BigAl2526

Hmmm #53 is just six spots ahead of Buffalo's second round pick. #53 is 26 spots below Buffalo's first round pick. To me, the approach to Jack Campbell is self-evident, and it does not involve picking him at #27

The guy I'm curious about is Dezmon Patmon, who is already on the Bills roster. He came out of college with numerous flaws in his game. The question I have is have NFL coaches been able to light any kind of fire under him to address those issues. The dude is 6'4" weighs 225 and runs a 4.42 and most of his shortcomings appear to be things that can be improved.

I don't happen to think the Bills are hurting that much in the slot. They have several players who should be right at home there, including Harty, Shakir and Sherfield. I think Sherfield can probably line up inside or outside, as can Diggs. There are plenty of slot guys buffalo could go after if they want, after round one.

Cole Beasley was a superb route runner who rarely dropped a ball at his peak, but nobody would ever have thought to draft him in the first round. Stefon Diggs is a superlative route runner with outstanding hands (usually). He was drafted in the fifth round and he has a lot more physical tools than Addison. It's not that I wouldn't like Addison on my team. I just don't want him at #27. It seems to me that there has to be more value still left on the board than that.

I assume he means do not draft at #27. Jordan Addison is my guy. I think his size limits him to slot and despite being small, he's got pretty much average timed speed. If I'm going to draft someone in round one, I'm hoping I can find a guy who is a bit closer to being elite at something besides his route running. Route running is something that receivers picked lower can develop. Josh Downs is in that category too, but he has slipped out of the first round in the thinking of most. Zay Flowers is small, but at least he runs pretty fast. I can live with that.

Believe it or not, Latavius Murray ran a 4.38 40 at his pro day. He had some wheels for a big guy. The odds are he's lost some of that speed over his career, but he's got some wheels and some power. He has 5600 career yards so there's every reason to believe he could do more than Taiwan Jones was ever asked to do on offense.

You believe correctly, sir.

Sure you can, and your analysis would be subject to the same subjectiveness and vulnerability to error as everybody else's. I'm not trying to be critical. You might be right in your analysis, even going against the consensus, but if you were right every time, you'd be the first and only. In any case, from the outside looking in, it's all in the fun of the pre-draft season.

There are indications in the top 30 visits that Buffalo will go offense in round one. I didn't think it is clear that they will trade up, though that is always a possibility.

It is always to be understood that perceptions of fans and media pundits don't always reflect the assessments of NFL scouts and GMs. Every year people are shocked by players who are picked a couple rounds ahead of where the mock drafts thought they'd be picked, or drop to day three when we all figured they would be first rounders for sure. But since we don't have access to the thinking of current GMs before the draft. . .

Mazi Smith is a 323 lb DT with speed to be a force rushing the passer and chasing down plays. The question is, can he tap those measurables more effectively in the pros than in college. He was good, but not as disruptive as you might expect. He's being graded as a first round prospect mostly on the basis of measurables.

To this point the only top 30 visits we know of that involve players with close to a first round value are with offensive players. There are four receivers - JSN, Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison and Jalin Hyatt. I included Hyatt, though most consider him a second round value at this point. There are two offensive linemen - Darnell Wright and O'Cyrus Torrence. There is one tight end - Darnell Washington. Things could change over the next couple weeks, but given Beane's tendency to draft players in the first round with whom the Bills have had a top 30 visit, it sure looks like the Bills are planning on going offense with their first pick.

A lot of people think JSN is likely to be the first WR off the boards. A lot of things would have to go right for the Bills in order for him to drop low enough for a trade up to be practical. Just to stir things up a bit, there is some speculation in Buccaneer fandom of a trade that would send Mike Evans to Buffalo in exchange for Gabe Davis. Buffalo would get a proven 30 year old veteran who had an off year in 2022 while Tampa Bay gets a 24 year old with unrealized upside. If something like that happens, it obviously rules out trading up for a WR in round 1.

The only position where Buffalo doesn't have a player who could be labeled a starting caliber player is middle linebacker, and the value in the first round may not have a first round middle linebacker. People are hating on Gabe Davis, but it can be argued that he is a starting caliber WR, even though he disappointed in 2022. The same is true at right tackle in Spencer Brown and running back with James Cook. I wouldn't be opposed to the Bills making their first round pick at any of those positions including TE. If the pick were a tight end, I think it means the Bills tweak their offensive play calling a little to include more two tight end formations, sometimes lining a tight end up in the slot and maybe running the ball a little more.

I think the general opinion on him is that he was underutilized as a pass catcher. He seems to have all kinds of potential both as a receiver and a blocker. He is potentially a Rob Gronkowski type tight end, but until he does it on the field potential means a gamble.

Mazi Smith is certainly an intriguing pick. The question is would the bills spend a first round pick to get him. That's what it will take, of course. I have my doubts that Buffalo would pull the trigger on a DT that soon. Basically, IMO, any 1 technique that they acquire either through the draft or elsewhere would be hedging a bet on Tim Settle living up to the promise he should before Buffalo signed him a year ago. The injury messed up last season for him, but I don't think the Bills have given up on him.

He's likely an undrafted free agent when all is said and done. Drafting a promising tight end and signing a guy like Fairchild are not mutually exclusive, but you don't wan to fail to draft a guy because you're counting on a Fairchild type player to improve your team. Thinking like that will get a GM fired eventually.

I don't think there are any middle linebackers who are close to a first round value in the draft. A case can be made for drafting Trenton Simpson at 27 and hoping you can teach him how to play MLB, but Sanders and Campbell are second round values IMO. Will McDonald IV would not be my pick either.

I missed the poll. I would have chosen the trad3e back option. I didn't like either player that were options in the poll. If I had to pick a player given the way the first round fell, it would have been Anton Harrison.

I think Cam Newton is far better in his own mind than he is under center.

Why would he make that declaration? I don't think it's posturing. It gains him no advantage by announcing it almost 3 years beforehand. If the Dolphins take him seriously, they might be inclined to take steps to replace him before the 2025 season, effectively putting him at a bargaining disadvantage should he change his mind and decides he wants a big deal in a contract extension. Even if his intention is to retire, he's better off keeping his decision to himself.

The big question on Bryce Ford-Wheaton is how coachable is he? Are his shortcomings due to the lack of solid coaching in the past, or laziness, or his football intelligence so poor that he can't learn. That's all part of the due diligence any team needs to do in scouting a prospect. That speed-size combination does tend to make me drool a bit.

Seems like a reasonable signing to make.

I think a better WR would make a bigger difference in the offense, but whether or not the value is there when the Bills pick is uncertain. The WR would need to have inside/outside versatility, and to ones who are most likely to drop to the Bils are primarily slot guys. Buffalo drafting either of those positions is probably less than a 50/50 chance. Offensive tackle and linebacker are in the mix too. If the value is compelling, I wouldn't be too shocked if Buffalo went elsewhere, picking none of the above. The only positions I'm pretty sure they're not picking at #27 are kicker, punter, interior offensive line and defensive back

If there are too many safeties on the roster, the Bills can cut a guy to add someone who is better. The price is the bigger issue. I'll let the Bills figure that out.