1billsfan

That last game of the year against the Pats was a horror show for the run defense. Blount looked like he was playing against a high school team. While Blount's now in Pitt, the AFCE still added Johnson and Moreno, and the Pats are going more and more run heavy the older Brady gets. With Spikes and now Brown, Whaley seems to be doing a good job coming up with answers for the poor running defense.

Finally had a chance to chime in, and I'm laughing at Bills fans critical of this trade. I feel sorry for them if having a future and totally unknown 1st round pick is more important to them than having Sammy "Freaking" Watkins on the Bills. I love love love this pick! This is a passing league and what we lack in having a seasoned franchise QB, we now make up for in great WR talent. Look at how pitiful the Pats, Jets and Dolphins WR corps are and then come back and tell me that the Bills aren't real contenders in this division. IMO if Manuel brings his game up to average in this league we will have a real shot at winning this division. That's a big "if" but I still believe in him becoming a franchise QB.

I love Stevie Johnson, but his drop against the Falcons really harpooned the Bills 2013 season. The Bills entire team did not show up against Tampa the following week. How huge would it have been for EJ Manuel to have another game winning drive under his belt? How could Manuel trust Stevie during crunch time again? Yes he did have the winning catch against the Panthers but that loss in Toronto was so crushing that I could imagine there might be a lingering QB/WR trust issue going into this season. This is the best for both teams and for Stevie. I'll miss him greatly, but hey, it will be cool to see him again when the 49ers play the Bills in next year's Superbowl. Finally the matchup that was always expected, but never materialized in the early 90s. I'm serious, I can see this happening.

It's strange since the Bills have apparently been scouting him hard for a long time. You'd think that they would be near 90% certain that Ebron will have a huge positive effect on the team in terms of wins and a huge effect on helping Manuel's progression into a franchise QB. I don't think there will be a freakout pick for me because I think they know what's on the line and they won't screw it up.

Not saying Ebron is or isn't a "punk", who knows. I would think the Bills probably have that questioned nailed down by now!...LOL However, there have been many great NFL players who were (when they played) or are "punks". The thing is if you're a "punk" in an ok way or a bad way. I think if he is a "punk", he's probably in the mold of Sherman or Suggs ok "punks". Not the bad "punks" where you find their names on police blotters. This team could probably use a "punk" player who isn't afraid to talk and say how great they are or will be. I do think there are too many wall flowers on the Bills roster. Just look at the quiet personalities of their last four 1st rd picks...Spiller, Dareus, Gilmore, Manuel. You've got to admit, his proposal shows he certainly isn't afraid of going big on one of the biggest days of his life.

He proposed to his girlfriend two hours ago on top of the Empire State Building... http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24554859/te-eric-ebron-proposes-to-girlfriend-hours-before-nfl-draft-begins

I've never been big on Evans because he seems much more like a Vincent Jackson than a Calvin Johnson. He does a few things that are great and translate to the NFL, but he seems a bit limited athletically for a wide out expected to take over the #1 receiver role. His body type and style probably projects best as a hybrid TE. I see Ebron becoming a offensive mismatch "TE" like Gronk and Graham. I see Evans having a very good, yet up and down career like Jackson. This is just my opinion based on watching their videos and projecting their games to the NFL.

I want Ebron, unless there's a serious personality issue with him. Now I've stated that I don't care what Polian says, but it was so harsh and being that he lives there in NC, I'm wondering if he knows something that we don't. I really like Ebron's confidence and cockiness and I'm sure the Bills would have done their homework on him covering all angles. However, I don't want him if he won't be loved by his fellow Bills team mates. If Ebron does have "issues" then I don't know which way I'd go. I certainly would not trade up in this draft unless it is a "bargain" deal. If it is a trade up then I'm good with Clowney or Watkins depending on the price of course. Even if Evans comes at a bargain price in a trade up, I'm also good.

You're not buying the premise that these guys feel like they have a one year audition and are willing to gamble? If I were in their position I know I wouldn't care less about 2015 picks...LOL This bunch has no owner to answer to and no longer essentially have a 2015 safety net season. If there's a player that they feel strongly would put them over the top like either Clowney or Watkins, then look out because it's on like a...

"As far as giving up future picks, the Bills' decision-makers are in a unique position. The team's pending ownership change gives them less job security. Another non-playoff season -- which would extend the Bills' NFL-leading streak to 15 seasons out of the postseason -- could doom general manager Doug Whaley and coach Doug Marrone in the eyes of a new owner. Why not go for broke now? " I just made this point in another thread!...lol I do think more and more that the Bills are going to do something kind of crazy.

I don't think I'd give up a lot of high picks in a trade up for Watkins. But if it did happened, I would feel excited with the understanding that they're putting their chips in the middle of the table that Sammy Watkins will turn Manuel into a franchise QB (like Green and Johnson did with Dalton and Stafford) and the Bills will finally make a playoff appearance. One thing that's not being considered is the possibility the Bills will package Spiller and/or Stevie in a bid to trade with someone like the Raiders in a move up to get Watkins. The Raiders appear to be in a fast track rebuild mode. Something to think about. I would trade both Spiller, SJ and the #9 pick move up to the Raiders #5 spot (for Watkins) with only one lower round pick as a "sweetener" if that were needed.

It's not my philosophy, it's my read on the situation at OBD. Perhaps it's desperate to give away a lot of picks for a #1 WR like Watkins, but if Manual looks like he's becoming a franchise QB this season then wouldn't those picks be well worth the price considering we haven't had one since Kelly.

I think the Bills believe the lack of a #1 target is dire and are prepared to give EJ Manuel something that Dalton and Stafford have (and would be NFL backups by now if they didn't) by doing everything they need to make it happen. Everyone's job is on the line with Manual this year. A new owner is obviously coming in, and if Manual doesn't gain liftoff by the end of this season then everyone will probably be fired. I fully expect our pick to be Watkins, Evans or Ebron. Be prepared to see that 2nd round pick and possibly the 2015 1st rd pick go bye-bye. This bunch doesn't care very much about 2015 picks. It's probable that they feel the need to go all in for Manuel's progression into a franchise QB this season. If he does, then they will deal with the lack of picks through free agency in 2015. If he doesn't, they expect to all be gone I imagine.

My issue was going OL/DE first two picks. This board is 100% in agreement that they need a RT within the first two picks. That includes me. If they go OL/DE, like you suggested, then that would be a ballsy move since Manual has no #1 guy. He isn't Brady, he needs a great receiving threat added this year or this whole regime is in trouble IMO.

So you're saying both Graham and Goodwin are qualified as being seriously considered Manual's #1 "go to" receiver, which defenses will have to game plan to stop?

Where is EJ Manuel's "go to" #1 receiver coming from? Is he on this team? If he is, who is this Bills player? The Bills spent a 1st round pick on a QB last year. Going OL and DE with the first two picks is a fireable offense unless you truly believe that Manual's future "go to" #1 receiving target is on the team right now. The reality is that there is no "waiting till 2015 draft to select or find your top #1 receiver" with EJ Manual. He's a raw 1st round selected QB who needs his "#1 guy" right now, or everyone should be prepared for a total turnover in FO, coaching and QB for the 2015 season. Because the extremely average Scott Chandler leading your team in receptions should tell everyone that you have a serious problem that must be addressed with one of the top two picks.

He wasn't even brought in for a workout. I'm surprised this thread has grown to 5 pages considering this fact...lol

Don't worry, neither Zack Martin or Taylor Lewan were brought in for workouts so I think it's safe to say that neither of them are going to be drafted by the Bills. Robinson wasn't brought in either, but I think that's because they know either he'll be gone by #2, or if he did fall to say the Raiders #5 pick, the Bills would have no intention of trading up a couple of spots and lose a high pick for an OT. I suspect Lewan isn't even on the Bills' board because they fear he's an Incognito clone.

I think this list is Mayock's ranking alone. The guy puts in a lot of time evaluating these players and I don't think there's any outside influences going on. If there were, he would not have put Ebron at #8. A spot which very few here other than probably me and a few others would rank him. The QBs may or may not go higher than expected. Guessing where they'll go is a total crapshoot that no one has perfected. Last year and 2011 just go to show the wide range of what can happen. I think 2011 was long enough ago that owners and GMs won't be as spooked by the Gabbert, Ponder, Locker bummerfest of QB picks from that year. My hunch is that at least two QBs will go before the Bills pick.

I think it would be Manziel at 2 and Evans at 8. I remember proposing the Rams do something like this a couple of months ago...lol

The Browns' GM going overboard fawning over Sammy Watkins and the fact that Kyle Shanahan is their OC tells me that Johnny Manzeil will be picked by the Browns at #4 and they are just worried that either the Jags or a team in the top 10 will trade ahead of them to pick him. The way that rookie QB contracts are structured, it reduces the worry if he turns out to be a bust. Teams can move on much more easily today. IMO no way Manzeil makes it to #9.

Where were Polian's tough "he's too immature" comments on guys like Evans and Lewan? Two guys who have provided actual proof of immaturity? Those comments were so mean-spirited, tough and out of left field that I have a suspicion he may be trying helping out his buddy Jim Caldwell in Detroit who by many accounts really like Ebron. If Polian's talking about his ego and cockiness, well I have no problem with Ebron on that account. This Bills team needs some players who are willing to exude confidence in their game. There are way too many wall flowers on this team and I would hope that Ebron's cockiness and confidence would rub off on some of the other players. For me, Polian no longer has any cred whatsoever.

Ah yes, the well known and respected GM who was exposed during the 2011 season for his very long stretch of bad Colt drafts and subsequently fired. It's 2014 and still no job offer yet? Sorry, but in no way do I trust what Polian has to say about any player. Maybe 15-20 years ago, but not today. He clearly just coasted as a GM a few years after drafting Peyton Manning. If you want an old school guy who is current and knows what he's talking about then go to Gil Brandt.

I truly believe that Manuel needs an easy #1 passing target more than a very good 1st round quality RT. Now if you are talking about Robinson then there is no question, I'd take the RT. IMO picking the very good, but not great, Matthews is not worth saddling Manuel with Chandler, Woods, and the leftovers for his most important year. The Bills have to help provide a "liftoff" for Manuel who is still raw. He is not an "Andrew Luck" type who can turn nobody WRs into somebodies. He needs help or this franchise is back to dumping everybody including the QB, coaches and starting over. To me, having Matthews as our solid RT simply isn't worth putting that kind of pressure on a raw but talented QB like Manuel. I feel that the Bills will have the opportunity to pick a very good RT prospect with their 2nd round pick. They could possibly even trade up to the back end of the 1st rd to get the guy they want. Obviously we're all entrenched by now on who we like and I fully realize that Ebron has become one of the more polarizing "love him, hate him" players in this draft. I'm not even down on many players that have been discussed here, I just have a strong view of getting Manuel to the franchise QB level as quickly as possible. "Batman" needs his "Robin" and I currently don't see him on this team.

Granted, Matthews will be a solid pro OL for a long time. However, in my opinion he will do little for Manuel's progression into a franchise QB. I rate both Ebron and Matthews on pretty much the same level. What Ebron lacks in the "solid and safe" department, he makes up for in the "greater impact" department. I'd take Robinson over Ebron, but not Matthews. I don't care who'd rip that decision. I need to expedite Manuel becoming a franchise QB and Matthews (regardless of his last name) IMO isn't a great enough OL talent to pass on my number one priority. Robinson would be the only one to do that.