dave mcbride

The thing is, he might actually be the most talented QB ever from a physical standpoint. He does appear to have the strongest arm in terms of velocity ever measured (an unbelievable 68 at his pro day and over 70 on one other occasion), and it's doubtful that QBs in the 1960s/1970s threw as hard as him unless there's an equivalent of Nolan Ryan from that era that I'm missing. Josh was throwing 91 as a high school pitcher, which isn't crazy high (but still pretty good), but the thing is that he grew three-four inches *after* HS (he was 6'1" 180 as a senior: https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/6207/how-josh-allen-s-perseverance-earned-him-a-spot-in-the-nfl). I'm guessing he'd have been slinging 100+ eventually if he had chosen baseball. On top of that, he's just a phenomenal athlete for someone that size.

No worries! I remember that season and he was a one-man wrecking crew. Just unblockable.

I said pressures, not sacks. There is a reason he won defensive player of the year that season. He also had 69 solo tackles, which is also ridiculous for a d-lineman.

In his best season (1996), he not only led the entire league in AV (Average Value; PFR's equivalent of WAR for football), he had a ridiculous 54 pressures, dwarfing every other pass rusher in the league.

Ray Lewis in his prime was one of the best coverage LBs and sideline-to-sideline players to ever wear a uniform. In 2003 alone, he had 6 INTs and 14 passes defensed. Over a six year span from 1998-2003, he had 18 picks and never less than two in a season.

The thing to bear in mind about the Jets is that not only do they have that 23rd pick; they have the 34th pick, the 66th pick, the 86th pick, the 107th pick, the 146th pick, and the 154th pick. They are loaded. If they really want someone in the back half of the second or even the tail end of the first, they easily have the ammo to move up. I do think a good RT is worthy of a day one pick, especially late in the first round. I actually don't think Vera-Tucker is a bad pick for them given his talent and versatility. Yeah, he may be a dominant guard, but injuries happen and he has the talent to slide out to tackle and perform capably. Guys like that are valuable, and the Jets absolutely need a better o-line. They finished 31st in ypa AND ypc last season, and when that happens, you gotta look at the o-line because it's the only constant. Their line was absolutely dreadful last year outside of Becton, and the depth was pathetic. They're also likely to focus on protecting their qb.

Gilmore would represent a major upgrade for them. He actually played well last season before getting hurt. And of course he’s terrific when healthy.

“The nuance of the position” in my view strongly correlates with a decline in his run/scramble game, which was off the charts this season and why he led the league in AV.

I sincerely hope I’m wrong, but I think it’ll be hard for him to ever reproduce his 2020 season statistically; it was just so good when viewed in its totality. The Bills were remarkably injury free on offense too. They had a couple (Ford, Brown), but nothing crippling.

The league has in all likelihood told them to keep it a secret. This is a potential ratings bonanza, and the league needs drama. The 49ers are part of the league, not independent of it. “Close” to reaching his potential? He literally just had the best season for a QB in the 61-year history of the Bills and finished number one in the league in PFR’s AV measure.

One thing I disagree with you on is the idea that Pittsburgh doesn’t draft o-line early. They drafted o-line in the first round in 2010 and 2012, and both those guys lasted a long time (decastro and pouncey). More importantly, the same regime was in place. They haven’t drafted o-line first for a while because the need wasn’t there, but this year it is, and they are desperate. I fully expect them to go o-line first.

The Pats may well be looking to move up and including Gilmore as part of the package: https://boston.cbslocal.com/2021/04/27/patriots-stephon-gilmore-nfl-draft-trade-rumors-top-10-quarterback/

Albert Breer has us drafting Etienne too in his final mock: https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/04/27/nfl-mock-draft-san-francisco-49ers-mac-jones-bengals-jamarr-chase 30. Buffalo Bills: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson I got the Alvin Kamara comp on Etienne from a couple of teams. I vetted it out: Is that a little much? And everyone I’ve talked to has said no, it’s an appropriate parallel to draw. That’s why I love the fit with Buffalo. With the amount of space the Bills receiver group—and Josh Allen’s ability to push the ball downfield—should create underneath, Etienne could really wreak havoc.

Do you think Farley will really fall that much? I'm not saying to 30, but to a point where the Bills could make a reasonable move up to get him? Aside from the back issue, isn't he regarded as the best CB in the draft by many?

Shaq-o-meter - love it! (And the joke about 1st round RBs!) That said, he at least measures as more athletic than Shaq. He was apparently timed at 4.59 or 4.62, which is pretty darn fast for a big man. Still, lots of doubts about him: https://primetimesportstalk.com/2021/04/26/2021-nfl-draft-scouting-report-carlos-basham/.

He is no Tyreek Hill. I will definitely grant you that. But I will say that Hill is one of the most explosively fast WRs I have ever seen play the game. If Beane sees a player as a true comp of Hill, then they should go after him.

This is why I continue to believe that Jones will be SF's pick, especially given the early funeral announcement for Jimmy G. SF is built to win NOW. To repeat for emphasis (and I've seen a LOT of similar quotes from NFL people about him being more ready to play at a high level early than any other prospect save for Lawrence): QB Coach 1: I am driving the bandwagon. I think he is the best thrower of the football by a lot. Zach Wilson is freaky; but he’s not hitting people in stride on time. Mac is processing. He’s accurate. He’s layering it. He has pinpoint accuracy and throws with anticipation. ... He was substantially better in the interviews than all of the other quarterbacks. QB Coach 2: In my mind, if I had to win right now, this year, he’s the most advanced quarterback of any of them. Jones is gonna walk in Day One and just have to flip terminology because he’s gonna know pro football. He’s been coached by Sark (Steve Sarkisian). He understands run checks, understands moving protections — not that these others don’t, but he’s on a different level. The question is, are Mac Jones’ physical tools worthy of being a top-5 pick or even first-round? I don’t know that his physical abilities warrant that, but if you tell me that I have to win now, I think his physicals are good enough.

I really don’t know a ton about him but have read that his athleticism is above average. He was productive, and his size is good.

There were covid wars on PPP? I am so glad I never check it.

Moss is better than I suspect you think he is. He player well late last season, averaging 4.85 ypc in the final 6 games and passing the eyeball test to boot. Hardly a "waste."

Oh come on. That's a far more reliable and indicative stat than the 4.46 you cite. Diggs, a rare five-star recruit, went to a bad program with a bad QB, and I would bet a fair amount of money he didn't get coached up for his 40 time at the combine. Yet since he's come into the NFL, he's been one of the best receivers in the league, and just a couple of years ago averaged over 17 ypc on a high volume of catches. Anyway, instead of fixating on his terrapin-like 40 time coming out of UMD, do some searching about his speed as an actual NFL player. This is just one example: https://www.startribune.com/vikings-receiver-stefon-diggs-has-speed-to-burn-but-can-he-sustain-it/491812421/.

I thought the myth that Diggs isn't that fast had died the death it deserves, but apparently not. https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Stefon-Diggs-fastest-player-in-NFL-Minnesota-Vikings-48715901/

6 years as one of the best receivers in football HISTORY, and he was quite good in the 9 games he played last year (his only significant injury year). Still, he's never going to come to the Bills for about 25 obvious reasons. Jacksonville, though? If you're Jax, are you spending that second first on Etienne or Julio Jones knowing you have a ton of cap space to easily manage his salary? I'd take Jones in an instant.

Trading down from 30 a few slots won't get you a third round pick. 4th rounder is far more likely.

Carlos Basham Jr. He has the size profile (6'4" " and 280 lb) and athleticism that matches what the Bills want from their DEs. He is versatile (able to play in and out), hasn't gotten hurt, and has been consistently productive.