GunnerBill

I think it is just a bit of a speech thing McDermott does. He follows it up with "like he has been". I don't think he was intending to suggest at all that Josh hasn't already been the face of the franchise. He just sometimes in his determination to say nothing answers questions about the future by stating things from the present. I have noticed it previously too.

They were 13 up at half. Went 16 up when the defense forced a turnover already in FG range which the offense got the bare minimum out of.

The O collapsed in that game. 24 yards, 18 yards, 22 yards and a turnover, 6 yards, 14 yards. Those were our offensive drives from 13-0 until 16-19. The offense blew it just as much as the defense.

But you don't win playoff games on the road with 16 points, especially not when you turn it over. The entire team was very good first half and bad second half.

I don't think the offense played well enough to win at Houston. It threw up on itself second half of that game, turned the ball over and opened the door for Houston. It did play well enough vs Minnesota.... but the defense had stopped them and the game was done if Mitch and Josh could execute a snap.

I've been looking a lot at what I think team needs are for my mock this week. I see @LEBills has already volunteered but happy to act as a sense check if helpful.

Yep. It is absolutely stock NFL coach speak 101. Belichick used to say it all the time. The joke with Jauron was it was particularly hard for him to win in the NFL. How many of them beat Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs? Because that is the question.

I do think his pressers this offseason have been defensive. But I think it is likely triggered by the hatchet job from Ty Dunne. Which I think he has a right to be pissed by.

Agree. And Seattle's likely targets - the two DTs and the OL out of Washington feel like guys where the chance of one of them slipping is there.

Yea, once you get past the top 3 all of these guys have question marks. It is legit to ask what kept Legette off the field and what stopped him being more productive when he was on it. You better believe every team that interviewed him at the Combine (and that includes the Bills) asked him that question. It is about risk appetite with him. Where and when he goes will tell us a lot about how the NFL responded to that risk.

AD is not the guy on tape he was at the combine. That's beyond question for me. Not saying I don't want him, I'd be fine if he were the pick but there is no wow on his film IMO. Lots of solid. No wow. Think he has a reasonably high floor as a solid contributing #2 receiver. On film I'd say the ceiling is top end #2. But maybe the testing says otherwise.

Has he confirmed that? It has been my suspicion that he has stopped working with Palmer reading between the lines. Sorry if you already posted in the thread and I missed it.

I take the point but Lamb isn't really a deep threat guy. He is mainly a volume, intermediate receiver rather than a guy who you just try and get behind the defense the way the Dolphins do with Hill. I'd say both the 49ers - Aiyuk and the Lions - Williams have guys who are more classic "deep threats" than Lamb. I think your overall thrust which is a guy who just wins deep isn't as valuable is right though. It is the think that makes me leery to an extent on Thomas Jnr. He is the DK comparison for me more than Legette or Franklin or whoever else has been compared at various stages. He is just a run downfield outside guy. He does it really well but the Bills already see a lot of two safety shell. They'd see even more with him on the field. They need a guy who can stretch the field and win deep outside, but who can make yards after the catch as well and be used on some of those intermediate routes - crossers, in cuts, comebacks etc.

I disagree, but that's fine. I am not trying to brainwash anyone, indeed I have said throughout I am higher than the consensus and he is almost certainly a day 2 pick. Nor have I ever disputed the points in respect age and one year production. Those are valid.

I have said repeatedly that the one year production and the breakout age are legit concerns. I have never shied from that. And have never sought to argue with anyone making that point. But the 2023 tape is also legit. I'd be willing to take the risk on that basis. But I understand the people for whom that risk is too rich. The point I was disputing was that he isn't versatile. He is. It is why I have him a tick ahead of Brian Thomas Jnr on my board. You can do more with Legette.

McGovern was better than Torrence, for sure. Torrence was a beast for the first 6 weeks but his performance dropped off after that. He was slightly below average overall but not bad for a rookie and with a full offseason in an NFL strength and conditioning programme and hopefully a bit of technique work on his weakness against speed rushers to his inside shoulder (which teams just kept going at once it was on film) I'm hopeful he can take a step and sustain his top level of performance for a full year.

He was good at guard. I don't think you can just say "he will be as good at center" it needs to be proven. He has played it some though and Edwards who would come in at guard in that scenario started at guard on a Superbowl team. And there is the potential for year 2 growth from Torrence. I see a route to the line being better (unlike safety where I see no route) but it shouldn't be considered a slam dunk that it is and if they get a shot at a high calibre tackle early they should take them IMO and work out the best 5 from there.

Legette had more yards from the slot than McConkey in 2023. He VERY much meets the versatile can line up in different spots criteria.

Yes he was.

He was good as a guard.

It might be better than Jaquan Johnson and Damar Hamlin - sure. But Hyde and Poyer played most of last year and while they were not the force of old people now seem to be rewriting history as if they were liabilities.

I did one earlier that had the Ravens trading up to #30 to jump Detroit for Graham Barton (which is not far fetched TBH). So I went back to #30, picked up an extra 4th. Still got AD Mitchell in the first. Took Bralen Trice at #60 (not my favourite pick but he was best value on the board plays a priority position and a need position) then traded two of my now three 4ths and one 5th to get into the end of round 3 and take Jaden Hicks (who I increasingly love as a Bills specific fit). Then Maason Smith was there in round 4 and Beaux Limmer in round 5. I mean.... I would be pretty ecstatic if those ended up our first five selections. Mitchell isn't my favourite WR for us but I think he fits the style and need. Trice isn't an explosive pass rusher but he is capable of backing up Groot and if you don't see that jump from him this year then Trice gives you the option not to have to commit to a second deal and an in-house replacement. Hicks is a really nice fit. Smart, called the defense, was trusted to adjust coverages... speed is the question but Poyer and Hyde were never fliers either. Smith is a talent who didn't maximise it in college but sitting behind Ed and rotating in is perfect for him and I really like Limmer. He could the job as a rookie. Love his feet. I got Guerendo after that too. Basically I'd sign for that draft right now.

In fairness this was the beat writers for each team doing a mock as if they were GMs. If Joe B was our GM we'd have been relegated to the XFL or whatever it is called these days by now.....

It would. Even forget position for a moment I don't think he is even close to a first round talent. He is a positionless workout warrior. I don't care what the testing and the RAS score says. He just wasn't that explosive on tape. In terms of somewhat realistic worst case scenarios he is it for me.

I think this is right around 8th.... as I said yesterday I think probably 5th or 6th best in the AFC and then there is San Fran, Detroit and possibly still Philly in the NFC. It is definitely a step back on where the roster has been. But there is still a chance to change that if they can crush the draft. But they need like a 2017 Saints type draft and they don't have the 6 picks in the first 103 that the Saints had and nailed that year.