Brandon

I hope not.

I'm definitely thinking James Cook after that trade down.

If they want to get one of the better WR prospects, it's probably now or never. Won't be much left in R3 at this rate.

Im thinking the Bills are likely taking James Cook or Trey McBride here.

I knew Thornton was going to go earlier than most expected, but I didn't think he'd go in R2. R3 or maybe 4.

It might be just a bit early, but I wouldn't complain with that. For that matter, I'd be good with almost any offensive pick here except QB.

He seems to be all over the place, depending on who you ask. For my part, I wasn't terribly impressed with what little I watched of him play.

I expect Thornton will be gone by the end of R4 at the latest. Maybe R3, depending on how long this WR run continues tonight.

If there's one thing the Bills know, its CBs. I can't argue with it. They certainly needed one. Now, I hope they shift the focus heavily to the offense from here.

Detroit, in a trade up with Minnesota.

Not much at all considering how far they moved. In fact, I think Minnesota got screwed.

I'm glad that's over. I can understand why people wanted the Bills to draft Jameson Williams, but a speed guy coming off a knee injury scares me.

Kyler Gordon and James Cook.

Given the emphasis they placed on the defensive line in free agency, I tend to think the Bills believed most of their defensive problems originated from that group rather than the linebackers. For the defense they play, I don't think it matters that much. They can be a middle half run defense, because their general approach is to jump out to a lead and force the opponent out of the running game anyway. Even the base defense they play...a 4-2-5...is geared toward stopping the opposing passing game. To that end, I think they're mostly satisfied with Edmunds being above average in coverage and ok at best against the run. He does what they need him to do and whether they retain him after this season is probably more about his cap impact than his level of play.

On the other hand, at least they got close to 50 starts out of Mike Williams, even if he wasn't very good.

Aaron Maybin. This one is made even more disappointing by the fact that Brian Orakpo, a four time Pro Bowler, went two picks later and was the one most of us wanted on draft day.

I think that's what they were trying to do when they took a flyer on Marquez Stevenson late in the draft last year. I fully expect them to try again at some point in this draft.

At this stage, I don't think the value this year lines up with pick 25. If they really want Hall, I'd prefer they trade back a dozen or so spots before they do it.

Agreed. Just comparing comparing the 5th best CB to the top rated RB doesn't necessarily mean anything. The 5th best prospect at one position may be a MUCH better prospect than the best at another.

You could say the same thing about their #2 CB spot. Just because they haven't done it doesn't mean they wouldn't if the right player were available. It may be that the right opportunity just hasn't presented itself. That being said, I don't think they're going to draft a RB at 25.

If it plays out like that, I think I'd be looking to trade back about 8-10 spots and see if one of the DBs falls. Even if they don't, they should be able to pick up a quality prospect at WR or along the OL, or possibly Breece Hall, who is a better value closer to 40.

TBD goes through phases with that sort of thing. If I recall correctly, there was a contingent of posters vehemently opposed to early WR picks about 5-10 years ago as well. Personally, I still have some anti CB bias over all the first round rent-a-corners that John Butler took in the 1990s.

I don't really know if Hall is on the same level as a prospect or not, but I agree completely with the statement above. Draft value and all this stuff is important, but ultimately, it's a question of which pick makes the most positive impact toward winning games. That's why I would never rule out a RB late in R1, even if I'm not sure I'd actually do it this year (and probably wouldnt). I don't and said as much. I don't think Breece Hall is that kind of guy.

Just based off the attempted McKissic signing, I would expect the Bills to place a high value on receiving skills from any RB they draft. Thurman Thomas was mentioned above and I think that's exactly what they'd like to find...a guy who can be a matchup nightmare because he can split out wide and run the entire route tree at a high level in addition to elite rushing skills. That being said, I don't think Breece Hall is that guy and given that, I'm leaning toward the idea that the second group of guys like James Cook or Rachaad White are better values for this team.

To be fair, the history of the draft is littered with 1st round busts at every position. We can't just single out RB in that regard, though it certainly has had its fair share.