Ethan in Cleveland

That is an all-time classic!!!

I found myself saying "Act like you have been there before" this morning. Was not even in the context of football but it fit the situation. It's one of the better phrases I think. I know it is associated with Barry Sanders just handing the ball to the ref after a TD. Not sure if it predated him or not. What are some of your favorite phrases? PS Yes this is a thread to talk about anything but more mock drafts....

Allen is a top 3 QB with Mahommes and Rodgers. Nobody else is in the conversation. I wouldn't trade him for either. As for the OP stating Herbert has done nothing? That is so far from the truth. Herbert's first two year stats blow away Allen's. 66% completion percentage, QB rating of 97.9. 69 TD against 25 INT. He is playing at an incredible level. If he plays as well this year, the Chargers will win that division and will be the the primary obstacle to the Bills making the SuperBowl.

Its an odd position. There are years punters are drafted as high as the third round(very very rare) and a few seasons where no punters are drafted. The reason I say the 5th round is two reasons, they would likely get the best punter in the draft and I dont think any position player drafted out of the first four rounds can make the roster. So I say use the 5th on a punter, trade the other picks for next season and fill out your PS with UDFAs.

You can spin this so many ways and find a positive path for the Bills. Trade up and burn some draft capital to get a shut down corner - this fits the plan of win now at all costs. It might hurt in the long run, but if they get a top cover CB it helps now and gives them flexibility if White does not return to ProBowl form. Stay put - there is probably enough depth in this draft at CB and WR to get an impact player late in the first round. Even if there is a run on both positions then that likely means a quality OL has fallen to them. Acquire more picks either with a trade down or moving Edmunds - this is the scenario that gives you cap flexibility in the next few years and restocks the roster with some young cheaper talent at LB, OL, WR, and secondary. I would probably choose trading Edmunds for a #2 and get 4 picks in the top 100. I would use the savings to sign Gilmore and then I would then take a LB, CB, OT, and WR in no particular order. Get a punter in the fifth and a safety later.

Beane traded up in the first round for Edmunds and traded a first for Diggs. So obviously Beane does not agree with you. He has also done what you suggest and sat back and let Oliver and Rousseau come to him. I think there are many factors at play

Lol. I agree they are second best but only because, KC, Denver, and Chargers will all finish tied at 9-7 with Vegas going 8-8.

Well said

Ascending: Knox. He is the best TE the Bills have had since the merger. He will put up big numbers in a contract year. Descending: Morse. I think he had his one year of resurgence and then he goes back to being an overpaid center. Shocking: Basham - I think he showed a little at the end of the season. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets more reps than Lawson and even some reps at DT. Packing: Haack is a given. My surprise cut will be Jordan Phillips. He didn't show much in Arizona and is coming off a knee injury. I know he is only on a 1 year deal but I think he will struggle to make the roster. I agree. But I think it had more to do with the OL. Dawkins was playing at an extremely high level after coming back from COVID #2, Bates and Williams were playing competently at guard, and Brown was up and down but better in the run game than pass protection. If Saffold looks good I think the team will be more balanced with an increase in two TE sets and more rushes by guys not names Allen.

No one will care when we win the SB this year

Really? He had a higher tackle number because he was healthy. He had no INT, no forced fumbles, and 3 sacks. He did have a nice number of tackles for loss. Again not bad numbers but nothing special. I really like Milano and historically he has made far more impact plays than Edmunds. But last year was pretty ho hum

Using your assumption of an extension for Edmunds, then Oliver is gone. He is a very good starter but not a great DT. That said he will want to get paid top 10 money. You can possibly cut Milano next off-season but that adds dead money they can't afford on their books. Ideal scenario would be to get Milano to take a pay cut. I agreed and liked the deal Beane made for him but Milano was nothing but average last year. Another average year and he will look really expensive. If I had to choose, I would rid myself of Edmunds and replace him this year and then look at replacing Milano and Poyer in 2023.

No but in fairness to Beane there really was only one season that it was possible.

Do you really think they were a #1 defense? Edmunds started as a rookie why can't another rookie start? The Bills only need to find one willing trade partner that sees Edmunds and still thinks he will get better. Trading Edmunds now is all about avoiding future cost and getting some value now. The only options are trade now, let him walk and hope you get a 3rd round comp pick, tag him next season or sign him long term after this season. It will be interesting to see what they do. I just don't think he is that good. Others feel differently.

Impossible to know. The oline run blocking was terrible until they finally installed Bates at guard, Williams at guard, and Brown at OT. By then they also has committed to Singletary getting 75% or more of the carries. Singletary wasn't much better than Moss early in the season. Moss is probably fine as RB#2. Bills have bigger immediate issues at CB and OT. They also have longer term issues at MLB, WR, NT, safety, and C/OG. Last year I would have been fine drafting Harris. This year they should pass on a RB and focus on the spots listed above.

Herbert may already be in the discussion with Allen and Mahomes and certainly will be if he has another year like the last two and a playoff win or two.

Agree. Its only one factor. If Allen's accuracy had not improved so much his arm strength and running ability alone wpuld not have made him MVP caliber. He really is in a class all of his own now. Cam Newton, Roethlisberger, and Elway comparisons are interesting but in each case they are no longer on point. Rodgers and Mahommes are only comparables at this point in terms of the total QB package and even there Allen has 2-3 x as many rush yards per season as those two. If he stays healthy he will redefine the QB position.

Yeah as I think about it now it has been more sporadic. White, Edmunds, Rousseau, Knox and heck even Ford started right away. The plan was to sit Allen at first but thankfully Peterman took care of that. Oliver played in the rotation but did not start right away. Basham and Epenesa were brought along at the slowest pace.

Interesting thought. To extrapolate further McD seems comfortable sitting guys for long stretches until they are ready to play. So it seems to fit your narrative that maybe they look for guys that have more upside that has not been fully seen yet. The counter to this thought would be Epenesa who looks like he peaked a long time ago.

Cowherd was a radio guy here in Portland before he left for ESPN. Grew up near Seattle and was a Mariners fan. I think he has gotten worse with each career move. He was tolerable in the early days of ESPN, now he just likes to hear himself talk. He thinks he is smarter than his audience and fancies himself as a bit of an intellectual. Like others have said he is a jump on the bandwagon guy.

Not sure I would consider college drop rate as a significant stat.... https://www.pff.com/news/draft-wr-prospect-zay-jones-may-have-the-best-hands-in-the-draft#:~:text=Jones recorded a drop rate,with at least 100 targets.

Hope for Gilmore but expect Haden

Extend Oliver and Knox. Both players continue to get better and if you believe in signing your own guys these two deserve it. Let Edmunds walk after this year. If he really steps it up a notch then tag him to make him prove it I'd be fine with reworking Poyer's deal this year by adding a year and making this year salary a signing bonus. I think he can still play at a high level for 2 more years. I would not commit to him beyond 2023 through. They can get younger and cheaper at safety in the future. Singletary is nothing special and I want no part of a RB on a second contract.

Yes it is. You can spin it any way you want but Beane and just about every other teams drafts for need. White, Allen, Edmunds, Knox, Rousseau, Ford, Oliver and to some degree Bass and Moss were all need picks. In every case there was an open roster spot to fill for each of them. I think in the middle rounds you may have an argument. Davis, Singletary, and Brown were all solid picks that added depth but there was not an obvious need addressed.

My disdain for Edmunds is well documented but I don't understand the enthusiasm for Jackson? What has he really done to warrant a positive or negative opinion of him. At best he is an unknown. He couldn't beat out Wallace. I dont recall any great plays after he went in for White but I don't recall thinking he was playing terribly either. If he was the fourth corner with White, a rookie first round pick, and Haden I'd be happy.