BigAl2526

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.

I had to reread it to realize what you were talking about. As it happens, I am a retired pastor. I guess I'm just used to writing the word "pastor" after 40 years. LOL

McDermott, of course, will use the same basic scheme. I don't really expect to see a lot less nickel alignment. The only change I realo expect is a somewhat higher number of blitzes. I don't think McDermott is anything close to "blitz happy," but I think he is just a little more aggressive than Frazier. Of course, I think he wants his front four to be a lot more effective rushing the pastor than they were after Von Miller went down last season. I think he knows it's not healthy to be in a position where you're so dependent on a single player like Miller.

Some draft web sites are calling Brents a safety. He certainly has the size to make the move to safety. The question is whether or not he has the mental makeup to make the switch.

Jordan Addison, Josh Downs and Nathaniel Dell are near clones. Addisson is a bit taller, but not big by any means. All three are relatively small and light, and not particularly fast, though they were very productive in college. They have slot receiver written all over them. Zay Flowers is also smallish, but has a bit more meat on him and is faster. He might be able to play outside a bit, but is probably primarily a slot receiver. Jayden Reed is another smallish receiver, though he's closer to average than the rest of the group at 5'11" and 187 lbs. He has good speed, running the 40 in 4.45. Michael Wilson is the biggest and slowest in the group at 6'2" and 213 lbs, running the 40 in 4.58. I think those are close to Gabe Davis numbers though Davis might be a smidgeon taller. Yaya Diaby sounds intriguing in the third round. He's listed as a defensive end, and certainly has the numbers to play there. If he and the Bills wanted, he could maybe drop 15 lbs and learn to play linebacker. He'd be the fastest and most athletic linebacker on the team. Or he could gain 20 lbs and move inside to play 3 tech. He runs a freakish 4.51 at 6'3" and 263 lbs.

I've saw a mock draft today where Buffalo could have their pick of Broderick Jones, Anton Harrison or Darnell Wright at #27. All the top receivers were gone in that mock. I saw another mock where Buffalo had their pick of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Quentin Johnston and Zay Flowers, but the above three OTs were all gone. I'm sure there are mocks out there where none of those WRs or OTs make it to #27. The bottom line is, nobody really knows how the draft will fall. The next time any so call pundit gets all the picks in the first round will be the first time it happens. Odds are most will miss half or more of the picks.

Maybe more of a troll thing. The "Bills sign askew" is an April Fool's thing. BTW, we missed that this year, or at least I did.

Sanders is a little faster, a tiny bit shorter and quite a bit lighter. Campbell, besides being bigger, is quite a bit more experienced. Between the two of them, Buffalo has to decide, I think who has the higher ceiling. Part of that is deciding to what extent Drew Sanders' shortcomings can be coached up. There is, of course, no guarantee the Bills will draft either one.

Dawkins has more mass. I think he might be a little stronger. I suspect Harrison is much lighter on his feet. If Harrison were drafted by the Bills, the most logical move to me would be to put him at left tackle and move Dawkins to guard or right tackle.

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