BuffalothruMyVeins

I have been reading some of the posts around here about drafting a mid-rounder QB this year, and if EJ fails this season, maybe we're in position to draft a top QB next year. So that's 2 picks spent o. What are ultimately question marks. I have also heard that we have a roster that, other than developing a QB (who may already be on the team), is playoff-worthy... And I generally agree with that. Maybe not quite Super Bowl worthy yet, but with above average QB play I think we are a problem for teams. So my idea is: what if we take a WIN RIGHT NOW track, and trade this year's first round pick plus next year's, for an above average QB, to help us take a run at this for the next 3 years, before our veteran player's talent begins to ebb. Mario, Kyle, McKelvin, Fred, Stevie, Chandler, and maybe even Wood and CJ could be at their peaks right now, with only down to go in the next couple years, and we're looking for improvement at core positions again. If we trade the two firsts, yes, it takes 2 valuable picks we could have used to replace these guys, and could further accelerate our downhill slide if we trade them away for a veteran QB. However, that high price is basically the cost of doing business to get out of this 18-24th best team range we have been in for 2 or 3 years now. Yes, this idea is aggressive, bold, and risky, but I would rather be too bold, than too conservative. I would rather be caught being too Pettine than too Jauron. With all of that said, let's take a look and see who could conceivably be pried loose for 2 first rounders. Carson Palmer Matt Ryan Joe Flacco Cam Newton Jay Cutler Andy Dalton Tony Romo Peyton Manning Matt Stafford Aaron Rogers Matt Schaub Andrew Luck Chad Henne Alex Smith Ryan Tannehill Christian Ponder Matt Cassell Josh Freeman Tom Brady Drew Brees Eli Manning Geno Smith Terrell Pryor Nick Foles Ben Roethlisberger Phillip Rivers Colin Kaepernick Russell Wilson Sam Bradford Mike Glennon Ryan Fitzpatrick Jake Locker Robert Griffin Kirk Cousins Obviously some of these guys cannot be pried lose from their teams for anything...: Peyton Manning Tom Brady Aaron Rogers Andrew Luck and probably Matt Ryan Cam Newton Joe Flacco Russell Wilson and Eli Manning Also, obviously, I wouldn't give up two first rounders to put us over the top for...: Carson Palmer Andy Dalton Matt Schaub Chad Henne Christian Ponder Matt Cassell Josh Freeman Geno Smith Terrell Pryor Mike Glennon Ryan Fitzpatrick Jake Locker and Kirk Cousins So that leaves... Jay Cutler Matt Stafford Ryan Tannehill Alex Smith Nick Foles Ben Roethlisberger Phillip Rivers Colin Kaepernick Sam Bradford Robert Griffin I'm not a fan of Tannehill, Foles has only done it one year, and Griffin's knee scares me (plus Washington gave up so much to move up in the draft to get him, I think if they sold on him after 2 years for "only" 2 firsts, it would be admitting defeat, even though they could pin it on a previous regime. They will live or die by him). The remaining ones would provide us enough production with minimal growing pains while our team makes a run. My personal favorite would be Phillip Rivers, but he probably wouldn't be available for the 2 picks, but who knows. Maybe if we packaged Manuel, it would have a chance. My second would be: Romo, then Roethlisberger, Cutler, Stafford, Kaepernick, Bradford, Smith. Where in this list would you think we could get the best return for the 2 picks, maybe giving up Manuel plus the 2 firsts for Kaepernick? Who do you guys think we could get, and who would you want? Would say 3 years of going for it be a good gamble to then not be as good right after the run?

I get what you're saying, and yes those skills are different, between safety and gunner, but from what I remember, he is a surprisingly strong tackler for a guy whose only ever played offense. It's too bad that the NFL doesn't have an effective minor league system, like the MLB, to send a guy down, work on his craft by getting many snaps against others in a game-type situation, and come back up having improved on a weakness at their current position, or having learned a whole new position, like what Rick Ankiel did with the Cardinals. A guy like Easley, who is likely stuck on ST's if he wants to make a roster, not good enough to make it at WR, and limited coaching time under the new CBA with heavy restrictions on practice time, to hinder his coaching interaction to make the position switch, would be perfect for it. He's on the edge of the Bills' roster (though he is a valuable STer), but a year in the "minors" and he could come back up with a valuable new skill set, and get new life in the league. Oh, and I'll be the one to make the joke... I really have him pegged more as the Jack LB.

Thank you for pointing that out, I didn't realize that. How about a heavy hitter like Searcy, only bigger... Nigel Bradham to RB? 6'2", 240 lbs, nice speed, likes contact.

If I was going to have an honorable mention, it would have had Wood at DT. I see Kyle and Wood as similar mentality, and similar physical makeup. Do you think Stef has the ball skills to play WR? And he's really kore known for physicality than speed... But I guess there are guys who make that work at WR, good call.

I thought about Searcy, first at RB too, but then thought he might make an effective Aaron Hernandez slot TE type more, as (and I could be wrong) but he just seems a little too long/tall for RB.

I think on his heaviest day, he weighs as much as Keith Ellison, on his average day he is Aaron Maybin, so he may not be big enough to effectively get through blocks. And I say that with no bad intent whatsoever, he is by far my favorite Buffalo Bill, ever. Just so much a 225 lb 5'10" guy can do at linebacker.

I got to thinking, after commenting on another topic... Which players from the Buffalo Bills roster do you think could switch sides of the ball? IE a guy who typically plays offense, taking a couple effective snaps on defense, or vice versa. This is purely conjecture, I'm not saying we should actually do it, and I think Buffalo's roster is now skilled enough that if someone were to pull a George Wilson, he would probably would be cut for someone more talented before they fully had the switch down, instead of when Wilson played on an already weak roster. I'm going to try to pick one person from each side of the ball, but if you have a couple, that's fine. And I won't take the obvious one, because we all know Sanborn and Kiko can play all 22 positions on the field. Let's REALLY test ourselves. My picks are: OLB/DE Manny Lawson to TE Manny Lawson. Lawson has the kind of length and size to generate a considerable catch radius, short area quickness to get open, and strength to be a capable run blocker. I like this idea, but just don't know how good his hands are... I assume bad, otherwise, a guy that size, with those physical skills, would be best utilized on offense. LT Cordy Glenn to NT Cordy Glenn. Glenn has shown good power, balance and quickness as a remarkably large left tackle, which would be valuable skills as a 0-gap Nose Tackle. He is 6'6", 345 lbs, which would be a major problem for any center to move, or he could either bulk up to the 360lbs range and almost always require 2 blockers or drop down to 315 lbs range and really become a problematic long and strong penetrator ala Muhammad Wilkerson. Who else do you guys have in mind as possible layers who could transfer their skills to the other side of the ball, with success?

I thought I remember Searcy scooping up a Ridley fumble and returning it for the TD, and intercepting an intended Geno swing pass to a WR on the left, and returning that for a TD. But this only says he had 1 TD last year... Was that not Searcy with that pick 6? I remember feeling like Searcy would be cut in the final cutdowns of training camp, because he just looked awful with his tackling during the preseason, but he made it, and actually played well at times. I wouldn't be against him battling Duke for the starting job, as long as Aaron is still back there as the center fielder and Searcy is more box-disciplined safety.

Haha, he's looking for a co-worker.

What are we looking at now, late 10th rounder, cannot draft anyone with R-S-T-L-N-E in their last name? Or do comp picks not get that specific... As they say, it's a secret code nobody can crack!

Curtis Modkins just smashed his keyboard when he read this.

If they're sitting at having signed 3 guys, and having lost 4, and they still feel short at one position but have at stake losing a late 3rd rounder as compensation next year, they should send a 4th rounder for next year to a team for a player to improve the position that they are looking to improve. So say they feel short at WR, ant to sign a guy, they should just trade next year's 4th rounder because you will receive a late 3rd next year to replace it.

No problem, you are.

Well, at least he's not compared to Aaron Hernandez... That would be a MAJOR red flag.

Perhaps we need a punter's lunchtime coordinator, while we' re filling the staff with silly positions.

This is exactly what I've been thinking for a few weeks now, that there's got to be some sort of HGH hybrid that they have been pushing hard up there, that has made them bigger and faster than they normally would be... I mean how do you get such elite playmaking from late rounds or un drafteds, so commonly?? I know it happens here and there a Brady or Fred slip through the cracks, but not 2 or 3 PER YEAR, TO ONE TEAM. You would be foolish to think in today's sports ped environment, that this wouldn't be suspicious.

I think Bob Seger and Maclemore or AC/DC and Timberlake would be cool shows.

Yeah, I'm starting to feel the same way... If you put Peyton Manning on this team, I feel like we're better, or at least nominally equal, to the Broncos. Stick any top 8 QB with us, we're into the 2nd round of the playoffs, and easily. Unfortunately, the time it might take EJ to get to be a top 8-10 QB and be what we need (obviously a big IF he ever does), it might be 2 or 3 years down the line, and Kyle will be worse, Mario will be worse or cut, Branch will be ineffective, Darius might have walked for money elsewhere, Byrd will likely be gone, McKelvin is probably back to earth, Fred is gone or a shell of what he was... So the team we have today, with the stars we count on, won't be here when we make a major run, unless EJ makes a MAJOR jump this offseason, so much of it falls on keeping kicking the draft's butt, so we can have comparable talent when we finally have the QB in place... But the talent has peaked this year. Hopefully reinforcements come to replace the ones that fall off while we wait for the QB position to peak. I don't even know why I got on that tangent, sorry.

It's hard to attack in the NFL.

Who are the bills looking to protect in particular, Weaver? (Crossman? Haha)

I think I'm about 80% excited about this hire. As seems to be the general sentiment, I would have kinda preferred Wade to Schwartz, but I understand this hire, and it's a strong one. I'm impressed with the FO going out and actually getting a name for once (twice, actually, as Pettine was a strong hire last year too), and for not letting price tag be a sticking point for a top coordinator, as he is probably one of the highest paid DCs in the game right now. As soon as I got the bills text about the news, I worried about that dam wide-9 defense, which (though not under Schwartz) has had some majorly terrible statistical seasons (2012 Eagles, I'm looking at you). But he got elite, DPOY production out of Hainesworth, which Mario is more talented than, Darius could develop into, and Kyle is always great. So maybe we need to look into locking down Darius NOW before he has a crazy season in a system he could be built to excel in, then we lose him.

How did him being the RB coach make Flynn viable?

Barring any ability for us to drop back to #10 with Detroit, for maybe a 3rd rounder this year or a 2nd rounder next year if Dennard really is somebody they truly covet and we tell them we have a deal done with someone else below them who wants to come up and take this player that they want, I would be satisfied with either Watkins or Robinson. We all know EJ needs tools so Watkins would help with that! and is an upgrade over whomever else they would be trying to run out on the field at WR... And Robinson is a unique option, because the Bills have held the position that you draft tackles, and if they do not succeed, they can be slid inside to perform at guard. I think that May be the fate for Hairston, who will fight Unga, incumbent Legursey, and another guard they take around the 5th round for depth, plus whatever UDFAs they bring in to compete. My only issue with spending the #9 on a WR is that this draft is so heavy on WRs that we could get a quite good one in round 2, and address another need with a premium 1st round pick. However, if they feel like Watkins is a real special player, regardless of the talent drop off behind him, I say get him. If he can turn into a top 10 NFL WR, we make that move instead of just another guy who turns into just a nominal starter in the 2nd round.

Hey guys, give it a break, we actually won a TON of coin tosses this year. So soon we forget...

Junior Seau?? Ouchhh.....