Dr. Who

It's been explained quite a bit, but McConkey lined up on the outside close to 80% of the snaps. Folks who are painting him as a gritty slot receiver are mistaken. He's the best route runner in the draft and faster than I think many folks imagine. He'd be a great pick at #28. I like these fella's rankings. If you go to the 46 minute mark, they make the case for McConkey.

I'm not against the idea of getting a top 3 WR. I'll be very surprised if Beane is willing to trade 60 to do it.

I agree it would be a surprise.

I can't see Beane going a route that leaves him with only one pick in the first 2 days.

The ease with which folks are willing to just throw in the starting RT who has matured into a solid starter as part of trade up package is infuriating. It doesn't help to improve the WR room at the cost of taking another starter off the Oline. Those who think La'el Collins is going to just step in and replace Brown are mistaken. Collins is a backup and paid like one for a reason.

None of that is remotely akin to what a boundary receiver means to a fully functioning offense, or a replacement for what a vertical threat WR means. The Bills need two, and they are going to invest an early pick, and possibly draft capital in a trade to fill the void.

I've searched on Ebay and elsewhere for that jacket. If anyone knows where one could get ahold of one, let me know.

Well, I buy your narrative. The sour folks are pushing Brunette as responsible. I don't really fully understand the animus of some towards Ruff. They have so much bitterness towards Pegula that I think it colors any decision that is made.

Apparently the cap hit for the Chargers to trade Herbert is insane. That rumor is a no go so far as I can tell.

Yes, I agree about talking to Ruff. I don't have a problem with it, either. One fella speculated that maybe there were two or three alternatives that met KA's stated criteria, and that it wouldn't take long to gauge if any of them were interested. Whether KA did due diligence on all the possibilities doesn't bother me, because Ruff is obviously qualified. If I meet the right girl, I don't feel it's necessary to search the field to make sure she's the one. I think some folks believe KA lied about a serious coaching search, and they extrapolate from that perhaps that he will not make serious moves to upgrade the roster through trade or free agency. I think KA knows he's out of runway and has to produce, so I expect more significant change this off-season.

I think they take McConkey. I'll be happy, don't care if other folks bellyache. Then they should trade up and grab Legette in the second.

There's a lot of kvetching happening on the Sabres' forum about not having a complete search. I dunno, but I love the hire. Same fellas bellyaching all year that we need an experienced coach who will hold the young players accountable are now finding reasons to be negative. It's not a caveat, just an extra wish. I'd like to get Peca back as an assistant coach.

I remember the last 13 years. They were much worse.

I notice that I don't really like either one of them.

I love Lindy. I want that jacket. I hope they entice Peca to come back as an assistant.

McConkey and Legette is my favored combo pick. I was pushing for Kincaid last year, so if it happens, I'm going to maybe dance in the street. (I live on a rural farm, so only the cows, barn cats, and miniature horses will likely wonder what the damn fool is up to.) They are both late first/early second candidates. Your plan for taking McConkey at 28 and Legette in a trade up is also mine. Some folks appear to think wanting two WRs this early makes one a "knucklehead." I don't think they have properly assessed where our WR room is right now. If they don't grab 2 early, I suspect a trade for a veteran may happen.

Makes too much sense. If you are counting on Jones to save your jobs, might as well put your houses on the market now.

We normally agree a great deal, and that is the case here as well. All you can do is hope about Elam. He is sunk cost. The problem there, it has seemed to me, is scheme fit. Then there were injuries, and I think he lost his confidence. He seemed to have trouble often even where his strengths lie. Anyway, I'm not giving up on the fella. I still believe he has traits that could lead to a successful career -- I just hope it is with us if it happens. I have been pushing for 2 WRs in the top 40, because all the players I like are probably gone by the mid-second round. That would entail at least the cost of one of our 2025 seconds. For the right fellas, it's worth it. Maybe this is the last time I will indicate my reasoning, as it will be tedious to keep hearing me say it, but I think McConkey can take many of Diggs' snaps. He's much more an outside receiver than folks credit, though not a big X type, obviously. He's the best route runner in the class, and faster and more athletic than a lot of folks think. I think he's a volume receiver year one. Then I'd like to pair him with that big boundary receiver. If you could do it, you'd trade up for Thomas, but then you're probably not getting McConkey. I think Mitchell and Legette are possible early second, and Legette in particular is someone I would target in a trade up. However it plays out, I concur that Beane needs to add two WRs with potential to be difference makers in the WR room. Legette will take more time, but I think he has a reasonably high ceiling, and brings a versatile skill set. He could be DK Metcalf intimidating to tackle. I'm not sanguine about the edge players in the draft. If you draft one early, you are most likely reaching. Verse and Turner aren't falling, and Latu is a medical risk I would not choose above WR. I think it's the worst position group in the draft, and would only take day 3 fliers, unless Beane has already gotten WR help and manufactures another day 2 pick. That would be my preference, in any event. All that means internal growth and maybe a late FA pickup is where I would place most of my modest hopes on that aspect of the DL. If Von does anything, I will be surprised. I like what you have to say about Josh. I don't believe those who think his character has radically changed. I think he has always been an empathetic, good-natured fellow who is also ultra-competitive. I'm sure there were some personal relationship traumas that distracted him, because athletes are also human beings, and obviously the relationship with Diggs went sideways. There's no point in speculating all the reasons. I believe that Josh will now be a more dominant figure. He will be the veteran, elite franchise qb with younger WRs, even if they end up bringing in a veteran post-draft. It makes sense to me that he would ask a lot of questions and listen attentively to Tom Brady. That cerebral, analytic approach is something that Josh can improve upon, and I think he has the intelligence and desire to do so. I don't think he is complacently aware that Mahomes has three rings and he has none. I don't think he is just happily playing golf and hanging out with his Hollywood girlfriend with no passion for adding to his talent and winning. It's so very easy for critics to cast aspersions that cost them nothing, and hard to achieve difficult things.

Expensive trade up to grab pick #14. Just stayed and waited for the rest of the draft at remaining picks. Doubt #60 is there, but I'd love to start the draft out this way. 14. Rome OdunzeWR Washington 60. Xavier LegetteWR South Carolina 133. Tykee SmithS Georgia 144. Jordan JeffersonDT LSU 160. Layden RobinsonOG Texas A&M 163. Isaac GuerendoRB Louisville 200. Brennan JacksonEDGE Washington State 204. Tip ReimanTE Illinois 248. Carter BradleyQB South Alabama

I don't know how you managed both #5 and #31. Assuming one could actually do that, I'd prefer McConkey if he was on the board at 31, especially since you ended up with Wilson at 133. (I know you couldn't know that ahead of time.) We went from not enough big WRs to three plus Shorter. I think McConkey brings a dimension we could use, and balances well with MHJ or Mitchell. Wilson is worth a shot at that point in the draft, though lack of S help or DT is not so great. You probably should have went for a S at 133 if a decent one was available.

So, I hope you're right. My fear, I guess, is that they have an excellent formula for winning in the regular season, but it falls short in the post-season. I know they were bedeviled with injury last year, and still came close. A number of folks have opined that they need more elite playmakers on both sides of the ball. It doesn't have to be an enormous amount, but one more on each side of the ball would help a lot. A player like Kincaid or Cook might grow into that player. When Milano is healthy, he's borderline that player. You can find that player in the draft without trading up into the top 10. Anyway, I'm putting some markers down on Thomas, McConkey, and Legette. Those are the WRs I like best outside the top 3, and I'd be happy with one or two of them. There are other positions that need addressing, and I'm sure Beane has multiple strategies based on how the draft plays out. I still expect to be a Super Bowl contender next year. I do not see it as an inevitable down year, though it is a reset of sorts with all the veteran turnover.

The silver lining of taking the big cap hit on Diggs this year is resetting the economic structure of the roster. That is predicated on replacing him with WR talent on a rookie contract.

I think you're overreacting, and you could pose the question, or situate it differently. Thomas' combination of size, speed, and athleticism are not a mirage. Right now, with a lot of room to grow in terms of developing a route tree, he brings an immediate and consistent vertical threat that is exactly the piece our WR room most needs. And then I would say because of Nabers, he wasn't asked to do more. There is every reason to think he can expand, and become a true WR1. My bottom line is he already has a pretty high floor and definitely has a higher ceiling than most. You go get him if you can, imo.

The only real negative is you can't get him on a rookie contract, and it would cost high draft picks to secure him. (Those are pretty significant, however.)

Yeah, I agree with that. For me, McConkey is a top 5 or 6 WR in this draft. I think you need someone that plays his "role," though the precise skill sets will differ. So, maybe Pearsall or Franklin as alternative. Then you still need that big deep threat (I don't think Franklin checks the box for both. Maybe some do.)