BigAl2526

Ranch is for salads and dipping fresh veggies. Blue cheese is for poultry.

He's almost certain to be available. I don't know if he has played much if any guard, but his size suggests he could be position versatile. He would be a reasonable value. So yes, it is entirely possible that he could be the pick. It probably wouldn't happen if a upper tier player slid unexpectedly. For instance, I have seen mocks where Quentin Johnston was not picked in the first round. In the unlikely prospect of Johnston being available, I think the Bills run to the podium with the pick. On the other hand, this evening, I saw a mock projecting the Bills to pick Jordan Addison. Addison was hugely productive in college, but he's small, frail and not very fast. I think he is locked in as a slot receiver in the pros, and I don't think the Bills are looking for a slot receiver. In that same mock, there is little available talent on the board. The Bills could conceivably go for Bryan Bresee who was on the board, a tall 3 tech or Mazi Smith, a nose tackle with great measurables but disappointing college production, but Harrison is available in that mock, and to my thinking might be the most attractive option. A trade down out of the first round is also possible. It all depends on how the draft plays out.

I voted Bijan Robinson in the first round. That does not necessarily mean I think it is likely or that it is anywhere close to an ideal pick, but if the draft falls in such a way that there is no value at positions of greater need and Buffalo can't find a willing trading partner who will give decent value in a trade, Bijan Robinson is an elite player who will make this a much more intimidating offense.

Darnell Washington, Nick Hampton

I think the odds of Bijan Robinson being available at #27 are less than 50/50. If he is, and the Bills pick a RB, it's Robinson, who checks all the boxes except unreal speed. Robinson is fast (sub4.5) but not unreal. Gibbs is a bit faster but lacks the size to have real power inside. I doubt he's the blocker that Robinson is either. He's a talented back and I wouldn't mind him as a Bill, but I'd be surprised if the Bills make that pick.

Sounds like a big nickel to me.

Day one, I think perhaps Simpson or Sanders. A little later I could see Sewell and maybe a bit later than that, Nick Hamilton, a sleeper pick out of Nebraska. Buffalo needs to pick up somebody though.

My dad was not a fighter. Neither was my mother. But my 5'2" grandmother. . .

I wouldn't mind Campbell in the second round. I think Darnell Wright has some position flexibility and he would seem to be a good value at #27. I could live with either Zay Flowers or Jalen Hyatt, though I think Flowers is more of a slot guy. Buffalo has several guys who can play the slot and not enough outside, if they really want competition for Gabe Davis.

Well, I'm 71 and my emphysema symptoms are less pronounced than my father's at the same age. I am hoping to make it to 80 without being in too bad shape. We'll see about after that.

Wow. That's even slow for a linebacker.

Coming out of college, he was regarded as very smart and instinctive. The thing that limits him is his speed. He runs the 40 between 4.6 and 4.7 seconds. That means he's got to keep the play in front of him. Once a receiver gets by, he doesn't have the ability to catch him. He's also got to be right about picking angles because he's got less margin for error than a faster DB. I think his ceiling is probably a backup. I think that JaQuan Johnson needs to be looking over his shoulder as he is likely the odd man out. He's smaller than Rapp, and similarly slow.

He weighed in at 6'7" and 255 lbs at the combine. He has lots of potential, but needs work. Round 6 is probably the right spot.

I think developing the game plan will be done by committee with McDermott at its head. I would guess Holcomb will be in the booth, but McDermott will call the defense. It will be the McDermott defense, though I expect McDermott will consider tweaks suggested by Holcomb and others on staff.

The poll itself is something of an indication of the difficulty of the choice. There's really no slam dunk pick that is likely to be available. I picked Darnell Wright because he had a strong combine. He's a fairly athletic OT and the Bils may want to hedge their bet on the right tackles they already have (Spencer Brown and Tommy Doyle). I didn't pick Jack Campbell because I think he's a reach at #27. I wouldn't expect him to get drafted much before the middle of round 2, but that's just me. I don't want to draft another smallish WR to come in and compete at what I think is already a decent group at slot receiver. So I'm not going to pick Flowers or Downs. Hyatt is a bit bigger and I wouldn't mind him I think he'd be comfortable inside or outside. I also wouldn't mind Simpson or Sanders, though Simpson has slipped in recent weeks. He may be more of a second rounder at this point.

This year more than some. I see very few mocks where I actually like the Bills' pick.

Speed was never his game. That's what I'd be most concerned with in an aging player. I still have to wonder how much he could have left in the tank at 37.

Obviously, any evaluation like that is going to be somewhat subjective, no matter how astute the expert might be. It is a bit disturbing, however that every position on offense is below average in Clay's eyes except QB while every spot on defense is above average. That would seem to support the claim that some have made that Buffalo has neglected the offense in the draft, particularly in the early rounds.

I wouldn't be terribly shocked if Bates ends up as backup for all three interior O-line spots while Edwards and McGovern start at the guard spots.

It's true that the comp pick rules are not publicized by the league, but by observing the patterns over the years, there are observers who are pretty good at projecting who is likely to get comp picks.

Designing a game plan will be a collaborative effort IMO. I expect McDermott will be the primary defensive play caller, but will have help in the booth.

I'm not rooting for the Bills to pick a TE at #27, but I see it as a possibility depending on the value and fit that is left at that point in the first round.

I suppose I could find things to like about Flowers. Addison is going to be limited to the slot in the pros, and I don't think that's where Buffalo's need lies. Same thing with Josh Downs. Both Downs and Addison ran much slower than expected at the combine. There is no "Harrison" among the top 10 receivers in the draft. It's possible that Johnston or Jaxon Smith-Njigba will drop, but it would be a huge surprise. If the Bills think Nolan Smith can play MLBand he happens to drop, I suppose he could be the pick. Drew Sanders should be available if the Bills like him that high and think he's sturdy enough to play in the middle. I think Jack Campbell is a reach there. I think the Bills could possible take a tackle at #27, but I think the only ones that are defensible values at that point are Anton Harrison (maybe the OP was thinking of him) and possibly Darnell Wright. I don't think Dawand Jones is a good fit. Otherwise, I could see Buffalo taking a tight end at #27. It's not strictly a need, but they sure could use some competition for Quiton Morris, who is the #2 at this point. Darnell Washington is a compelling possibility. He has great size and athleticism and can block as well. That would give Buffalo a very dangerous tandem at TE. when the line up with two tight ends.

I know that Beane has not traded down in the past, but every year is unique. Buffalo has fewer picks than they've had in recent history, which makes trading up that much more costly. I think it depends on what value is on the board and at what positions when Buffalo's pick comes. If there is no compelling value and the value that is left is not at a position of need, I can absolutely see Beane entertaining the possibility of a trade down. I wouldn't expect more than a trade or two at most in the draft, however. Gonzo, given the list you shared, I might hat picked Musgrave in place of Dawand Jones, and then picked Blake Freeland in place of Kraft

I don't know what was available when you did your simulation, so I don't know if I would have made the Dawand Jones pick. As you say, I wonder about the scheme fit. Otherwise, you did a nice job picking players with desirable traits. It was a nice effort.