smapdi

Kareem Martin is really intriguing to me. 6'6" / 272lb DE whose combine numbers compare to Clowneys. There is no question we need to come out of this draft with another DE. He sounds exactly like what we need opposite Mario. I actually like the fact he is better against the run because that is what we need; we have plenty of pass rushers. It's not like he can't do it... 11 sacks his senior season. Having him opposite Mario @ LE would give us 2 big DE's that can control the edges.

I agree. ASJ or Amaro would be awesome in the 2nd. I would definitely attempt to trade down if everyone is picked clean by 9 & try to pick up additional picks. Ebron doesn't strike me as a top 10 talent.

Just a terrible article with no substance what-so-ever.. big surprise from ESPN. Losing Byrd sucks but it's not the end of the world. I actually like the way our secondary is shaping up if they can all stay healthy. That is key. I love what Aaron Williams was able to do last season when he stepped in and replaced Byrd in the lineup. Williams has already shown he can fill Byrd's shoes in this defense. Replacing Williams at SS will be a lot less painful then if they didn't have Aaron Williams & had to replace Byrd with somebody else. Searcy has shown he can be that in the box type safety. Duke Williams will be in play. Corey Graham has the size and smarts to play that center fielder role. Meeks is a wild card. I just think Byrd won't be that huge of a loss when everything is said and done. We have a young secondary that is only getting better: CB1: Gilmore - really hope he can stay healthy and show that he is a top tier CB. He can do everything and has the size to match up against anyone CB2: McKelvin - what a comeback by McKelvin last season. He stepped up big with the new contract and has the talent to be a top CB2 CB3: Graham - Very good signing and adds some quality experience to help out with young secondary. Instant 3rd CB or can play saftey CB4: Robey - What a steal this kid was. Had 3 sacks and a INT for a TD. Small but that did not deter him. CB5: Brooks - Really hoping he can turn things around. Should make an impact on special teams S: Williams - Listed as SS but really doesn't matter. Earned his new contract with 82 tackles, 11 pass defended, 4 INTs, 1 FF. S: Duke Williams/Searcy/Meeks/Graham - Searcy might be the front runner here. He finished with 71 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 7 pass defended, 1 INT, 1 TD. He has the size at 5'11" / 216 lb . He got a ton of valuable experience last season & should be able to step in.

That was a pretty good watch. He has massive hands at 10 inches! Hell, Taylor Lewan is 6'7" (3 inches taller) and his hands are 9 & 1/4 inches. I am starting warm up to Ebron in the 1st... it appears that nearly everyone that the Bills will want will be gone by 9. No Mack. The top 3 OT's will probably be history. No Watkins or Evans. A TE should have more impact on this offense then a WR would with the addition of Mike Williams. Any WR drafted is going to be slotted in at 4th on the depth chart, at best (Stevie, Woods, Williams). A TE like Ebron is instantly the starter IMO. Chandler would be a much better TE2 anmyways. I've been a big supporter of OT in the 1st but only if that pick was one of the big 3 (Robinson, Matthews, Lewan). No way would I reach for any of the other prospects at 9. Would just wait til 41 and hope that Moses, Kouandjio, or James is there.

Really doesn't make too much sense to trade Stevie Johnson at this point if you're the Bills unless you're blown away by a Percy Harvin type offer. All of us as Bills' fans have been collectively been complaining all offseason about our lack of talent at WR. Yet, some of you just want to trade away our most proven & effective one (for peanuts in some cases)? A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. None of these kids in the draft have proven anything in the NFL. Watkins could be great but he also could flame out. No one knows at this point because he's never played a snap in the NFL. Mike Williams was a great pickup but he's one f'up from a suspension. Stevie may not be a true #1 but he's proven he can be effective against theach best CBs in the NFL (Revis, Sherman). Why get rid of that for peanuts when you have a young QB who needs as many weapons as possible? He struggled last season but I'm willing to give him a pass. Manuel missed a bunch of TC and preseason snaps so there's that. Then you have a new coaching staff with an entirely new scheme. The injury didn't help either. Still, he was on pace for his best season ever before injuries struck. I want to see what EJ & Stevie can do with a full off season together & another year in system.

It boggles my mind you guys want to get rid of our most explosive weapon on offense. He is in the prime of his career at 26-27 years old & has proven he can be a game changing type player. The Bills also are one of the most run oriented teams in the league.. do you guys like Fred Jackson can carry this offense at his age? I don't even see the ppint in trading him. He's worth a 1st to this team but would probably only fetch a 2nd after his injury plagued season. You're going to end up having to spend that pick on a RB to replace him. A completely unproven player who hasn't done anything in the NFL. Spiller isn't the problem on this offense. The terrible run blocking by the line & Hacketts head scratching play calling were the major issues. Get someone like Matthews to play RT & Niklas to block from the TV spot and we have a very scary rushing attack

I second this. Bring your passport so you can hit up Canada a night or two. Their strip clubs are some of the best on the continent! The Sundowner especially.. just absolutely gorgeous girls & the "Canadian ballet" is fully nude. I recommend going on a week night other then Friday for best experience. Stay downtown instead of near Orchard Park. A ton of great nightlife along Chippewa in the city & last call is 4am. Maybe check out Encore one night; great spot to party with tons of beautiful women. Duffs, LA Nova, Gabriels Gate, & The Anchor Bar are all great spots for wings. Your mind will be blown by just how good real wings are I'm Buffalo compared to the rubbish served elsewhere in the country.

With a top 10 pick, you need to come away with an elite player with Pro-Bowl potential who can immediately step in and start. A guy that can make a major impact on your team from day 1. An elite OT like Matthews or Lewan is a no-brainer to me. Both are blue-chip prospects with a ton of experience (40+ starts) that can step into this offensive line and get the worst starter left off the field in Eric Pears. Those guys will have an immediate impact on EVERY single snap of offense. We have a young QB in Manuel that has struggled with injuries. We need to keep him up-right & give him time to make reads. 48 sacks won't cut it. There is also a massive drop off in talent from Matthews and Lewan to the next tier of guys. They both can easily slide over to LT if Glenn gets injured. Your 2nd or 3rd round RT prospect has no hope of being able to do that effectively. Mike Evans would be nice but even a great rookie season by him is probably 60 catches. We can get a WR in the 2nd or 3rd to address playmakers that is very talented & could have that same type of production

Complete no-brainer to pick up the 5th year option on Dareus at only 7 million dollars. Will give them more time to negotiate a long term deal to keep him in Buffalo for a long time. After a so-so rookie year & a "wait & see" 2nd year, he really broke out last season IMO. He put all the pieces together and made the Pro-Bowl. 6'3, 331lb DT's like Dareus don't grow on trees... there is a reason he went 3rd overall. Last season was just the beginning for this kid and I truly think the sky is the limit for him. 71 tackles to go along with 7.5 sacks is outstanding for a NT/DT like Dareus. Even with his so-so start to his career, he already has 18.5 sacks. Just outstanding for a DT/NT. Having a pair of DT's with elite pass rushing ability like Dareus and Williams is amazing . Nothing flusters a QB more then consistent pressure up the middle... They can't step into the throw & taking hits from 330lb DT's is a nightmare scenario. I think he enters the elite tier of defensive linemen this season. He can dominate at the line of scrimmage & beat double teams pretty easily. He was among 3 pro-bowlers on the line & these guys just feed off each other. Williams isn't getting any younger entering his 10th season so keeping Dareus around is key.

If the Bills are sold on Lewan's off the field concerns, I see no reason not to take him. You said it yourself: He is a big, nasty OT with absolutely dyn-o-mite measurables. This kid is off the chart: 6'7" / 310lb 4.79 forty yard dash* 29 bench press reps 30.5 inch vertical* 117" broad jump* 7.39 3 cone drill* *Combine top performer at position He has 48 starts under his belt; not a 1 year, flash in the pan athletic freak. He would've been the 2nd overall pick last year and possibly in contention for 1st overall. His athleticism is what really blows me away. A 310lb mauler that runs a 4.79 forty?! That is amazing. He plays with a mean streak as well to top off his insane measurables and boat loads of experience. The only thing holding this kid back is some questionable off the field stuff but this staff isn't scared away. Kiko Alonso had some issues coming out of school as well. A 4th round pick really isn't worth it to me to pass on a blue-chip player that is the BPA whom also happens to fill in the single biggest hole on the team. I just don't feel Ebron and his 3 TD's are worth the top 15 investment. Especially in the offense we run. Even if he has a great rookie season, he is only going to catch 60 balls. Lewan will impact EVERY single offensive snap. On top of that, you will probably be able to get your pick between Jace Amaro, ASJ, or Troy Niklas. Give me Amaro in the 2nd all day over Ebron in the 1st. He was a machine at Tech breaking all types of records and just destroying defenses. His production is off the charts compared to what Ebron did.

I'd keep Glenn at LT until he shows otherwise. At this time during his draft, all the talk was about how he would barely scratch by as a RT & would probably be a lot better off playing OG in the NFL. LT was certainly out of the question. All he's done is played his butt off and become a very good LT. He only allowed 1.5 sacks on a team that gave up 48. Resigning him is essential to the success of this line long term. I like Matthews a lot but he can play either spot as he demonstrated in his 48 starts at A&M. If I'm Marrone, I'd much rather show my players that spots are earned and not just given away. Glenn has earned his LT spot so it's his until he proves otherwise. The tackle spots are pretty close to interchangeable in today's game. A lot of defenses have 2 very good pass rushers which they use to attack both sides of the line. Having two very good tackles lets you have your OT's take on those 2 guys 1 on 1 instead of having to commit a TE or RB to stay in and block.

Oh I totally agree. The line can't be blamed for everything. Manuel was directly responsible for his major injury against CLE; he could have just went out of bounds and taken no hit but decided he needed an extra, meaningless two yards. That was all on him... no doubt about it. A lot of the sacks were due to the terrible QB play of last season. Manuel/Lewis/Tuel missed a lot of throws and held on to the ball too long. Instead of hitting their safety valve or just throwing it away, they took a sack. Still, improving RT does so much for the entire offense. We clearly are a run first team with the amount of carries FJax and Spiller had last season; adding Matthews gets Pears out of the lineup. It's not surprising he graded out as the worst run blocking RT in all of football. He just isn't a NFL caliber starting OT. Matthews or Lewan are so much more athletic and would do wonders for our run game. Both of them can get to the 2nd level and do some damage; those are some of the biggest blocks a RB can get. Especially a back like Spiller... he gets that one block in the 2nd level and its off to the races. Pass protection would improve significantly as well. Both of our OT's would be able to hold their own 1 on 1 allowing for another receiving option instead of having to keep them in to help Pears out. I wouldn't be for "reaching" for a OT. Reaching for guys to fill a need is how you end up with John McCargo. Both Lewan and Matthews are blue chip type prospects. They both would've been top 3 picks last season in a deep OT draft. They both have a ton of experience and quality starts; not just 1 year flash in the pan type prospects. They both land on the graph where need and value intersect.

Why do you never draft a RT in the top 10? I don't understand this POV. This isn't 1975 anymore, the game is changing. RBs used to consistently go in the top 10 but that isn't the case anymore. Matthews or Lewan are both great LT prospects. You're drafting a blue chip LT prospect in Matthews or Lewan. Granted they will play RT because that is the biggest hole on the team but doesn't change the fact they can play LT. The best defenses have 2 great pass rushers. You need 2 good OTs that can hold their own 1on1 against these guys. Having Matthews allows you to let your TE or Spiller to run a route instead of having to stay in & block. Priority #1 needs to be getting Manuel the most help. He can't improve if he's getting injured because the line gave up 48 sacks.

Pretty much any defensive player @ 9 other then Clowney or Mack. Both will be gone so if the pick isn't offense, I will definitely be saying wtf. The offense is just so far behind & they invested a 1st in Manuel last year; they need to get him some help. I'm all for the first 3 picks going offense unless someone shocking falls. The line definitely needs a new RT & getting a OG that could push for a starting job would be nice. Also need a new TE. Too many holes on offense to ignore

Even with the runner up for DROY, that's only 25% of the LB corp. The Bills' have had a truly terrible group of LBs the previous few seasons. LB are a major part of the run defense especially when you a run a 34. The whole point of the 34 is to let your LBs do all the work; tthe line just occupys blockers to let the LBs make plays. I don't think Lawson was a major upgrade either. Def an improvement over what the train wreck they had. A player like Brandon Spikes is a major improvement to your LB corp

I don't think another DT is the answer. Dareus is coming into his own & Kyle Williams is Kyle Williams. Then you have Branch. I'd rather add another DE. Mario is our only true , every down 43 DE. Hughes is our pass rusher but won't do much for run game. I think they have their sights set on one somewhere in this draft. Someone that is stout against the run that can come in on 1st & 2nd down

Another thing to keep in mind is that it was known from the start he was a "project" QB that would need some time coming out of FSU. He missed valuable preseason time & a ton of practice reps due to injury. Only played in 10 games. On top of that, we had a rookie coaching staff implementing a new system. Everyone needed time to adjust. Then factor in the terrible line play & I don't understand how you could call him a bust after last season. This year will be a much better indication of where his career is going. He will have a full NFL off-season & will get to work with his WRs right now to develop some raport. The QB / WR relationship is huge- when they know what the other is going to do in different situations, life is much easier.

Seriously. He struggled his first year & yet he still has 18.5 sacks in just 3 seasons. That is pretty crazy production for a 330lb NT/DT. He is just coming into his prime & will be a treat to watch next season. I would've loved Can Newton but he went 2. DT's like Dareus are seriously difficult to find. How wasn't the d-line dominant last season? They had 58 sacks. The reason the run defense was so bad was our horrendous LB corp. Kiko can't do everything. Spikes is a huge upgrade and Rivers should help as well.

Yea, getting a Pro-Bowl, 330lb beast of a DT whom already has 18.5 sacks in just 3 seasons (That would be a pretty damn good career for most top DT's) & is a major part of the most dominating defensive line in the NFL (44 sacks- would rank 7th best) was a terrible ppick.. Especially after they had neglected the trenches for so long. To answer OP's question, it is a toss up between Dareus & Cordy Glenn. I wanted Glenn so badly & was glued to the radio as those picks came off the board in the 2nd. Each time a pick was announced & it wasn't Glenn, my heart began to beat faster. When they finally got on the clock with Glenn there for the taking, I was near a cardiac event. Then they announced "The Buffalo Bills select OT from Georgia, Cordy Glenn" and I literally cheered at my radio, haha. Another example of the Bills "getting it" & investing in trenches is a common thread between the two. The NFL goes thru phases of en vogue positions (TE seems to be current one) but grabbing elite linemen will never go out of style. If you can win the battle at the line, it makes everyone else look so much better... Much like a great QB can make average WR's into highly productive stars

Where do I sign? I would love this deal. Scratch another need off the draft board for no cost. He reminds me of the Jerry Hughes situation last season. Former 1st rounder with high expectations that could use a change of scenery. 6'2" / 265lb. 3 sacks last season & 5.5 sacks the year before. I really don't know how the Eagles would value TJ though. I'd rather have the pass rusher myself but there is no doubt that TJ offers your offense deep ball speed like no other. More then likely would have to throw in a draft pick & I don't think I want to be losing any more picks in this deep draft.

My thinking exactly. I would definitely take Clowney, Mack, or Watkins but I highly doubt any of them are there. A OT just provides so much more impact then Ebron would. What happens if Glenn gets injured?? If we take Matthews or Lewan, no problem. They can slide right over & not miss a beat. That's why I like Matthews so much: he can play any position on the line & has a ton of experience at RT with 46 starts in the SEC in 2 different styles of offense. You can pretty much throw the season away if Glenn goes down with the current state of our OT's. I really liked what Hairston did a couple years back but who knows if he even can dress? Couple that with the fact that we can get a TE in the 2nd that is almost identical too what Ebron would bring to this offense is ASJ or grab a more traditional, in-line TE in Niklas whom is also a dominating blocker. 75% of Niklas' snaps came from the LOS. He also is a better redzone threat then Ebron IMO. 6'6" / 270lb with a 32 inch vertical is close to unstoppable in the redzone. Hell, Ebron only had 3 TD's last season. Top 10 TE's should have more then 3 TD's coming out. Now figure even if Ebron has a great rookie year, he catches 60 balls or so. Pretty good year but that isn't going to turn the tide of this offense. A OT will step into RT and impact every single play. Pears was the worst rated run blocking RT last season & that's a big problem on a team that runs as much as we do. We also gave up 48 sacks. That is atrocious. Games are won and lost in the trenches and I'm pretty sure Marrone realizes that being an o-line guy. Matthews or Lewan both would've been in contention for the 1st overall pick last year & surely went in the top 3.

Totally disagree I was at the Carolina game & he totally had whatever "it" is on the final drive of that game. I think if all the pieces come together with the o-line, that is the type of Manuel we can get. I was talking to my seatmates & we all agreed that there was a different feeling in the air at The Ralph when the Bills took possession for the game winning drive. Usually that's a 3 and out punt with Dick Jauron or a INT with past Bills offenses. Manuel had "it" on that drive for sure. CAR was't just some bottom feeder; they were an elite team. The best pass rushing defense in the league and Manuel kept it together & led his team down the field. Especially loved the fact he didn't try and hog the glory by trying to force it in with 3 seconds left on that scramble. He used his head and realized he had no chance so he got out of bounds & let his playmakers finish the job for him... easy TD catch by Stevie. That really impressed me. You don't see too many rookies NOT go for the TD there. No timeouts so game is over if he gets stopped. Really smart play by the kid. Casserly is a clown. There is a reason he's stuck behind a desk on a cable show instead of running an actual NFL team. Someone should have asked him if he thinks Manuel will be better then Heath Shuler or David Carr?

I would love a player like Ebron on this team but not at the cost of a top 10 pick. I just don't see the value of spending the 9th overall pick on a guy that really didnt dominate in college & there are TE's who will be available @ 41 whom are more complete players (Niklas) or just as athletic, slot guys (ASJ). I don't see how you can take him over someone like Jake Matthews whom dominated in the SEC, has a ton of starts, & most importantly, plays the weakest position on the entire team (RT). Even if Ebron has a grreat rookie season (60 receptions), his impact is still minimal on the overall offense. A great RT will impact every single offensive snap & help our 2 key players realize their talent (Manuel & Spiller). Then grab Niklas or ASJ in the 2nd & get the same production Ebron would provide this offense.

Great break down of their current situation entering the draft. I cannot wait for May 8th or whatever it is because this draft could be a turning point for this team for years to come. IMO, this team has a lot of pieces in place to be a playoff team & can accomplish that with a great draft. As the roster stands, the offensive line is the weakest unit on the team. Going deeper, RT is a tire fire. Pears graded out as the worst run-blocking RT which is bad news for a team that plans on running the ball as much as the Bills do. The draft is very fluid & who knows what happens the first 8 picks but if most of the mocks out there are correct & no one crazy drops (Clowney, Watkins, Mack), I think you cross your fingers and hope Jake Matthews is there. Instant upgrade & an elite OT. He has the versatility to play any spot along the line (very underrated attribute) & we will be set with 2 stud bookend OT's for hopefully the next 7 or 8 years. I definitely would not move Glenn over to RT; if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I am really hoping there is a run on QB's in the top 8 & TB takes Mike Evans to replace Mike Williams so Matthews is waiting for us. If not, Lewan is right up there talent wise with any of the elite OT's of this season and last. He has some serious off the field concerns which is the only reason he would be available at 9. He's talented enough that he would've went in the top 3 last season if he declared. If the Bills are turned off by his red flags, I am digging your suggestion of trading down and going after CYRUS KOUANDJIO. They could pick up an extra 2nd(which would be HUGE in this draft) and still get their RT. http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/cyrus-kouandjio?id=2543482 He fits their mold for the big, strong, physically imposing offensive linemen @ 6'7" / 322lb. First team All-American and First team All-SEC. His biggest knock is that he is raw but a lot of his weaknesses can be coached away- especially with Marrone being a o-line coach. His lack of a mean streak is a little troubling but he is only 21 years old & projects to be a "bull dozing RT" That extra 2nd could go a long way in this deep draft. We could grab a TE like Troy Niklas out of ND who is 6'6 / 270LB who is one of the few top tier TE's that played the vast majority of their snaps along the line. He is also raw but loves to block & would be like another OT out there. His size coupled with his 32 inch vertical make him pretty much uncoverable in the redzone going up for jump balls. Since they seem to really want to run the ball, adding a TE like Niklas makes perfect sense instead of the TE/WR hybrids who have very little in-line experience & are so-so blockers. You could then use that extra 2nd to address the next biggest need: DE, OG, S (all depends of value). Moving to the 43, Mario is really their only true 43 DE. Hughes should be a stud on passing downs (along with Lawson) but they definitely could use another DE. Especially if Mario were to go down. Maybe someone like Kony Ealy or Demarcus Lawerence if they fancy a DE With reports that Graham could be slotted into S to replace, maybe they look for a CB or S (if they keep Graham at CB). I also feel like they need to address OG as early as the 3rd round. They need to push Williams and Urbik for their jobs. Depth is also key and it clearly bit them in the ass last year. They need to walk away from this draft with a bare minimum of 2 new offensive linemen.

Spikes is all about the team. He was the heart & soul of that dominating Florida team- the team leader. Guys looked up to him & he inspired them / held them accountable out on the field. The BIlls' haven't had a leader on defense like him since Takeo Spikes left. Football is a very emotional game & a vocal leader like Spikes can really make a difference. That has been one of this club's biggest problems: the lack of a vocal leader. Too many indians with no chief to lead them Kiss the soft Bill's teams of Chan Gailey & Dick Jauron bye-bye with the acquisition of him. It has been lllooooonnnngggg over due IMO. I want my LB's to be mean, nasty mo-fo's who want to make ball carriers pay. Even a millisecond of hesitation can be the difference in the NFL. Having a play like Spikes roaming the middle of the field will give a lot of WR's/TE's alligator arms if they know a hit like that Ballard one I posted is waiting for them as soon as they catch it.