Estro

I'm warming up to Norwoord, and I agree if the Bills liek him they must consider him at #41 because he won't be there at #72. As far as Spiller in the 2nd, you'll never have to worry that, because he'd never ever last that long. Spiller's not a lock for the top 10, but he is a lock for the top 20. Not an area of need for the Bills for sure, but he'd give our offense a home run threat that we haven't had in a long time.

Exactly the Bills are not in a postion to draft a 3-4 ILB with the #9 pick. ILB's are less important than NT, DE & OLB's in the 3-4 defense. I do think we could use an upgrade at ILB, but there are much more pressing needs and McClain simply has too many question marks to warrant looks in the top 10. He is not nearly the prospect Patrick Willis was. Donald Butler, ILB, Washington could be avialble late 2nd - early 3rd, and he's a better inside backer. My hope is: Trent Williams Derrick Morgan Brian Bulaga C.J. Spiller Brandon Graham (I don't like Jimmy Clausen, anywhere in the top 15-20 picks of the draft) in that order (assuming Bradford, Suh, McCoy and Okung are all of the board). BTW there's a good chance the top 3 guys on that list are gone so who would you rather have at #9 C.J. Spiller or Brandon Graham? Spiller's probably rated higher but Graham fits more of a need, it's a tough call.

If you look at the stat lines from that game I can see where you're coming from. However, if you actually key in on Morgan he was pretty disruptive throughout the entire game. Sure Bulaga got the better of him on a few plays, but Bulaga is a legit prospect who probably get's picked in the top 10 too. Iowa's coaches also came in with a good game plan which included a lot of 3 step drops for the QB to prevent any pressure from being able to get to him. Overall I don't think Morgan played great, but I think he played alright. He was especially stout vs. the run and you can argue Bulaga got away with illegal hands to the face a couple of plays. I especially like his effort from 8:04-8:13 in the first video where he abuses Iowa's RT Kyle Calloway who is mid round prospect. highlights/lowlights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAUs6ny8Hps Morgan vs. Bulaga I just don't know if the Bills view Morgan as being big enough to play DE ina 3-4, he's right on the borderline weight wise. Because he plays with really good leverage I think he'd be alright and I'd be really happy to see him in a Bills uniform.

I attended UB from 2003-2007. Let me be the first to say, there are plenty of joke classes that can be taken at UB. It's a great college don't get me wrong, but there are plenty of cupcake classes. I also knew a couple of guys on the football team that were pretty dumb to be honest. If Nawrocki has him listed there, he's just passing down information that he's gotten from NFL personnel, so I'm sure there is some merit to it I'd actually be semi-surprised to see Starks drafted. I think he's more of a priority free agent. His injury that caused him to miss almost all of his senior season really killed any chance he had at being more than a late draftable prospect.

Take a look at Rolando McClain's highlight/lowlight reel on youtube. I know a 5 minute clip doesn't show what a player is all about, but it does give you an idea. McClain is a thin hipped, slower ILB who is not very stout against the run. Offensive lineman seem to easily locate and block McClain and rarely does McClain beat lineman to the ball. I was once very high on McClain, but after watching him closer I think he's a late 1st round prospect. Don't forget ILB's are notoriously not very high on the priority list. He's got the name, but I think his game is overhyped. I think Donald Butler and Brandon Spikes become better NFL ILB's than McClain.

That all makes sense, and I think with most organizations you're right, but you forgot one key factor: Russ Brandon, the master PR man. Do you think T.O. was a quality football pickup, or a sh*t we need to sell more tickets move. This team know how to overhype news (T.O. signing) and downplay bad news (Schobel retirement) and I think there's quite a bit of decision making that goes into when news like that is released. You do make a valid point about keeping their draft interests more wide open with teams not knowing the Schobel resolution yet.

Another note: One player who has been warming up tp me is Eric Norwood - OLB - South Carolina. I originally wasn't impressed with his size and saw him more as a one trick pony in rushing the QB, but I think he's got game. He's built and plays a lot like Lamarr Woodley of the Steelers, but I think he's more athletic than Woodley. I happen to think he'll be a productive player in a 3-4 system. He also fits in with Nix's whole philosophy of playing at a high level over a sustained amount of time. He'd be a bit of a reach at pick #41, but I don't see him making it to our 3rd round pick. Look out for the Bills make an Andy Levitre type move back into the middle/late 2nd round to nab Norwood. This team is needy at OLB and if they dont get one with pick #1, I think Eric Norwood would make a lot of sense.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/04/1...up-draft-boards http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/04/0...t-value-chart-2 Quick thoughts: 1) For those who think Demaryius Thomas may be an option in Round 2, not looking good. It's iffy whether or not he get's past pick #23 at this point. 2) For those thinking Tyson Alualu is a 3rd round prospect, once again appears he'll be gone by the middle-late 2nd at worst. 3) Not down on Clausen, but also not really high on him, especially as a top 10 pick. I'm not going to let 55 passes in shorts and what most say was an impressive Pro Day sway my judgement. Ryan Mallett, who should've come out this year is 2 times the prospect Clausen is. 4) With a possible run on offensive tackles (3 or 4) before we pick and the possibility of Clausen being off the board, a player that the Bills have rated as one their top 5 prospects likely falls to them at 9. Whether it's Spiller or D. Morgan remains to be seen, but I'd be real happy with Morgan.

My feeling is that Schobel has already informed them he plans on retiring. The Bills are waiting to announce it until a few days after the draft so that it will barely make headlines.

I'd be ecstatic over this draft, but I can't see it happening. There's a chance Bulaga is there at #9, but there is no chance Thomas is there at #41, not a prayer. He's currently the #1 WR on Nawrocki's board (he has him as an 11-20 1st round pick). Also Russ Lande, a former NFL Scout who runs Sporting News' draft coverage loves Thomas and believes he's one of the top 5 talents in this years draft. He's been telling me since early March that Demaryius Thomas is the best WR in this draft and should be the 1st taken. He may not be right, but if he sees him as a top 5 talent and the #1 WR then he's not escaping the 1st round. Even in the draft where no WR's were taken in round 1, they started coming off the board early in round 2. Wish he was there at #41, but I doubt Thomas is still around by pick #23 of the 1st round. Also you guys know how I feel about Donald Butler. To get him in the 4th would be an amazing value, but once again I see him off the board late 2nd round to mid 3rd. He's my favorinte ILB in this draft, Spikes and McClain 2 & 3. I would be thrilled with Donald Butler in the 3rd, personally. This guy's got an NFL ready body and I think he'd be a starter from Day 1, but the Bills already have adequate depth at ILB so I don't see them going w/ Butler. I defintiely don't think Tyson Alualu fits in as a NT in a 3-4.......maybe a DE. At 6'3" 295 lbs. he's much too small for NT. Personally I think he's more of a 3-4 DT, but it's possible to see some teams envisioning himas a 3-4 DE. I like this mock draft a lot though. I just think it's far fetched.

Nevermind. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/...ing-his-tender/

Where'd you hear this? If so, that would even out the trade a bit. I haven't see that reported anywhere, nor have I heard of future considerations when it comes to NFL trades.

Right. And our 5th is obviously higher than the Jets. It's not like the Steelers really cared about where Holmes wanted to go either (ala the whole McNabb situation). Bad move by the Steelers, I believe they could've fetched much more than a late 5th rounder for a young, fast, solid reciever. A so so #1 receiver, a superb #2 WR. The Jets thinking is probably this: Braylon Edwards ia okay, but he thinks he's worth a lot more than he actually is. Probably won't resign him, so let's take a chance on a talented receiver like Holmes. If he proves himself this year, we'll look to extend him. If not, oh well we parted with a 5th this year and we have better personnel than last year when we were 1 game away from the SuperBowl.

Damn, despite facing a possible 4 game suspension the Jets really made out on this deal. Get a solid staring WR for a 5th round pick, that's a no brainer. If I read the Bills acquired Holmes with their 4th round pick I would've thought that was a steal (for the Bills). I can't imagine there weren't other teams that would've been willing to give up more. Very weird. The Jets will certainly be contenders this year, they are building on both sides of the ball.

I really like Morgan, but there's a 50/50 chance he's gone at #9. Looking at your mock I really don't like Saffold. Look at his film. He's athletic so he's been getting a lot of attention, but his play on the field is that of a 4-5th round prospect.

Yep. The Bills are checking him out because there's a good chance he'll be availble when we pick in the 2nd round. The guy also has a lot of question marks and wasn't very consistent, so it seems the Bills want to see him up close because they have a lot of questions they want answered. Don't stress out about Griffen in the Top 10, it won't happen.

Let me just throw this out there as well: Asked who is favorite guys were in this draft, Lande responded without hesitation: Suh, Bradford, Derrick Morgan and Demaryius Thomas. He's been raving about Demaryius Thomas (Georgia Tech - WR) for a while now. Once again I just don't see it. I see more of a body catcher when it comes to Thomas, but I just wnated to throw that nugget out there. I do love Derrick Morgan, and I'm back to thinking there's no way we have a shot at him at #9.

Precisely and that's basically what Russ Lande has told me in the personal scouting chats we have with him on a weekly basis. Said he really developed his final year and thinks the guy has a shot to become a solid starter. Do I see it? Not Really. But you have to respect scouts who stick to their beliefs. BTW another one of his sleeper QB's that he mentioned today was none other than Levi Brown (Troy). Didn't really elaborate on what he liked about him, so I'll have to ask him next week. Levi Brown is a guy that seems to be on the Bills radar (perhaps our 4th round pick?)

Derrick Morgan is the #1 DE in this draft. The fact that he can play DE in the 4-3, OLB in the 3-4, or even DE in a faster 3-4 scheme like the Ravens or Bills makes him rather versatile. Personally, I think it's a little risky to take a guy at #9 and swith him to a position he's not very familar with (OLB), so for the Bills to take him I think they need to be sold on the fact that he can be a DE in their 3-4. At 6'3" - 266lbs., he's a bit undersized for DE, but if you watch his film he plays with great leverage and consistently sets the edge against the run. The biggest problem is 266lbs. is simply to small for the 3-4, you really need at least 280-285 so I'm not sure. For the record I'm a big fan of Derrick Morgan. Word has it Cleveland will give Morgan a lot of consideration when they're on the clock (7th overall). A couple of weeks ago I didn't think he'd be there at 9 and now I'm starting to think there's a shot. The highest Morgan could possibly go would be 5 (Chiefs) and he will go no lower than #13 (San Fran). http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpag...0990&spln=1

I like the Fordham QB moreso than Levi Brown. Brown looks like a lat round prospect. Some have him higher, but so far I don't see it.

Please no Jason Pierre Paul.........Aaron Maybin 2.0, Buddy said he wants guys who have proven it at all levels, so let's hope he stays true to his word and passes on Pierre Paul.

Small hands, short QB (JP size I believe). Arm strength is adequate, but I wouldn't say it's strong by NFL standards (Mallett and Locker both have much stronger arms). What bothers me the most about Clausen is how he reacts to pressure. He's one of those QB's who as soon as he feels some pressure immediately sprints out of the pocket, usually to his right thus eliminating one side of the football field. This type of scramble and make a play downfield works in college, but will not work in the NFL. I think it's very important to assess a QB on his ability to hang in the pocket and have pocket presence. A lot of key conversions come when a QB is able to buy an extra second by hanging in there, stepping up and giving the receiver just enough time to get open. When I watch Clausen I see a guy who panicks as soon as he feels threatened and that won't fly in the NFL.

If we're talking about solid starters, 2 would be great IMO. If you can get 3 quality players in each years draft that's very good. If you can get a 4th quality starter, that's just gravy.

I think Clausen is going to slide and lose some serious coin. I don't think he's a Buddy Nix guy and if the Bills don't take himn he could slide well into the teens if not 20's. Clausen is a glorified late 1st, early 2nd round talent, so I don't think his slide should come as much of a surprise.

I'd say there's a 80% chance Trenmt Williams is off ther board when the Bills are on the clock. Trading down for Trent Williams is a pipe dream.