Ralonzo

We're 3 hours on from the Baltimore pick... I have a vested interest at pick #29 so am recusing myself. (although with this draft board I'd bet the Lions fall over themselves getting a card up for Mike Green)

I'm around... my pick is ready to go as long as nobody takes him first and I need to do a different writeup

CB has an inherent position premium in the draft, and conversely 1-techs are devalued. Similarly graded, you take the CB first. If the lineman is graded higher, have the discussion.

It’s not a perfect fit but there are upsides to Zabel in having multiple position flex, which the Bills value, and having shown out in the prospect games/practices despite some nagging injuries. It would help solve problems going forward after 2025 on the OL with expiring contracts. That said, the Bills have acquired flex guys like Bates and Anderson for basically free, and the pick projects to have minimal impact for the 2025 season which the Bills really can’t afford from #30.

Is there a rookie DL gonna get to Mahomes in 2 seconds? If not, then having two CBs who you can deploy at the LOS and force him to hold the ball might have to be the answer. It was the quick rhythm passing that beat them in the AFCCG. The Bills had no answer to disrupt it, and while they need to upgrade both ends of that lever there's an argument that there's more depth at DL available for 56/62.

PFF has the Bills sending #30 + #62 to Tampa for the #19 slot and drafting CB Will Johnson. In slot #30 the Bucs nab Trey Amos. The question is... is Johnson pick #62 better than Amos? Or do the Bills staff flag him for short arms? https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2025-nfl-mock-draft-travis-hunter-patriots-bills-bears-titans-big-trades

I do so many mocks from the Bills' perspective, and having never tried one of these in-house mocks, I'll take a shot at: Commanders, Eagles, or Packers

what, you didn’t enjoy the Lifetime special presentation of “I’m So Sorry I Had To Shoot My Abusive Policeman Boyfriend” ?

I kinda like it... my own stab for the day was Harmon (B) Porter (B+) and Ivey (A). Grant has been more consistently unavailable while Pearce has been more consistently available. I don't think it's character issues with Pearce - unless you count being dumb as a box of rocks as a character trait.

Worst in the business Chad Reuter says: Bills trade 30, 109, 132 to Minnesota for 24. #24 Azareyeh Thomas CB Florida State - The 4.50 boundary corner that you need to spend your 4th rounders to secure, passing on: Hairston, Amos, Porter, Starks, Emmanwori... not to mention Harmon, Grant, Tyliek, Nolen, Green, Burden etc. #56 Kevin Winston S Penn State - Hey, didn't they just draft this guy last year? Run support box safety? #62 Xavier Restrepo WR Miami - All that money they gave Shakir tells me they need another one of those to back him up. For reference: (#26 Walter Nolen DT Mississippi) (#57 Jayden Higgens WR Iowa) (#63 Oluwafemi Oladejo EDGE UCLA) This is the most benighted most draft by either someone who knows nothing about what the Bills need, what they've already done and what they typically do - except trade up in the first using a 4th for someone who they didn't have to trade up for at all - and no DL picks in a historic DL draft. Either that or he hates the Bills and wishes for them to do this. The picks right AFTER these ***** moron picks would be a fair draft... IF they didn't piss away their 4ths for no reason. I would place a Fire Beane sign outside my house if any of those things actually happens.

"Everybody cheats"

If this is correct, this may actually play to the Bills favor in "back-loading" the season. As with the Bosa signing, I'm not concerned with him playing every snap all year at a high level. 17 will get them to the playoffs, and at that point they will need something better than what they've been rolling with on defense.

Why is everyone worried, Jordan Phillips and Quinton Jefferson get 6-game contracts, done.

I don't really care about him playing a full season. The Bills will always be in the mix because of 17. I care about him playing in January.

He's been noticeable every time I watched the Rams. They have an embarrassment of riches on their DL like the Bills have on their OL.

Finally got around to watching combine tape, James Pearce would step right in to Von's slot. A lot of ppl have noticed Donte Thornton but he's iffy to be a Day 3 guy now because he's getting a lot of buzz... but I'm intrigued by Isaac Teslaa.

Born to Chief

Here's today's non-subscriber 2-rounder on PFF:

There's never been a defensive end in the NFL as good as Handrickson thinks he is.

I was thinking the exact opposite - latching onto players for extensions on expiring contracts before the draft & FA disincentivizes you from looking to upgrade the positions. GM's find plus slot guys and linebackers on Day 3 every year. Why these guys at these positions? Unless it's a screaming hometown discount which neither is. Just not seeing the overall plan, except Beane plan seems to be to put together a complete roster before the draft so he can just pick BPA (and then doesn't).

Yes, for an extended period. Edit: @SCBills linked it above

Also LB Derrick Barnes of the Lions just extended for 3/25.5M total, $16M guaranteed. Hmm.

That's a low bar to clear. My take is, I'm not as worried about keeping the band together on a defense that's the sole reason the Bills have not played in a Super Bowl in the Allen era. The positions Beane is targeting for resigning are the devalued ones - slot receiver, linebacker. I don't hate the deal - I thought that's a lot of bucks for a slot on the Shakir deal too. But on the D side of things, doing the same old is just not working and hasn't worked for 5 years. If you're gonna keep the players and the scheme that's a fail. If you keep the players and change the scheme, maybe it works better and maybe not. This just strikes me like the Knox deal, eating cap space for non-premium positions.