[Name 2 players drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2022]

1 hour ago, Big Blitz said:

 

 

RB (Hall) is the only other position where we could potentially significantly upgrade - depends how everyone feels about Motor.

 

I see Motor as being Marlon Mack, with Hall coming in and potentially being Jonathan Taylor - lite, but maybe he can be close to him and if we had a player like that on this offense we become almost impossible to defend.  

 

So at 25:

 

Booth - maybe Elam

Jordan Davis

Breece Hall

 

That's where I'm at.  I don't think the latter 2 will be there tho.  

 

I try and try, but everything I watch tells me I would rather have Ken Walker, Jr - in the 2nd round.

I just am not team Breece Hall at 25.

 

 

[Which players on defense are you moving on from or releasing?]

50 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

Warren Sapp doesn't play 60% of snaps in Buffalo either.  The talent Edmunds and Oliver possess are harder to replace imo than Poyer.  Saftey is not a premier position.  Imo, it comes down to what Poyer wants.  If he takes a team friendly deal sure you can bring back everyone.  If he wants top safety money than imo thats too much.  Dont get me wrong I love Poyer and everything he does for the defense.  At a point players start to decline.  Teams that have had sustained success NE, Gb, Pit for example get off vetran players earlier than most.  Buffalo is going to need to consider that model.  Otherwise you look around and are expensive and old without much options.

 

Exactly.  Good point.   Bill Belichick has traditionally traded a player "early".  Probably one year earlier than other teams might.   Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Baltimore know it is the NFL...not for long...and they build it into their process and draft.

 

I get it. I love Poyer, etc.  But if there is a stud safety in the draft you can get in the 2nd round and pay him only $2 million a year, you need to consider pulling the trigger.  That frees up $7-8 million in Cap for next year.    Ditto if there is a good MLB (Chad Muma?) to draft this year and get him on a $2 million a year contract.  That might save you $12 million next year.    Plus you set yourself up well for 2024 and 2025 and 2026.

[** Private Workout ** Tight End Trey McBride, Colorado State]

18 hours ago, NewEra said:

I think that’s up to Knox tbh.  If he’s willing to take 10-12.5M a year, I think he’ll return.  If he wants more than that, he might have to join a QB named Josh allen and see how he does with them.  
 

Henry and Jonnu are getting 12.5 next year. Hopefully he’ll be ok with that much, or less.  If he’s looking for 14+ like Andrews, Kelce and goedert, Josh might not have any say in the matter.  
 

if Dorsey plans on using a lot of 12 personnel, I could see us selecting McBride in rd 1 or 2.  
 

for anyone bored, watch McBride hit the sleds at the combine and then watch Greg Dulcich.  🤣 

 

[Which players on defense are you moving on from or releasing?]

10 minutes ago, mushypeaches said:

Edmunds is a luxury that they can no longer afford after this year.  

 

I know that the coaches rave about his coverage skills, and leadership, and blah blah blah.

 

But we need to pay the guys who MAKE PLAYS. 

 

Edmunds might get better, but he sure is going to get more expensive

 

Let's get what we can from him on the field this year, but let's not be rolling out the checkbook for him unless he suddenly becomes a Top 3 MLB with the stats to back up that status.

 

I know the argument is "he is young" but when do coaches start to acknowledge he has reached his ceiling.    Reactive playmaking skills are something a player has, or doesn't.  Yes, they can get better because of experience, and that helps them learn to take better angles, etc.   But the ceiling isn't going up dramatically.

 

It comes back to value.   Can you sign a MLB for say 1/2 the money that is pretty much as productive?   McBeane will have to decide that one.

[Which players on defense are you moving on from or releasing?]

8 minutes ago, eee1776 said:

If any of the top safeties in this year's draft fall to us in the third round like Cine or even Cook and Hill I think Poyes is gone after this year.

 

Daxton Hill could go bottom of the 1st round.

Cine and Nick Cross late 2nd?    Early 3rd?

I don't like our 3rd round pick, because it is towards the bottom of the 3rd....and a lot of nice players will be coming off the board early in the 3rd round.

[Which players on defense are you moving on from or releasing?]

9 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

The cap figures to keep going up significantly each year. Money tomorrow is cheaper than money today.

I think Oliver and Edmunds are gone after this season (or earlier) unless they suddenly become all-pros. I'd very much like to bring Poyer back as I feel he's outperformed Hyde. Next year's cap space probably comes mostly from the projected increase + some restructures and maybe a surprise retirement from someone like Morse. Your only real FA's next year are Poyer, Edmunds and Singletary. I think you can easily keep one, if not two.

 

The following year, we'll have a pile of cap space.

 

I will nit pick a little with the statement that we will have a pile of cap space in 2023.   Josh's contract is kicking in, and so is Von Miller's.   Any extra cap space available via the NFL raising the Cap will go poof.   

 

The Cap will not go up exponential every year.   Right now it is projected to be $220-223 million for 2023.   Josh's hit will be $39 million and Von Miller's $18.7 million.  That is $57.7 million for just those 2 players.

 

Beane has to mix in some rookie deals to the defense, while keeping as many veterans as possible.

[Which players on defense are you moving on from or releasing?]

Just now, T master said:

I think Edmunds will be 1 only because of the money he will want being a first round pick the second on your list is Poyer only because he changed agents & Rosenhaus is one greedy mo fo & will get him the cash he is looking for but i don't think it will be from Beane unless there is a compromise & that's not in Rosenhaus vocabulary .

 

Sadly you are probably right about Poyer.  Although, a lot of Bills players have used Rosenhaus and the Bills front office have a somewhat okay relationship with him.

 

I love Poyer, but drafting a safety early in this year's draft just is smart football.
Also drafting a LB would be smart too.

 

You have to prepare for the 2023 Cap....you have some big #s from Josh's contract, and Von Miller's and Tre White's......

[Which players on defense are you moving on from or releasing?]

In 2023 the Buffalo Bills will have a lot of defensive starters on pretty hefty contracts.
This is going to have an impact on the draft this month.   Beane needs to plan ahead.

 

Let's assume Beane wants to keep Tremaine and has to pay him $14 million a year, for 2023, 2024 and beyond.

Did you know the Bills Cap Hit for Matt Milano is $13 million in 2023 and $13 million for 2024?
And Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde.   Do you pay them $11 million each, for 2023 and 2024?
Ed Oliver is $10 million a year just for 2023 and will be higher for 2024.
Tre White is costing $ 15-16 million / year.
Von Miller is $18 million and $21 million in 2023 & 2024.

 

To stay under the Cap long term, you need some starters making $2-3 million a year.  You need some players on rookie contracts.  

Honestly, signing Von Miller has made it almost a certainty some of the above players won't be on the roster/payroll in 2023.

 

So who would you move on from?  Who do you trade Or let go in Free Agency after 2022?

 

[Name 2 players drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2022]

On 4/9/2022 at 3:00 PM, Big Blitz said:

I'm going to say that there is a maybe 5% chance Bills go WR in round 1.

 

First, if Diggs and Davis are your starters - and likely the next 2 years minimum, why draft one now?  In Round 1.  You'll have to trade up to get that sure fire starter where there seems to be little consensus on the position and WRS can be had later.  

 

Second, you want guys that can come in and start and make an impact on a team that's a SB favorite.  

 

There are only 2 positions available on the roster for that to happen based on the depth chart now.  It's CB and 1 tech DT.  Maybe OG.  

 

 

CB, or Davis is who I think they want in RD 1 - I guarantee Davis is on their radar.

 

Look WR later.  

I agree, and have been saying that since the Senior Bowl.

 

If Andrew Booth is on the Board at pick 25, I would be super surprised if he is not the pick. 

 

Value proposition of a 1st round pick matters.  So it is unlikely a center, fullback, tight end, punter, kicker, and nor probably a guard will be drafted in the 1st.  And no quarterback.    Cornerback is up there.  And if you leave out WR, maybe DL and whatelse?

[If LB Devin Lloyd is available at Pick 25......]

17 hours ago, OldTimer1960 said:

Some of these stats can be misleading.  I think his value is in clogging the middle of the field passing lanes with his size and speed.  He is not often asked to play man coverage.  He also does a good job roaming sideline to sideline on wide runs/short passes.  Like all inside LBs, he is affected if the DL allows OL to reach the second level and block him on inside runs.  His instincts may not b perfect, but I think the criticism of him on this board is overblown and is born from the misconceptions that all first round picks should be game changers and are slam dunks.  
 

i see Edmunds as a good starter that is a positive in the Bills’ preferred zone pass D and can impact outside run game as well.  He is not at his best as an inside run stuffer, but if DL can keep him clean, it would help a lot.

 

Now, is that enough to pay him a big contract next year?  I’m not sure,  but I think that Bills think much more highly of him than this message board does.

 

I know that for his detractors this won’t matter, but he doesn’t turn 24 until this May.  That is only a year (for some 2) older than this year’s rookie crop.

Wifey graduated from Virginia Tech, so we saw Tremaine play in person in college, and were delighted the Bills drafted him.  Bought his jersey.

 

That said, it boils down to production vs salary.   Is he an adequate MLB?  Sure.    Is he worth $12.7 million this year, and higher than that in 2023 and 2024?   

 

AND there is another factor Bills fans don't pay attention to.   Matt Milano's cap hit in 2023 and 2024 is $13 million.   How can the Bills pay Tremaine say $14 million a year, and Matt Milano $13 million a year and Poyer $10 million a year and Micah Hyde $10 million a year and Tre White $16 million and Von Mille a gazzilon?

 

Something has to give.  Some of the positions on the defense need to be players on a rookie contract.   Maybe Beane keeps Tremaine past 2022.  But maybe he can't.

[** Private Workout ** Tight End Trey McBride, Colorado State]

59 minutes ago, First Round Bust said:

I cant see us drafting a TE in the second or trading up in the third round for one unless he is the second coming of a freak like Knox..but we can say this for multiple future "need" positions as well...S and RB come to mind if we move on from Poyer or Zack Moss this season and Singleton next season

The Bills are acting like they are taking a TE in the 3rd round.

 

They have done Pre-Draft Visits or private workouts with: 
TE Trey McBride (2nd Rd), Isaiah Likely (2nd-3rd Rd), Cade Otton (3rd Rd), Cole Turner (3rd Rd).
They also may have done a meeting with Charlie Kolar (3rd-4th Rd)

 

Knox's contract is up next year.  So is OJ Howards and Tom Sweeney.     
If Knox and his agent want a deal at $12 million a year for 4 years, the Bills might have to decline and go with a younger, cheaper player.  Not ideal, but the Cap makes you made hard choices sometimes. 

 

PS The Bills have had Pre-Draft Visits and meetings with a number of safeties too.   So it could be safety in the 2nd round and tight end in the 3rd.  We will see.

[If LB Devin Lloyd is available at Pick 25......]

38 minutes ago, unbillievable said:

 

I got blasted for saying this, but have the Bills ever gotten a compensatory pick under Beane?

No Beane has not ever gotten a compensatory pick.

And we won't in 2023 either.   Beane signed way too many players that were UFAs this spring.

 

Why do other teams seem to get compensatory picks, and we don't?

 

One reason is Beane's philosophy of "signing our own".    You have to let players walk if you want to get compensatory picks.  So if he keeps signing our own, it is not going to every happen.

 

Plus he seems to sign a lot of UFAs during free agency.   

[** Private Workout ** Tight End Trey McBride, Colorado State]

A source tells http://Syracuse.com that Buffalo held a private workout with Colorado State TE Trey McBride. https://newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills/2022/04/source-buffalo-bills-hold-private-workout-with-2022-nfl-drafts-top-tight-end.html #BillsMafia

 

This is a private workout, as opposed to a Pre-Draft 30 Visit.      A Pre-Draft 30 Visit is held at One Bills Drive and no physical workouts are allowed.   
A "private workout" must be conducted at the prospect's home school, i.e. Colorado State.   And, teams can put the prospect through drills/workout.

 

The Bills previously met with McBride either or both at the Combine and Senior Bowl, per reports.

 

IMO Trey McBride will get drafted somewhere between the middle to bottom of the 2nd round. 

[If LB Devin Lloyd is available at Pick 25......]

2 hours ago, dneveu said:

 

The biggest plays he makes are when they don't throw to the middle of the field because of the 6'5 guy covering their TE etc.  That double clutch causes a sack or a pressure, or forces a throw into coverage, or just generally an incompletion.  It doesn't pop - but the team has basically the #1 3rd down defense since he joined the org - on a majority cover 2/3/4 zone team.  That's a lot of grass for a dude to cover.  

One interesting stat about Tremaine Edmunds and pass coverage is he allows a completion on 75% of targets to the man he is covering.   Not exactly Revis Island.  

Yes, there are other LBers that give up as many completions, but there are plenty that give up a smaller %.

 

 

[If LB Devin Lloyd is available at Pick 25......]

2 minutes ago, Max Fischer said:

I don't know one reporter who doesn't believe that the Bills LOVE Edmunds and will do everything possible to sign him longterm. I personally believe there is a much greater chance Poyer is traded for his replacement than Edmunds. 

Listening to Beane, it sure sounds like he does not have any interest in trading Edmunds.

 

We will see on Poyer.   IF there is a team out there that wants to trade for a safety in his thirties, and that is the piece they need, than maybe.

 

PS  I thought some team would want to sign Cole Beasley.   So far I am wrong about that.   Maybe after the draft, for a lower contract?

2 minutes ago, newcam2012 said:

Agree 100%. In the last few years, how many positive big plays had he made? Often you don't even know he's on the field. The Bills need to improve the position. He's clearly not worth the money he's asking. 

To answer your question:  how many positive big plays had he made?

 

Not many.

 

But, Beane seems to love the guy.

[If LB Devin Lloyd is available at Pick 25......]

17 minutes ago, Vickveto said:

Edmunds has a market he has made it to a pro bowl he is still under 25 he has started a lot of games he is an above average player. We can’t pay everybody like some people on this board think we can. You can manipulate the cap but sooner or later you just have to get cheaper contracts. A first round linebacker in theory should play as good as Edmunds day one. More money to sign Gilmore he is a better player that Edmonds.

I totally understand Edmunds contract would be expensive.   I am on team dump him.

 

I just don't know what team is going to buy into trading for him....knowing they are going to have to give him a big 4-5 year contract.

 

I would LOVE if the Bills traded him today.   Or tomorrow.    I just think it would be difficult.     (UNLESS we trade him to move up 10 spots in the draft)

[Pounding the table for Christian Watson at 25]

Christian Watson is a real interesting prospect.

 

However, IMO, the Beaner won't force drafting a WR.   

 

Let's say the Bills don't draft a WR in the 1st two rounds, and instead draft another mid-rounder with upside like Gab Davis?

Or, they don't draft a WR until the 5th or 6th round?

 

The worry is Jamison Crowder will leave in free agency next year and then we need a WR.   

 

Here is the thing.  We have Josh Allen.

We can go and sign another FA WR next spring.  A lot of WRs will want to play on the Bills to be paired with Josh Allen. 

 

I don't think Beane forces a WR.    

 

[If LB Devin Lloyd is available at Pick 25......]

9 hours ago, Special K said:

Would you select him, and trade Edmunds to a team with a top 15 Second Round Pick??

 

I know there are a lot of what-ifs in this scenario, but if the draft did fall this way, and a team with a top 15 second round pick was interested in trading for Edmunds...I would pull the trigger immediately on this.

 

Although I do not hate Edmunds as much as many on this board, I am certainly not a fan of giving him a huge contract extension either.

 

Lloyd is a beast of a LB, and could easily end up being better than Edmunds quite quickly, plus he would be on a cheaper rookie contract for the next 5 years.

 

I would use the second round pick from the trade to draft Breece Hall, the Bills actual second round pick to draft a speed WR like Metchie III, and use the cap savings from losing Edmunds contract to sign one of the Veteran CB's still on the market.

 

What do you think??

Trading Tremaine Edmunds.

 

Who wants him?   Who wants to pay him his pretty high one year salary.  And then risk not resigning him?    It isn't always feasible to do a "sign and trade".  And I don't think anyone has done that during the 3 days of the draft.  Not impossible, but it would be a challenge. 

 

I do find LB Troy Anderson an interesting possibility at pick 57.  The guy flies to ball...he is smart and is good sized at 6'4".   I would have no problems drafting him in the 2nd round.   And if something strange happens and he is still on the board in the 3rd, I would move up to get him.

 

[#Bills Draft Guide ==> Beane & McDermott's Draft Tendencies]

On 4/9/2022 at 10:17 PM, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

Another tendency I think Beane has is to draft on potential, guys with high ceilings.  I'm sure all 32 teams would say they do the same, but seems the Bills have gone out on that limb further, sometimes with success, sometimes without.  Allen certainly fits that bill, but others too like our favorite whipping boy Edmunds.   He was very young and felt he'd have alot of upside, hasn't yet worked out, but seems they like that type of player.  Last year they drafted both Groot and Brown, two guys who hadn't played the year prior in college.  That's kind of a gutsy move to do that IMO.

 

As far as the ACC trend, couple thoughts on that.  Not sure how much scouts rotate, but could mean the scout that covers the ACC does a better job of making the players he's looked at more appealing.  That's not necessarily a good thing if true, but human nature is what it is.  Also could be that the last 3 years, (upcoming one of the 3) they are drafting low, so the big names more SEC types are gone when the Bills pick so take guys under the radar which could be the way the ACC is viewed. 

 

I also think players in the SEC are so much more surrounded with talent that it makes everyone look better.  Surprising that the water boy at Alabama isn't drafted.  The SEC has the most players in the NFL which isn't surprising, but I couldn't find any stats on what conference has the most players with 5 or more years experience.  My thought was the SEC gets them drafted, but do they last in the league?

The stat of picking ACC players over SEC players IMO doesn't really have much to do with the 1st round.

Alabama players, for example, get drafted in all 7 rounds.   Ditto Georgia and Florida players.

 

I don't know why more ACC players.  Culture fits?  Just a fluke?  A regional thing?   The Bills sure don't draft many players from the Western part of the US.

[#Bills Draft Guide ==> Beane & McDermott's Draft Tendencies]

7 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Did he "miss" the combine or did he just not perform during the drills?  Because I think part of the reason the Bills are so set on selecting players who participated in the combine, is that they value the chance to see how they interact with the press and other players, and also to interview them in more depth than the Senior Bowl format allows.

Projected 1st round picks can get a pass by teams if they can't participate in some or all of the physical drills at the Combine.....they are projected 1st rounders for a reason.   They have put up great game film.    Like you indicate, a lot of the combine is about the interactions (and the medicals of course).

 

I believe, mostly assuming, Booth missed drills at the combine because of his injury.   He may have done all the meetings.

 

Either way, if he is on the board at 25, the Bills have to give him hard consideration.

 

[#Bills Draft Guide ==> Beane & McDermott's Draft Tendencies]

5 hours ago, fergie's ire said:

They drafted some guy from the Mountain West?!!  What were they thinking.

I know nuts, right?

 

Hey they could do it again this year (LB Chad Muma or TE Trey McBride)!

[#Bills Draft Guide ==> Beane & McDermott's Draft Tendencies]

12 hours ago, No_Matter_What said:

 

First of all thanks for the work and good discussion topic. My two general comments:

1. Sample size is too small to draw any conclusions.

2. Most of things you listed are only relevant if we know league-wide numbers.  

 

Hey No-Matter-What,

 

Appreciate the feedback.   Two quick comments. 

37 draft picks is a pretty big sample size, when analyzing Beane/McDermott tendencies.

It isn't like we can wait for them both to be with the Bills for 20 years to take a stab at their tells. 

 

2nd, league-wide numbers.  I don't have time to grind all the numbers across the league, but I believe Bill Belicheat has drafted 14 SEC players in the last 5 drafts while the Bills drafted only 4.  Also I noticed Belicheat drafted 4 Michigan players, and the Bills none.  There are definitely differences from team to team.  

 

And we know out of 37 draft picks, 12 out of the Bills picks were from the ACC and only 1 is from the Mountain West, I conclude that while it is not an absolute, is a tendency. 

 

So, if Beane drafts a Mountain West guy in the 1st round this year, I will take any and all bets that he will draft an ACC prospect next before he drafts another Mountain West guy.  I could lose that bet, but I like my odds.

 

Fun facts to keep in mind.  Go Bills.

 

 

 

 

[#Bills Draft Guide ==> Beane & McDermott's Draft Tendencies]

15 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

Great work, thank you.

 

In the other thread it was mentioned that in the last two years the Bills have only drafted one player who was in their Top 30 visits. I'm not sure if that is accurate but it definitely doesn't align with your point F).

COVID cancelled the 30 Pre-Draft Visits the last 2 years....so you are right, there wasn't any correlation. 

 

But historically 3-4 either Pre-Draft Visits OR private workouts turn out to be draft picks.    Why not more?

a)  They may bring in 7-8 players that are 1st round draft picks.  They may bring in 7-8 players that are 2nd round prospects.

So out of those 14-16 players, they can only draft 2 of them.  That is all the picks they have.

b)  A number of the Pre-Draft visits get drafted before the Bills get to put in their selection, so they miss out on those.

c)  Some of the Pre-Draft visitors don't do well in the "interview" or "workout" and the Bills decide to not draft them.

 

Overall, very generally, Pre-Draft visits will indicate some leanings.   They don't do all these visits and due diligence for no reason.   If they bring in 4-5 tight ends, figure there is a good chance they will draft a tight end, for example.   

 

Lastly, Private Workouts are very different than a 30 Pre-Draft visit.   A private workout is conducted at the prospect's college campus.  Coaches will travel there and put them through drills.  I know Dawson Knox, Devin Singletary and Cody Ford had private workouts with the Bills, but not a Pre-Draft Visit. 

1 hour ago, wjag said:

So that means out of these guys

 

RB James Cook Georgia 

OT Nicholas Petite-Frere Ohio State

TE Cade Otten Washington

RB Isaiah Spiller Texas A&M

TE Isaiah Likely Coastal Carolina

SAF Nick Cross Maryland 

SAF Lewis Cine Georgia 

CB Andrew Booth Clemson

CB Martin Emerson Miss State

OL Sean Rhyan UCLA 

RB Kevin Marks Buffalo(Doesn’t count)

 

 

Andrew Booth is CB2 at pick number 25.  

A lot of dots point towards Andrew Booth...if he is still on the board.

[List of draft players Bills have met with]

On 3/9/2022 at 8:13 AM, OldTimer1960 said:

Do you mean that they think there are only 100 or so draft-worthy prospects or do they exclude many early prospects because they are going to be gone early, aren’t scheme fits, don’t play priority position for current draft,…?

 

I can’t imagine them basically only having a top 100 board and flying blind after 3rd round.

 

 

There are about 270 players drafted.

 

You could get by with a board of 125 players or so.    Your list will include guys you think will get drafted in each of the rounds, so you are not flying blind after the 3rd round.    You might have 15 players per round you have on your board.

 

I wouldn't advise that approach though.   

On 4/4/2022 at 7:58 PM, LEBills said:

Singletary has had his moments. 
 

Moss, Chris Ivory, Frank Gore, TJ Yeldon, Matt Breida have been forgettable additions. Granted we have not spent a ton of capital on RBs in his era. 
 

Spiller to me would not be a very good pick, my concern being that he has fumbled 8 times on 615 touches over 3 years. The rest of his game is not special, kind of average all around imo.

 

 

I am a no to Spiller.

 

I like Ken Walker (and he doesn't like being called Kenneth.  He likes Ken).

FYI  Ken Walker has fumbled Zero times in college.   

[#Bills Draft Guide ==> Beane & McDermott's Draft Tendencies]

Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott collaborate on the Draft.  As they should.

Below is a quick overview of "McBeane"'s draft tendencies.  Much of this I lifted from Joe Marino of TheDraftNetwork. Thanks Joe.

 

NOTE  These are tendencies, not absolutes, and not necessarily about the 1st round. 

 

A)  Since McBeane has been in Buffalo, they have made 37 draft picks.  

12 of them were players from the ACC.  12.   TENDENCY = ACC

5 from the AAC (Houston, Cinncy, UCF...)

4 from FCS schools (Weber St, Jacksonville St...)

4 SEC (4 out of 37 is a low % for the NFL)

3 PAC 12

2 BIG 12

2 BIG 10

1 Conference USA

1 Sunbelt

1 Mountain West

 

B) Brandon Beane has traded down only once while in Buffalo.   From the 6th round, down into the 7th.
While McBeane has traded up numerous times.   TENDENCY = trade up

 

C) Senior Bowl.   20 of the 37 picks played in the Senior Bowl   TENDENCY = Senior Bowl players

 

D) Combine. 36 out of 37 draft picks were combine participants.   TENDENCY = not at the combine? not likely

 

E) 6 of the 1st & 2nd round picks have been "Premier Positions", i.e. QB, DL, OT,  TENDENCY = Rd 1 & 2 Premier Positions
They don't prioritize positions like Running Back, Tight End, Center, etc in the first 2 rounds.

 

F) Pre-Draft Visits (when a prospect comes to Buffalo OR the Bills go to their college for a private workout).
A large % of draft picks have been Pre-Draft Visitors.  TENDENCY = Pre-Draft Visitors

IN Summary.  If your favorite prospect played in the Senior Bowl, was invited to the Combine, is from the ACC and is a Pre-Draft Visitor, you are probably in luck!
Lastly, sometimes the reason the Bills don't draft a prospect is because another team ahead of Buffalo drafts him first.