Brandon

I wouldn't expect any help from the June 1st cuts. There's never more than a handful of players released and the ones that are usually can't play anymore.

BTW, after actually seeing those numbers (I knew it was bad, just not THAT bad), I now fully expect that this draft will be much more offense-oriented than most people expect.

I agree, the high play count against the defense is largely the result of an inept offense being unable to sustain drives. The Bills ran 898 plays last year, which was DEAD LAST in the NFL. San Francisco was next at 918. They were 31st in 3rd down conversion percentage at a measly 31.7%. They were 30th in time of possession, better than only Tennessee and Detroit. They were also dead last in first downs per game at 14.6 (NFL.com sorts them at 30th for some reason, but they were last), and Brian Moorman had the 4th most punts in the NFL at 92 (98 was the highest). Defensively, they weren't much better, allowing 1029 plays against, which was 26th in the league. Much better on third down than you'd think, though, at 13th in the NFL (36.6%). They were also a halfway-respectable 17th in first downs allowed per game.

Anything is possible, but its extremely unlikely. The biggest reason that the Bills are unloading Takeo Spikes is for financial reasons. If they trade for Turner, they'll probably have to sign him to contract extension and based on what we've seen this offseason, he could very well get $10M or more up front and a larger overall contract than Spikes originally signed.

Don't give Marv any ideas

Not true. A move from 12 to 20 should presumably net a 2nd round draft pick. I'm using the real-world example of the Bills trade from 14 to 21 as an example. A second trade down from 20 to 30, which is where San Diego picks, would probably net at least a 3rd, if not another 2nd. You would end up with the 30th pick, plus an additional 2nd and 3rd by making the equivalent trades down. This is how swapping the 12 for Turner and the 30th costs the equivalent value of a 2nd and 3rd.

I would think that was a very, very bad idea. Such a trade down is worth at least the equivalent of a 2nd AND a 3rd. No thanks.

The Rams had several well-known players in 1999. Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, and Isaac Bruce all played major roles in their Super Bowl season. Az-Zahir Hakim and Ricky Proehl also played on that team and have had long, successful careers as #3 WR, though both left the Rams a few years ago. The only one that really never made his mark in the NFL was TE Roland Williams.

I don't really think McCardell adds much value to the roster at this point in his career. He'd be just another depth player at position that is loaded with guys who shouldn't be starting. Bryant has worn out his welcome with every team he has played for. With the exception of an occasional bargain basement signing, I think they're done in FA, anyway.

I wouldn't mind seeing them pick up a top receiving TE, but I don't think there's much chance of it. I believe they view the TE more as a blocker in this offense than a receiver and would prefer to use their RBs in that role instead.

The only problem with the whole scenario is that I actually don't think Patrick Willis is going to be available at 12. Then what? I believe we're in first round RB/WR territory if that happens, and in fact, I believe that Lynch, Meachem or Bowe will ultimately be our pick at 12. That could throw the whole thing back into a defensive concentration if the Bills feel that they must use their remaining first day picks on that side to maximize the odds of finding a couple of immediate contributors. I think it all depends on that first pick.

I've been considering that possibility of a suprise day 1 concentration on offense as well. I think it could very well happen if they are able to draft Willis at 12. They'd have the MLB hole presumably filled and with Youboty and McCargo likely to see much more action this year (and no reason to believe they aren't still high on either of them), both DT and CB might be pushed lower than we think. Its not as crazy as some will try to tell you it is.

No arguments. I've been harping on what I believe is a major need for a 2nd credible threat offensively for a couple of months now. RB, WR, TE...I don't care which it is.

I agree that the Bills should not take a 1st round RB just out of need, but by the same token, they also should not take a 1st round LB, DT or CB out of pure need, either. It comes down to not only the grades of the players available in R1, but also the players likely to be available in the following rounds as well. In my opinion, the Bills are better off coming away with a very good RB prospect and a good MLB prospect than they are an excellent MLB and an average RB. This is ultimately why I would go with the Lynch/Harris combination. It sacrificies somewhat at MLB, but I believe yields a much better RB prospect and that both should develop into, at the very least, solid every-down players. I don't think we'll get that every-down RB otherwise. Your mileage, and your opinions of the particular players, may vary.

On paper, it may look like a good idea, but in practice I think its problematic. The old saying of 'don't count your chickens before they hatch' applies. Yes, the RB class in 2008 looks good (IMO, not quite as good as some believe), but its a good bet that among the top junior and senior prospects, one or two won't declare, a couple will have bad seasons, and one will blow out a knee. The point is, that 2008 draft class could also look like absolute crap by this time next year.

I agree and if the Bills wait to select a RB, Jackson and Pittman would be among my choices. Suprisingly, so would Irons. That's really the problem with these 2nd tier RBs this year. There are a lot of good change-of-pace, 3rd down types, but there's not much to choose from otherwise.

Of that group, only Darren McFadden is a definite first round talent, and he's likely to be a top 3 selection in 2008 or 2009. Rice, Slaton and Hart are all very undersized as pro RBs and all are listed at around 5'9" 195lbs. Even if one assumes that these guys can be 'franchise' Rbs in the NFL (and I think that's a stretch), you also have to consider that Rice, Slaton and McFadden still have two years of eligibility left. While it seems likely that they will, its not a given that any of them will declare.

I would rather have the combination of Marshawn Lynch and David Harris. Willis is an excellent prospect, but like most of the 2nd tier RBs, I worry that Irons is nothing more than a good change of pace RB in the NFL due to his size.

I would not at all be suprised if the Bills selected a WR at 12. I see their need as not being so much for a RB, but for a quality complimentary threat to Lee Evans. That could certainly be a RB, but could also be a WR or TE as well. If its not Lynch, I believe that they'll choose either Dwayne Bowe or Robert Meachem.

Boldin had blown out a knee the previous year. I believe he was still having problems with it during the draft process and later managed to post a time in the high 4.5s, but its impossible to prove at this point.

I can't remember for sure, but I don't think Anquan Boldin was completely healthy at the time. He did, however, run a much better time at his Pro Day workout. I think your point about football players vs workout warriors is a partially valid one, but only within reasonable confines. Abnormal times should be considered a sign of a potential problem. Tony Hunt could defy the odds, but there's no question that a 4.7+ 40 time is unusually slow for an NFL RB.

That does not suprise me at all with Tony Hunt. When he chose not to run at the combine, with all of the other top RBs choosing to do so, it certainly raised the question of why. Now we know. If all of the other Penn State players improved their times at the Pro Day workouts, then one has to wonder if Hunt's time would have been even slower at the combine.

While I would normally be against it, in this particular draft I think its worth considering. Its a relatively weak draft at most of the Bills primary need positions and could represent a much better chance of filling two of those needs with immediate contributors than would otherwise be possible.

They have some significant needs, but none that are so critical that they require an investment of a #1 pick. I think they've set themselves up well so that they can simply take their highest ranked player at those need positions without feeling the pressure to reach somewhat as if they had a gaping hole in the roster. I think the only way they can screw it up is if they try to get too cute with all of it, but I believe that this staff takes a much more practical approach than the last.

Its just the Marshawn Lynch Bash-of-the-Day.