NewEraBills

If the season started today, NO. Even with what we did in free agency, I'd say a hard no. We need upgrades at WR, two linebacker spots, RG and RT, and another CB. TE (pass catching) is also an area that could use talent given Clay's tendency to be unavailable for at least two to three games. No we are not the 2017 Browns frankly because the Jets and Dolphins are in a similar situation that we are in so that helps us in divisional games. The 2017 Browns situation was so unique to the Browns, just like the 2016 Browns situation, the 2015 ehhh you get the picture. I'm not sure. They both have some tools to work with. I certainly think if you are an OC you're going to have to design an offense that caters to each guys strengths. I don't think the Dennison approach of, "this is what I run" is going to be in the best interests of either player. I think you have to sorta sneak, "the stuff that I run" in here and there until they can execute well on a lot of "stuff that I run." I'd say the same thing for Allen and maybe for Mayfield too. Rosen, I think, can play in any of the three systems that dominate the NFL ( EP, WC, AC).

According to Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports, Louisville QB Lamar Jackson's draft stock is trending "upward." In fact, the consensus is that Jackson will go in the first round. Schultz mentioned the Cardinals, who pick at No. 15, as a potential fit for the former Heisman Trophy winner. Arizona signed Sam Bradford to a deal this offseason but the Cardinals likely view him as a stopgap rather than a long-term solution. Jackson has drawn criticism for his low completion percentage in college, though he's also been widely praised for his athleticism and elite playmaking ability.

Kent Lee Platte‏ @MathBomb FollowFollow @MathBomb More Somewhat unexpectedly, Frank Ragnow posted an elite #RAS at his pro day, posting great speed and explosiveness while splitting agility. At his size, it's a fantastic profile. 6:23 AM - 31 Mar 2018

25 days and we can begin to put all of this to rest. Smith and Hughes, I like a lot. Rudolph, I am middle of the road on. I just have questions on whether he can translate and his arm strength. Prefer Rosen or Mayfield at QB. We'll see what Beane and company wants to give up and who is selling soon.

But Edmunds at 22 is very far fetched.

After a QB I would love to land Leonard in rd 2 and Warner with the 2nd pick in rd 3 unless we have to trade it.

Big Leonard fan here as well. Would love to have him in the middle and Warner. Good 2nd and 3rd round values.

Had a decent 2016 campaign with 33 receptions and 3 TD's. A little over 300 yards I think. Not bad. Plus he's still rather young and a good blocker too. LOL yes, here comes 30 threads hahah.

Wouldn't mind taking a flyer on Walford if the price is low.

This is what I was talking about yesterday when I said he's an Ace interviewer. Not camera shy at all. Notice he said teams (plural) have asked him not to speak. So there are certainly some teams that really like him and he may go ahead of where some of us think he should go because all we have are the talking head's top 6 QBs. Like I said, teams may not rank them the same, especially after interviews.

So you don't think there is a comparison based on the college career of the two players? It sounds like to me you're comparing Boller the failure to Allen the guy coming out of college. I think Billick is comparing Boller, the guy coming out of college to Allen the guy coming out of college. They both share the same set of concerns regarding accuracy and completion percentage. Isn't Allen a project? A guy that is not a project should be seen as someone that can start day 1 or at least midseason. It's a consensus that Allen should not be starting on any team right now and not this year, therefore he is considered a project. Look all Billick is saying is coming out of school these guys are similar in certain respects that should not be ignored. The difference is Allen gets a chance to write his own book. Boller already wrote his.

Actually yes. Billick never said Allen would be horrible or that he would be Boller. He simply stated that concerning Boller, the scouts convinced them that the completion percentage could be overlooked based on the same things people are saying about Allen. All Billick is saying is for a top 5 pick there should be a very serious concern and any team should believe him about the concern, IMO. Boller was the 19th pick after they took Suggs. Allen to me should be in the same range - 12 to 19. I wouldn't have an issue with Allen at 12 and because of the concerns surrounding him, I think he will be in that range. If I'm drafting him I'm getting the best in the business for him to succeed. He's going to have a QB coach that is tightly connected with the O-Coordinator. He cannot play right now. I'd make sure I have someone that can be a strong holdover until he's ready. Again, Billick did not predict anything about him. He just issued a concern that teams should have. Stating a concern is not a prediction.

I don't mind him at 12 at all. I'm pissed if we trade 12, 22, a 2019 1st, a 2nd so on and so forth.

I won't say that yet, but the comparison is there. If you are a GM and coach you just cannot ignore the accuracy and completion percentage. The things I like about Allen though are: 1) Played in a complete Pro-style offense (so should be familiar with EP, WC, AC offensive concepts so if he reaches his potential he can shine in any offense) 2) Crazy arm talent 3) I like his ability to move, particularly behind a Bills OL that's not all that great at pass pro 4) Throws the routes on the perimeter on a damn rope 5) Hard worker and competitor 6) Lots of tools to work with 7) Seems like a great locker room guy 8) Ran offense at the line of scrimmage making checks and protection calls - didn't need to look to the sideline for the change of play by a coach (Baker). Things I am very concerned with: 1) Accuracy and completion percentage - Again, Boller even shined at his pro day and he had bad WR's too, but nothing changed in the NFL for him. 2) Hasn't matured in knowing when to take some heat off of passes (contributes to #1) 3) Majority of his passes are/were down the field. Not much in the quick game. Can he make those throws accurately on a consistent basis (given 2 and 1)? 4) Who is he when the lights are on? He looks fantastic in shorts. But in game situations, you ask who the hell is this guy? 5) Does have a tendency to get stuck on reads when bullets are firing and relies on his arm strength to force passes into windows that are not open. He did get better this year though but it's a trait that lingers. 6) Did not shine vs Power teams. 7) Needs great assistant and position coaches around him to make sure he gets the lessons he needs. Probably needs to sit an entire season or more.

OK but, whether fans of Allen want to accept it or not the accuracy and completion percentage cannot be ignored. If you are in the top 5 and you ignore that it's a major gamble. The other QBs do not have this question. They do have other questions to get to your point, like does this guy fit in our locker room? Can we trust this guy? I just think Allen is the most risk/reward. This is also the reason why I'm backing off of saying 5 QB's will go in the top 10. I certainly think 3 will, but I think certain concerns will move some QB talent down to us.

His production actually puts him in the 1st. His tape may or may not. He has some good things on tape. The two biggest questions on Rudolph are: 1) can he translate? and 2) what is his true arm strength? can he get more velocity on the out routes?, for instance. I'm not advocating taking him. Just trying to give a fair take and would not be surprised if he is actually higher on some team's boards than others.

I think he could. I mean he has the most upside. BUT he also has tremendous concerns that if ignored is going to get someone fired. If you are in the top 5 and take him there are just some things you cannot ignore because if you do, you are a goner and you set the franchise back.

People should believe Billick. He has first-hand experience and knows what the hell he's talking about in this case. This is not to say that Allen will be a failure. He could very well revolutionize the position, but if you are taking him in the top 5 does his potential outweigh the MAJOR concern as Billick indicated? I'd be scared as hell to take Allen, especially in the top 5.

I don't actually. I posted in another thread the other night, that there is a public order on the QB's. That does not mean that is each team's order on them. Several teams could have Rudolph higher than the public order. And as I posted there, teams are probably looking at what they do offensively, the locker room they have, the personnel they have, when do we want this guy to play, and asking who BEST fits that. The most important part is the GM's and coaches are "going on dates" with these guys. After that first date, the FO will know whether they want another date or whether they want to pass. So as fans all we have is the talking head's top 6 QBs. Once these QBs go on "dates" I'm pretty certain that order is not the same from team to team. It's part of the reason why while I have my preferences, as a fan I try not to get locked in on a prospect only to see him on the board and us pass over him on draft day. Or the opposite, a guy that I am like NOOOOOOOOOOOO, don't you do that, on the board and we end up taking him. I don't know what happened in the interviews.

Again, projecting into the future Allen is believed to have more upside. I'm not an Allen advocate, I know about his accuracy issues and actually believe it's an issue with him regardless of what he did at his pro day. But looking at both him and Rudolph I can see why talking heads and some scouts even rate Allen above Rudolph.

Actually to me HE wasn't that bad. It was just the event itself that seemed blahh. It was disappointing to hear that teams were having issues scheduling with him. But apparently some teams had no issues as they have him scheduled.

https://billswire.usatoday.com/2018/03/28/2018-nfl-draft-luke-falk-buffalo-bills/ Falk is a forgotten man among the QB class, but I've always been a fan. Good 2nd-day value at the top of rd 3 in case we get locked out of Darnold, Mayfield, Rosen, Allen.

I wouldn't be so sure. We don't have any information regarding the Bills rankings of QBs. All we have is a public ranking. The public ranking might not be the ranking for a lot of teams. Teams are thinking about fits in their system, in their locker room so on and so forth and nobody has the inside track on that information except for that team. Honestly, I'm not going to get invested. I have my preference but I'll just wait to see who we pick up because my 1-6 might not be Beane and McDermott's.

The one thing I can say about Rudolph based on NFL Network and seeing him, he's mastered the interview. There is no camera shyness with the guy. He's got the interview down like a pro. Also based on the interview he just had on the Network it sounds like there are quite a few teams that have interest as he said the teams (plural) have asked me to not speak on meetings, interests, workouts.

Ohh I'm not advocating drafting either. We gotta get a QB first. I think Smith is the best in the draft at LB. After Smith I like Vander Esch and Leonard then Evans. Something tells me that the Evans we see on tape is not the one that's out there right now. I can't prove anything but I'd suspect he has a wait problem, namely can't wait to eat LOL and that's why he's not running. Just thinking about his vertical I can only imagine there may be some discipline issues with respect to eating. I dunno. Maybe he's hurt. In any case, as much as I'm a defensive guy, we gotta get this QB thing dealt with.