mjt328

Bills pass less often than any of the other 31 teams in the NFL. When they do, Tyrod Taylor prefers to use check-downs, sideline passes and deep shots -- as opposed to the places where a TE usually runs his routes (down the seam or over the middle). In my estimation, that makes Charles Clay the #3 option (at best) behind Sammy Watkins and Lesean McCoy. On a team that doesn't pass much, the #3 option isn't going to make big stats. To some, Clay is probably the worst contract the Bills have given out. But in reality, his average salary ($7.6 million) isn't really much worse than where most of the guys at his level should be getting paid. Yes, he is getting paid like a Top #5 TE. But if you go down to the #15 TE by average salary, you find Vance McDonald at ($6.5 million). At #20, you find Antonio Gates ($5.5 million). If the guy is overpaid by #1-2 million per year, I think I can live with that.

It's not that simple. You can't just identify "positions to pay" and "positions not to pay" without considering many other factors. For instance, what kind of system is the team running? Seeing as how the Bills employ a ground/pound system that runs more than anyone in the league, it's silly to imply that paying Lesean McCoy is a waste. Or suggesting that we should just settle for scraps at Fullback. Unlike a team that passes 75% of the time, these guys are key pieces to our offensive attack. The same can be said for defense. While Rex Ryan forced his corners to play heavy man-coverage on the outside, Sean McDermott goes with a mostly zone scheme. That means the cover skills of our corners is less important than on other teams. Which I believe is a major factor in why we let Stephon Gilmore walk instead of at least franchising him. And why our entire secondary is being revamped. Speaking of Gilmore, the actual skill level of players should also be heavily considered. Almost every player has a max value. And Gilmore was looking for Top 5-10 money, as a guy who has never consistently played at that kind of level. You also have to realize that you can't pay a QB or WR top money when you don't have a franchise quarterback, or when your wide receiver is still on his rookie contract. So that money goes somewhere else. In the case of Charles Clay, the contract was specifically structured and loaded in a way to keep the Dolphins from being able to match and keep him. I give the Bills front office credit for identifying a player they thought could help, and then ensuring they got him. The reason he is not living up to the contract is because Taylor just isn't looking his way enough. Not because the guy isn't good enough to make plays. In my opinion, the Bills have actually done a pretty good job with the salary cap. They have known when to let people walk (Byrd, Levitre, Bradham). They have known when to re-sign guys (Hughes, Glenn, Incognito, Dareus). They have found bargains in free agency (Incognito, Alexander, Brown). They have done a good job at restructuring when necessary (Taylor). The biggest problem with the roster continues to be poor drafting. Because even though I believe letting Gilmore, Robert Woods and Zach Brown go was the right move... now we have giant holes on the roster and nobody ready to step up and fill that role. We also still have a hole at Right Tackle that needs to be filled, and questions at Safety.

I also want franchise QB to be our #1 priority. But that doesn't mean you just throw draft picks at guys you don't believe in. Although I agree that Quarterback is (by far) the toughest position to scout, it's ridiculous to suggest it's nothing but luck. Otherwise there is no point even paying a GM and scouting staff. You might as well just take a poll from the fans or pick from a magazine. Teams like the Browns, Jets, Rams and Jaguars are constantly picking QBs high. Usually in the first 40 picks. And they keep missing over and over. But you will notice those same teams keep missing on their other draft selections as well. The problem isn't luck. The problem is scouting. Meanwhile, teams like the Steelers, Packers or Ravens take 1-2 shots at a 1st Round quarterback. And bam, they have the right guy. Because those teams are constantly good at scouting, constantly good at drafting, and have a better idea which guys are worth taking a chance with. No, it's not an exact science and everyone is going to bust on picks. But it's not surprising that the same GMs who are missing their picks on Offensive Tackles and Cornerbacks can't pick the right Quarterback either.

You are right on this year's draft. I think most years the "elite" talent is around 3-5 guys. This year is more like 6-7. Unfortunately, I don't see teams reaching for QBs early this year. And if any of the elite prospects drop, it's more than likely to be one of the Running Backs (which we don't need). The guys we need to drop (Jamal Adams, Malik Hooker, Marshon Lattimore)... I believe will be long gone. At #10, I think the Bills are likely to have a choice between guys like Mike Williams, Corey Davis, OJ Howard, Reuben Foster, Cam Robinson. Yes, they are all good prospects at positions of need. But in those cases, I don't see a huge drop off in talent by going down 5-10 spots. And there is a good chance someone on that list is still available.

In my opinion, the signs are pointing against Buffalo going QB at #10. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if they take one later in the draft. 1. Re-Signing Taylor (after months of back and forth debate) tells me they didn't see Free Agency or the Draft offering immediate upgrades at the position. 2. They haven't pursued a veteran backup. That tells me they are probably leaving a roster spot open alongside Taylor and Jones for a draft pick. 3. I have heard about draft visits for Mahomes and Watson. But nothing on Trubisky, who is generally considered the top QB prospect. There is a good chance Trubisky is still available at #10, but probably not much longer. The other guys may drop to late first or even second round. This tells me they are more interested in mid/late round prospects at QB.

As fans, we should be rooting for the Bills front office to make consistently wise decisions. In the draft. In free agency. In hiring and firing. I don't want our GM just spinning the lottery wheel, desperately hoping to land a quarterback. If that is all Doug Whaley and our scouting staff is good for, then it's time for them to hit the road. They are no better than ESPN's talking heads or a guy sitting on his couch. Football is a team sport. It takes a team of 52 guys to win. Even though QB is clearly the most important piece, it's not enough all by itself. Maybe the Bills could draft 2 quarterbacks every year, and finally land their franchise guy. But then the team around them would be crap and his talent would go to waste. I'm still holding out hope that Whaley and the scouting staff are the answer, and they can properly identify us a solid franchise QB (if not in this draft, then next year). But so far, the results aren't promising. Obviously the EJ Manuel pick was a bust. Then the following year, we missed out on Derek Carr (not to mention Teddy Bridgewater and Jimmy Garoppolo). Last year, we waited until the 4th Round and missed on Dak Prescott. Another busted draft pick or another missed opportunity, and I will no longer hold hope that the Bills front office knows how to scout college quarterbacks.

The difference between picking Top 10 and picking 11-25 is not a good reason to pass up a prospect. With that said, I can't imagine a scenario in this draft where trading down 5-10 spots wouldn't be the Bills best scenario. This team has at least five glaring positional needs (Wide Receiver, Right Tackle, Linebacker, Cornerback, Safety) and a few spots that we need to seriously consider (Quarterback, Tight End). The talent level between Picks #5-25 is not large. And even if we miss out on someone like Mike Williams, OJ Howard or Reuben Foster at #10, we could still get someone like Corey Davis, Cam Thomas or Zach Cunningham later in the round. Plus pickup another early draft selection. For everyone complaining that Doug Whaley isn't fired yet... this draft (more than any class he has assembled so far) is going to really show where he stands as a GM. The Bills absolutely must kill this draft class. Not just in getting immediate contributions from its rookie class, but also in getting good value moving around the draft board. Pulling out 1-2 decent starters is not going to cut it.

Many have been saying this since the day McDermott was hired. This defense is about being strong in the Front 7 and not in the secondary. On the last defense McDermott coached, the team had no problem letting their Pro Bowl cornerback (Josh Norman) walk in Free Agency. And even after Stephon Gilmore signed elsewhere, there have been very few reports about Buffalo going after cornerbacks on the market. We have heard about them talking to tight ends, offensive tackles and linebackers (in addition to the positions we already signed). But almost no corners. The only cornerback prospect that I've heard visiting is Nate Hairston from Temple, who is considered a late-round pick. In contrast, the entire Carolina defense was built around linebackers. Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis are the heart and strength of that team. It's hard to see McDermott moving away from the system that found him his best NFL success. And regardless of how big a Bills homer you are, it's hard to imagine that he's satisfied with Reggie Ragland (coming off IR), Preston Brown and Lorenzo Alexander as our guys to man those roles. I have a hard time believing the Bills aren't looking hard at one of the top LBs in this draft.

At the time, rumors were circling that Pegula gave both Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan an "ultimatum" to make the playoffs or they would get fired. Pegula said this never happened. And here we are. Ryan got fired. But Whaley did not. So obviously the story was not true. Where is your evidence that Doug Whaley is "not allowed" to talk anymore? The Pegulas (both Terry and Kim) gave an interview months ago, before they even HIRED Sean McDermott, that they wanted the head coach to be the voice of the organization. That very article was posted on the first page of this thread, just in case you needed a refresher. And even if the Pegulas have put a gag order on Whaley (which is total speculation), that doesn't mean they are getting ready to replace him. Maybe they just think he isn't the best public speaker. Whaley's primary job is assembling the roster, and when half of the City of Buffalo was calling for his head, the Pegulas stuck by him.

LaCanfora had no sources. He didn't even go as far as claiming it was from unnamed front office personnel at One Bills Drive. He instead used the term "rumblings" -- which is clue #1 that his story was pure BS and speculation. There is a public perception that Doug Whaley doesn't like Tyrod Taylor as his quarterback. So when the Bills brought him back, many took that as an indication that Whaley lost a power battle over whether to re-sign the QB. There is a public perception that Doug Whaley loves EJ Manuel and refuses to accept him as a bust. So when the Bills made no effort to bring him back to the roster, many took that as another indication that Whaley is not really calling the shots. Then when it was announced that McDermott was running the press conference instead of Whaley, there was an immediate assumption that something was going wrong behind the scenes. (Despite the fact that Terry and Kim Pegula made it clear months ago that the coach would now be the organization's single voice). These are the reasons that LaCanfora wrote the story. It had nothing to do with him getting top secret inside information. It was a lazy reporter trying to connect the dots, then using the "anonymous sources" claim in order to cover his *** in the event things didn't really pan out. If the Pegulas were going to can Whaley, they had every single opportunity back in December/January. They were starting over at head coach. They had the media and much of the fanbase on their side. But for some reason, they felt that Whaley was worth keeping around.

You have to admit. Our 2013 draft was not very good. I don't understand how anyone can think otherwise. Kiko Alonso was a good pick. Robert Woods was a solid pick. Nickel Robey was a decent UDFA, if you want to toss in those guys. Nobody else has amounted to anything worthwhile in the NFL. The next best player is Marquise Goodwin, and he is nothing more than a #4 speed guy. EJ Manuel just got a rock-bottom contract to compete for Oakland's backup job. Duke Williams was a massive liability every time he stepped on the field. Jonathan Meeks has never started a game in the NFL. Chris Gragg has always been that guy with potential that never really did anything. Dustin Hopkins didn't even make the team, and isn't currently in the league. A GM has 22 starting spots to fill, and over 50 roster spots to fill. How can you consider it a success to get 2-3 contributors per year?

Exactly. I believe a team needs to average 3 solid picks per draft (strong starters) in order to build and maintain a strong team. Otherwise, you are forced to use Free Agency to fill in needs, and eventually the Salary Cap starts becoming an issue. Since Whaley took over as GM, the Bills have averaged about 2. That isn't enough.

If a quarterback is "franchise material" - then I believe his play will show it, regardless of the talent around him. However, there are lots of franchise quarterbacks who consistently watch the playoffs from home, because the teams around them are not good enough. I already mentioned Andrew Luck, who is surrounded by a horrible Colts team and hasn't made the playoffs in 2 years. Same with Phillip Rivers. Drew Brees is a Hall of Fame QB. But since their Super Bowl victory, the team around him has degraded and the Saints annually finish 7-9. Matthew Stafford has watched the Lions go up and down throughout his entire career in Detroit. Quarterback may be the most important piece. But it is still only a piece.

Quarterback is the hardest position to evaluate. If a team is bad at drafting every other position, odds are pretty high they will fail at picking the correct QB as well. If a team is consistently good at drafting other positions, they will probably be better at evaluating the quarterback spot too. It's hard to say the Bills have "demonstrated" the ability to hit on every other position, because we have had 4 different GMs over the span of the last decade. For instance, Buddy Nix did a great job landing Cordy Glenn in the 2nd Round as a solid Left Tackle. But Doug Whaley has struggled to find good offensive linemen in the draft. And neither Whaley or Nix have proven capable of finding late-round talent. I've been willing to give Whaley a pass because of the constant fluctuation with our ownership and coaching staff. But the time for excuses are now over. It's time for the guy to start hitting on his draft picks. Otherwise, it's time for him to go.

I agree completely. Many Bills fans keep waiting on a "QB Savior" to rescue this franchise. They believe that if we tank for a season or two, then keep throwing darts, eventually we will get our Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson or Ben Roethlisberger. And then a Super Bowl is just around the corner. But it's going to take more than just a quarterback to completely turn things around. Quarterback is certainly the most important piece. But even if you get lucky and land an Andrew Luck, you still need a strong team around him to be a legitimate contender. The Colts are finding that out the hard way right now. They draft like crap, so there is only so much Luck can accomplish. Good teams are simply good teams. It's more than just luck. They consistently draft well. They make smart moves in free agency. They hire good coaches and good scouts. If a team is hoping to just hit the lottery jackpot with a quarterback, it won't be enough.

What is interesting about that list, is that there is no correlation between "Number of QBs Drafted" and overall team success. The Jets have drafted the most QBs in the NFL over the last decade (7), but are in worse shape than almost anybody at the position. The Broncos are second on the list with 6 QBs, but their only success came with the free agent pickup of Peyton Manning. The Browns and Rams have drafted 5 QBs, and both are still looking for answers. The Patriots have also drafted 5, but all have been backups to Tom Brady. Teams at the bottom of the list (all with 2 QBs drafted) include Atlanta, Seattle and Pittsburgh, who have all been in the Super Bowl.

Pathetic article. Once again, Sullivan's whole rant is based on assumptions/speculations about the Bills front office, instead of known facts. He states in the second paragraph that Whaley is "not allowed to speak for the organization anymore" and that he is being excluded from the draft luncheon. The entire article is based on this ASSUMPTION by Sullivan, along with the baseless story by LaCanfora earlier this week about McDermott and Whaley not getting along (which was backed by no facts and no real sources). The Pegulas made it VERY CLEAR that they only want ONE PERSON speaking for the organization going forward. They said this before even hiring McDermott. And after McDermott was hired, he confirmed that he would be THE PUBLIC VOICE of the organization going forward. What the Bills did with previous regimes is completely irrelevant. Change does not necessarily indicate a problem. As I've stated before. My opinion is in the "middle" on Doug Whaley. I'm neither impressed or calling for the guy to get fired. But articles like this are just pathetic.

We have enough needs (QB, WR, TE, OT, LB, CB, S) that I think trading down still would be the best scenario, regardless of who is still on the board at #10. Trading down from #10 to the #15-20 range could easily net us another 2nd Round pick. And we still may get one of the guys we wanted at #10.

Maybe Doug Whaley has just gotten tired of getting relentlessly grilled by the Buffalo media.

I worked as a newspaper reporter many years ago. The only way Doug Whaley could win a lawsuit is by proving libel... Meaning that he would need to show that the false report caused damage to his reputation. As a public figure, this is extremely hard to do. And in this particular story (which only alleges that the Bills are considering replacing him), it doesn't really apply. Not to mention that LaCanfora can just cling to his "anonymous source" and claim he was simply given bad information. It's unfortunate, but the media in this country can virtually make up any story they want... and 99.99% of the time they will get away with it.

Certain reporters always cling to "anonymous" sources. Certain reporters have a long track record of always being wrong. This story comes from one of those reporters, and hasn't been mentioned by anyone credible. Until it has been backed by a legitimate media person or source, I wouldn't believe a word of that article.

Sounds to me like Zach Brown really overestimated his value on the open market. Look at this sequence of events: 1. Reports say the Bills made Brown an offer to stay. But it wasn't enough money, so he's been talking the last 3-4 months like a guy who was done in Buffalo. 2. We heard nothing about visits/interest in Brown for the first 7 days of Free Agency. His first visit was reportedly the Raiders. Word soon circulates that Oakland's offer was "insulting." The Raiders then sign Jelani Jenkins instead. 3. Brown hires a new agent, then sets up a visit with the Dolphins and follow-up with the Bills. 4. Reports say the Dolphins are "not close" in talks with Brown. Later in the day, they give Kiko Alonso a massive extension.

Yes. We know that Whaley was very involved in scouting EJ Manuel and putting him a top the board for the 2013 QB prospects. That doesn't mean that Whaley would have picked Manuel at #16 if he was the GM. Maybe he would have targeted him in the 4th Round like Cardale Jones. Maybe he would have taken him at #8 and never traded down. We don't know. You also have to consider that Buddy Nix drafted ZERO quarterbacks in his first 3 years as Bills GM, then started the 2013 offseason by cutting Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bills went into the draft with injury-prone Kevin Kolb and nothing else. If the Bills were not aggressive in drafting a QB that year and they missed out on a guy they liked, there are NO DOUBTS that Ralph Wilson would have totally cleaned house after the season was over. Like what has been said earlier in this thread, Whaley has had a very unusual tenure as GM of the Bills. Most guys in his position enter the job with a totally clean slate. Whaley was handed the reigns after Free Agency and the Draft had concluded, with a new coaching staff already in place. Then the owner died. Then his coach quit. Then the new owners hired the replacement for him. Then the owners fired that coach. It's really hard to judge a GM without stability around him.

Based on their record during Doug Whaley's time as GM, the Bills are an average team. 24 wins. 24 losses. Zero playoff performances. They aren't bad. They aren't terrible. They aren't a train wreck. They are mediocre. But that is also far from a "heck of a job" and insulting to even compare to the teams of the 90s, which has already put 7 guys in the Hall of Fame (5 players, 1 coach, 1 GM). I try to look at things fair and balanced, and it's hard to blame Whaley for everything. In my opinion, Nix had too much control in 2013 to put the weight of EJ Manuel on his successor. I also think that Whaley gets some slack because of the constant changes in coaching staff and system, which he had little to no control over (Pettine, Marrone, Ryan). But at the same time, it's about time that Whaley steps up his game in the draft room. We aren't getting enough production out of his picks. Period. Look back at his last 3 drafts. You can blame injury. You can blame scheme change. You can say its too early to judge some of those players. But besides Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby, none of his 20 draft picks are making any kind of significant impact and helping us win. If you aren't killing it in the draft, your team is going nowhere. Signing one free agent veteran means letting another free agent veteran walk. It's a vicious cycle.

The Pats are making a final push, hoping to snatch as many Super Bowl victories as possible before Tom Brady retires. This offseason they have been making moves that are very uncharacteristic of their franchise. Trading away a 1st Round Pick for a guy with 2 years left on his rookie contract (Brandon Cooks). Trading away another 2nd Round Pick for guy who has 1 year left on his rookie contract (Kony Ealy). Making a big splash free agent signing (Stephon Gilmore). Their reluctance to part with their backup QB. They know the window is closing. They are not looking to the future. They are trying to win NOW. The Bills did not have the luxury to keep Gilmore. Yes, they are trying to win now. But their ceiling is probably 10-11 wins. Not the Super Bowl. They are also looking towards the future. And giving Gilmore a big contract would weigh this franchise down in 1-2 years.