biggerdaddynj

Not sure if anyone has already posted a link to this December '16 article from Albert Breer on the "short list of GMs for 2017"--came across it as I'm trying to educate myself on who the most well-respected top candidates are for a new GM gig. I apologize if someone has already posted the link and if any candidates are gone: http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/12/15/nfl-general-manager-candidates-2017

The Pegulas did Whaley a favor--he never had a real opportunity to do the job the right way--he was always trying to put out a house fire with a cup of water. I'm sure he'll land on his feet and will hopefully get a chance to be a GM again and to be a GM who actually gets to do the job his way (and has the dumb luck to be in a position to draft a franchise QB instead of a being a stand up guy and backing Buddy's legacy QB). And, this wasn't a house cleaning--look a little higher up the food chain and you'll notice some people still around who, unlike Whaley, have been here for a lot more of the losing than Whaley. Also, for those who are so enamored by the prospect of Brandon Beane taking over--take a look at the Panthers' drafts during the last few years, with draft boards he was credited with being heavily involved in setting, and tell me what you think of them: http://www.panthers.com/team/history/college-draft-history.html#2012 And, take a look at his off-season moves in FA, via trade, etc, and tell me how you they stack up compared to Sheppard for Hughes; (used up) Kiko for (HOF) Shady trades or Gillislee/Zach Brown/Lorax signings (use the drop down tab to change the seasons to review Panthers' transactions): http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/car/carolina-panthers Here are some examples from the Panthers own PR machine that tout Beane's best known accomplishments (circa 2015 but look for yourself at last year and this year's moves--equally unimpressive): "Beane has also been responsible for directing portions of the NFL Draft, including executing trades that netted cornerback Bene Benwikere, wide receiver Devin Funchess and offensive tackle Daryl Williams in the past two years. Beane has played a role in putting together the team's draft board over the past four seasons and participated in the evaluation of collegiate prospects in preparation for the draft." And with this said, I turn the page. As a Bills' fan, my loyalty to the team is greater than my loyalty to any one person in the organization. I wish McD all of the luck on the world and hope he is the first man in years to be left alone to build a team.

You gotta concede DW inherited a bad situation that only got worse and most people seem inclined to think he had no control over much of what made his job so difficult (just read the thread I responded to, sums it all up). Bottom line--the Pegulas are continuing to run this team like a second rate organization. Whether or not you like DW, McD or anyone else who is here or who comes here, it doesn't bode well for anyone--especially not for us, the fans who have been suffering for far too long.

Was hoping for better with Pegula but we are apparently destined to be a second rate organization. Check back in a few years and compare DW's moves to those of his successor and I have a feeling even his haters will concede he did as well as anyone could under the same circumstances (and, if you saddle him with being responsible for EJ during Buddy's draft, you gotta give him credit with the picks this year and that includes whatever the extra first rounder we got in 2018 nets us).

+1

You are indeed correct (I myself misspoke, shame on me), though I know I never wanted Ross as our pick at WR because we wanted more size (to realize Buddy's dream of having a WR "who was open even when he was covered") not a smaller, injury risk WR with track star speed (because everyone knows size matters, right ladies )--and I know Ross is much more than a track guy who happens to play football, he's a guy Al Davis would take with a top five pick over a franchise QB or bookend LT. That was Mayock's point--he essentially said Zay used the draft process (Senior Bowl, Combine, etc.) to show he was more than originally viewed--said he and Reddick were the two who made most of draft process.

He was virtually everyone at TBD's number three WR after Davis and Williams. Don't like to have to trade up but remember this is a deep draft so going down from the third to fifth doesn't hurt as much as giving up a pick outright and we got our guy (remember, didn't JuJu say we was scared of the snow?). Two picks and two needs met with an extra first next year and without sacrificing anything of substance. Pretty friggin' good Mr. Whaley (oh that's right, if you like it then it wasn't him, it was McD, sorry about that). If we get OLB or o-line pick next, I'll be VERY happy.

Also with the other midnight oil burning trade down folks. I'd be interested in considering it but not too far if Cunningham and Robinson are gone (Williams seems like a punk--failed drug tests, guns, "simplified playbooks" and RT just scares me with Millls and the Victor Ducasse Project--especially with the health issues of our o-line "depth"). Might be someone looking for Kizer, Mixon, Kamara, etc. After my top two, I'm really torn at WR between JuJu, Zay, and Kupp. Wish we had two twos and one third so we'd get the best combo of OLB, WR, OT (if the right one is still there) or a real McD zone scheme CB. Adding another pick might enable us to take a gamble on a medical player like Jones or Moreau...

Maybe not, remember Shanahan and Cousins--so maybe the Browns get Cousins and then take in a massive haul for the number one next year (maybe Cousins is their franchise QB--he's already proven it as opposed to a college QB). And, the Browns will have enough picks to fill two rosters if they keep it up!! EDIT--got a little revved up in the excitement last night--I know, I know, Shanahan is Niners' coach not with the Browns (which is why it was genius move to get Bears to trade and still get their man in Thomas)--my subconscious was trying to find a way to convince me someone will trade a Darnold pick next year! 🤡 Guess the only hope is if Browns take Kizer tonight and are happy. Or, if the Niners stink it up and sign Cousins like they're supposed to.

Watching NFL network. I have a question, have any of the "experts" opined on our trade? It seems like I either totally zoned out (and I'm sober unfortunately) or they don't care. No respect. As usual.

That's why it's unrealistic to think we could have gotten more. Please remember that before you have s stroke. With the extra third we can get a zone CB and maybe the luxury of a good TE too or a RT) and at 27 we can get the WLB we need. Next year we will have TWO first rounders and even one of them should get us a QB who is AT LEAST as good as this year's crop. If we package the two firsts who knows how great it might be.

Trade down please so many players

We can wait for a zone CB--get Hooker if he's there or maybe trade down to team looking for Allen (if he's there) or OJ or the next QB or even Foster if someone is ok with him. Trade down might be in our best interest as Board falls the way it has it might also be an option.

Maybe Adams or Hooker falls to us--please!!! Everyone claimed SF wanted him (Adams).

Think a trade down would end up with Reddick as our pick--he seems to fit the Panthers' LB "type"--though I get worried about those guys whose draft stock rises so much so late in the process (before the Senior Bowl he was a mid to high second and now he's a potential pick at ten--but I'm just some schmuck!!!). With the extra pick, we can target a CB that will fits the McDermott zone scheme well (King or Tankersley) after we nab the top available WR with pur original pick two--like Zay Jones or JuJu, etc.

That adds up very well--does seem like Cousins to SF is predestined and that would mean SF can avoid this weak QB class (none are worthy of being the second pick--barring some boneheaded desperation) and then they can grab the BPA--the early talk I'd heard was Thomas going to them at two--he's a stud, good high character kid and he's from Stanford--that seemed predestined! I'll keep my fingers crossed and get ready for the inevitable disappointment. Thanks for the intel.

I would be ecstatic if Adams or Hooker somehow fell to us. That's my dream. Reality--please be the better of Davis and Williams. No Ross--medical issues don't seem to turn out in our favor and I think we need that big, "open when he's covered" receiver that Buddy Nix was never able to get for us.

With the "not for a next year's pick crowd"--this year for sure (barring Adams or one of the other elites dropping to us).

FWIW was literally just watching the NFL network and this exact issue was discussed by Charlie Casserly who said he likes both players but he likes Watt more because he's bigger, more physical, plays the run better and has the same instincts and "natural rushability" as Reddick (like that phrase!)--he doesn't understand why Watt isn't higher on the draft boards and thinks he's moving up.

How about the likes of such franchise QBs as Brock Osweiler and Trevor Siemian (at least that's what I found when checking out the crop of starting QBs circa Sept. '2016--Cam Newton had an extra year of seasoning at the #1 ranked JUCO before his one year at Auburn due to his illicit activities while at Florida so I don't think he counts): http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/list/ranking-nfl-quarterbacks-by-college-career-cam-newton-jameis-winston-luck-rg3-mariota/1qqt79wy0lewi1ipv0w0dg3vp9/slide/32 Not saying there's a correlation between the W/L record in college and the pro career, just answering the gentleman's question to the best of my limited ability. As for Trubisky and the other QBs in this draft, in the spirit of the current Jewish holiday, I hope we "Passover" the QB position with our first two picks--take a crack later--as one of my favorite posts from one of the well-respected posters here established several weeks back--there is a LOW correlation between those precious high picks and franchise QBs. Take the money and run in round one with a WR or DB--even trade down and reverse the order and go DB and then WR.

Jersey boy who grew up with OJ as my hero so I adopted the Bills as my team and here I am more than 40 years later.

Look at the culture of well-respected organizations like the Giants and Steelers--a reflection of the manner in which the Maras and the Rooneys run their franchises. Now take a look at the culture of the Bills' organization over the last 17 years--speaks volumes (sorry the buck doesn't stop at Doug Whaley or with any other GM, it stops a few steps up the food chain). And, on a related note, I concur with the remarks of previous posters who did a much better job than I ever could of pointing out the situation Whaley stepped into and what he's had to deal with during his tenure ... has the guy ever been able to be a real GM and if not, isn't it unfair to judge him as though he has?

+1

Don't know anything other than what I've read about this guy so I'll turn this over to someone with firsthand knowledge: Chad Hansen (Cal.)--seems like he's got a back story--transfer to Cal from Idaho State. According to PFF he's a work in progress, who they have as the 97th overall player, so he might be around in the 3rd--he is a physical deep threat who can go up and get the ball (had a bunch of deep ball receptions--Tyrod can throw a deep ball!). They compare him to Demaryius Thomas (pretty bold) and he could be the "high pointing" WR that Buddy Nix could never find us . Here's PFF's take: https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-pff-scouting-report-chad-hansen-wr-california/ NFL.com has him rated there with Godwin, Kupp, Zay Jones--2nd or 3rd round: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/chad-hansen?id=2558069