Brandon

The one thing that it might do is cut back on trade activity, since teams will have less time to negotiate deals when they're on the clock. Otherwise, I don't think it makes a big impact.

That trade with Minnesota is probably one of the more realistic scenarios out there. They pick up Harvey, we move down and get Sweed or Thomas, both of whom should still be there. It does open up some risk of teams later in the round moving up to get a WR in front of us, however. The second round trade is a little steep, but I think they might make a move up for a CB if they go WR in R1. Cason would be my choice if they do that. I don't think Bennett will make it until their 3rd round pick and unlike many, I don't like the idea of using a 4th round pick on a fullback.

It depends on how you define quality. Posluszny should be a very good player, but most of the rest are starting simply because the Bills have nothing better. That doesn't mean that I don't like them, some I think could become quality starters, but they're not there yet.

Here's their grading scale: http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDr.../2007/About.htm We don't know the Bills board, of course, but this is about how I see it. I don't believe there's a huge difference between Sweed or Thomas and Derrick Harvey, either. Harvey may be a little better overall, but its not a significant difference. Given that, I go with the much bigger need. The competition for a WR pick, IMO, is really with the CBs, where the need is a fair amount greater.

He was a starter for all 13 games in 2006, as well as a starter in 2007. His bio from Clemson also states that he played on 271 snaps as a freshman, which is a fair amount.

I probably won't be disappointed so much as I'll be concerned. The Bills haven't exactly done a good job of drafting quality starters outside of R1 in recent years, particularly on offense. At this point, I have very little confidence in their ability to upgrade that position in R2 or 3. Doesn't mean that if they do that, the guy won't be a star player, but I'll have to see it to believe it at this point. I think that we'd more than likely be looking at a guy who will struggle to beat out Parrish and Reed at that point. Of course, if they don't believe a WR is worth that 11th pick, by all means, skip it.

Am I the only one concerned that the guy only recorded 12 sacks in 3 seasons at Clemson? In most cases, if a guy hasn't proven he can get to the QB in college, he probably won't do so in the pros, either. Example: Chris Kelsay.

If he'd done anything as a sophomore, I think we'd be talking about Devin Thomas as a top 10 lock. Looking past the combine numbers, don't forget that the guy posted 2,600 all purpose yards this season. He also had a very good freshman year at a JUCO school. While the one-year-wonder stuff scares me, I'd also point out that Thomas played under a different coaching staff in '06. It may be that they simply did not know how to use him, didn't recognize how good he was, or were just too stubborn to bench the guys they had on the field at the time. In any case, if I were the Bills, I'd be going straight to the Michigan State coaching staff to find out exactly what the problem was.

I don't think that fear of past failures at the position is a legitimate reason to bypass drafting a WR in R1. If the scouting staff feels that he's worth that pick, you listen to them and give that player equal consideration. I do not expect them to trade for a veteran WR. No reason, I just don't think it will happen.

The chart is merely an estimate. In practice, it usually costs more, sometimes much more.

A rough guess: 11 and 41 this year, plus a 1st or 2nd next.

The thing I dislike about that type of draft is that it could be called an 'all-overachiever' type draft. Its a double-edged sword. Having a few of those type players can be good, but too many and you become the early 90s Colts, a team of high effort, but slow and/or undersized players. Incidentally, that's part of the problem with this team. They have a lot of solid players, but the playmaker types are few and far between.

You're point is correct, but Flowers may not be the best example. Many thought he should have been a borderline 2nd/3rd round guy, not just 10-15 spots as would appear to be the case here. They did the same thing in round 2, taking Travares Tillman when most believed he'd go on the middle of day 2. Of course, that 2000 draft was hideous for everyone, not just the Bills. There were a few good players at the top and a handful the rest of the way, but overall, it was probably one of the worst overall draft classes of all time.

On the other hand, 2nd-3rd round WRs rarely make an impact, period, and the ones that do very often are just ordinary. That leads into another consideration for the Bills. With three decent or better WRs on the roster, how hard will it be for a 2nd-3rd round pick to ever earn a spot on the field amongst that group? It won't be easy, that's for sure, and there's a very high probability that the guy they select after R1 will never be more than a 4th WR on this roster. Yikes.

I really can't make up my mind if he's underrated or overrated at this point. The measurables and collegiate production would seem to indicate the former and just on that basis, I can see him even sneaking into the last few picks of round 1. Still, there's also something in the back of my mind that says 'situational possession receiver', and if that's the case, R3-5 is more likely. I'm not sure which he is.

I guess that depends upon how you define value. At the end of the day, it seems to me that the goal isn't to draft the best available athlete. Its not necessarily to fill needs, either. The point of the draft is to acquire some combination of players on draft day that, when considered as a group, make the biggest possible improvement to your football team. If you believe that drafting a WR at 11 allows you to do that, then that's what you should do, regardless of what Mel Kiper or Mike Mayock think of the guy you picked.

Well, he did catch 9 for 139 yards in that game...and 2,600 all purpose yards for the season. It doesn't add up, IMO. I'd like to see all of these 'dropped' passes, to see if its really Thomas, or if Mayock is being overly critical and counting borderline passes as drops.

And five times as many TDs as Reed has ever had in a season. Ouch.

The draftniks were probably still scrambling to figure out what Thomas's value actually was at the time. I don't think its necessarily a case of a guy flying up draft boards because of a postseason workout. His value may have been artificially low because of a lack of information.

...And a third of the board covers their ears and starts singing LALALALALALA!

I can't really blame Fairchild all that much. No, really, I can't. This team's passing game has been garbage for virtually all of the last five years.

No, I wouldn't be happy with that. Reggie Williams has been a disappointment, but based on last year, I believe they'll keep him. Matt Jones has been a major flop. He's worth taking a chance on if released, but I would never want to go into a season really relying on someone like that.

While I'm leaning toward Sweed with that pick now, I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed at all if Devin Thomas were their pick at 11. The lack of experience concerns me, but there's no question that Thomas is about as talented a WR prospect as you'll find. He'd be a very good pick, I think, even if a risky one.

1) Limas Sweed. I think he compares favorably to most of the bigger WRs that have come through the draft in the last 6-8 years. He's not a freakish athlete or a top 10 caliber talent, but he's above average athletically compared to most of the later 1st round picks, and would seem as well prepared for the NFL as possible. I hate making comparisons (mainly because I suck at them), but I think he's probably most similar to his former Texas teammate, Roy Williams. Williams was a little faster and was more explosive while Sweed is more physcal, but overall, both are probably at their best in the intermediate range passing game, though they can be effective at moving the chains if necessary. So I think he's basically somewhat of a poor-man's version of Roy Williams, but a 15-25 overall pick most years. Another comparison? Jevon Walker, though I think Walker was the best of these three before he got hurt. In any event, I'd probably rate him in the top third or half of the first rounders in the last several years and I think that the wrist injury and lack of a recent 'wow' factor is keeping his draft status down. 2) Devin Thomas Athletically, he's as talented as anyone. The drops and lack of experience concern me, though. On one hand, I could see him being a big, physical elite do-everything WR much like Andre Johnson if he 'gets it', or I can see him becoming another Ashley Lelie if he doesn't. He's a very difficult player to get a good read on. I could make an argument for why he'll go 11th to the Bills, or why he should be a 2nd or even 3rd round pick. 3) James Hardy A very poor man's Randy Moss? I haven't seen him play much at all, but its who he reminds me of. He's a big, fast, athletic deep threat, but like a lot of tall receivers, he doesn't appear to be very physical and may have trouble with CBs disrupting his routes. The upside is enormous, but I do wonder how he'll adjust with the strength and physical play he'll be facing in the NFL. His route running is also reportedly weak. Still, I like him, and even as a project, I could see him as a typical late 1st rounder in most drafts. Of course, he could also be another Alex Bannister as well. I don't think that this is a bad draft for WRs, even at the top. Its not great, and there's no elite prospect, but I think Sweed will be a very good pro and while the other two are very risky, they could be as good as anyone in the league. I believe that a lot of internet draftniks have taken Mayock's statement on the WRs a few months back and run with it and now its become accepted as fact. Yet at the time, even he admitted he was partially downgrading them due to his perception that WRs were becoming less important around the league.

I agree, but as far as the Bengals are concerned, I think they'll probably take Derrick Harvey. Their defense recorded only 22 sacks in 07. Geathers and Odom, the presumptive starters, have played well in rotational roles, but I don't believe they'll rely on them as starters.