dpberr

I don't pay attention to draft grades immediately after the draft. More often than not the grades reflect effort to substantiate or defend pre-draft prognostication. Some national pundits love the Bills draft, others find it ok, others find it bad. The ones that love it saw Buffalo taking Dareus. Guess that makes them feel good. For every blog that says Buffalo failed in this draft due to not drafting a QB, there are two that say Minnesota, Tenn, Cincy and SF all reached for theirs, and how could they due to all their other needs....

I like the pick. Just didn't expect it.

I'll stick with Rudolph. We finally fix that position.

I think Bowers is made for a 4-3 defense. I thought he might be the sort of player you could stand up at OLB, but every scouting report I've read states that his strength is a down lineman. If we run the hybrid where we mix up the looks, that's fine, but if we're going to go 3-4 more often than not, there are better, healthier, more experienced choices to rush the passer. Although Bowers is very intriguing as I thought he'd never be available at #34, his injury would make me pass, just as all the teams did in the first round. He's Andre Wadsworth v 2.0, and he and the team that drafts him will be damn fortunate to make it through the end of the first contract without half of that time not being spent on IR. A pass rusher is nothing with a wonky knee. With your pick, you are really gambling on getting a year or two of great play out of him before things go down hill.

Rudolph is my first choice. Kelvin Sheppard is my #2.

I love this pick. I was relieved to hear Newton and Miller go #1 and #2.

What's the point of judging a draft one year out? It kinda goes back to that Bill Parcells draft special. He stated that he only ever graded one prospect, Billy Sims as a 9 (on a scale of 9), a guy who could walk right in and go right to the Pro Bowl. When you think of all the great players Parcells was involved in drafting, and it was only Sims that was ever graded that high, that really put the draft, and what to expect of draftees in their first year in the pros, in perspective. I expect more out of Spiller and the gang in the second year of their careers, but I would not label that class a bust.

That show was probably the most educational programming ESPN has run in at least twenty years. I learned a lot.

Wouldn't Washington have to trade their entire draft and then some to move up to #2?

Two things I don't want to see: 1. Carolina taking somebody besides Cam Newton. 2. The Patriots finding a sucker to move up into the top 10.

Have fun. I bet that's a great experience. The Draft, NYC....

I like Dareus, Jordan and begrudgingly, Miller. Days before the draft, I've come to my own conclusion that I'll be happy with the Bills picks...so long as its for the defense.

What a day that was.

I don't see the Panthers saddling a defensive minded coach with the Cam Newton project. They will either get a weapon for Clausen (Green) or play to Rivera's strength and get a starter on the defense in Dareus or Peterson. The Panthers line and secondary have holes, so either would fit right away.

+1. Neck injury alone scares me off for a Round 2 pick. He's one shot away from calling it a career. You don't pick linebackers with neck problems with high draft picks. I find either Wilson or Ponder at #2 like milk on a hot summer day. Can't the Bills find somebody who wasn't seriously injured at #34?

I think Cam Jordan would not be a reach at #3. I think the pick will be Dareus, Miller or Jordan. As for the Alulu scenario, the Bills select Prince Amukamara.

Bring Vince Young in to Buffalo? What, getting the Bills to an 8-8 record isn't challenging enough? He may have all the talent in the world, but you can't teach maturity and work ethic, two things Young lacks.

Thing about that list...is that the majority of those guys are not late round lottery tickets. The top shelf on that list are second/third round picks. Obviously looking for bargains in the 4th round isn't cutting it.

I believe in Mayock's analysis. I personally believe that Carolina would love to get out of #1, but probably won't due to lack of willing trade partners, especially given that players under contract can't be in the mix in any deal. I think Carolina's weaknesses at CB, DT or WR are worse than having Clausen at QB for a year. If they get their OL healthy, with that running attack, it'd take some pressure off him. They need somebody opposite Steve Smith.

Late round picks, castoffs and UDFAs haven't been working out well for the Bills at TE. The great Pete Metzelaars was a 3rd pick. The ok, but often injured Jay Riemersma was a 7th rounder. And it's been absolute desolation ever since. If we don't draft Rudolph, Williams, or Stocker, we better spend some money at the position at FA. We need a blue chip at that position.

If the team doesn't play to win, there's no point in fans investing money, and more importantly, their time, into the team.

Hell, the whole offense should be there.

Right on. +1

It's in the players best interest to have a salary cap. It's the rising tide that lifts all boats. It forces teams to spend close to the cap, keeps markets somewhat competitive and provides some financial stability for the league, which is good for the NFL for both the owners and players. Teams like the Jets and Cowboys who are so ridiculously leveraged with stadiums, can't afford to hire everybody, so you need to have a mechanism to spread that opportunity around. If you are a top shelf player, you want competing offers from a variety of teams, not just one or two.

I don't buy any of what Buddy Nix says to the media. The media is concluding that the Bills will take Gabbert or nobody at all, but there are plenty of decent quarterback candidates with some talent to select from in this year's draft if you must take one and you don't want to use your 2nd or 3rd rounders on it. I'd keep an eye on Josh Portis.