that's when you start to see the roster more fully represent what Beane and McD have envisioned for the Bills when they took their respective jobs.

I haven’t watched this clip, but I like Falk as a 2nd - 3rd Round QB.

When their philosophy changes and they have the two RBs they have including OROY....add in Michael Thomas taking the lion's share of the passes and you've got a down-turn in production. Not a big fan but trying to put all things into perspective.

Taking it with a grain of salt, to be fair, Beane did say they wanted to get into top 10, 12 because of a particular player that is "not necessarily a quarterback"....probably all smokescreen and disinformation, but it's a least possible Beane is telling the truth. Only time will tell.

According to Astro, the Bills did not "live scout" Allen once this season....and when Beane was interviewed one of the things he said is you want to see these guys live...now, maybe it's all just a smokescreen....but many of his comments came in May, long before Draft season and long before there was any idea they would make the playoffs and be Drafting in the 20's....so, I think that lends some actual credibility to his statements. That said...maybe he live scouted him last year with the Panthers? Don't know, but just putting it out there for a balanced perspective.

Well my contention is that moving up does not guarantee you a franchise changer. Most years there Jana QB that “comes out of nowhere” to exceed their Draft position and expectations. Am I for Drafting a QB in Round 1 or 2? Yes...but given where the team is in terms of roster needs, and year where there are maybe 5 or 6 truly good QBs, I would prefer to stay put at 12 and keep all those picks. Luke Falk is a 2nd round guy who could very well end up being a good NFL QB. He has much of what you’re looking for, or stay at 12 and take Jackson or Rudolph... It’s not that I don’t understand the desire to move up and I wouldn’t hate it....I just disagree that it is best for the franchise over the long term.

If you're right about the players being Seniors, but everyone who loves Darnold, Rosen, Allen, and Jackson, they will be disappointed. Mayfield and Rudolph are the only two that meet that criteria and Mayfield doesn't meet the height criteria established by Beane in a couple of different interviews. I'm not saying I agree with all of those requirements, but if you read through all those interviews and pull apart the statements, as for notable QBs, Mason Rudolph and Luke Falk are the only two who are Seniors, pass from the pocket, are accurate and are calculated risk takers. I know people don't like that but the rest of them either aren't tall enough, aren't Seniors, accuracy issues indicating a low completion percentage, etc..... This also means, IF and that's a really big IF, all this information is to be taken into consideration, I doubt the Bills trade up for either one of those players. If they do trade up, obviously it's for someone who does not meet their aforementioned criteria which means they must believe his other traits far outweigh their minimum standards.

I'd say eating that for breakfast is probably better than anything the Bills can offer in their cafeteria....now, maybe I'm wrong....but, I'm going out on a limb here and think not.

And, actually Brees was a 2nd round pick and Wilson of course a 3rd....soooooo, there's that....

Honestly, I share your opinion for the most point. Trent was a prototypical developing QB who need a year or two to find his game in the NFL. That year, he started to put the pieces together and look the part and even in the Cards game was looking good and then, IT happened. Knocked the f-out....and he was never the same. Basically, his career died that day along with much of what promise the Bills had that year and the year after. It is a shame, because for a while, I really could see his potential coming to fruition...it was short lived, but like the OP said, it seemed like the light came on for him and just as he approached take-off, boom....done.

How quickly we forget the legends of Torrell Troupe and Aaron Maybin.....

And what fans seem to lose sight of, regarding Peterman, some of the best QBs in NFL history have had horrible first starts. Nothing is truly known about Peterman other than his horrendous first start and a very good game manager type game against Indy in the snow. But count me among those who feel Peterman’s future remains an unknown, regardless of popular opinion.

I agree in principle, I'm not a fan of over-paying for FAs either and believe you build through the Draft, but in this particular case, the Bills have the unique opportunity of coming off a playoff season AND being able to get into the top 5 to get their franchise QB (if they believe that's where he is found) and still be able to Draft good players THIS year and fill out the roster NEXT year via FA.

Under most, in fact basically every other, situations I would agree with you....but the Bills will have a huuuuge amount of Cap space next year. Meaning they will have the money to go get all the quality FAs they want or desire to build and re-shape the roster. But this year, they need to be really careful with their spending making Rookie contracts, especially those who should produce right away - 1st / 2nd / 3rd rounders - extremely valuable and it infuses the team with a wide swath of youth and talent at low cost.

First, a king's ransom has nothing to do with fair market value since by definition, a ransom paid for holding a king hostage...and in this case, the #2 spot...my point was that the #2 spot cost is apparently quite similar to that of the 1st spot and so if I'm going to make that trade, I go to #1 with no quibbles over whether I get the guy I want...I know I'm on the clock already and get whomever I'd like....also, IMHO it is over priced based on what Eagles gave up for Wentz: From ESPN when trade was made: "The Eagles sent five draft picks to the Browns: the No. 8 pick in the first round, a third-round pick (77th overall) and a fourth-round pick (100th overall) in this year's draft, a first-round pick in 2017 and a second-round pick in 2018. Cleveland also sends a fourth-round pick in 2017 to the Eagles." 2016: 8th overall 3rd Round pick 4th Round pick 2017: 1st round pick 2018: 2nd round pick Also received a 4th round pick from Cleveland along with #2 overall. In the cited scenario for the Bills: 2018: 2 1st round picks in this year - making it far more valuable than giving up a 1st next year, a 2nd and 3rd round THIS year, making them far more valuable than a 2nd round pick two years later and ANOTHER 2nd round pick in 2019, and this is the price that drives it over the top. Personally, if they're going to do it, the two 1st, one 2nd this year, and a 1st next year should be it. Next year the Bills will have about $100 million in Cap space, so they can afford to use FA as the main way to acquire talent. But this year, all the positions of need for the Bills are deep: DT / LB / QB (of course) / RB and they should be using that to their advantage, not giving really good, cheap players on Rookie contracts in a year when they're very close to expending all the money they have. Think of it what you will....but I'm done with this conversation.

No way you'd know this, but I pay very close attention, and it is a king's ransom....and we can go back and forth about how to identify a "franchise QB", but since this discussion has essentially been rehashed to the point it nearly nauseates me, we'll just agree to disagree.

Was just going to write this....it's amazing how often "journalists" and "experts" jump on the hype train to knock a signing unless it's a "name"....Louis Riddick has been on Twitter since the start of FA saying the opposite....that building a team and getting good FAs is about that second and third wave and that it doesn't matter if fans have never heard of the guy, the GMs and personnel know how to evaluate talent for their team. Agreed with him on this, just because of recent success (giving Whaley credit for signings like that, one of the things he did well).

Man, that IS a king's ransom to make that move...in fact, it would seem that would be enough to get to #1.....if the Giant's counter, I'd love to know how much more they think they can get....woof! In many ways, for all of that, I'd rather stay put....wow.

What's interesting to me are a couple things: Beane is consistent about what he wants and knows definitively what those characteristics are, he doesn't make excuses for a type of player simply because he likes the "style"; additionally, only ONE of the QBs in this Draft meet all the criteria that Beane mentioned: Darnold. I'm not a Darnold fan especially, but here are the knocks that can be inferred or perceived on the other QBs based on those quotes, from highlighted portion top to bottom: 1. Jackson - he greatly improved in 2017 but he didn't do it "consistently" over his college career 2. Mayfield - self-explanatory 3. Rudolph (and others) 4. Rosen 5. Allen To one of the more explained positive traits Beane mentioned, Darnold has done - albeit inconsistently - but he's done it: "...here are some times when they are going to have to thread the needle. It's third and long, and it's late in the game, and we've got to get this play, and they're going to put a spy on the quarterback or something like that... he's got to stand in there, trust his reads, trust his progressions... and sling it and make the throw. You have to do that." I believe, and I could be mistaken so I'm not going to find the quote or piece but, Beane has said he doesn't put much weight on INTs in terms of knocking guy down the board for them, if they're done in situations that are of the "calculated risk" (quoted above) category....in other words, he doesn't want dumb INTs when there's no reason for them but when a QB takes a "calculated risk" to make the the throw and does it fairly well but the Defense simply makes a play, it doesn't drastically change Beane's opinion as opposed to completely missing a receiver or throwing into coverage when another guy is open and creating the turnover. The negatives mentioned and the one positive trait Beane seemed to be more verbose with in his explanation, leads me to think if Beane could have the 1st overall pick, he'd pick Darnold.

Keep in mind Newhouse has also played Guard, which adds versatility and I like Bodine for the anticipated Offensive power scheme which is where he plays his best ball...Astro put something out on Twitter to this effect. And I trust Beane so I’m good with this...makes sense to me.

Honestly, I would "assume" that their plan for both of those is the Draft. However, I really like the AJ signing. To me it sends a clear message that we're not going to try and continue to re-tread old tires, and we're willing to take a small but important risk if we believe the pay-off is worth it. And let's face it, AJ's NFL numbers coupled with his college career show there IS promise and reasons to be excited about his potential but that potential needs to be realized. To me though, it's better than just getting a career back-up....again, IMHO, it also shows they think they "might" need a guy like AJ to play for at least next year and maybe the full two years, which was probably the selling point to AJ. He could come in and hopefully (for him) to start next year, play the year and put it all out there as to what he is capable of, and either make the Bills trade him, extend him, or simply let him go somewhere that he wants to be....or, God forbid, he plays lights out and the Bills are essentially forced to....keep him! .....long shot, but that's what AJ should be: promise with potential.

For every FA, this year or next, I continue to say, "I trust the process...and Mr. Beane"....they've earned that right thus far....next year's record and team will see if they get another year or two or three, but to me, what the team has done since McD and his staff got her, and all the changes they've made since Beane and his staff were assembled, I think they get the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. JMO

Unless you're Doug Whaley and Shaq Lawson....

Maybe it's legit....but also, maybe, Beane is such a sly fox, that he's leaking this stuff himself in hopes to get the Broncos or Cards to pay a king's ransom to get to the Giants...or better yet, Miami (if it's true they want a QB, which seems hard to believe), and essentially smoke out the room so they can have the pick they want at 12....I'm just suggesting an alternative before anyone comes at me with pitchforks....also, Shady's on the block. Believe it...especially if it's going up....just sayin'....

Thank you for this...it is important to keep some perspective as we, as fans, can get all worked-up to go get "our guy...no matter the cost!". But the NFL is a league driven by numbers, performance, and calculated risks....and to that end, I really like how Beane seems to approach the situation.