Brandon

Its hard to call a 4th overall pick a steal, but they got one. McFadden is the best player in this draft, easily better than anything the Raiders currently have at RB.

He has to get past KC first and I don't think he will.

Absolutely. If anything, the Ravens will trade up from their R2 spot. I expect them to take either McKelvin or a DL (Harvey?) at 8.

True, but Clayton and Stovall have been complete flops. It wouldn't surprise me to see them try yet again.

If the Bills pass on a WR in R1, I think that your list looks about right. I'd probably drop Malcolm Kelly and add Jordy Nelson. Looking at R2, it gets no better. The first 8 teams are all in need of WR help to some degree and I'd expect them all to strongly consider one at their respective positions. So yeah, I agree with you. If the Bills try to wait until pick 41 to get a WR in this draft, they're probably going to be **** out of luck. If they really want a quality WR prospect, they're either going to have to pick him with that first rounder or trade up from 41 into the early 20s, which will be pretty costly.

Aside from all of these rumors, virtually everyone seems to hate this late start. I can't imagine that they're going to do this again next year.

The point is, if these guys all go in the top 25 picks, they're probably better than you give them credit for. But assuming they're not, why bother picking Nelson or Hubbard, either? If the guys above them in the draft order can't play, why should guys regarded as lesser prospects be able to? IMO, if the Bills skip the position in R1, they probably shouldn't even bother drafting a WR until the 2nd day. I think all of those guys in the 2nd tier of WRs this year will struggle to ever beat out Parrish/Reed for the #2 spot. Given that, I'd rather just take a couple of receivers late and hope for the best. TE would be my R2 target if they go defense in R1.

If the top three WRs are all gone at pick 24, why are they 'sub par'?

Probably Gholston, although IMO its pretty stupid to do that after trading Allen.

I thought they'd pick Chris Long at #4, but since it appears he'll be off the board, McFadden probably makes the most sense. And believe me, after seeing most of his college games, I'm very, VERY glad that he probably won't be going to the Jets or Patriots.

I'll believe that when I see it. I'd expect the Ravens to take a CB or DL at 8, then try to move back up from their R2 spot for a QB, if anything.

I think he'll go in the late 1st or the first few picks of R2 (KC really likes him, from what I hear). But as you say, its hard not to be impressed with anyone who catches 122 passes in 12 games in a major conference.

Rashaun Woods was a can't-miss WR in the 2004 draft. We know how that turned out for the 49ers. No one is 'can't-miss'. But the thing that really bugs me about Nelson at this point is that my prediction a few weeks ago seems to be coming true: he's probably not going to make it to pick 41. The Bills will likely have to trade up for any of these taller WRs if they pass in R1. I'd just take Devin Thomas if I were them, assuming he's their top-rated WR.

Its more likely Gaughan just made a mistake. If anything, the fact that Malcolm Kelly's picture is given for the lead story 'NFL Draft Weekend' on the Bills home page right now is what scares me a little. They've been known to put their R1 pick on the homepage the morning before the draft a few times in the past, even if it probably was just a coincidence at the time.

I don't hate the idea of taking a CB in R1, but like a lot of people, I think I just got real sick of seeing the Bills burn 1st round picks at the position, only to let them walk after their rookie contracts expired. I'm not going to be upset if they pick McKelvin (although I think he's off the board at 7 or 8), but its probably not a pick I'll get excited about, either.

I wouldn't really be interested in seeing them select a LB in the first few rounds. They seem to be pretty well set at the position. Now perhaps an argument can be made that the Bills should draft Crowell's replacement, but I don't think its necessary to burn a 1st rounder this year to do that. Pick a guy in the middle of the draft and if Crowell does leave, you then have a viable replacement or can use the 1st next year on that spot if you have to.

I'd add Jermichael Finley to the list. I think he's the best receiving TE in this draft class, though his blocking is going to need serious work. The Bills have also spoken to Maryland TE Joey Haynos, who I know absolutely nothing about, except that he's about 6'8" tall.

It didn't help that the defense was on the field the entire game, either. Part of that was their fault, but part of that was also the fact that the offense probably led the league in 3 and outs and couldn't sustain drives.

And I'm gonna have to disagree with you. You don't draft strictly for need OR BPA. Its always a balancing act between the two, taking into consideration the likely remaining players in later rounds, as well as impending free agents the next offseason, age and injuries, as well as a variety of other factors. The only time you really should draft on a strict BPA basis is if that player is rated significantly higher on your board and even then its sometimes not an easy decision. In the end, the draft is about the best collection of players you can draft in R1-7, not the best player you draft in R1, as well as the biggest impact that group of players taken as a whole can have on the team both this year and in the future.

If memory serves, the Dolphins traded down twice the year Jimmy Johnson, in all of his genius, picked the great John Avery in R1.

You can trade as many times as you want, so yes, they could potentially do that.

I like that remark by Kiper...for once, a voice of sanity and reason prevails on ESPN.

I'm hearing OT for the donkeys, hence KCs motivation for trading to 11. In fact, I think there will be a run on OTs in the early teens.

We dealt 71 for Marcus Stroud. 73 is part of that projected trade with the Chiefs. The Bills essentially are getting pick 73, plus a swap of 114 for 82 to make the move down with KC. No extra picks. KC has three 3rd round picks at the moment.

Its that way every year. Some team wins the Super Bowl and all the fans say we should emulate that team. Now perhaps that idea has some merit, but people go overboard with it. There is no magic bullet, no secret formula to making the playoffs or winning a Super Bowl. In the end, the only thing that is proven to work is what has been known for decades...you have to at least have a solid team in all three major phases of the game and there are a multitude of ways winning teams have successfully arrived at that point.