Richard Noggin

Gets a laugh react AND a GTFOH from me

I'm seeing it in several of your mocks: do you really think the Bills would draft Pearce at 30? He sounds like an anti-process prospect from what I've read. Kind of guy who'd be off their board all together.

Gotta admit this draft is not scratching the roster itches I'm perceiving. I really don't like the #56 choices at all, given the lack of DL on day one. Farmer seems worse than a Caldwell or West at 1T, from what I've read. To not get Tyleik Williams, Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen, or Alfred Collins with either of the first two picks seems like a big miss. (Can't control everything, obviously.) It's possible S Watts and DE Tuimoloau are valued by the Bills. I just don't love NOT getting a DT in the first 2 picks of a draft with such value there. The picks available instead are not so appealing as to justify waiting this long for tertiary value at the biggest position of need (athletic 1T) outside CB. Gotta fortify the DL. Honestly Swinson is appealing, but we'd likely be waiting until 2026 for much return on that investment (congested rotation). Feels like a lack of IMPACT from first day two pick, when Bills need to maximize impact. The draft should be more focused on lifetime value of the picks, in retrospect, rather than how well they fill immediate needs, so maybe I'm being short-sighted?

I'm reminded of the Panthers' 2016 draft, wherein they grabbed THREE CBs in rounds 2, 3, and 5: James Bradberry, Darryl Worley, and then Zack Sanchez? They had lost Norman to FA, and decided to retool that position via the draft. Those 2nd and 3rd round rookies both played more than 70% of snaps in year one. It did not work out well, as both CBs had more than their shares of growing pains throughout the season. I actually recall it being a talking point that came up league-wide, how much those rookies were taking lumps. Also, Charles Johnson had as many sacks (4) as Star Lotulelei. Lots of post-SB regression. Common narrative for teams that get to the big game and fall short tbh. They also had 2017 Bills-level WR talent deficits, including their #1 WR Benjamin who they traded to Buffalo the following October. At least for Buffalo in 2025, we have a CB1 in place long term, and a solid NCB, so we only need a CB2 and depth. Jackson and Ingram offer some replacement-level ability at boundary CB, but neither is an ideal CB2. So a day two or day three pick could easily fill that hole, given the past relative successes of UDFA Wallace, 7th rounder Jackson (back on the roster), 6th rounder Benford, and platoon FAs like Johnson and Gaines and even Norman lol.

Obviously the fear for many is that Cook will become a problem this year in his quest for top money; that he'll employ the disgruntled playbook and hold out or even hold IN during camp. Not that he really needs many camp or preseason snaps to be a contributor during the actual season. But fans are clearly afraid of his big bad social media posts and the parallels between him and his brother's posts and a former WR and his brother's posts. I understand the urge to just ship him out ASAP to eliminate any nonsense, but then again, Cook has serious value in this offense and should be motivated to maximize his 2025 season. RBs playing hardball like Le'Veon Bell has not worked out great. Sometimes you have to enter a season with some question marks and trust that the competitive market will dictate enough buy-in for a win-win season of success for all involved.

Wha? That writeup was a perfectly realistic adaptation of the standard Hallmark fantasy, with one exception: the favorable glossing of who Phil ends up with back in NYC is unrealistic, as that superficial, transactional partnership is likely destined for rapid uncoupling. Tariff-related market plunges plus a crypto pump-and-dump betrayal conspire to derail Phil's career and portfolio, and the 10/10 didn't sign up for a non-destination wedding or "SEC interviews." Byrd. (It's been said already, but Jairus Byrd had an insanely fortuitous INT count as a rookie, and was surprisingly (as I look back) still productive in 4/5 years with Buffalo. He was NOT traded, however. It was that dang foot, wasn't it?)

Probably been argued already, but one explanation is that the Patriots are committed to devoting all resources to fostering Maye's success, and his development would be best complimented by the presence of a brainy vet backup (Dobbs) in the room over a talented but raw prospect (Milton). Roster management dictates that you get some value for Milton now (with that shiny, fool's gold week 18 film), and redirect all those offseason snaps and resources directly into Drake Maye. Hedging with a 3rd (developmental) QB on the 53 is not optimal. Buuuuuuut how would you feel about Mike White? Eh? (Agreed on Trubisky; he's AWFUL. Way too hesitant.) I wrestle in my endless mock simulations with drafting a high floor rookie backup like McCord (or Shough when he inexplicably falls) to replace both Trubisky and White at a nice cap savings. But there is that question of what Allen loses in weekly preparation, film study, etc., without those more experienced eyes and voices in the room. Where the over-the-hill PS vet could be the move...

Wasn't picking Williams over McKinney partially about who they thought they had at LT already? Which would nicely illustrate this debate that short term "fit"-over-long-term-e v a l = folly. Am I wrong, though, about the short term depth chart influencing a long term fumble? Edit: Jonas Jennings. Jonas Jennings, a 3rd round pick the year prior, was entering his 2nd pro season and was the expected replacement for a departing John Fina. Did the relatively inexpensive presence of Jonas Jennings, known in college as a super versatile lineman, considered by some as a center coming out, who could have played RG or even just STAYED at RT? Who only played a total of 4 seasons for the Bills, did his presence influence the flop pick of Williams over Mt. McKinney? That kind of thinking almost always limits a roster's ceiling, and sometimes even its floor. No, I wasn't wrong.

Such a messy mockup of arena football features, felt like there were even more than the two different shades of blue on those unis. So many stripes. Was cool in the 80s/90s when both Buffalo pro teams were sporting royal blue as their dominant color. Navy blue eventually infiltrated both teams' kits.

Was afraid of that.

I think an extra 15 minutes is super fair, like old school hockey OT, but is also just too much extra football with no immediate incentive to score at all cost. College rules seem like the best compromise: dynamic, redzone-heavy kind of offensive shootout where special teams (minus extra points early on) is stripped away. Super exciting by design. Not at all. Kickoffs under this current setup, no matter how frequent, are inherently less dangerous due to dramatically less runway for the coverage unit before initial contact. Slower speeds = less force. We used to watch something much more gruesome and unsafe. Crazy collisions beyond what you'd see in normal scrimmage plays. The physics involved was terrifying.

Congrats!!! What greater vindication than this?!

No way the son of Al Davis would reach on a solid all around WR (projected more to slot but we know how those slot projections go...like with that LSU x Minn WR) from Ohio St when an absolute BURNER from Texas who plays on the boundary is just sitting there!!! Golden would be the pick if they go WR, right? No way the RAIDERS reach on a good all around guy when a speed demon is available. This has already been commented on, yes?

He's for sure explosive in short areas and also has long speed. Has wiggle, but not sure if he can run many routes (highlight vid is mostly LOS stuff with some seams and boundary 9s, and a FEW wiggly, long-developing inside moves that got separation). If we ignore his hand and arm measurements, then we have a compelling round 3-4 prospect who could potentially go sooner. Looks explosive AF in this vid.

Perchance, where was our first pick from the last draft with these metrics? (Asking sincerely.)

I've generated some doozies in recent weeks. That being said, not sure I can (ironically) top drafting Zabel at 30 over Harmon, Golden, Thomas, and Revel. Zabel would come in and compete with Edwards at LG, I presume? Or he'd be a backup, which is not exactly what pick 30 is for. The Bills could instead find a future 2026 LG on day three, allowing Edwards to play out his current deal, and adding instead an impact player at 30. Does cutting Edwards now save significant cap?

Lots of discrepancy on Bond evaluations, apparently. Some see a Worthy clone with less speed but better hands/awareness. Others see a diminutive but dangerous gadget guy like you do. Doesn't seem like a Billsy target imho, although maybe he should be. I'll bet they prefer a Horton or Royals or Bech or Nash. But Bond could be an underrated, undersized, explosive separator with a chip on his shoulder, like Zay Flowers.

No shame as a child in chasing that uncomplicated clout of a national NBA/MLB brand. Bills and Sabres fandom was taxing. Plus our colors/logos were never sexy. (I was born into Yankees and Kicks to round out the NY homerism. Yankees was rough my entire life until I got to college mid 90s, and Knicks was fun but painful in the early-to-mid 90s. At least I got to root for some bullies for a change.)

For sure, except those were for posers (just fashion) lol

Red helmets for me all day. But I was 12 when the Bills lost that first Superbowl, so (like so many others) I'm deeply compromised.

It was the Houston game that gives some of us hope regarding Carter. He was productive; really showed up in his first major opportunity, especially early in the game. Many Bills fans learned his name and number in the 1st quarter of week 5.

Pretty sure Benford's advanced metrics in 2024 were ELITE. He's not even getting paid top-10 CB money. This deal is 🤌 (apprehension about injury history is fair, I think, but not about Benford's ability when on the field.)

Agreed, but Williams is a Rice-ish pick at WR that doesn't really help the Bills unless they're willing to redesign the offense for a movement WR...

Obviously Allen benefitted from the "everyone eats" offensive philosophy...specific WR and added team generations...

Grant, Hairston, and Alexander as first picks makes sense, but Savion Williams is a Chiefs-ish pick that should be dealt with...