bearstobills

This is such a great topic. It deserves its own thread. First and foremost, I'd still be dancing if we took Walker. That being said, the Carter pick makes so much sense. Every year it's the same song and dance about how we have no long term D Line guys signed past this year. This pick takes care of a huge yearly concern. Yes, McD hovers over him like a nagging step mom. And yes, Beane owes his job to McD. Yet, if one of them get canned, it aint gonna be Beane. If the Bills flame out this year, I could see McD being shown the door out, and Belichick being shown in. I also don't think McD is short-sighted enough to believe offense doesn't matter. They met with and worked out both Walker and Franklin so many times they could probably tell you what each got for Christmas last year. If they reached the conclusion that adding a possession guy like Keon and a vertical threat like Walker was the key to unlocking everything, I gotta believe McD would have been on board with that over a rotational D lineman. They, and the rest of the NFL, passed on both of those guys over 3 times. It just may be they aren't difference makers on the NFL level. And my hope, bringing this full circle, is KJ is secretly running 4.33 over in the field house. Finally, the Bills drafted Vosean Joseph LB out of Florida years ago. In the embedded video, Beane turns to McD and says "You'll like him." McD had his usual intense but slightly clueless look on his face. Don't me wrong. He's a huge part of the process and of course has a respected opinion. But he can't run a draft. He wouldn't have identified or picked Kincaid. But he can watch tape, pinpoint a safety he likes, and push hard for what he wants (as can Joe Brady and the rest of the staff). It was Eric Washington who was ultimately pounding the table for Rousseau. Lastly, Beane's "F**K Yea" reaction to Bishop being available was the reaction of a GM getting HIS man.

2 things; I don't believe McD runs the draft. I think it's a group-think fallacy that has gained traction on this message board. Beane makes the calls, you can see it on the embedded videos. McD strikes me as a bystander (who I'm sure has plenty of opinion and sway) but a bystander nonetheless. In 2020, after the Epenesa draft, Beane looked visibly disappointed. It was a stacked wide receiver class and I think he was hoping one of Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, Laviska Shenault, KJ Hamler, or Chase Claypool would fall to them. He jumped all over Hamler when he became available. That says something.

He is not a JAG. He was a high 2nd round draft choice, who would have been a high second round draft choice this year also. He tore the same ACL twice, dislocated his hip, and had a heart issue. Watch below and tell me he's a jag. He's electric. Beane would have taken him over Epenesa I'm pretty certain. If he could somehow find 90 percent of what he was, we'd be dangerous.

Good nuanced answer. It's not the center spot where I took issue with your statement. It's the left guard spot. It just may be that Edwards/Collins is such a step down from McGovern that it would be more feasible to keep McGovern at his old spot, and if the rookie shows out, put him at center. It's not crazy that he would have a Christian Benford type camp. But I appreciate your football background, and you are most likely on point. They even told Van Pran that he may be used as a guard.

You speak as if you are an expert on this matter. But me thinks you are not. Training camp will decide. And that hasn't happened yet.

I appreciate Beane looking past the metrics that stop most of us fans in our tracks. With Josh, it was the 56% completion percentage. With Rousseau it was the lack of explosion and all of his sacks coming from the inside. itWh Keon...it was the 4.61 Forty. He knows a football player when he sees one. And after watching that interview, could you imagine him picking ANY other receiver. The kid is special. I'm not sure what his career will ultimately be, but with his work ethic, confidence, understanding of the game, and physical abilities....I'm betting on him. And so is Beane.

I don't disagree that he could catch a few passes and be somewhat reliable. But i highly doubt he is under consideration for reasons both on and off the field.

Not delusional. Thoughtful and rational. I know the moves I like and the moves I don't. I love my team though. And these last 5 years, we have the 2nd most amount of wins in the NFL, so he must be doing something right. I see tons of strong draft choices, free agent acquisitions, and trades. We could discuss all of those if you wish. I also see the misses......because I am not delusional. I'm sure you'll pump up KC as some wonder team who surrounds their elite qb with perfect weapons. But here are Veach's skill player moves since he's been there; -Spent 2nd round picks on Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore -Spent a 1rst round pick on Clyde Edwards Helaire -Inherited the best receiver in the NFL, won a superbowl with him, and traded him away in his prime -Traded a 3rd round pick for Kadarius Toney But he has his rings, so all is forgiven. To me delusional, not to mention depressing, cynical, and bleak, is not recognizing that Beane has won the AFC East 4 straight years in a row, garnered the 2nd best record in football, and 4th most playoff wins in the last 5 years. If you think that's all Josh....think again. The defense has been top 10 every year also. If all you needed was a qb, why aren't Herbert and Lawrence leading their teams to victory after victory?

And the Chiefs without Mahomes are not in the playoffs. We can do this all day. Beane drafted Josh Allen. It was his first draft pick. In the biggest moment of his career, he hits a grand slam. I grew up in Chicago. In the history of that franchise, not a single GM did in hundreds of draft picks what Beane did with one. Give the man his due!!

OBJ is everything this regime stands against. They have handed this team to Josh. Keon is his receiver. Instead of last year, when he was Diggs' quarterback. OBJ brings drama, diva-esque ball demands, locker room entitlement, a declining skill set, and a salary demand outside of their range. He aint coming.

I wanted Solomon from the get-go. Love the draft pick in the 5th. But this quote from an AFC scout is a bit sobering; AFC scout: “He’s a better player than testing athlete. He didn’t run very fast. I think he lacks upside. He’s got a low ceiling. Rotational rusher. He’ll be on the fringe. He may get drafted but it’ll be close because of how poorly he ran at the combine.”

Why fortunate to hit on Allen? How about savvy or wise or incredibly bold to stand strong on a guy that pundits, fans, and fellow gm's were calling a bust even before the draft. As for this roster not being talented....I disagree. It was talented enough to win the AFC East for the 4th straight year, a playoff game, and take the eventual super bowl champions down to the last minute. Or was that just "fortunate"? And most of the top end talent being from before him.....other than Dawkins and Milano, who on Earth are you speaking of? Every other player on that roster was his acquisition. Cap hell?? The Bills currently have 5 million in AVAILABLE cap space for next year. Compare that to SF who are 30 million OVER, Cleveland who are 52 OVER, and NO who are 73 OVER. As for our roster not being as talented as KC....perhaps. But why compare us to the one team that won the super bowl? We did draft 28, so clearly there are 27 teams with a worse roster than us. You do realize that over the past 5 years the Bills have the 2nd most wins in the NFL. I guess we're just fortunate. I wonder why San Diego with Herbert and Jax with Trevor Lawrence aren't just as fortunate. If my glasses are rose colored, yours are bleak, dark, and downright depressing.

Losing Brandon Beane would be a fatal blow to this organization. You could talk me into a McDermott replacement. But Pegula is smart. He knows why the franchise is thriving. BB is a top 5 GM in the league.

McConkey, after a long process, became my guy. But by the time the draft came, I just wasn't excited about him. And trust me, the guy is a master route runner/separator. He would've been plug and play. But I give Beane credit for taking Keon. He's somewhere between Josh Allen and Greg Rousseau in terms of draft picks. Allen had the 56 percent completion percentage that enraged Bills fans, and Coleman runs a 4.61 40. Beane looked past both of those numbers and took a chance. Rousseau also was not explosive and most of his sacks came from the inside. He was roundly derided by many draft analysts. He's been good and I think he'll get even better. Keon fits the same mold. There's just something about him that will figure this out. I'd be fine he had a Greg Rousseau type of career...day 1 starter, core player. As for adding a player later....yes, yes, and yes. Walker would have been a brilliant addition. And who knew Hicks would be there at 95. They love Bishop though, so at least they got their guy. And yes, they needed a DT, and I think he'll be a good addition. But man oh man, if Walker hits, it will be tough to watch.

All good points. Although I love both of the last RB picks. I think James Cook fundamentally signaled a complete change of direction for this offense. Undynamic Singletary was replaced with very dynamic Cook. They did it again the next year upgrading Knox with Kincaid. They had Diggs over the last 4 years so a #1 was not a priority. I'm wondering....how did you want them to address wr in this year's draft?