Estro

Nolan nawrocki has martin rated as a 3rd round prospect. Wes bunting another draft guru has him rated somewhere in the late 2nd round. I think a lot of people already knew martin wasn't good enough to be the pick at 10. Cordy glenn is the guy the bills like

I think me general feeling that the Bills overpaid for Mark Anderson is legit. Keep in mind this guy has never made more than 1.75 million in a given season and hes been with 3 teams prior to the Bills. A little silver lining though: The salary cap is supposedly going to spike starting in 2013. I don't know exactly what they mean by spike, but I'm thinking it could be in the neighborhood of a 15-20% jump in salary cap space starting next year. This year is a little over $120 million, and I'm guessing next year is going to be at least in the $135-$140 million in 2013. Throw in the fact that teams are going to have to spend close to the cap every year and cash, and these contract signed today may look like bargains in a year or two. Not total justification for overpaying for a guy, but a big jump in cap may make it easier to handle the Byrd and LeVitre resignings. The contract numbers on the FA signing next year will be downright silly if the cap does indeed jump up to the $140 million level. This also means there will be teans that will be willing to bid up the prices of LeVitre and Byrd, so the bills better play their cards right. Resigning them now or during the season is important because the closer they get to FA the more theyll realize how freely teams will spend. I'm still a little concerned that signing Anderson today may have cost us from investing in Byrd or Levitre during the 2012 offseason or season.

The signing of Mark Anderson has me excited today, but the numbers of his deal have me a little concerned. 4 years $27.5 million is a lot of money for Anderson, no way around it. I thought this guy would be looking for $5 mill a year max, so to see it closer to $7 mill a year was a shock. I understand he had a good season last year, but guys who's numbers spike in a contract year is a bit worrisome. I really wonder if any of the other teams were offering anything close to what he just signed for. The main reason for my concern is this: I don not want the signing of Mark anderson to cost us a shot at resigning Byrd or LeVitre next season. I hope it doesn't, but it could. I was holding out hope Bell would be a late resign, but with the signing of anderson I'm not sure the Bills have any resources left for Bell. i know he's had injury problems, and that is a legit concern, but I think he's a valuable asset to the team and being we only spent a 7th round pick on him, I was rooting for him. I wonder if the bills would even resign him at this point if he agreed to the numbers the Bills have on the table. Let's hope Mark Anderson proves to be a nice signing, but theres no doubting the Bills overpaid.

Kelsay is going no where, you can bank on that. He's not great, but he's okay and he played better later in the season when they were back to playing a lot of 4-3. Kelsay will never be good, but hes okay and you just don't cut servicable veterans when you have no one to replace them. Dwan Edwards, I agree with you though. You'd have to think he's a goner if Anderson is added. A lot of teams have sniffed around Mark Anderson, so I'm not sure this visit precludes his signing. There a few other teams in the mix according to multiple reports. I do like the fact he's spending the night though, and meeting with everyone tomorrow. The extended visit seemed to work wonders with Mario, maybe the same will be true again.

I'd take this: Over this: Luke Kuechly to me, compares very favorably to Paul Posluszny. Decent in run support, not so great in coverage, and a little tight in the hips. I don't understand all the hype as far as a top 10 talent. I see him as more of a top 40 prospect to a team looking for a strong MLB. There no way Kuechly would survive as an OLB in the NFL, IMO. Like I said, just doesn't look fluid when he drops into coverage.

Our pick #10 is worth 1300 pts according to the draft trade value chart. The Bengals 2 #1's = 1750 pts. So you can forget about the idea of that trade happening, it'd be an absolute coup for the Bills. Realistically, you'd be looking at the Bengals giving up the #17 pick along with their 2nd round pick to get up to our spot, which would still be a nice deal for the Bills

Yes, agreed Astro, I too think he'll be long gone by our 3rd round pick. I actually think theres a 50/50 chance he doesn't make it to pick #42. What say you? I'd be thrilled with him at #42. Guys a baller, and would be a tremendous get for the Bills D. I'm a big fan of the Bills trading down from #10 and picking up an additional 2nd or 3rd rounder (depending how far we go back). After listening to Jim Kelly's interview on BB.com I think the Bills are giddy to trade down too. This would enable us to still pluck an OT (Cordy Glenn) and have two 2nd round picks, a 3rd, two 4ths, and two 5ths. That'd be a ton of ammo to move around in the draft and get the guys you covet. I love Lavonte David. I'm high on Rueben Randle, WR from LSU. I'm high on both Josh Robinson, CB from UCF, and Josh Norman, CB from Coastal Carolina. With the additional picks acquired in a trade down it'd be possible tp pick up 1-Cordy Glenn, 2-Rueben Randle, 3-Lavonte David and 4-Josh Robinson or Josh Norman with our first 4 picks. That's be a tremendous draft.

Pretty sure David Nelson and Donald Jones will both be RFA next offseason, meaning the Bills will be able to protect them from other teams.

Well said. The comparison between the top 2 or 3 safeties in the game versus the top few G's is an excellent point. And now that a few have chimed in I'll give my opinion: I'd take Byrd over LeVitre. I believe G's are easier to replace than S's. That's not to discount LeVitre's importance to the team, but just take a look at our other contributing G's, Urbik and Rhinehart, both were plucked off the FA wires by Nix and company. Byrd is really coming into his own, and with the addition of Mario, I think things will only get better for Byrd back there in centerfield. With all that said, I have a ton of faith in Nix and company that both will be resigned.

The Bills 2 most important free agents next offseason will be Jairus Byrd and Andy LeVitre. I think it's very important that both get resigned, as they're both very good and young. With that said if the Bills can only afford one of them, who would you rather have? It's a tough call, and while I'm optimistic Buddy will re-up both of them I'm curious what you guys would prefer if we only resigned one. Ben Grubbs, a very similar player to LeVitre, just got 5 years $36 million, with $16 million guarenteed. Antrel Rolle, similar to Byrd, inked a 5 year $37 million deal in 2010, with $15 million guarenteed. This gives you a ball park range of how much these 2 will cost to retain. I'll give my answer and reasoning after some responses come in because I don't want to influence any of the thinking. P.S.- If not throwing money at a FA WR this year, just for the sake of plugging a hole, allows us the opportunity to re-sign both Byrd and LeVitre than it's a great move. LeVitre and Byrd are much more valuable to this team than a Manningham, or Lloyd would ever be.

Hightower is decent but he's an ILB, IMO. He may have run an impressive 40, but there's no doubt he's much stiffer and much less agile than LaVonte David. When it comes to staying on the field in passing situations theres no doubt David is far superior to Hightower. I like hightower, I just think a guy like David fits our defense better than Hightower at this moment.

Imo Lavonne David is a top 40 prospect.....especially considering the need for LB's to be good in coverage in todays NFL. So I think there's a 50/50 shot he'll be on the board when we pick at #42, my gut is telling me he'll be picked before then though. If you believe all the mock drafts though, they typically have him going mid 2ndround round to mid 3rd round. The more I look into him, they more I want him to be a Buffalo Bill

Which is why we need to draft a LB who excels in nickel/passing situations, ala, Lavonte David. He can contribute immediately, and Nick Barnett is getting older. so he'll eventually take over his spot.

Lavonte David, from Nebraska, is the best pure 4-3 OLB in this draft, for my money. Don't know why he's not rated higher amongst the draft pundits. BTW, the biggest knock on David is his size. He's 6'1" - 233lbs. For comparisons sake, Jon Beason is 6'0" -237 lbs. So I don't see his size has a hige problem.

Big, big fan of Lavonte David. Just started my own post about him. I think he'd be a great fit in our defense, even moreso with the addition of Mario Williams. Also a fan of Rueben Randle, WR, LSU, think he could be the size/speed combo we're looking for at the flanker postion (Z receiver) on offense. Didn't see him on the list, so I'm assuming he's already off the board?

This guy hasn't gotten as ton of attention from the national pundits, but for my money he's the best pure OLB in this years draft. The biggest knock on him is he's undersized, at a little under 6'1" and 233 lbs. Certainly it's smaller than your prototypical LB, but Nick Barnett is 6'2", 230 lbs, and no one complains that he's too small. Lavonte David has great speed, change of direction, and instincts. He's good in coverage and is also solid in run support. He'll never be a LB that's going to bull rush a 300 lb OL, but I'm not sure there are a ton of cover LB's that will ever be able to do that. In a league where defenses seem to be in their nickel packages just as much as their base defenses, the importance of cover (nickel) LB's is all the more important. Couple that with the fact that we play in a division with some pretty good TE's (Gronkowski, Hernandez, Keller, Fasano) and I think David would be a great asset for the Bills. On obvious passing situations we'd have the ability to keep David and Barnett on the field and I think we'd be able to match up well in that package. Bo Pelini, head coach of Nebraska, was quoted last season saying there wasn't a LB in the nation he'd trade for Lavonte David, a lot of praise coming from a defensive minded coach. With the Bills having a beefier more talented DL upfront I really like the idea of getting these fast flowing playmaking LB's on the Bills. Guy can tackle, blitz, and cover, what's not to like? I think David would be dynamite on the Bills, what say you? If you have time, check out the two clips of Lavonte David below: and if anyone has a comment or opinion on David please add, I'd like to know more about him. (vs. Michigan) (vs. South Carolina - Bowl Game) http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/lavonte-david-1.html (2 years statisitcs at Nebraska)

Tim ryan and Pat Kirwan were commneting on Sirius that they could see him being released. Don't know if it was just pure speculation or something they've been hearing, found it interesting nonetheless. Have we ever gotten an anwer on how much of a cap savings would be realized if Merriman is chopped?

Yea....Imo the bills didn't overpay at all which makes the signing just thrashing much better.

Well, now that Mario is imminently signing with the Bills and it reportedly will be a 6 year deal, let's see how close my FINAL PREDICTION will be: Final predeiction: 6 years - $100 million ($47 million guarenteed) Can't say I thought the Bills would be the one to sign him, but I have a feeling these numbers will be very close to what the final deal is.

Seahawks, one of the teams rumored to be interested in Mario, just cleared $4 million in cap soace by cutting OL Robert Gallery. Not sure it has anything to do with Mario, but the timing of the release is interesting. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/14/seahawks-cut-cord-on-guard-robert-gallery/

Let's hope Manning doesn't choose the Broncos between now and tomorrow evening. It seems Mario is stalling as long as possible to see whats going on with the Manning situation. If it's still up in the air by tomorrow afternoon, hopefully he throws in the towel on Tennesse and realizes the Bills it is.

Look you have to give Nix and the Bills credit for what they did today. They made an aggressive pursuit of 2 guys that would help our football team now. Meachem the lesser known guy, would've been a solid addition, but it's pretty clear what his intentions were. I mean the guy had a contract all sewn up with the Chargers within 30-60 minutes of dining with the Bills brass. He clearly wanted to be a Charger and only used the Bills to make sure the money was going to be right in San Diego. When it comes to Williams, by all reports, the Bills are doing everything they can. Had the plane down there ready and waiting. 1st visit, and reportedly ponying up the most cash. If they sign him it'd be a gigantic signing for the franchise and if he decides to sign elsewhere I think the fanbase as a whole will not only be dissapointed, but pretty irritated. You can't really blame Nix though can you? He can't force Mario to sign the contract, and Mario may really covet playing for a team that's had more success under a similar $$$ deal. I'm a little surprised Buddy came on so hot and heavy about how aggressive they'd be in free agency, though. Clearly they seemed confident that they'd sign these two guys, and I appreciate the confidence, but they certainly set themselves up for a meltdown if they both sign elsewhere (which Meachem already has). It'd probably been a bit smarter to not talk it up so much, so if they do swing and miss, they don't face as much heat from the media and fans in general. I'm still holding out hope something gets worked out in the AM, but once word broke he'd be visitng elsewhere I put the chances of him signing elsewhere at 85%. It's not looking good, but I'm not going to hold it against Buddy. I'm still a big believer in Nix as the captain of the ship, regardless of where Mario Williams ends up.

Bills prolly liked Vincent Jackson best, but knew they'd have to target someone who'd command less so that they could set their sights on Mario. That's why it'll sting a bit harder if Mario ends up elsewhere, because the fact of the matter is that's probably what held up courting Vincent Jackson. Let's hope Mario signs tomorrow. I do find it odd no ones reported exactly what other team he's expected to visit. You'd think one of these reporters would have word on where Mario will be headed next if he does indeed leave. Perhaps it's more of a bluff to squeeze a bit more out of the Bills, proabably not, but just a hope.

The negative me is thinking: The Bears who were reportedly after Mincey caught wind that they still had a shot at Mario williams and that he was leaving Buffalo. Knowing they still had a legit shot at Mario the Bears backed off their pursuit of Mincey. Mincey seeing the Bears back off knew the demand for him could be shrinking and was quick to sing the deal the Jaguars had on the table. Maybe that next visit for Mario will indeed be with the Bears.

If Washington is out of the VJax sweepstakes and Chicago lands Peppers (effectively taking them out of the VJax sweepstakes), we may actually have a route to sign him. There are a few subtle ties to Buffalo (Nix, Merriman) and all else equal he'd probably view Buffalo as a better opportunity than Tampa Bay. I previously didn't envision a scenario wher Jackson came to Buff, but things are looking differently now. I'd much prefer Mario Williams to Vincent Jackson, but Jackson maybe the more realistic option. If he can stay healthy, I think VJax would take our offense to a whole new level. It would also give the Bills the opportunity to focus their draft needs mainly on defensive prospects(DL,LB,CB), outside of an offensive lineman. If you think about it, WR's are a position that generally take guys a couple of years to grow into coming out of college. Maybe attacking the WR need via Free Agency makes some sense in that regard. Let's see, we should have a lot of answers in the next 48-72 hours.