BigAl2526

I agree with this. Cody Ford is sink or swim at guard now. Brown may compete to be the swing tackle this year. I think Doyle needs some tie to clean up technical flaws in his game before he can play a meaningful role. The question is, can Buffalo find some place to stash him where another team won't be able to poach him. Look for him to sprain an ankle in training camp.

Obviously, Beane is fully aware of the Bills' needs and who was available when the Bills were picking. He must have felt that the value just wasn't there at NT when the Bills were picking. He also knows where Harrison Phillips is. My best guess is he believes that Harrison Phillips struggled because he was still not fully back from what was a pretty serious injury. I think the Bills may try to move Butler from mostly 3 tech and have him compete with Harrison Phillips at 1 tech. That will leave Ed Oliver and Justin Zimmer to rotate at 3 tech, with Rousseau and Basham getting reps on the interior in obvious passing downs. Butler played some reps at 1 tech last season, and reportedly got better at lit late in the season. He's certainly big enough for the job. I'm not sure that either Phillips or Butler are guaranteed a roster spot at this point.

This was a weak running back group in this draft. Ettienne and Harris were probably the only RBs in the draft who brought qualities that Buffalo really lacks in their running back group. Javonte Williams is a good running back, but he doesn't really have any elite qualities. I would not be surprised if the Bills are looking for a running back in next year's draft.

I am wondering who backs up Star. Horrible Harry has played more 1 tech than 3 tech, is undersized. Butler has played more 3 tech than 1 tech, but he has the size to anchor at 1 tech. I guess he was better at 1 tech toward the end of last season, as was Phillips as he continued to recover from injury. If they have enough bodies, they may use a committee approach, but that would mean getting rid of some DEs that we'd rather keep. It will be interesting at least.

Somewhere, Stevenson is reported to have run a 4.37, so he might be a bit faster than his pro day time indicated. He is a returner, so that is likely to be his ticket to making the Bills squad.

Nick McCloud ran a 4.37 at his pro day. The was apparently a total shock as he did not play to that speed. At least there's something there that our coaches might be able to bring out.

Obviously, the Bills don't plan on him starting any time soon. Maybe by the time Daryl Williams' contract is up he'll be ready to step in. Right now, he's competition for Bobby Hart for the swing tackle spot. At 6'8" I don't think the Bills have any thought of playing him inside. What I'm reading is that he has gained a lot of weight over the last few years, and while the weight is lean muscle, I think he probably needs time to adjust to the larger body mass. He has the frame to add even more weight. he's athletic and strong, but doesn't have real refined blocking technique - not a huge surprise considering he played at Norther Iowa. I don't think he is a candidate for PS. Somebody would be sure to snap him up. Probably the hope is that he can prove good enough right now to enable the Bills to trade Bobby Hart. There are only so many roster spots Buffalo can realistically devote to offensive line, and they've got a ton of bodies right now, literally.

I will say I was surprised that Beane doubled up on DE. I heard two opposing opinions expressed on TV. Basham should bulk up some more and move inside, and, He should lose a little weight to gain quickness. I'm of the latter opinion. He actually times faster in the 40 than Rousseau. He might lose a few pounds, still retain his strength and run a sub 4.6 40. He's a natural left defensive end and should help in the run defense as well as getting after the passer. Lots of competition on the D-line now (except at 1 tech). It shows what Beane is thinking.

Oh my, I totally forgot about Obada. Buffalo has lots of bodies. Somebody had better step up.

Hmm. I didn't see that, which is why I presumed what I did. Maybe Beane and McDermott envision some sort of competition where Daryl Johnson could beat out Addison with a great training camp. Unfortunately, there isn't room for everybody.

Well, obviously Buffalo didn't get a sniff at either Phillips or Paye. I'm not going to repeat what I said on a thread about Rousseau, but I don't thinkk the Bills will want him to lose a lot of weight at that height. I think he can work on agility, and the Bills will want him to get stronger.

Daryl Johnson is going to have a tough time making this team.

My thoughts 10 hours after the fact: At pick 30 you're not going to find a player that has elite traits without red flags, question marks or concerns. The last player like that, or at least close, at a position of need for the Bills was Greg Newsome II, and he was gone several picks earlier. Looking at some of the players Buffalo might have considered, Jayson Oweh has elite traits but a worrying lack of production. Joe Tryon is as raw as Rousseau. Assante Samuel is short to play outside corner and lacks elite athleticism. Christian Barmore was mocked to the Bills, but he plays more 3 tech than 1 tech where Buffalo's thinness lies, and there are rumors about his coachability (he may not be a process guy). There are others, but there was no "perfect" pick. I assume with others that Buffalo was in conversation to trade out of that spot, but didn't find the dance partner who would give back what they wanted. Greg Rousseau is raw, needs to learn a lot of technique and get stronger. As has been pointed out, he hasn't gotten a ton of sacks rushing from outside. On the other hand, he just turned 21. He, reportedly is a great kid and a process guy (you didn't expect anything else from Beane and McDermott, did you?) and has elite length and athleticism for his size. His 4.66 40 is unusual for a guy that tall. He has things that he does naturally and well as a pass rusher. I don't expect a huge contribution from him as a rookie. He'll be in on some obvious pass plays. I don't expect his rookie year to be a whole lot different from AJ Epenesa's rookie year. That's why Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison are still here. Meanwhile, Rousseau is going to get a crash course on getting stronger and learning the techniques he still lacks. As for his upside, think a more athletic Calais Campbell. Yeah, I'm an optimist, but why not.

IMO, San Francisco's decision to draft Trey Lance rather than Matt Jones makes it less likely that San Francisco is willing to part with Garapolo this year. Trey Lance has played 13 games of college football at a lower level. You want to put the kind of pressure on him that starting as a rookie would entail?

I'm developing a man crush on Payton Turner. I could live with this draft.

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, but I assume your positing that there are multiple players that a GM likes a few picks back, so he'd wait in order to shave a bit off the salary needed to draft him. I understand the reasoning, but GMs are notoriously risk averse. The salary difference between draft slots six spaces apart is probably the last consideration a GM would ever have. Given Buffalo's position at the end of the first, there is an additional consideration to make, the fifth year option that the team has. If you think the player you're drafting has a chance to be good (and that's why you're drafting him early in the draft, that fifth year option gives you a little insurance that you can keep him under contract a bit longer. That is a consideration for GMs. Buffalo loses that if they just pass until the draft gets to the second round.

I would be stunned if any GM actually did that deliberately. Why? Because they will worry about whom the teams that would pick above them would choose. What if somebody else picks the player you had targeted at a lower spot?

I agree with the OP. I don't think it's a real surprise that this is the case. This is the deepest and most talented roster the Bills have had in many years, if ever. That combines with Beane's philosophy of filling as many holes as possible in free agency so the Bills are are in a position to take the BPA without being tempted to draft a poor value due to need. Draft position also contributes to that state. At #30 there will not be a player with a full slate of elite traits without red flags. Unless you know exactly what Brandon Beane's level of risk aversion is, you can't know what red flags he's going to be willing to overlook. Caleb Farley's back? Jaelen Phillips' concussions? Rumors about Christian Barmore's coachability? Jayson Oweh's disturbing lack of production?

Cars get a bit cheaper after they've been broken in. Good, young, proven veterans get more expensive, both as free agents and trade targets.

A very encouraging article, why doesn't Buffalo hire a guy like that to coach the running backs?

I get the practice of putting a draft placement grade on players, but while there might be some year to year variation, I'm guessing that it would be a rare year when more than 32 players got a first round grade, and an overwhelming majority of drafts have fewer than 30 players with a first round grade. There are other factors that go into the decision to trade out of the round or not. The most obvious is the question of who is willing to trade with you. I would guess that most of the time you don't want to drop below the top third of the second round Who in that group is willing to trade, and what will they give you for the #30 spot? Team need and the value of available players by position is a huge factor. I imagine individual preference weighs on that factor. For instance, most would agree that WR is not a huge need for the Bills this year. Obviously Jaylen Waddle, Jamar Chase, Devonta Smith and Rashod Bateman are going to be gone at 30. Kadarius Toney may or may not be available, and Elijah Moore probably will be available. If he is, Beane has to decide how much of a value he is. Buffalo could conceivably have to part ways with Beasley next season because of cap issues and Beasley's age. Either Toney or Moore could fill Beasley's role, and both have the speed to be a legit deep threat like John Brown. Plus they are tough enough to fill Isaiah McKenzie's gadget player role. That adds up to quite a bit of value I would not be dismayed if Buffalo ended up with either one of them at #30. Finally, there is the Round 1 contract consideration. When you draft a player in round 1, you've got him for 4 years at a value price, (if he's any good) plus a bonus fifth year if you want him at a higher price that a team may still consider to be a bargain. If you're rolling the dice on a player with issues, maybe you don't care about that fifth year, buy maybe you would consider a player with a little lower ceiling (and draft position ranking) if he's got a high floor, and you want the stability the fifth year option gives you. Carlos Basham might be an example. I would guess he's not currently regarded as a first round value, but at the same time a lot of people consider him to be a safe pick who will have a nice NFL career. I think it is very possible the Bills trade out of the #30 spot, either up 5-8 spots, or down to the top third of the second round, but if they stand pat at #30, I'm not going to worry to much about the value they're getting.

Marquez Stevenson ran a 4.45 40 at his pro day. Schwartz ran a 4.26. In what universe is that comparable? 4.45 is fast enough to be a legit deep threat, but if Stevenson aspires to be a special receiver in the NFL, 4.45 speed is not what is getting him there.

If the Bills don't get their edge rusher in round 1, I'm intrigued by Payton Turner.

Somewhere, sometime, Denver fans are going to hear John Elway say, "We have to QBs capable of starting." Somewhere someone is reported as saying, "If yout have 2 starting QBs, you don't have any. Of course the main effect for the Bills is that it removes one of the mail obstacles to New England trading up to pick a QB.

That's always been my opinion of Lamar Jackson. He's got a unique athletic profile and skill set as a QB. If you've got an OC who can figure out how to use him (and Greg Roman is perfect for him) he is going to be successful, but opposing DCs will figure out what he can't do, and good teams will be able to contain his strengths to an extent. Initially, he was wildly successful because no defense has has ever seen a QB like Jackson. He's going to continue to have some success because he's still unique. It is always going to be tough to prepare for "unique," but the best opponents are going to manage it.