BigAl2526

No GM ought to be tied into a single strategy for approaching the first round. Lots of teams want to trade down this year, so there would be opportunities to trade up for sure. But the reason so many teams want to trade is the number of question marks surrounding to top players. That leads to value issues. Beane is certainly willing to trade up for the right player, but he won't do it just to do it. Last year is evidence of that. The real value in this draft is probably rounds 2 and three, and those are the picks you'd have to part with if you want to trade up.

The problem is, every QB in the draft has at least one significant flaw. There are at least 4 teams that need QBs badly, probably more, but teams may not see a particular advantage to drafting a QB in round one versus waiting a bit. It ultimately depends on how many GMs are going to be seduced by need versus being faithful to pest player available.

I think the odds of any scenario I listed are less than 50/50, even picking cornerback. That is still the most likely outcome of the draft. The thing that might make drafting Breece Hall more likely would be a run on CBs, leaving options Beane doesn't like or those that represent too much of a reach. The odds would be boosted further by a poor market for trying to trade down. As you have noted, this looks like a draft where a lot more teams are wanting to trade down than want to trade up.

That makes some sense. It may be that the contract cost will drop enough to make it worth the wait. Maybe a one year prove it deal is in the cards.

I'm not one to make a lot of big, bold predictions for the draft, and while I follow the various mock drafts, I almost never create a mock myself. However, I do have some thoughts about how the Bills will handle this draft. They are: 1. The Bills are not likely to move up far in this draft. It simply costs too much unless they are able to package #25 with player on their roster, and those kinds of trades are very rare. 2. Beane looks for player traits over need in the draft, but doesn't ignore need altogether. The Bills have only one of what I would call an acute need - cornerback. 3. There is likely to be a relative lack of high impact elite players left in the first round when the Bills pick. Tyler Linderbaum may be around, but his position limits the level of his impact, and his size makes him a bit of a question mark for any team not running a pure zone blocking system. Breece Hall certainly qualifies as a potential high impact player, but there is that axiom about not picking a running back in round one. I don't rule out Hall as the Bills' pick, but it's not the only possibility. On defense, besides cornerbacks, there are a handful of players that might be considered a reasonable value at that point. The only elite talent who might fall could be Devonte Wyatt. Whether Buffalo would consider Wyatt would depend on whatever due diligence they do with respect his alleged off field activities. Some other names who may be available are Dean, Karlaftis, Hill and Ojabo. There are reasons to pass on any of them. On offense, outside of Breece Hall, maybe Dotson will be available, Zion Johnson and/or Kenyon Green, Trey McBride (if the Bills think he's a first round value) and various QBs. I don't think anybody believes Buffalo is going to pick a QB. Among CBs, the first two on most pundit's boards will be gone. The next group varies on its members depending on who is doing the evaluating. Trent McDuffie has the production and experience, but faces questions about size and arm length. Some like Booth. Some like Gordon. some like Elam. Putting all that together, and stopping short of a prediction. Here are the possible outcomes for the Bills from most likely to least likely: 1. Buffalo stays at #25 and drafts a cornerback. take your pick (other than Sauce Garner and Derek Stingley who aren't reasonable) 2. Buffalo stays at #25 and drafts Breece Hall. 3. Trade down either to the bottom of the first or the top 3rd of the second round. Buffalo could target a RB or CB after the trade down too. 4. Buffalo stays at #25 and drafts an interior offensive lineman. 5. Buffalo trades up. I couldn't guess the actual trade, but I think #15 -#20 might be a reasonable target range. 6. Devonte Wyatt drops and Buffalo decides his off field issue is not a deal breaker. I know we've torn apart the upcoming draft about every possible way, but I haven't seen it approached the exact way. So what are your assumptions and what doo you think are the possible outcomes of round one for Buffalo.

A long time ago the same was said about another cornerback, Dion Sanders. Elam has some elite traits. He would not be my first choice in the draft, but Elam's shortcomings are in areas that I think are coachable, and I have a lot of respect for Buffalo's coaching staff. I also think Tre White could be a pretty good mentor for him.

George Karlaftis

Basically, it was just a matter of getting the cap room cleared.

Quite a few mocks lately have McDuffie going before the Bills pick, including too New England. That would be goodnews for me if it happens. I would much prefer Andrew Booth, and I think I could live with Kaiir Elam

Sorry. I didn't sleep well last night. Steeler Nation Report Sportzstorm report It is true that most stories are drawing from Charlie Campbell's (of Walter Football) report that initially came from his coverage at the combine.

Here's an article about the Steelers taking Wyatt off their board. The same article has this quote, "But according to reports NFL teams have found through their own sources 3 other cases of domestic violence linked to Wyatt." Unfortunately, it does not specify a source for those reports, and it's possible their source is Walter Football.

Did you read through the Walter Football article? It's right there in the text. I'm not a huge fan of Walter Football's draft "insight," but there's nothing wrong with his reporting.

What part of "Repeated Domestic Violence" did you not understand. That was the title of the Walter Football article for which there was a link on the front page. Specifically, the article points out 3 additional incidents that private detectives uncovered when they researched Wyatt on behalf of a number of NFL teams. The article did not say whether or not there were arrests in those cases, but teams don't need arrests to decide they don't want him on their draft boards. The article states several teams have done so.

If the Bills think there is a pattern of behavior here, that seems like a major con for Beane.

72? I think I'm gaining on you, Fergie.

AJ Bouye is a player I wouldn't mind having on the Bills. I think it is interesting to speculate on the dynamics at play in the cornerback market. Are cornerbacks waiting because they want to sign with teams that will give them playing time with less worthy young competition, or are teams holding back because they think it's a buyer's market and they can get a better deal by waiting until after the draft? We'll have to wait and see which it is.

I don't think drafting a cornerback at #25 is a slam dunk, but I think it is more likely than any other single position. It could still be less than 50/50 odds even if it is more likely than offensive lineman or linebacker etc.

I'm intrigued by Troy Anderson, but not at #25 overall.

Not a good year if you need a great QB. Every one has significant bust potential.

Petit-Frere too.

I agree, Buffalo needs a little more competition at guard, someone who can play both guard and center would be just the thing. You may want to replace Morse this season, but I don't think it's happening. I also don't think tackle is a high priority for Buffalo in this draft. Tight end is a low priority too. There is no Travis Kelce in this draft, and Dawson Knox has become a solid tight end. Brian Daboll didn't feature the tight end that much, but Knox did everything asked of him. OJ Howard was underutilized in Tampa after Gronk came to town, but I think in the right circumstances he has starter level ability. If Buffalo sees compelling value at TE when their pick comes up, I'm not objecting to the choice of a tight end, but it's not a need that has to be addressed. I do agree that Buffalo could stand a solid upgrade at running back. If Breece Hall dropped to Buffalo's spot in the second round or they decided to draft Kenneth Walker III at that spot, I would be very happy. I think Von Miller is primarily a defensive end in Buffalo's defense. I would love to have another dominant defensive end across from Von Miller, but it's not this highest priority on the team. The chances of getting someone better than Epenesa, Rousseau and Basham continue to drop after round one, and I don't think Buffalo is picking on in round one. Boye Mafe is the only one who might be available late in round one with that kind of elite upside, and he's recovering from an injury. Same Williams is intriguing in the second round, if Buffalo doesn't go somewhere else. Cornerback is probably the most acute need, with Wallace gone. I don't have confidence in Dane Jackson as a starter. Linebacker depth could be better, but it's not an urgent priority. If Buffalo sees one they like on day three, I'm good with that. At WR, I'm of the opinion that the best way to take advantage of a QB like Josh Allen is with speed at receiver. I'm OK with Gabe Davis starting across from Diggs, but Buffalo doesn't really have a lot of elite speed at WR. Diggs is a 4.46 guy. McKenzie is bit faster at 4.42. Stevenson is faster, in the 4.3 range (ran a 4.37 at the combine) but he was a 6th round draft pick. He might develop into a superstar, but Buffalo can't count on that. He's also on the shorter size. I'd love to see Buffalo take a flyer on Tyquan Thornton on day three. He'll take some development, but he's obviously got home run speed to go with plus size.

Of course Brady knew what was happening, and may well have initiated the contact. I'm just saying, the league doesn't penalize players. In theory, at least it's supposed to be the team that is penalized for the contact, regardless of who called up who.

I don't think by definition, players can be said to be tampering. They can say and do what they want. Now, Miami would theoretically have to get permission from Tampa to have any kind of conversation with Brady or his agent. If the Miami GM or owner or coach did an interview for some local media outlet and said, "We are interested in having Tom Brady play for us," that would be a huge "No no!"

For me, there are some obvious assumptions. For instance, Buffalo is not going to draft a punter or a QB in the first round, so I'm not going to worry about those positions. I would have difficulty with Tyler Linderbaum because of his size. As good as he's supposed to be, I would worry that he's limited to a zone blocking scheme, and I don't know that Buffalo is married to that concept. They have run plays using both zone blocking and power blocking. I am also biased against taking a linebacker in round 1. I would question drafting receivers who depend on physicality and size because they lack speed, or receivers that might be too small to play outside. Drake London, Travon Burkes, and Jahan Dotson are on my worry list. I also think it would be kind of dumb for the Bills to draft a tall offensive tackle in round one given that they've shown no inclination to shift Dion Dawkins inside. Spencer Brown looks like he might be the answer at right tackle, and the Bills look like they're developing Tommy Doyle as a backup swing tackle.

Christodoulou is a Greek name that means slave of Christ. Not saying it should mean anything to any given reader, but it is what it is for anyone who is interested. There is Cole Strange a center from UT Chattanooga. Also there is 6'5" 300 lb tackle guard prospect Nicholas Petit-Frere whose name is French for "little brother." There is a QB from Western KY named Bailey Zappe, and a WR from Miami named Charleston Rambo. And who wouldn't want a Strong running back. You can pick up Pierre Strong late. Ricky Jr. from NC State is just another Person.