BigAl2526

This mock is far worse than the Bills drafting Latu at #22. If Beane actually does that, he should be fired before the start of round 2.

He didn't have great speed. In theory, when it was working, he's physical and good at contested catches. He definitely caught a few deep balls in his tenure with the Bills.

That's pretty much what I would have expected of Beane, and it is the right philosophy. The question is, what positions are a greater need than WR. There is one obvious answer to me, safety. I don't think Taylor Rapp is a viable starter in Buffalo's defense. He's a big hitter, but he can't cover. If you start at safety for Sean McDermott, you had better be able to cover. Cooper DeJean has been primarily a cornerback. If the Bills see him as a safety, they might feel he has enough value at #28. Other than DeJean, some see Tyler Nubin as a first round safety. I think the value is dubious for him. He's got decent height, but overall, he's average or below average in a lot of metrics and he has weaknesses in his game. Frankly, he's a lot like Taylor Rapp. I don't think the Bills pick him. No other safety is even close to a first round value. What other position represent greater need than WR? One can make a case for defensive tackle. The top 1 tech, T'Vondre Sweat is probably a second round value, though there's a chance he could go in the first round. I think the signing of Austin Johnson, who has had less than a stellar career, stems from Buffalo's recognition that the one tech market in the draft stinks. I think they are gambling that a position change can revive his career. He's got the size and physical traits to be a solid player. There looks to be a couple first round worthy 3 tech DTs in the draft. Byron Murphy is unlikely to be on the board when the Bills pick. Jer'Zhan Newton may or may not be available when the Bills pick. The Bills might consider picking him to be in rotation with Ed Oliver. At defensive end, Buffalo hasn't given up on Rousseau. They also re-signed Epenesa and renegotiated Von Miller's deal. None of them set the league on fire in 2023. I'm thinking the Bills thought the chemistry they lost with the injury to Miller accounts for the less impressive than hoped for performance. If there were a long, bendy and quick defensive end type with elite potential Buffalo might jump on him. The closest thing to that who might be available is Chop Robinson. He's not perfect. Latu and Verse will be gone. Robinson is the fastest of the bunch, but he's also the most undersized at 6'3" and not as bendy as you'd like for a smallish DE. Buffalo could stand to upgrade depth on the offensive line, but hardly sounds like a first round caliber need. They could stand to have a bit more depth at RB, but that's not happening at #28. The Bills could always use more at CB. They've got two starters outside in Benford and Douglas, an elite slot guy in Taron Johnson, disappointing former first round pick Kaiir Elan and utility man Cam Lewis. They've also got a handful of guys under reserve futures contracts. The Bills still some hopeful that Elam can overcome the slow start to his career, including the injury bug. It's a position where the Bills could pick a player who is a compelling value in round 1, but I don't think they're looking for a CB early by any means. That's about it. I can easily see where circumstances could drop a WR with elite potential in Buffalo's lap. There will be different opinions on which one. Some will be enamored of Worthy's combine record 40 time. His weight scares me. He had a great freshmen year, but dropped off last season. There is McConkey. He's a sub 4.4 guy and had moderate production at Georgia. I'm guessing he's never been a #1 receiver in college. I imagine he could be a #1 receiver in the right situation, but he looks more like a perpetual #2. Most don't think Troy Franklin has a first round value, but he probably has as much claim as some others. He has good height, though he's a bit skinny. He doesn't quite have sub 4.4 speed, but he's close, and he was super productive in his last year of college. I wouldn't be horrified if the Bills picked him. My pick among the receivers who might be available when Buffalo picks is Adonai Mitchell. He has home run speed, good size. He's not as polished are receivers who will be picked earlier, but he has plenty of upside I can also imagine the draft falling in a way where Buffalo could pick Jer'Zhan Newton or Cooper DeJean. There is a chance they'd go for Robinson. I don't see anything else in the cards.

Agree with your thoughts. Personally, I think Mitchell is the pick in that scenario.

NFC. Buffalo won't meet him in a game very often.

made more sense before the Austin Johnson signing. I still like it quite a bit.

The Bills have certainly added some more speed with Curtis Samuel, but the still lack the big athletic X receiver to fill the role that Gabe Davis never quite measured up to.

No offense, I hope you're wrong on both picks.

I just don't see the elite edge rusher that could fill the Bills' dreams in this year's draft. Chop Robinson is the only one who might drop to the Bills in round one, and he's not ideal. I see guys who remind me of Epenesa. They may be decent pass rushers, but with nowhere near the speed, bend and strength to be elite. I'm hoping that Von Miller can have a bound back year, but I don't have any strong reasons to think he will. I do expect that the Bills will have a solid overall defense, but they aren't going to put up gaudy sack numbers.

I'm a little concerned about Diggs' late season drop in production combined with the fact that both Samuel and Shakir are probably better suited to slot receiver than an X receiver on the outside. For those reasons, I would kind of like the Bills to end up with a receiver in the first or second round. The Bills are not going to get a chance at Harrison, Nabers, or Odunze. Hoping Brian Thomas will drop to 28 is an iffy proposition. The odds are better for Adonai Mitchell. He's the guy I'd like to see the Bills get. I'm not thrilled with Keon Coleman, who is a sloppy route runner. I'm OK with Ladd McConkey, but he's less than ideal since he's better fit in the slot. I'm wary of Worth being frail. I wouldn't consider anyone else in the first round. If I didn't draft WR in round one, I'd jump at Legette or Franklin in round 2. I'd be OK with Walker or Pearsall too.

Agreed. The Bills can draft guys that a 280-300 pounds in any round they want to provide depth at 3 tech. It's a lot tougher to find a guy who is big enough and strong enough to eat up blockers as a 1 tech. I think that's where they plug Johnson in.

Well, holes are gradually getting filled. Yeah, it would be nice to get T'Vondre Sweat, but the Bills only have one pick each in the first couple rounds. The Bills are not going to be able draft stars at all the positions where they have need. One tech is now a very low draft priority. That's a good thing because 1 Techs are a rare commodity. If the Bills see a compelling value in the late rounds, they might jump at it, but it's not happening on day one or two of the draft. I think the Bills still need safety help, an edge rusher and a WR. The WR is mostly preparation for life after Stephon Diggs. They can also use more cornerback depth and competition for depth on the offensive line. If they had a chance to draft a developmental QB or punter, that would be good, but it's not urgent at all. It's not a bad place to be considering what the cap situation was heading into the off season.

Sure, if he can run a 4.6 40. I like Johnson's versatility. Obviously, Daquan Jones is the starter at 1 Tech, just as Oliver is the obvious starter at 3 tech. Still, McDermott likes to rotate his defensive linemen. He also greatly values versatility. I could see the Bills lining Johnson up outside in a heaver lineup in obvious run situations. I think Buffalo would use him primarily as a 1 Tech, but it would be encouraging to know he can shift to 3 Tech or DE should that be necessary or it gives the Bills a situational advantage.

At defensive end, Von Miller is less than a sure thing as a starter, At safety, I feel better about Edwards as a starter than I do about Rapp. I think Rapp lacks athleticism and coverage ability. The Bills at least need one quality starting safety. The Bills have receivers I would be comfortable starting, but I'd still like to get one of those sub 4.4 big guys in the draft with my first round pick. They're going to need a #1 receiver sooner or later. Every season it becomes a little more likely that Diggs will leave. After all there is talk of a trade right now.

Buffalo has two quality starters at defensive tackle. If you pick a guy in round one, he is a presumptive starter. Anything less is a disappointment. Buffalo can still use a starting caliber safety. They also have a very old defensive end who is a presumptive starter in Von Miller. I think the Bills would like to limit Miller to no more than half the defensive snaps. If there is a quality defensive end available, I think that might be a better pick than DT. I still wouldn't mind a WR in round one, similar to but better than Gabe Davis. He might not get 100% of the reps this season, but Buffalo has to start thinking about the end of the Diggs era.

A bit short for a safety, but not alarmingly so. Otherwise, his measurables are decent (athleticism and body mass). I'd be more comfortable with Edwards starting than Hamlin. Still room for an upgrade.

He actually has some athleticism. His 4.62 40 time is faster than a lot of guys who will be drafted in the first couple rounds of the draft. His 39 inch vertical is even better compared with prospects at DE. The question is whether or not good coaching can help him address the shortcomings in his game, especially in run defense. In any case, he'll be a fringe player at best, getting reps only if guys ahead of him are injured.

Stiff arm.

Beane wants an impact player in the first round. He doesn't always get it, (Kaiir Elam) but he wants it, and that will determine who he targets.

A sixth round WR might not even make the Bills PS right now. They go WR early or it's irrelevant.

I'm 5'9 and have bigger hands than Troy Franklin (9 inch span versus 8 5/8).

I don't think the Bills were ever going to pay top dollar for one of the top names at safety in free agency. Not paying top dollar means taking a chance on some aspect of a candidate. With Blackmon it's a health question. With someone else it might be measurables, age, past productivity or whatever. That's what Buffalo did when they acquired Poyer and Hyde and it worked out OK. I'm fine with it.

Does the signing of Samuel make a trade down more likely?? The Bills still need safeties and defensive line help. Otherwise, it's mostly a matter of trying to upgrade depth and drafting for the future. There are a couple first round DTs and maybe three first round value DEs. There are very few first round value safeties in this draft. Tyler Nubin may be the best and he's a borderline first rounder. The first round value defensive ends are likely to be gone. There may be a first round value at DT, but there may not be too. I have seen offensive tackles mocked to the Bills in the first round, but I don't see it. Dion Dawkins is still in the prime of his career and he's a better than average left tackle. Spencer Brown has had a rough first few years to his career, but he was serviceable last season and it's not unreasonable to think he still has some upside. Buffalo also has some younger prospects on the roster. They could certainly stand to upgrade their depth, but I don't see them feeling the need to draft a starter, and I don't think they'll use the first round to upgrade depth unless there is nothing else left that they want to draft. I wouldn't want them trading down too far, but without a compelling choice at 28, why not look at trade down options?

I can see that not coming.

He's carved out a decent career for himself as a backup QB. Good for him.