ax4782

The difference was that with Peerless we still had a top receiver in Moulds. Here, Lee is it, and the Bills know it. Plus, IIRC, when Moulds was in the same position in 00' didn't we give him some really high contract? I seem to recall it was in the range you estimated we would give LE? Either way, 6 for 50 mil with 20 guaranteed isn't a bad deal for us. We have the cap space at least in the high money years of the contract to make that work. Plus you lock him up for the team at a time we need him most. Then, if he starts to fall off in the later years, the cap hit to release him isn't as large and you have a Malcolm Kelly or a Devin Thomas who is ready to step into the starting role and a Jordy Nelson or Adrian Arrington who can step into the number two or three role and Trent still has two solid targets. Assuming that we draft two WRs this year which I think we will.

Well, there's that too.

Your first statement is correct. You have to find a young QB and commit to developing him. I think the Bills have done that with Trent. Last offseason, the Bills realized that the O-Line was horrendous and spent 75 million in total contracts to bring in some big name free agents. They did their job and protected Trent. They also resigned Reed and brought Price in to help in the WR department. The problem was Price got hurt and was done for the season and the Bills didn't have much success with Reed at the #2. WR was a big problem. This offseason they had a need for a solid WR, but also had to fix the DT position and add a solid OLB. Buffalo saw to the defensive problems first, addressing each of the need positions with star talent. First, they signed Mitchell at OLB, who is a solid upgrade from Ellison, who can now be a very solid backup. Then they added Stroud and Johnson. That helps not only the DT position, but the DEs as well. Then they resigned Scott and added Williams James at CB. That left WR. Bryant Johnson was not going to sign more than a one year deal. Buffalo knew that if they signed him and he played well they were going to have to offer him huge money to stay next year, which would prevent them from signing LE to a long term deal. Would you have wanted Bryant Johnson as your #1 receiver next year? I don't think so. Buffalo was very smart not to do a one year deal. The end result was the same. You are going to have to address the position next year if you sign him, whether he pans out or not. If he does, you have to pay him or LE, but you won't be able to afford both, or he gets cut as a failure and you are back on the market. NOT overpaying at WR in FA was the best thing the Bills could have done. They can draft two WRs in the draft and solidify the position and provide Trent some targets and still have enough money left to work out a deal to keep LE in Buffalo, which will be a key to moving this team back into the elite in the AFC. Buffalo will get targets for Trent this year in the draft and I believe they will be able to contribute not only this year, but next year.

I see us taking two WRs in the draft. I think we take one in the first round, either at #11, in which case we take Malcolm Kelly or Limas Sweed, or we trade back and acquire Devin Thomas or James Hardy. Mario Manningham is NOT an option for the Bills. He is a Lee Evans clone and the Bills want a taller guy for the #2 position, not another Lee Evans who is less than 6' tall. I also think that the Bills will take a second receiver in the Fourth or Fifth round. I like Jordy Nelson and Arrington from UM. I also do not think they are 2nd round caliber receivers and would hate to see us take one of them in the 2nd. My prediction for what the Bills do is as follows: Trade the #11 to Dallas for their #22 and #28 so that Dallas can get RB Mendenhall whom they really want. Then: 1a. Devin Thomas WR or Malcolm Kelly WR (if he lasts this long which is unlikely) 1b. Fred Davis TE 2. Brandon Flowers CB 3. Mike Pollack C 4. Owen Schmidt FB 5. Adrian Arrington WR or Jordy Nelson WR 6. Roach FS 7a. Spanos C/G 7b. D-Line (for Depth as I think we will sign Jason Hall or Kalimba Edwards in FA)

I think part of the problem was that Jones hasn't seen a lot of playing time. IIRC the Jags used him a lot in obvious passing situations and in the red zone where he was the obvious target. Otherwise I think he was in much the same situation that Bryant Johnson was in with Arizona, where he was playing third fiddle and not getting much attention. Jones could be a good option for the Bills, but his route running is going to be an issue if he is to be the number two receiver in this offense. I like the idea of making him a TE, though he will have to put on about twenty five to thirty pounds and learn how to block. That's not as easy as it sounds. But, he has the speed and the ability to stretch the field, and his route running isn't nearly as big an issue as it would be for a WR. He might be worth a look if he gets cut. I do think that we would actually be on the losing side of a trade for him and Losman. We have seen signs of potential from Losman. There hasn't been much from Jones.

I think your assessment of the WR position in this year's draft is spot on. You could add Jordy Nelson to that later round prospects list. As to the TE situation, there are three who I see that would be immediate upgrades over who we have now coming straight out of the draft. Fred Davis from USC would be the best, followed by Kellen Davis from Michigan State, and Dustin Kellar. All of them would be good TE prospects and had very good numbers in college.

I think you are right. Buffalo will probably end up shelling out for 6 yrs 45 mil with a 10 mil signing bonus and 25 mil in the first three years, with upward incentives. I just don't think they will make that their first offer, and try and use some leverage to get him to sign for a bit less. The end result, though, I think, will be a contract that keeps him here for six more years, thus giving us a legitimate chance to make several playoff runs over that time.

Yes, we were 30th overall in total offense, but the defense wasn't much better. I believe we finished the season 30th there as well, and were were 25th against the run and 30th against the pass. We had NEEDS on both sides of the ball. Buffalo chose to address the defense immediately, because there were actually star caliber players in FA that could have an immediate impact. Sorry, but Bernard Berrian or Bryant Johnson were not going to have the offensive impact at WR that we need. Berrian wanted too much money, and he got it from a desperate team who overpaid. Praise to the FO for not wasting money on that guy. Johnson wanted a one year contract so that when he did have upgraded numbers not playing behind LF and AB in Arizona, he could bolt for mucho bucks somewhere else. Buffalo wanted to sign him to a longer term. When he wouldn't, they saw he was just another overrated premadonna that would be bad for the team. Signing a guy for one year would only have put us in the same position next year that we are in now. Looking for a starting veteran WR in the offseason. And next year it might be worse if they can't get LE to agree to an extension. Malcolm Kelly, Limas Sweed, Devin Thomas, and James Hardy are all first round talents. Anyone who thinks they aren't is smoking something that is currently illegal in the United States. People said the same type of things in the 96 draft when Owens and Johnson were taken in the first round. They had great numbers but would never be great receivers. Oh, well. The fact is Buffalo is not going to take a WR at #11. They are like to do it at #14 or #22. I believe Buffalo will do the following. Trade #11 to Dallas for #22 and #28 so that Dallas can draft RB Mendenhall who they REALLY like and who will be there at 11. Then: 1a. Malcolm Kelly WR or Devin Thomas WR 1b. Fred Davis TE 2. Brandon Flowers CB 3. Mike Pollack C 4. Owen Schmidt FB 5. Jordy Nelson WR 6. Roach FS 7a. Matt Spanos C/G 7b. D-Line for Depth Offense and DB are the top priority. Buffalo needs to draft two WRs, one who has the potential to be a #1 if LE is not resigned next year, and another guy who can play the slot and potentially be a #2 if need be. Jordy Nelson fits that bill. No pun intended. Kelly, Thomas, or Hardy will be very good on the other side of LE this year. And frankly they don't need to have "spectacular" numbers. They need to be better than Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish were last year. That should be the case. Even if Kelly or Thomas come in and have Calvin Johnson type numbers, 50 receps and 800 yards, that takes a lot of pressure off LE. Not to mention that moves JR into his best role as a slot guy, which should pick up his numbers, and allows us to utilize RP and our TEs to stretch the opposing Ds in the middle and deep. All in all, the response suggesting that the FO doesn't know what they are doing is flat wrong. They have made very good decisions to help this franchise and were smart to wait until the draft to sign WR rather than throwing good money after bad at the position.

I believe Lee Evans will be retained. I believe that he will get a 5 or 6 yr contract worth somewhere in the 35 to 40 mil range with 14 mil guaranteed. If he won't take that right off the bat, Buffalo franchises him, lets him see that the market is cooling off and maybe bumps up the numbers on the guaranteed a bit and he signs anyway. That being said, I also could see Buffalo parting ways with him as the last holdover from the Tom Donahoe era. That's why I think we take two WRs this year. A first rounder who can come in and start THIS season and gain rapport with TE and the offense, and another guy who can sit for two years, get better, learn the system and come in and play at the number two spot opposite say Malcolm Kelly, Limas Sweed, or Devin Thomas. Taking a top receiver this year gives the Bills some leverage with Evans too. They can tell him they are trying to help him by getting a big guy on the other side to take double teams off of him. But the intrinsic message is "Hey, you need us more than we need you. This guy is going to be great. You should take our offer, which is pretty damn good and stay here. The two of you would turn us into a powerhouse. Otherwise, you can go to Oakland or Houston and never make the playoffs and never have a chance to play in the Super Bowl." We'll see, but I do think that, ultimately, the Bills will retain him.

As far as FBs go, the one the Bills should take is Owen Schmidt from WVU. He is the bruising FB we need in front of ML, in the mold of Sam Gash or Lorenzo Neal in their prime. He will likely still be around in the early to mid fourth round when we have our selection. As for the CB from Missouri, I don't think he is going to last to the seventh round, and I don't think the Bills are going to wait that long to address the secondary. I believe Buffalo will take a CB in the second or third round. I like Brandon Flowers from VT but he would definitely have to be a second round selection as I don't think he'll make it to the third. There are rumblings that the Bills may try and take Mike Jenkins from South Florida at number 11 which is possible, but unlikely. If they trade down and gain an additional pick in the first (from Dallas) or the second, they may try and take Cason, Talib, or Rodgers-Cromartie if any of the three are there. There are many possible scenarios, but none of them have BUFF waiting to the seventh to address the defensive backfield. The best option for a late round pick is Roach at FS in the sixth. The seventh is slated, IMO for depth picks for the O-Line and D-Line.

I believe the Billsdaily.com is reporting it and they are usually correct about the signings the team has made. Also, with Bryant Johnson, none of the major sports outlets reported that Johnson had signed. Only Sirius radio apparently made the announcement. At least, I never saw anything on ESPN or SI or CBS. As to the substance of the signing, William James, formerly William Peterson, is definitely a good pickup. James was a beast for the Giants when he played for them and his play was hampered in two seasons with Philly because of a back injury he suffered about midway through the 06-07 season. He took much of the offseason to recover and was not 100% for most of the year last year. However, if you look at his stats from the final five games, his play definitely began to improve. In his interview (for what that's worth) he said at the end of last season his back finally stopped bothering him and he felt like he was back to playing at his best. If that is true, and I'm sure the Bills doctors checked out his back thoroughly, he would be a very good addition to the team. He has size and the athleticism to compete against the larger WRs in the AFC East, particularly Moss. James is 6'2" and 194. Plus he has good speed. McGee, James, Greer would be a very strong combination, and if Youboty can play to his potential this season, our defensive backfield should be very good. I still think we take a CB in the first three rounds though, even if it is only for depth.

I would be unbelievably UNHAPPY with this draft. Our Top need is NOT DE. WIth Stroud and Johnson coming in on at DT, teams are now going to have to double Stroud. This will free up Schobel and Kelsay for more 1 on 1s where they excel. In 06' Schobel had 13.5 sacks, because the DTs required more respect from defenses. Also, Spencer Johnson has played DE before and has the ideal size and speed for the position. I see him playing on the outside at times this season. That being said, Buffalo needs to take a top flight WR in the first round, whether we take Kelly, Thomas, Sweed or Hardy at 11 or we trade down with someone and take one of them later. The only pick I agreed with in that entire draft was Fred Davis in the second round. We also need a C, CB and I would like to see us take a FB in the draft. If I could get my wish, my draft would look as follows. Trade #11 to Dallas for their #22 and #28 so Dallas can select RB Mendenhall 1a. Malcolm Kelly WR 1b. Fred Davis TE 2. Brandon Flowers CB 3. Mike Pollack C 4. Owen Schmidt FB 5. Jordy Nelson WR 6. David Roach FS 7a. Matt Spanos C 7b. D-Line (for Depth) Again, I don't think we need to take a D-Lineman until late in the draft for depth. Also, I believe Al Wallace is still on the payroll and should be back from his injury. He isn't a starter anymore, but he could be a good back up. Also, I do believe the Bills will extend an offer to Jason Hall or Kalimba Edwards, both of whom visited OBD last week. I expect one of them to be in a Bills uniform by the time the draft starts in April. That would alleviate some of the depth and talent issues at the DE spot without having to use a top pick on a DE. Plus there's too much money locked into the position already for them to add another 25 mil.

I'm not surprised we shown a lot of interest. The guy is 6'6" tall and from the look of his college games, a guy who can both go up and get the ball and who isn't afraid to go over the middle and take a hit. Not to mention he doesn't have nearly the type of injury issues that a Kelly or Sweed have had during their careers. If Hardy is not the WR the Bills select, I strongly believe it will be Devin Thomas from MSU. Either of those two would be a huge benefit to Lee Evans and the Bills' offense in general.

I would prefer to draft another first round guy who doesn't have any injury issues. Say Devin Thomas. He would be a fantastic choice, and the Bills could still get a starting caliber TE in the second or third and a starting caliber CB in the second or third.

Trade down with Dallas and gain their 22 and 28 1a. Devin Thomas WR 1b. Fred Davis TE 2. Brandon Flowers CB 3. Mike Pollack C 4. Owen Schmidt FB 5. Jordy Nelson WR 6. D-Line (not sure who) 7a. Matt Spanos C/G 7b. O-Line I think that takes care of most of our needs. We need a lot of depth at WR and O-Line, and I think that this takes care of our needs and addresses most of our "want" positions.

Pats 10-6 Bills 10-6 Jets 5-11 Phins 3-13 Pats and Bills both make the playoffs, though I will not predict which of the two teams wins the division. We may actually beat them at least once this year.

I think with the resigning of Bryan Scott and the acquisition of Will James at CB, the Bills are far more likely to address ALL of their needs on offense in the first four or five rounds. I think we need a WR and TE very badly and will take them with the first two picks. We need a new starting center badly for the line to be complete. Pollack can come in and start this season if he learns the system. Owen Schmidt is the BEST blocking FB in the draft. He will still be on the board in the 4th. Buffalo will take him. As for Jordy Nelson, yes, I think he will be there in the late 4th or early 5th and the Bills can get him then. The only way Buffalo drafts a CB in the first 5 rounds is if they trade down with Dallas and can get a starting impact WR and TE in the first round with the 22 and 28 picks. Then they may take a CB in the 2nd. Otherwise, this is going to be an offense heavy draft.

Normally I hate people's sort of whacky offseason ideas. This one, however, is actually pretty freaking awesome. I, however, do not believe that Lito Shepard is worth Chris Kelsay. Yeah, I said it. Chris Kelsay doesn't have injury issues and would cause us to take a massive cap hit that we really don't need. Your draft suggestion, however, is phenomenal. If Buffalo did this, we could take care of all our needs and be in even better position on defense. Plus screwing over the Jets would be awesome. Only problem then becomes our need to find a decent backup QB. Any suggestions? And don't say Joey Harrington.

If Lynch is back in Buffalo in March, that means he DIDN'T take any advice from Willis.

I think it is very easy to point to teams that have had a lot of success and say here's what they did, this is what we should do. Maybe that's true, but they also don't have as many needs. The Patriots have had ten or more draft picks every year for the last six years. They build depth through the draft and have gotten their top offensive players, sans Tom Brady, mostly through free agency. The same goes for the Ravens. Looking historically, the last few years have not produced many top receivers who have done well statistically and it's easy to point to Detroit. However, I live in Detroit, and read the papers every day. The problem with Charles Roger and Mike Williams, wasn't that they didn't pan out. It had more to do with the fact that they weren't nearly as good as people thought they were. Mike Williams left college too early, had a year off and wasn't in shape. Rogers had no work ethic and once he had his big contract with its incentives he quit. Not to mention, there was no other players on that team who could do anything. Harrington was absolutely terrible and Kevin Jones was just cut because he wasn't really a number one back in the NFL. The Lions are not the best example to look to when evaluating whether or not receivers picked in the top-10 are actually going to pan out. That being said, Charles Johnson has the makings of a super star. Since we're looking at history, however, I think looking at the history of the Bills in picking first round receiver talent is perhaps the best indicator of how a receiver drafted by the Bills in the first round might pan out. Buffalo has drafted a number of receivers in the first round of the NFL draft. Jerry Butler was, I believe a first round pick and he played very well for the Bills during the Ferguson years. Buffalo also drafted Eric Moulds in the first round. He turned out to be pretty darn good. Peerless Price was also a first round selection. He had shown signs of being exceptional, but then fizzled. Not such a stellar pick. Technically, Roscoe Parrish was our "first" selection a few years ago, when we took him in the second round. He hasn't really played enough to judge whether he will be good or not, though he did start to show some flashes last year. I think the jury is still out on Parrish. We also drafted Andre Reed, though I don't believe he was our first round pick. I believe he was taken in the second round of the 86 draft after Buffalo had taken Bruce Smith. That choice turned out rather well I think. Overall, Buffalo has had a mixed result with first round receivers. I think this year's crop is a bit overrated in a number of ways talent wise, but there are a few steals. I believe James Hardy or Devin Thomas, or both, are a bit underrated and are perhaps the best receivers in the draft. Manningham is also very good, though I don't think the Bills will take him due to the fact that he is basically a Lee Evans clone and is under 6 feet tall. Buffalo NEEDS another wide receiver. We would like to have more depth and talent at a number of position, but there are now two desperate positions of need. WR and TE. One might also include C in that classification of need. As a result, I believe the Bills will draft as follows. Trade Down with Dallas who will desperately want Mendenhall at number 11 for their two first rounders at 22 and 28. 1a. Devin Thomas WR 1b. Fred Davis TE 2. James Hardy WR 3. Mike Pollack C 4. Owen Schmidt FB 5. D-Line 6. CB 7a. Matt Spanos C 7b. O-Line It is possible that Buffalo could take another CB in round 2 and draft Jordy Nelson WR from KSU in the fifth round. I wouldn't be shocked, but Buffalo IS going to draft two WRs during the draft. If they take Devin Thomas or Malcolm Kelly in the first round, the offense will become instantly better. Evans will have pressure taken off of him by mid-season when the new rookie is making an impact on offense and helping us move the chains. It also allows Reed to play his natural and best position in the slot and gives us a strong fourth option in Parrish who could become Buffalo's Wes Welker. This just makes sense. Adding a TE will only make the O that much better with a fifth passing threat who can open the middle and draw safties out of double coverage on Evans. Taking D-Line, doesn't provide us with nearly the benefit of a WR or a TE. Sorry, but I think you're just wrong on this one.

As usual, Kelly, I think you got this one pretty much right on. Frankly, I think this guy has a really good chance to compete for the number two. When he was starting in NY, he was one of their two top corners. He said in an interview I read (no I don't have the link cuz it was like weeks ago) that his back feels really good and he played with it at the end of last season without any hitches or problems. If he is actually healthy, and I don't think we would have signed him if he wasn't, he may be our #2. Greer at nickel and Youboty as a #4 is a pretty good situation. Keep in mind we also re-signed Bryan Scott which really shores up some depth at secondary. We should be able to focus on WR and TE in the first couple of rounds and get some depth at line and in the secondary in the later rounds. We should be in GREAT shape after the draft. This was another really savvy move by the FO. I'm really starting to think they can right the ship after so many years of sinking.

Not to mention, RJ led the team down the field with just under two minutes to play and got us into THE LEAD! 16-15 with 22 seconds to play. The fact is, two things cost us that game, and neither of them had anything to do with the QB. The ST did not stay in their lanes and they gave up a terrible play. However, it was a terrible play that was ILLEGAL. Look again at the angles and the aerial view. Most commentators now agree. The pass was an illegal forward lateral, and I guarantee that if the game had been played in Buffalo and not Tennessee, that play is called back. The refs and special teams lost us that game. It had nothing to do with the QB.

1. Devin Thomas WR MSU 2. Fred Davis/Kellen Davis TE 3. Mike Pollack C 4. Owen Schmidt FB 5. Jordy Nelson WR 6. CB 7a. Matt Spanos C 7b. D-Line Also, Buffalo could trade down and add either another two or three. They would take another CB with either pick.

I saw a lot of Devin Thomas on TV here in Michigan over the course of the season last year. The guy is a straight up beast. He's got size and speed, and more importantly, isn't afraid to go up and get a jump ball or take a hit over the middle. This is EXACTLY the type of guy we need opposite Evans. Also, in the later rounds, don't be surprised if the Bills take Jordy Nelson WR from Kansas State. He's another steal who may fall to the fifth round. And yes, Buffalo should draft Mike Pollack C in the third and Owen Schmidt in the Fourth. In the second, they should take the best available TE. CB is NOT a priority in this draft IMO. The improved D-Line will make the current corps better. Also, I think Buffalo will sign William James CB for depth, lessening the need at that position.

Moulds actually wouldn't be a bad addition for this team as a number two or three wide receiver for depth and leadership. He'd be an improvement over what we have now which is Reed, who is far better in the slot. Also, his presence would be great for a rookie just coming into the league and learning the Bills system. I don't think Buffalo signing him to a one or two year deal and drafting a rook in the draft is a bad plan.