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You must be channeling Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News; he wrote about this yesterday. The "first four" aren't the best in the league but nobody can rotate 10 guys like the Bills can, which is perfect for McD's style of defense. They are going to have to let one or two pretty good players go (or try to trade them) because it's unlikely they go with more than 9 on the 53. Nice problem to have.

It is far from an "absolute" scenario. This is a "win now" league...and the situation under which Rodgers was still available in 2005 when the Packers drafted is much different than what transpired last week. The Packers have holes -- particularly in the "playmaker" category -- and ignored them to draft a project QB. It seems LaFleur is proving to be yet another power freak who will do it "his way" even though he has a HOF QB on his roster and a window to compete for Super Bowls. When you plan for 3-4 years ahead in this league at the expense of doing what you can to win now -- particularly with a guy like Rodgers behind center -- it's not a particularly smart move. Now, if LaFleur and the GM have analyzed their roster and don't think they could do enough with Rodgers to truly compete in 2020? That's something completely different. If Love turns out to be really good in 3-4 years people will look back and say how great it was for GB to take a chance on him...but if they've pissed away a shot at a SB title this year or next because of it I don't think you can say it was necessarily the right decision.

That's the clinical definition of BBFS.

I agree with all of this and it begs the question whether it is advisable to relegate a no-doubt future HOF QB to that sort of role when he still has a lot of ability. This is a "win now" league, after all. Sure, GB won more games last year but didn't many see them as a paper tiger when the playoffs rolled around?

No. Next question?

This is so overblown (pun intended). Despite a few bad decisions and "hero ball" Josh had them in position to win and they would have, but for a ridiculous penalty and a missed block by Knox.

I want as close to a full season as possible, even if that means a Super Bowl in April. The season could then be "shifted" back over the course of two seasons, and by 2023 be back to normal.

The whipping boy for a lot of fans on bad Buffalo teams, when he was nowhere near the problem.

Cutting Fluker only saves the Hawks 3.7M...I wouldn't think they would do that for a good player who is only 29.

Who cares about preseason rankings and all that nonsense, but when was the last time the Bills were rated as high as #6 at anything other than "team most likely to fire their coach mid-season?" Exciting times.

The Office one is decent.

And a Jets fan coming in to defend him.

Think Kamara/Ingram when looking at the Singletary/Moss combo. It's possible for both guys to have big years. I like the 20/1 shot on Moss also.

I feel like Duke sealed his fate in the playoff game. If you're not going to be a separation guy (which he never will), you better catch everything you get your hands on. I'll be mildly surprised if he makes the team this year.

Good response. That jump by nearly 5 pts last year came without ONE defensive or ST touchdown, which is almost unheard of, particularly for a defense as good as Buffalo's. If you've read anything I posted about Allen in the past, the general theme is that he began even his college career behind the eight ball because he did not grow up as the kid "groomed" to be a quarterback. He had to beg for a scholarship, and don't tell me he got great QB coaching at Wyoming. He finally started receiving top level QB coaching when he began working with Jordan Palmer, then got Daboll as an OC, and last year Dorsey was added to the mix. He is still learning but the rate at which he is improving is notable. I see a guy with an incredible work ethic and desire to be great, matched up with unbelievable natural talent. I will be shocked, not surprised, if the numbers aren't significantly better this year and beyond.

Paging @Bill from NYC...you are needed in this thread, STAT.

That would sort of negate the need for this message board, no?

Umm, go look at Allen's passing stats in the short/intermediate range last season and in the red zone. Really the only area in which he "struggled" was the deep passing game; he got better everywhere else. I will be proven right or wrong in time, but I still say if we look at these two QBs three years from now (after each has completed five seasons) I don't think it will be an "easy" call to take Jackson first. You also mentioned in this thread that the Bills won't beat the Chiefs because they won't hold KC to 17 points -- implying the Bills' offense will not improve despite what Beane has done to improve the O's potential explosiveness by adding Diggs, Moss, etc. Are you saying you do not expect Allen to continue to develop? If not, why not?

At that point it's about who do you think has a chance to make the roster? Beane said as much. Getting a young K in here was a priority.

I do believe the Bills' OL will be better even with mostly the same pieces, for reasons of continuity and experience as you note. I also believe the added weapons of Diggs and Moss take pressure off the line. It's fine if you disagree with me that the Bills' roster from top to bottom matches up with anyone -- it's an opinion. Do you expect Lamar Jackson to equate or exceed what he did last year, now that two teams in December (and January) were pretty effective slowing him down and the rest of the NFL now has a blueprint? Jackson's inability (thus far) to make "big time" throws from the pocket is a weakness that Josh Allen doesn't have. Baltimore is a force to be reckoned with as long as Harbaugh is there -- he's a top 5 HC in the league -- but despite the incredible season Jackson had last year I don't believe he is some sort of transcendent QB who is changing the game. The Ravens went "all in" on that run-oriented offense and I believe the rest of the league will catch up. Is it wishful thinking? We'll see. I've spoken to Ravens fans who refer to their offense as a "house of cards."

If Allen plays exactly as he did last year that's a middle of the road NFL starting QB. Why would anyone think he will stay the same or regress, knowing the work he puts in? Questioning the coaching staff? Really? I mean, go ahead and say McD needs to continue to improve on game day but aside from that what is there to question? Are you on the Daboll hate train too? Let's wait and see what they do with the weapons now at their disposal. This "record against playoff teams" stuff always amuses me. The primary reason teams don't make the playoffs is because they lose games.

Strongly disagree. The defense matches up with anyone and they now have multiple weapons on offense. You criticize the coaching staff but the rest of the league doesn't; it is definitely top 10 in the league and likely higher. If you and others want to continue to critique the Bills that's fine, but they are now one of the "big dogs" in the NFL.

For a team with no immediate starter needs, Beane knocked it out of the park with Epenesa and Moss. Both will contribute immediately but neither has to be relied upon fully. The rest of the draft brought us a developmental QB with a great resume, two big WR prospects with intriguing potential, the top-rated kicker in the draft, and a CB prospect who will most likely be cut or go to the PS. I didn't think anyone past round 4 was likely to make this team but Fromm and the kicker change that...both could stick. If you're picking nits you can criticize Beane for not making any moves up or down the board but overall there were no reaches and it's hard to say the roster did not get better. Adding Diggs to the mix is obviously also a big part of this...without him the needs were very different.

The only thing keeping the Bills from being ranked in the top tier with the Ravens and Chiefs is any remaining skepticism about Josh Allen's development. That's it. Otherwise, from top to bottom the roster matches up with anyone in the league. If you're a Josh Allen believer you put the Bills right there with them; if you think he'll stay what he was last season then they are still a top 6 team in the conference.

Bill, there is an undercurrent to your post that screams "I don't believe in Josh Allen!" This is absolutely your right, of course, but I thought I'd mention it since the majority of your post doesn't really have anything to do with the draft.