BigAl2526

I make no special plans except to watch the draft as I am able. As it happens, my wife and I are committed to attend a Thursday night Bible Study, and I likely won't be able to start watching the draft until about 8:30. I don't mind missing the first five to ten picks since I don't see the Bills trading up that high. When I get home I'll settle down with my TV and computer. I have certain websites that I rely on during the draft: NFL.com of course for their draft tracker and scouting reports, NFL Draft Buzz for their scouting reports (a little different perspective), and drafttek.com which creates repeated computer generated 7 round mocks after every draft pick. As the league moves deeper into the draft, Drafttek has a tougher time keeping up and the new mocks may only happen a few times each round, but they try the best that they can.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State - Cardinals Rome Odunze, Washington - Chargers Ladd McConkey, Georgia - Chiefs Brian Thomas Jr., LSU - Jaquars Xavier Worthy Texas- Dolphins Bonus Bills pick - Legette (after trading out of Round 1

My approach to the draft is, I think, a bit different from that of most fans. I have prospective draft picks I am most interested in as Bills picks. This draft is no different. Brian Thomas Jr dropping would be nice, or perhaps a modest trade up to get him. If the Bills don't trade up and Thomas is not available at 28, which is the most likely outcome for the Bills, my preference is for a trade down, no lower than 12 spots. At that point, I would pick in order of preference: Mitchell, Legette, McConkey, Franklin or Worthy. However, my reaction to the Bills picking any one of those at 28 would not be, "Oh, the Bills made a terrible mistake." Instead, it would be, "OK we'll see how this pans out." I figure Beane and the Bills know what they're doing in this whole process. They are more knowledgeable than me and have access to far more information than me. They aren't infallible, they are far less fallible than I am when it comes to evaluating draft talent. As far as the receivers Buffalo will have to choose from, every one, including Thomas has downside risk to be aware of. Thomas has some questions about his effort and is route running in not well developed. Legette has questions about his experience, lets deep throws into his body and may struggle some in zone coverage. McConkey wasn't as productive in college as he might have been with a pretty high floor and perhaps not as high of a ceiling as some others, struggles some with his catch to run transition and with contested catches. Mitchell may be a type one diabetic and that he was a #2 in college. He struggles with press coverage, like McConkey he's inconsistent transition from pass catching to running and struggles with contested catches. He's also not much of a blocker, something Buffalo values in its receivers. Worthy is small and very light and could be vulnerable to injury in the rough and tumble NFL. He sometimes struggles with zone coverage and his production dropped in 2023 despite being targeted more. The lack of size also means he can get knocked off his route at the LOS. Franklin may be taller, but he's even skinnier than Worthy. He's had a tendency to turn and run before securing the catch, thus leading to drops. That's not to say the Bills should avoid all of them, just that you're taking something of a chance with anybody they will have the opportunity to draft.

Ruff might get the Sabres into the playoffs, if that is their goal. I don't see him taking them on a deep playoff run.

Yeah, that's my opinion too. Marshawn Kneeland is a big time reach in round one. Roman Wilson is a good receiver and a reasonable value in round 2, but a near clone of Shakir and Samuel. The Bills are left with hoping Shorter, Hollins or Shavers can be a big time athletic receiver with size on the outside. The later rounds are OK I guess, except that Cody Schrader still doesn't get them a big change of pace running back who can give them tough yards in a short yardage situation. It's the first two rounds that make this mock a disaster for Buffalo.

The chances of me being on my feet after the first quarter are just about nil. The chances of me completing a pass, just about the same.

I think a modest trade up is entirely possible for the Bills to snag Brian Thomas Jr. If They don't do that because Thomas gets drafted earlier than Beane is hoping for, I think the odds of Buffalo standing pat go down a bit because of health questions surrounding Adonai Mitchell (Type 1 diabetes report). It's not impossible that they stay at #28 and draft Mitchell or some other WR if the Bills are higher on that player than many of the pundits out there think If the Bills don't trade up, stand pat at #28 and draft a receiver other than Mitchel, I think the guy they get is Legette.

Fair enough. I think that is a minority view, but everything is opinion at this point and you're just as entitled to yours as is everybody else.

My assumption is that Brian Thomas Jr. and Adonai Mitchell comprise a second tier of receivers after Harrison, Odunze and Nabers. The concern over Adonai Mitchell allegedly having Type 1 diabetes puts a bit of a question mark on that ranking. Who knows how teams will treat that. Anyway, McConkey, Worthy, Legette and possibly Franklin and Coleman comprise a third tier. It's possible Beane values Legette high enough to take him at 28. He is very cognizant of value regardless of draft position though. He might reach a little bit for a player he really likes at a position of need, but I don't think he'll reach too far.

The Bills are more likely to trade down from 28 and take Legette, than to get him at 60. I really don't expect them to trade up from 60 to do it.

Having a little knowledge about the Bible and the Judeo/Christian religion does not preclude also having some knowledge about football and the Bills.

I agree with most of this. I think "Jehovah" comes from the fact that "yhwh" got translated to Greek in the Septuagint and then from Greek to English. the intermediate language resulted in its corruption, but enough people use it that I don't think you can dismiss it as a word. After all it is frequent usage that results in and arrangement of letters gaining recognition as a word.

I believe that Adonai actually means "lord." In the Old Testament/Jewish scriptures there are instances where "lord" is used in reference to persons. The word for God in Hebrew is "El" (singular) or "Elohim" (plural). Then there is the name for God in Hebrew, which is sometimes called the "tetragram" because it consists of four consonants. Jews do not say it out of reverence. Most English translations of the Old Testament do not use the English transliteration of the name of God out of deference to Jewish tradition. Instead it is rendered in translations as "LORD" all in upper case letters to distinguish it from "Adonai." Number two is probably closest. Actually, the name "Joshua" has the same roots and means the same thing - "God is salvation."

I don't think it is a total crap shoot. There is a significant element of chance in every round, but the level of chance increases as teams go deeper into the draft. Still, there is no guarantee that even the first overall pick will be a successful player for the team that drafts him.

If four WRs are gone by the middle of the first round, I would find it tempting. You don't pull the trigger, of course until the Steelers are on the clock.

Comfortable? Not at all. I like Shakir and I think he can be productive. Same thing with Samuel. It's a stretch at this point to think that either one is a true #2 receiver, to say nothing of a #1 receiver. One or the other might grow into that role, but it's not a sure thing. Outside of Harrison, Nabers and Odunze, the other top receivers in the draft don't look like they are ready to step into a #1 role at the start. They all have upside and some of them may grow into a #1 receiver role in the pros, but not likely to happen in 2023. The Bills can shoot a wad of draft capital to trade up high enough to pick Nabers or Odunze tor they can draft someone lower and hope they get enough production in 2023 to remain a playoff contender and hopefully develop into a true #1. Then they also need to draft an additional guy to compete for depth and hopefully show potential as a #2. The 2023 season was at least a mild disappointment from the standpoint of production from their # 1 and 2 receivers, but at least the season started with reasonable expectations. Buffalo is going to start 2024 with more questions than answers. They need some surprises to the upside.

At this point, I don't think Von Miller has earned much in the way of a right to be listened to. That's not to say a trade up is impossible. I know a few have talked about a major trade up to draft Nabers or Odunze. Probably more have suggested Buffalo could do a more modest trade up to ensure they have a chance to draft either Thomas or Mitchell. Either one is possible. I'm more wary of giving up the kind of draft capital it would cost for Odunze or Nabers, but then what do I know. There's also the possibility of a trade down. Like other fans, I've seen draft projections where Thomas and Mitchell are off the board before Buffalo picks. The WRs available to Buffalo at 28 are Ladd McConkey, Xavier Worthy, Xavier Legette, Keon Coleman and Troy Franklin. I know there are some who think one of those 5 guys is worthy of being picked at #28, but that's not an especially common view. If the Bills don't trade up, I'd be surprised if they think anybody left at other positions carry first round value. If the Bills don't think that anyone in that next group of WRs is worthy of #28, then a trade down could be a no brainer.

I've seen other mistakes over the years in mock draft, sometimes in mocks produced by corporations like CBS. I've seen single players mocked to two different teams for instance. People don't self-check any more.

I enjoy a regular season Bills game more than the Super Bowl. I didn't watch a single game in the NCAA tournament. I did watch a few highlights of games on the local news sports report.

Burks doesn't have the speed or quickness to create a lot of separation. His calling card was as a physical receiver who wins contested catches. That means he's going to face a lot of physical contact. If he is having a lot of injury issues, his playing style is not likely to help him stay healthy.

I'm wary of Worthy's lack of body mass, though I don't know of a specific reason he couldn't add 15 -20 lbs of muscle. If the Bills did draft him, that would be my hope. I don't know that I would rule out the possibility that Thomas and Mitchell cand develop their route running and ability to gain separation. They have ample athleticism to do so, and have already grown in their route running through the course of their college careers.

He's an expensive band aid for a team already dealing with cap challenges.

If he doesn't miss Odunze, the pick he has for the Bills could definitely get changed. Maybe Odunze goes to Cincinnati at #18 and Brian Thomas is freed up for Buffalo.

Kickers can have slumps. They can also recover from slumps. Bringing in competition is never a bad thing, but don't be shocked if Bass is able to kick the competition to the curb.

Among those who reach free agency, the following rule of thumb applies: the more intriguing they are, the more expensive they are likely to be.