TC in St. Louis

I watched a video of this kid from Appalachian State. Holy moly. 8. DARRYNTON EVANS | Appalachian St. 5103 | 203 lbs. | rJR. Oak Hill, Fla. (New Smyrna Beach) 7/9/1998 (age 21.79) #3 BACKGROUND: Darrynton (DARE-un-ton) Evans grew up in the small town of Oak Hill and attended New Smyrna Beach High School, which is located on the Atlantic coast just outside of Orlando. He earned his first varsity start as a safety on defense, replacing an injured Cole Holcomb (2019 fifth-round pick). Evans emerged as an offensive weapon as a junior, rushing for nearly 700 yards and 16 touchdowns before a broken thumb sidelined him for the rest of the season. An ankle injury plagued him as a senior, finishing with 940 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in just seven games in 2015. Evans also excelled in track, setting personal-bests as a senior in the 100 meters (10.74) and long jump (21’8.5”). A two-star safety recruit out of high school, Evans ranked as the No. 282 safety in the country and the No. 525 recruit in the state of Florida. His injury-plagued junior and senior years was reflected in his recruiting as he didn’t receive an offer from a Power 5 program. Evans committed to Appalachian State (as a running back and slot receiver) over USF and several MAC schools. His father, Darryl, played college baseball at Bethune-Cookman. Evans elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft. YEAR (GP/GS) CAR YDS AVG TD REC YDS AVG TD NOTES 2016: (12/0) 48 217 2017: Redshirted due to injury 4.5 0 6 34 5.7 0 87 7.3 1 198 9.4 5 319 8.2 6 KR TD First team All-Sun Belt; Took over as the starter after Jalin Moore’s injury; KR TD Sun Belt Offensive POY; First team All-Sun Belt (RB); Second team All-Sun Belt (KR); KR TD 2018: (13/8) 179 2019: (14/14) 255 Total: (39/22) 482 1,187 6.6 1,480 5.8 2,884 6.0 7 12 18 21 25 39 HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP COMBINE 5103 203 31 5/8 09 1/4 76 5/8 4.41 2.60 1.58 37 10’05” - - 20 (no shuttle or 3cond – choice) PRO DAY N/A (Pro Day canceled) STRENGTHS: Quick out of the chute, hitting holes with speed...quick eyes to locate the crease or cutback lane...astute understanding of run angles and the geometry of the position...plays fast, but also mixes in patience to allow blocks to develop...stays balanced through traffic, absorbing and running through contact...also lined up at slot receiver in his career and catches the ball cleanly...averaged 25.7 yards per kick return with three touchdown returns (56/1,439/3)...touched the ball 467 times on offense the last two seasons with zero fumbles (fumbled once as a freshman). WEAKNESSES: Doesn’t boast an ideal body type or build for NFL work...below-average run strength and needs to attack with more physicality behind his pads...won’t be mistaken for a pounding runner...speeds toward space, but needs to better identify his key blocks...more of a straight-ahead runner and needs to be more creative in tight quarters...caught the ball when targeted, but didn’t have a high volume of targets in App State’s run-heavy scheme...his lack of lower body sand and core strength might limit his pass pro duties vs. NFL rushers...missed the 2017 season due to injury. SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Appalachian State, Evans was the featured runner in former head coach Eli Drinkwitz’s zone-heavy run scheme. Over his first two seasons, he returned kicks and bounced between running back and slot receiver on the depth chart before becoming the top running back midway through the 2018 season when Jalin Moore went down with an injury. Evans is a speedy, elusive runner who feels openings and makes quick decisions to force missed tackles. While competitive as a runner, he isn’t powerful and won’t be a high-volume yards-after-contact runner vs. NFL defenses. Overall, Evans might be limited by his lack of size and physicality, but he is a chug-to-daylight runner with excellent peripheral vision, projecting as a versatile complimentary back with kick return value. If you subscribe to The Athletic, they have a breakdown of pretty much everybody in the draft plus a ton more. 12. AJ DILLON | Boston College 6003 | 247 lbs. | JR. New London, Conn. (Lawrence) 5/2/1998 (age 21.98) #2 BACKGROUND: Algiers Jameal “AJ” Dillon, who was born in Baltimore and grew up with football as his focus in New London, started his prep career at Marine Science Magnet High School, where his mother, Jessyca Campbell, was the dean of students. He then enrolled and reclassified as a freshman at Lawrence Academy (Mass.), where he was coached by Paul Zukauskas, a seventh-round draft pick in 2001 who played five years in the NFL. After rushing for 1,368 yards as a sophomore, Dillon posted 1,887 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns (a 10.9 yards-per-carry average), leading the program to the 2015 League and Wayne Sanborn titles. He rushed for 635 yards and 12 total touchdowns the first four games as a senior before a broken leg (while playing linebacker) ended his 2016 season. A three-star running back recruit out of high school, Dillon was considered the No. 25-ranked running back (one spot behind Chuba Hubbard and Jonathan Taylor) and the top-ranked player from Massachusetts. He originally committed to Michigan as a junior, but was turned off by the Wolverines' continued pursuit of other backs (like five-star recruit Najee Harris). After his senior year, Dillon flipped to Boston College, which offered him the chance to stay closer to home. His grandfather Thom Gatewood is a College Football Hall of Fame wide receiver at Notre Dame, who was drafted in the fifth round (No. 107 overall) in the 1972 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. Dillon elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft. YEAR (GP/GS) CAR YDS AVG TD REC YDS AVG TD NOTES 2017: (13/4) 300 2018: (10/10) 227 2019: (12/12) 318 Total: (35/26) 845 1,589 5.3 14 1,108 4.9 10 1,685 5.3 14 4,382 5.2 38 0 0 8 41 13 195 21 236 0.0 0 5.1 1 15.0 1 11.2 2 ACC Rookie of the Year; First team All-ACC (first ACC freshman first team RB since 2002) First team All-ACC; Led team in rushing First team All-ACC; Led ACC in rushing [23] HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP COMBINE 6003 247 31 5/8 09 5/8 77 5/8 4.53 2.68 1.64 41 10’11” - 7.19 23 (no shuttle – choice) PRO DAY N/A (Pro Day canceled) STRENGTHS: Brawny physique with thick legs, knotted calves and strong trunk (and very little fat)...runs as physical as he looks with the core strength to fight through tackle attempts...good vision at the line of scrimmage to locate his blocks and clear the first wave...accelerates through the hole with better speed than expected for a back that size...stays square to the line of scrimmage...limited sample size as a pass catcher, but showed solid hands to be a serviceable screen target...tough-minded as a blocker, both in pass protection and as a lead blocker...durable and built to handle the load...elite production, leaving as Boston College’s all-time leading rusher. WEAKNESSES: Runs tall into contact with inconsistent pad level, allowing defenders to strike low and drive him backwards...bad habit of stopping his feet in the backfield...his cuts lack control, struggling to avoid his own blockers...slowed too easily by contact...takes a moment to get going after his momentum is stopped...sets up his first move, but doesn’t have the wiggle or vision to create at the second or third levels...physical enough to get the job done in pass pro when he can stay square, but quick blitzers will get around him...only 21 career catches in college...fumbled eight times over his career...missed two games as a sophomore with a left ankle sprain (October 2018); fractured the fibula in his right leg (October 2016), ending his senior year in high school. SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Boston College, Dillon was the lead back in former offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian’s pro-style scheme. He led the ACC in rushing as a junior and needed only 31 games to become the program’s all-time leading rusher in yards and touchdowns, finishing his career fourth in the ACC in rushing yards. Built like a brick house, Dillon has some freaky elements to his game with his combination of size, strength and straight-line speed, allowing him to run physical through contact. However, he has heavy feet in his redirect, struggling to string together moves and cleanly navigate through traffic. Overall, Dillon’s inconsistent pad level, creativity and third-down skills are concerns, but he is an athletic workhorse and chore to finish to the ground, projecting as a one-cut NFL power back. GRADE: 4th-5th Round

Let's give credit to the Bills for finding Tre at #28 and coaching him to this point. I love the guy. He's got the Buffalo spirit within him. He's staying. Can't wait to see Gilmore make light work out of picking up his jock when Diggs runs circles around him this fall.

There was one released this week that had 3 Bills taken in the first....White, Dawkins, and our fabulous Matt Milano. However, we did sort of whiff on two players who now are with the Raiders. Zay Jones in the 2nd and Nate Peterman in the 4th. Great draft, overall. Right? By the way, I nearly gave this its own topic today, but searched and found this from February. OK?

They're pretty good at misdirection. They target guys they really want. They get them.....two years ago it was Josh Allen and Edmunds. Last year it was Ed Oliver, and I bet they were poised to move up if necessary. They also wanted Cody Ford, and they got him. Same with Dawson Knox and Singletary. Before the draft I knew about Singletary and Oliver, and had seen Ford's name. I had never heard of Knox, and I'm glad they got him. This year, I think they have a target for "late first/early second," and will be ready to bust a move unless the cost is just too high. In the 3rd, they'll have a guy they want and use an extra pick to get that guy. This will go on through the 4th. After that, unless somebody they target is still on the board, it's a crap shoot. I don't think they'll be revealing who they want. Having a chat with Mims could be a decoy, who knows? Dude talked to 5 teams. The guy that seems very intriguing is Duggar. What is their single biggest need? What do they perceive as their single biggest need?

now that's bold. Well done.

I'm on board, as if that makes a difference to anybody, including me.

That Missouri kid, let's just call him Oak, is a stud. He had some injuries and an unstable QB situation last year. Had he come out for the draft the previous year, he might have been a late first, high second round pick. If he's around in the 4th I'd snag him. Dude's gonna be a star.

Hey, go look at some Josh Allen highlights. He had a really good year 2. He's a great leader with huge talent. He is certain to get better. He does need to figure out how to connect on the long ball, but he can do it. Look at how he burned New England and Gilmore. He's gotta work on that. We're not a perfect team, but I think we've got great chemistry and the right leadership. And the right fans. I think we need a better backup QB, because sooner or later Josh is gonna get hurt.

Our offense scored about 20/game, but we played top 10 defenses in many games. New England, Baltimore, Dallas, Denver, while Josh was developing his game. The second half of the season he threw very few picks, and at times (see Thanksgiving) looked really good. Granted, in the second half of the playoff game he played pretty rough at times. Now he's got a number one guy who will always be open, Smoke, Beasley, Knox, and others. And a returning OL. This could be a great year for Josh Allen. His teammates love him. We need a better backup.

I am sorry. There was another thread about Signing Perriman vs. Drafting a Receiver. From a few days ago. His name comes up a lot. I should have searched first. I wish I could delete the whole thread., Wait, can I?

Why hasn't he signed? He only made $4 million last year in Tampa. Do you guys think he's asking too much? Certainly somebody wants him. Maybe that doofus in Texas will sign him. After thinking about it, I concluded that we have a guy on the team with similar height and weight, and super motivated to succeed. Duke. Maybe this is the chance for Duke. He had a handful of big plays for us last year, and he's big enough to use in the red zone. Maybe we don't need to spend money on Perriman when we have a guy in place. I also get a feeling they're going to grab somebody in the draft, perhaps round 5 or 6. I see them using earlier picks on other needs like RB, CB and edge rusher. Unless someone drops into their laps in the 2nd, I think they'll wait. We're strong at WR right now, barring injury.

Jordan Ta'amu signed with the Chiefs. Might be a good guy to put in the wildcat.

I am pretty sure the Bills know who he is, and if they want him, they'll try and get him.

He had a completion percentage of nearly 75% and ran for several hundred yards. He's only 21, and he will get picked up by somebody. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/xfl/2020/03/22/nfl-free-agency-10-xfl-players-teams-target-pj-walker/2891625001/ Two former Bills on this list.

The one and only thing that bothered me about this trade was having to wait another day to hear about our first pick. I can live with that.

The St. Louis QB, 21 year old Jordan Ta'amu, might be a good backup. https://www.ksdk.com/article/sports/football/battlehawks/battlehawks-quarterback-jordan-taamu-wins-xfl-player-week-award/63-39ea2a71-36fa-451c-a053-21bede68a9cc

I'd like that. I'm sure he'll get scooped up at 12/year.

I don't think we need to sign any free agent running backs. We have Singletary, Yeldon, and we'll find somebody in the draft that doesn't cost anything compared to a free agent.

I like Singletary better than Gordon. Throwing 8 million a year to Gordon would be excessive. In my opinion we need a bruiser to complement Singletary's style. I have recommended AJ Dillon from Boston College. He weighs nearly 250 and runs very fast. He's strong, has a 41" vertical lift (handy if Josh overthrows a bit). FYI, Devin Singletary ran a 4.66 forty at the combine. Dillon ran 4.53. For what it's worth.

I'm pretty confident that if they target a specific guy in the 2nd, they'll figure out a way to get him.

I don't know if he can catch. I imagine he can be taught.

The key to a great running attack starts up front with blocking. Combined with a frightening pass attack, which we seem to be building. Gurley is a shadow of his former self. I like that beast from Boston College, AJ Dillon. Runs over, through, and around anything in his path. 247 lbs. 4.53 at the combine. Super strong, superb athlete.

Any idea how much cap space we have right now?

I think Vosean Joseph is gonna be a stud. Here's a quote from his draft profile: "His tape has no middle ground, it's either really impressive or really ugly. Now go look at his production this year and you realize you can coach some ugly out of his play. He's a '5' right now but we can turn him into a '9.'" - AFC defensive coach That may have been a member of the Bills staff. If you want, go to youtube and look at his highlights. We've got the coaching, he's got the potential.

He can sign for a buck if he wants. Does he have anything left?