Logic

Josh Allen: C- I did not want Allen to be a Buffalo Bill. I really, really didn't. Of the top 4 QBs, he was the one I LEAST wanted to see get drafted by Buffalo. That being said, Mayfield was taken 1st overall, the Giants were not gonna give up pick #2 for anything less than a king's ransom, and the Jets obviously weren't going to trade their pick to the Bills. That left Josh Allen or Josh Rosen for the Bills. To me, this decision came down to work ethic, character, personality, and upside. The Bills decided that Allen's was greater than Rosen's. I don't personally agree, but time will tell. It's important to remember, though, that Mayfield and Darnold weren't really options. So it's Allen vs Rosen. That's what it comes down to. The picks are also a big part of the grade. To still keep their second 1st round pick AND keep next year's 1st round pick was pretty awesome. For that reason, and for Allen's obvious physical gifts and upside, I'm tempted to move the pick up to a C or even C+. But at the end of the day, the ghosts of JP Losman and EJ Manuel are still haunting me, and I'm terrified that Allen will be a big bust. Also, I really, REALLY wish the Bills still had a 2nd round pick to use tomorrow. For those reasons, I can go no higher than a C-. Tremaine Edmunds: A I did not in my wildest dreams think the Bills could land Edmunds even at 12, let alone with their second 1st round pick after ALSO landing a quarterback. They got arguably a top 5 talent at pick 16. He will be the day one starter ("right off the bus" , as Doug Whaley would say) at either MIKE or SAM linebacker. He has sideline-to-sideline speed, elite coverage ability for a linebacker, and untapped puss rushing ability to boot. He's also apparently a hard worker and locker room leader. He will elevate McDermott's defense TREMENDOUSLY. He will quarterback the defense for McDermott an will add playmaking ability to a linebacker corps that direly needs it. And oh, did I mention they got this guy at PICK 16?! The ONLY two reasons this isn't an "A+" for me is that they had to give up the 1st pick in the 3rd round in order to get Edmunds. That was a premium pick. Also, Edmunds is only 19, and drafting a player that young makes me nervous. He has amazing BOOM potential, but like our other 1st round pick, he also has BUST potential. Round 1 Overall Grade: B- If you strip away your own personal preferences and look at this draft in terms of team needs and how those needs were addressed, this is the conclusion: The two biggest needs on the Bills roster BY FAR were quarterback and inside linebacker. They needed someone to lead the offense AND someone to lead the defense. In order to address these needs, the Bills chose the highest upside, highest PURE PHYSICAL TALENT prospects in the entire draft at both positions. If these picks hit, they will transform both the offense and defense for a decade+. But it's not a sure thing. Both Allen and Edmunds have enormous BOOM or BUST potential. I have to say this about Beane and McDermott, and I've said it since they got to Buffalo: They have brass balls. They are not the LEAST BIT afraid of failure. If they have a conviction on something, they're going to see it through, REGARDLESS of what anyone thinks. These two picks just continue that theme. If Allen reaches his potential, he'll be the best quarterback of this class. If he doesn't, he'll wash out of the NFL entirely. That's a big risk to take in your VERY FIRST DRAFT as GM. Likewise with Edmunds. Boom or bust. At the end of the day, Beane and McDermott are incredibly meticulous men. They do not seem to do ANYTHING without first doing an almost absurd amount of research and preparation. That being the case, if they are willing to stake their Bills careers on Josh Allen and Tremaine Edmunds, then all I can do is sit back, shake my head, and hope they're right. I admire their courage. I hope their ability to scout players matches their courage. This is a make-or-break draft, as early in their tenure as it may be. Time will tell.

It's gonna be a looooooong offseason.

This appears to be an EXCELLENT pick, and it does take the sting out of the Allen pick a bit. I did not in my wildest dreams think that Edmunds would be available at 12, let alone to be taken with the Bills' SECOND 1st round pick. Crazy. Everyone kept saying "Kuechlys don't come along often, McDermott may have to adapt his defense"...well...McDermott got his athletic freak defensive QB. This kid's gonna be a star.

Just popping in to brag about the wife. She had to work this evening (score!), so I've got the place to myself. I got home from work at 4pm (I live on the west coast) to discover that the house had been cleaned from top to bottom, there are burritos and beer in the fridge, and my draft guide is sitting on my living room table, next to the remote and a note that says "Happy draft day! I hope the draft goes exactly the way you want. Go Bills!". Yep, I married a good one!

I don't know, Jay. He said "Book it"! That's as sure a bet as exists in the world!

I've come here to sign on the dotted line of the "I'm resigned to the Bills drafting Allen at 5" contract. I think I'm gonna be sick.

I personally happen to agree with you, which is why I want no part of Allen, and consider him QB5 in this draft. HOWEVER...for some reason, many NFL scouts, analysts, and GMs seem to disagree. Even Mike Mayock, who I really like as a draft analyst, has Allen listed as his QB2. He's being talked about as a legitimate possibility to be the #1 overall pick. Why is that? Could it be that the analysis of fans and draftniks (myself included) differs greatly from the analysis of professionals? Damn it 26! You've got me sitting here defending Josh Allen! This is madness! I want no part of the guy! I think this must be part of my instinctual survival instinct to defend and try to be optimistic about every Bills player and decision. I'm convinced (and depressed) that the Bills will be drafting this kid.

Darnold will be successful: IF he cuts down on his turnovers, IF his wonky throwing motion doesn't get him into trouble Rosen will be successful: IF his personality meshes well in an NFL locker room, IF he stays healthy, IF he improves his play on 3rd downs Mayfield will be successful: IF his size doesn't limit him, IF he learns to play more within the structure of the offense, IF he can adapt to NFL style offense Jackson will be successful: IF he can improve on his accuracy, IF he learns to go through progressions with more consistency, IF he can stay healthy with that frame The point is...everyone's got a lot of "IFs", not just Allen. And again, I DON'T WANT ALLEN. Just being realistic and playing devil's advocate.

I don't want Allen AT ALL, but...let's be fair here, the ENTIRE NFL DRAFT is based on "ifs". It's a crapshoot. Let's not pretend that any of the other QBs are sure things.

It just seems SO weird to me that a team that quickly shipped Cardale Jones out of town, passed on drafting Mahomes, and whose only QB acquisitions so far are guys with average arms but good accuracy...would suddenly become enamored with Josh Allen. It doesn't make any sense.

Mayock clearly states that Allen needs to sit behind a Brees, Manning, or Brady for a year to learn how to be an NFL quarterback. Sooooo....I suppose the Bills are hoping that sitting behind AJ McCarron will be just as good? I wanna vomit.

Meanwhile, other sources are reporting that the Browns are taking Darnold. So, to recap, the Browns are either taking Mayfield, Darnold, or Allen. Yep, that's the info we have right now.

I am trying to mentally and emotionally prepare myself for the Bills to draft Josh Allen. To be honest, the whole thing makes me feel queasy. All of my faith in the credibility and competence of McBeane will be seriously damaged if they pick this kid. There is just NOTHING other than "strong arm and movement skills" to suggest Allen will be worth a darn. And we Bills fans have seen that movie twice already with JP and EJ. I'm really, really hoping the Bills find a way to get Mayfield/Rosen/Darnold.

Yeah. I don't really blame the people lying and making outrageous claims (they're simpletons, they know not what they do)...but I DO blame the people who give them any credence.

...Good thing there's also a draft NEXT YEAR, and the year after, and the year after. Oh, and a free agency period in which we have $90 million to spend. Year one? Yeah, the surrounding cast may not look so great. Year 2 and beyond? Now we're talking!

Bills draft Darnold, Rosen, or Mayfield. If that happens (and I don't even care which one, truly), I'll be a happy man, regardless of anything else that happens.

Weird. You just got done questioning the moral fiber of the guy on Twitter spouting Bills rumors. Then, for your follow-up act, you decided to spread some rumors of your own. What gives? And why is it that, the closer the draft gets, the more people suddenly have fool-proof sources?

If you feel that confident in your "Source", please feel free to list exactly what it is that you've heard is going to happen. No details/specifics = you're talking out of your booty.

Yep. People making a draft-shaped mountain out of a nothingburger molehill.

It's not nice to pretend to know things in order to get on-edge fans excited about nothing.

Sorry to rain on everyone's parade, but team executives don't load up a plane and go to another team's headquarters just to talk trade. Why would they do that? What could be accomplished in person that couldn't be accomplished over the phone? Silliness.

Not doubting this source at all, but I sure hope Mr Pegula isn't out there telling his draft plans to random energy industry associates. Considering the lengths the front office goes to to keep things under wraps, it would be really bad form by the team owner to be spilling secrets to people who don't even keep them.

Help a fella out: Who is Joe Chenelly and why should I care what he has to say?