Brandon

I never got the whole Schmitt thing, either. Not only do I just not like the idea of taking a FB until the last couple of rounds (and I have no idea where he actually went), we've yet to see exactly how the Bills intend to use a FB in this offense. They may not use one enough to even warrant a draft pick at the position.

I don't know about an 'impact' player, but I think you can definitely find contributors throughout the draft. I think you also have to consider their impact on the team 2-3 years down the road and when you don't even bother trying, its a guarantee that you won't find a quality player on offense in those spots, whether they make their impact immediately or a few years down the road. My preference would have been to trade up from that #114 spot to pick Jermichael Finley, who went to Green Bay late in R3. And maybe Derek Fine is better than I think, but I'd just like to see them try a quality prospect in the first couple of rounds at that position for a change.

They went into the draft with four major needs and filled three of them with very good prospects in the first three rounds. McKelvin and Hardy obviously should start soon, but I feel Ellis also has the talent to develop into a quality starter as well. Unfortunately, I think that the fourth major need, a quality receiving TE who could provide Edwards with a target deep over the middle, was the biggest need on the team and I'm skeptical of the player drafted. They also failed to acquire a secondary need, that of a replacement for Fowler. I like the remaining day 2 picks quite a bit. Failing to fill the biggest need this offseason cuts them down quite a bit. I give them a C for addressing need, A for acquiring talent. Overall, its a B/B+ kind of draft, at least on paper.

Then why call out only one side of the issue?

They were both drafted in the 4th round.

Those definitely aren't practice squad type workout numbers for a guy 6'1 195lbs...

At a glance (these are off NFL.com's lists; I think a few actually got drafted and its just not up to date) WRs Todd Blythe Adarius Bowman Edward Williams TE Mike Peterson OLs Franklin Dunbar Robert Felton Eric Young Fernando Velasco DT Henry Smith LB Gary Guyton Vince Hall (I thought he was picked?) Erin Henderson J Leman Steve Octavien Wesley Woodyard CB Darnell Terrell Jonathan Zenon

Note to Dick Jauron... WE GET IT. YOU LOVE CBs! ENOUGH ALREADY. Seriously, though, seems like another solid pick this late in the draft. But exactly how many DBs do they plan to keep this year?

I like this draft, with some disagreements on the overall direction of it, but those disagreements are just part of it. This would be an awfully boring place if we all nodded our heads in agreement with everything the Bills do. And should those who like everything about this draft also post their 'resume' as proof that their opinion is valid as well? It cuts both ways.

Reed is probably the guy who should be a little worried about this pick (as well as that of James Hardy). This will be Reed's 7th season. He appears to have reached his potential and it doesn't seem to be too high. Both of these guys, while having good speed, profile more as possession receivers, putting them in direct competition with Reed on the depth chart. I think all three will ultimately make the roster, but if anyone is being pushed out the door, its Reed, not Roscoe.

60 catches 1000+ yards and 13 TDs in the SEC this year. Did I mention that he's 6'2 215lbs and runs in the 4.5s? I think he has a very good chance to make the roster and is a solid pick this late.

I wouldn't worry about that too much. The Bills can work on his strength. His athleticism at that size is something that can't be coached or trained.

1st 7th round pick: Demetrius Bell, OT. I definitely like that one. I haven't seen him play, but from what I've read, he has a lot of potential.

Possibly. There are still some halfway decent prospects on the board. Paul Smith Matt Flynn Sam Keller I'm sure there's still a no-name out there that's a decent prospect as well.

As much as I've bitched about the offense being ignored, I can't really argue with the players themselves and even though it may surprise some people, I'm going to give them a good grade for it. I think I know what their plan is with this offseason, I just completely disagree with it. In the context of what they're trying to do, which is ride the defense for a year until they can invest offensively, I think they've nailed it in terms of talent.

You can find his combine numbers here: http://warroom.sportingnews.com/nfl/draft/...ayers/7653.html 4.60 40...not blazing speed, but hardly slow for a RB. I especially like the 38.5" vertical and 6.71 cone drill. Says the guy is explosive and quick.

I like the pick just based on the stats, but before seeing the clips, I was kind of expecting a fat boy who plows straight ahead based on the scouting reports. Not even close. The guy has some moves and some speed to go along with power. I like it even more now.

Perhaps because they didn't like him? I admit, I'm disappointed that they didn't add a top TE prospect in this draft, but its obvious they liked the guy they picked more than the one they passed on. On that move, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Look at the stats. 37 TDs...this year. Given that the Bills seem to be planning on running the ball 40 times per game this year, why not draft another RB?

2,300 yards and 37 Tds this season? Yeah, I can live with that pick.

6th round pick: RB Xavier Omon.

I agree, none of these guys in R3-7 would start offensively this year, but they won't defensively, either. All could likely contribute, however. In the end, I think its just a circular argument where neither side is really wrong or right. I just think that its usually a mistake to go so heavily on one side of the ball the entire offseason when both need serious help. Oh well, nothing can be changed now. Hopefully, its for the best, but unfortunately, I still see this offense as being an anchor dragging this team down to 6-8 wins. Granted, that's what I expected anyway, but I'd hoped they'd add more quality prospects offensively who could step up in a year or two to claim starting roles. I really like Hardy, but I'm very concerned that they not only aren't going to get contributors at TE and C this year, in particular, but that this draft won't provide any help with those positions down the road, either. I hope I'm wrong about that, particularly the TE they picked, but I'm very concerned that this is the type of draft that really burns a weak team a few years down the road.

I'd add Todd Blythe to the list. Also Pierre Garcon of Mount Union, who caught 60 TD passes in his college career.

Its not that I don't believe that the defense needed to be addressed, but I don't think its a good idea to largely expect internal improvement on a unit that ranked in the 30s last year on either side of the ball. And the thing that really worries me is that if something happens with Hardy, the Bills have given themselves no backup plan whatsoever. I also thought that they had to find someone who could be a consistent threat over the middle (IMO, its their biggest need) and they didn't do that this offseason. Hardy will help a bit, but he's not going to make his living doing that, I don't think. I think we're still a team that can't really threaten a defense in the middle half of the field and I think that's going to be a necessity if they ever want to have a solid offense as a whole.

Agreed. While I like the individual picks they're making (except maybe that TE), its the overall strategy of this offseason that bothers me. I think a balanced approach would have served them much, much better.