Richard Noggin

And Kelly was hurt. Belief was low. We often forget how small/stretched the local ticket market really is for Buffalo, compared to other NFL cities, and especially with respect to affluence. Also, I'm not sure traveling NFL tourism was much of a thing yet. Green Bay's small market solidarity is a solid counter to this line of thinking (they would never have an un-sold-out home playoff game), but there is an old school, generational loyalty and exclusivity to those seats in that community that I'm sure limits how many opposing fans sneak into Lambeau for a given game. FATIGUE/FRUSTRATION was a real thing in this 90s example, as it has become again the last two seasons in Orchard Park. 2022 was STRESSFUL in that stadium, and the weather was hilariously bad when compared to every other effing day during each week. From Halloween weekend on the vibe was WAY off. Which was partially influenced by Vikings, Steelers, Packers, and Bengals fans being loud enough to make a difference. That never happened in the 90s run, that I recall. I'd guess that continued price hikes have something to do with the increase in out-of-town fans. Eventually one has to orchestrate a time-share or sublet arrangement to make the financials work. I'm sure the majority of lower bowl seats behind the visiting bench at this point are renewed primarily for profit. Just wish more fans would look for ways to geographically limit WHO buys their seats on the secondary markets and/or seek buyers more privately/locally.

To paraphrase a Louis CK bit: OF COURSE...season ticket holders are allowed to sell their tickets. Of course. It's become over-priced corporate sports entertainment, a luxury commodity, and subject to the market. BUT MAYBE...selling tickets for games that end up being overrun with visiting team fans (Pitts, Dal, KC...any NFC North or AFC East team tbh) is a little traitorous or at least disadvantageous to the fanatic cause.

True that YAC hasn't been a big part of Buffalo's offense since E-P was installed by Daboll and run by Allen. BUT, if we zoom in on Brady's offense since taking over last season, and especially down the stretch, I think we see an increase in screens and NOW routes to the boundary, and almost definitely an increase in YAC as a % of overall passing yards. (I like posting analyses/claims based solely on my recollections of the past season, without doing any research first. Not because I'm lazy (I am lazy, of course), but because I like seeing if my contemporaneous observations (half the games observed live--which means mostly cut-off from replay and informed commentary) hold up under scrutiny. You know: growth mindset, process-based humiliation.)

That's a really cheap trade-up into the top-10, isn't it?

LFG

You managed to grab BOTH the big-time analytics red flag WRs in first 33 picks!!! Cheers to that kind of conviction. (I actually think Coleman could be a dude with a decent QB.)

Traded back one pick in the 1st and still got crazy DE value. Then used late 2nd I'd acquired in trade-back with next year's 3rd to get back in at 50 to grab Legette before he's gone. Plus Jenkins at 60? Those are all difference makers, ideally. The RB, at least one of the S picks, and the IOL all should provide immediate rotational depth. I'd have preferred to grab a 2nd WR prospect, but alas.

Love this as SOP for the draft on a continuing basis. Once you've got a franchise QB in place you need to maximize the draft return each year to ensure ongoing cap health and position group pipelines.

Here's a trade-back draft mock-up that seeks to still acquire elite talent while leveraging 2024's 1st rounder... Fans would have to wrestle some demons here, but overall, everyone should be pleased with the multitude of picks.

Is a prospect like Nubin worthy of that late 3rd rd compensatory value? Not to mention, is Troy Franklin worthy of that late 1st rd value? Most analysts say NO! I guess if Franklin works out to be a dude, then no one will care that he was taken at the end of the 1st instead of the 2nd rd...but, then again: maximizing draft value is in fact super essential to long term roster building in the NFL. Love the above draft but with minor concern over how #28 is spent. (Kinda think OBD is somewhat-aligned with this valuation of Franklin tbh.)

It's super dangerous to trade back out of the 1st with the intent to then pick a WR who might get nabbed in the 9-pick vacuum created by the move back... It's a weird spot to be in right now. Wish they weren't so transparent with their early draft needs.

Kinda effs up a lot of anti-returner/depth sentiments with actual results. But fans will always gripe against modest and under-the-radar FA signings.

Guys will see this and just say "Hell yeah"

That punt return was impactful, but yeah

I think it's the option-heavy complexity of Daboll's E-P fundamentals. New WRs tend to have trouble hitting the ground running. I think Allen has trouble with it from time to time as well. And/or Deonte Harty maybe isn't a great starting WR prospect overall.

Late to the thread (in recent days/pages) but $22/hr is around $45k/yr...THEREFORE you must be...joking?

Obviously McVay's offense WILL feature SOMEone in that ultra-productive Z/move-WR role, year after year. He's especially good at designing production. Give him a healthy Atwell and Cupp to go with Nacua, and you'll see fireworks. He IS entering the final year of his rookie deal, right? Will they pay BOTH OTs big money in 2025? After 2023, Brown isn't on a bargain FA RT trajectory (if he continues to develop or even if he just plateaus where he's at). Of course you'd prefer to see the org re-sign the guy they saw the value in and worked to develop. But you can't keep them all.

Can you elaborate on/clarify the initial trade up to 4 that does NOT include 28? Is the cost only 2025 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rd picks? To get to #4? The future picks value doesn't even come close. Maybe I'm missing info. Love to hear an outlier opinion like this -- can you say more?

Whether Glab's hot mic take was accurate or not was never really the issue for me, as much as "Team reporter gets caught absolutely blasting #1 WR's character and does NOT get fired for it."

Moved up for Thomas Jr using only a future 2nd and 4th. Gained back a 3rd and 4th later. Got 7 real dudes who "should" all make the roster and contribute year one. (Only wish IOL had made more sense when I was picking; major regret.)

If a defensive stud falls to 28 (like Chop Robinson below), we have to be open to the Bills letting the draft fall to them and maximizing value while adding great prospects at premier positions (DE, WR, etc). Ja'Lynn Polk at 60 is outstanding value for an unheralded guy who might be an awesome #2 type WR. This draft would benefit the org long term with a new favorite at LG, real rotational pieces at CB and DT and S and RB, and late round flyers on talented WR and OT. Could be eight guys who contribute meaningfully in first two years. LFG.

Was there for that one. Special moment, for sure. That game was stressful. The better team that day did not necessarily win. Actually reminded me a lot of that Sammy Watkins post-route snag (in Detroit against the Jets) many years prior. I happened to be at both games (family in Detroit area).

The text in red is probably going to inspire disagreement. WR should not be an "also" level need. It should be a primary need. Our most pressing need. Samuel and Shakir are fine pieces, but the Bills badly need an infusion of dangerous talent. In the draft, Thomas and Worthy and Legette best meet that criterium: dudes who can potentially make defenses adjust or pay. I think only 1 or 2 of them will be available at 28. But are Worthy and/or Legette good value at 28? Is a Newton or Robinson or DeJean too tempting? Will they then rely on a 2nd rd trade-UP to secure their X receiver of the present and future? "WR also" implies a kind of "we'll take whoever is still available at 60" kind of vibe that basically no one appreciates.

Your first bolded (by me) section is fascinating stuff that we rarely discuss. I think E-P (as installed by Daboll and then Dorsey) has actually been a detriment to this offense the past two seasons--its noted density and complexity and pre- and post-snap checks and options remind me of why Rex Ryan's defense was difficult for his Bills players to execute as the league evolved: it made players think and adjust and read and react more and more as opposing schemes disguised more and more...to the point that players who weren't many years deep in the system had difficulty playing fast and communicating well, leading to breakdowns. Gabe Davis, very notably, had continued issues reading coverages and altering his routes IN REAL TIME, IN SYNC WITH HIS QUARTERBACK. The fault could have been with his QB at times, for sure, and likely was. But it only seemed to happen often between those two (and consistently over the span of four years). Sanders was the other guy who came in and seemed to have some difficulty getting on the same page as Allen. So, good on you for even typing "Erhardt-Perkins." My most pressing reaction is that I think Brady will continue moving the Bills offense AWAY from what Daboll installed, and also then what Dorsey seemed to be unable to bend to his own vision (that 21 personnel some of us saw coming, and any kind of marriage between run and pass). Brady, we hope, continues to emphasize attacking all quadrants of the field with a mix of run and pass, of power and zone, of max protect and play-action and screens and vertical shots. The back half of last season hinted at a brand of balance and multiplicity that increases the Bills' chances of solving defensive riddles against top flight competition. But also, you CAN'T OVERLOOK Cooper in Cleveland (even though I don't care for the player), Allen in Chicago, Evans still in Tampa, Brown in Philly, Kelce in KC, etc. Your definition of "true #1" is probably too narrow. You're maybe defining a somewhat outdated, alignment-specific set of WR X or Z parameters, rather than a production-specific set of parameters.

Just wanna bump this absolute bull s#!t the Chiefs and PFN conspired to toss my way. I mean, it's amazing that this was offered at all. Just remarkable.