biggerdaddynj

LT. No brainer--how do you ignore one of the most important positions especially when you don't have one?

Dangerous to trade down if we need a LT because the drop off in talent is substantial. Kalil is gone for sure and many have Reiff going before 10. That only leaves two top tier OTs--Martin and Adams. Signing Bell would be nice because then we can trade down (assuming a partner is there) and still grab a quality WR (Wright, Sanu, Hill, etc...) and an extra pick to use on BPA (imagine being able to take Branch, Curry, Crick or Cam Johnson and using the extra pick to grab one of the TEs to pair with Chandler?). If we pass on Bell, let' s take our LT of the future at 10 and then we won't have to worry about LT for the next 5-7 years --wouldn't that be nice?

Now that there are only mediocre WRs left do we switch plans and re-sign Bell? Might be a better bang for the buck rather than overpaying for what's left at WR. Then we can focus on defense, a WR and TE in the draft (may as well join the 2 TE craze since we're not getting the WR Buddy promised us--the one who is "uncovered when he's covered").

The Bills really dropped the ball (bad pun intended) by not signing a quality, experienced WR to pair with Stevie. Now the best we can do is overpay for Manningham if we're lucky (I think Lloyd is off to the Pats to be reunited with McDaniels). Now vwe've been reduced to signing scrubs or taking a risk on a Braylon Edwards or, I know this might sound crazy, you sign Jerome Simpson to an incentive laden contract with protection built in for the Bills and wait for him to serve his minimum of at least a 4 game suspension (and his 60 days in jail). He's got more talent than what's left and doesn't everyone deserves a 2nd chance (this is sad, huh?).

Just heard about Williams, ouch!! However, it does not appear as though all is lost. We're still legit contenders according to LaCanfora "just not going to happen immediately". This is going to be torture!!!

You just ruined everything...

At 10 it's a no brainer--gonna go and get our LT of the future. Then we can go BPA round by round at DE, OLB, CB and WR--no pressure to force a pick. The draft is gonna be great fun! Barring injuries, these signings (and resignings) will enable us to compete at a pretty high level while we develop the new draftees. Imagine if Easley is healthy enough to do what they think he's capable of doing. And dare I say Troup... I'm as giddy as a school girl on prom night (moist panties and all).

Lombardi and Laconfora seem to think Mario is a done deal (he came here to pick up his money not to see if he liked the town).

They're doing all the right things, it's crazy!!!

Less competition for V Jax. NFL Network just said this might mean the Bears are gunning for Mario.

We're drafting an OT at 10 unless we resign Bell or sign an OT in FA. No way we're plugging in a second tier rookie to start at LT or will play Hairston at LT again (it's not as though Buddy has endorsed Hairston as our LT of the future). Not having a legit player at LT this year is inconsistent with the moves the front office has made (they clearly think we can be competitive why then take a step back at a key position?). Also, remember what Buddy said about this year's DEs (didn't seem a though he felt there was one worthy of a 10).

...and we could use an OLB who can rush. Check out his career stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/9599/kamerion-wimbley Of course, I prefer Mario at DE but I just don't see that happening. Wimbley is a proven, impact pass rusher and we need as many as we can get -- be they DEs or LBs. We'd also still have cash for a Meachem or Garcon, a serviceable DE and we can lock up our young studs next year. Then we draft well again. Things would be looking up! Any thoughts?

Crayonz, here's a link to nice shirt I think you'll like. Hope they have your size!! http://www.tanga.com/products/honey-badger-don-t-care-t-shirt?utm_content=Text&utm_source=GAN&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=dealnews

I would be ecstatic if they re-signed Stevie, brought in Colston and drafted another big body at WR. However, I think signing Colston is a pipe dream. We'll be lucky if they sign Meachem! We'll probably end up with the kind of FA WR you pick up for your fantay football team as a late season bye week replacement...

Thanks. Not convinced he'd be the answer but he's an option and I figured there would be others who like to cover every angle. An added benefit has been the laughs I've gotten from some of the folks who apparently actually believe this thread is about our former QB Levi Brown!!

He would clearly be the BPA if he lasted until 10 but it looks like there's no way he makes it past TB at 5. They're in dire need of a CB and they just signed his old DB coach from LSU. To say the stars are aligned would be an understatement!!

Sad but true. Our big FA WR will be a guy like Bryant Johnson and our FA DE will be someone like Jarvis Moss. Entirely unspectacular moves.

Curry if he's still there--he'll put pressure on the QB from day one (the rest of his game will come with time and good coaching).

Levi Brown is a tad bit bigger and stronger at 6'6" and 325lbs than Thigpen is at 6'1" and 216 lbs. Levi also has the benefit of having started 75 of 77 games at OT while Thigpen has not played OT. However, Thigpen does hold an advantage over Levi Brown because he's already under contract so perhaps we can save some money. He converted to Left Tackle from Right Tackle in 2010 (he was picked 5th overall in the 2007 draft coming out of Penn State). Thanks for the laughs guys!!!

If we have a LT come draft day then taking Floyd wouldn't make feel like I did when we took Whitner (though I'd rather trade down but I doubt that will happen). I also like taking a shot at a guy like Brian Quick, Tommy Streeter or Marvin McNutt in the 4th and using our first 3 picks on defense (e.g., Ingram - Curry - Irvin).

Quality person + quality player (at position of need) = safe pick

Found this on ProFootballTalk.com. Pure speculation but if he is cut do you think the Bills should make a play? He's a safer play than Bell who, as many have aptly noted, might command more than he's worth due to the dearth of LTs in FA. Why not pay Brown a bit more and sleep soundly at night? We could then use the 10th pick on a DE or WR. We'd also be set at LT for a while. Well, here's the article: "Competent left left tackles rarely if ever become available in free agency. And while Levi Brown, the fifth overall pick in the 2007, wasn’t regarded as a competent left (or right) tackle early in his career, Brown has become in the past two seasons a much more consistent performer. As he enters the final year of his rookie deal, Browns is carrying the kind of inflated cap number that will cause a team to either extend the deal and reduce the burden — or cut the player loose. Per a league source, momentum currently is pointing toward the latter. With a $6 million roster bonus due on March 12 and an $8.3 million base salary and a $250,000 workout bonus, the Cardinals have more than $14.5 million in cap space devoted to Brown. Several years ago, the Cardinals found themselves in a similar situation with receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The two sides worked out a long-term deal that gave the team cap relief, and that gave Fitzgerald a four-year, $40 million contract. This time around, the smart money is on Brown being cut by March 12 and hitting the market at a time when more than a few teams have needs a left tackle."

More negative buzz--this time from Charlie Casserly (via ProFootballTalk): "We’ve talked a lot about the standouts at the just-completed NFL Scouting Combine, but what players may have hurt their stock? According to Charley Casserly of NFL.com, highly rated Alabama defenders Courtney Upshaw and Dre Kirkpatrick are on the list. Upshaw lacked the explosion that you’d like to see from an edge rusher according to Casserly. Kirkpatrick’s cornerback drills were lacking and he didn’t display the burst you’d like to see from a potential top-15 pick. It’s possible Janoris Jenkins could pass Kirkpatrick as the No. 2 cornerback in the draft. UNC defensive end Quinton Couples is also mentioned as someone that struggled. While Coples ran a ridiculous forty time for his size, his work in the drills left something to be desired. Of course, not everyone watching the workout is going to agree with Casserly. It only takes one team to fall in love, and Coples seems especially likely to make one team reach high for him in the draft."

Until we know what we're doing with Stevie, Bell and the available FAs it's even more of a guessing game than it will be on draft day (though, I do enjoy playing the guessing game). The only thing I'm confident about is that we will take an OT if we don't re-sign Bell. If Stevie and Bell are re-signed, I love trading down but know that makes too much sense to happen. Wish we needed a guard or ILB so we could draft DeCastro or Kuechly (though technically they'd both be reaches at 10 based on their positions it looks like they'll be All-Pros for years to come).

I've been looking high and low but I can't find any interviews or quotes from Buddy about the possibility of trading down this year. Anyone else? If not, wtf are the guys who cover the Bills doing? Buddy's assessment of the talent in this draft begs the question.