Cash

Going off of drafthistory.com's database, here are every team's draft totals at DB since 2006, rounds 1-3 only: Falcons - 4 Bills - 3 Chargers - 3 Giants - 3 Chiefs - 3 Saints - 3 Vikings - 3 Buccaneers - 2 Packers - 2 Patriots - 2 Panthers - 2 Ravens - 2 Rams - 2 Jets - 2 Bengals - 2 Seahawks - 2 Lions - 2 Colts - 2 Cardinals - 1 Cowboys - 1 49ers - 1 Texans - 1 Raiders - 1 Bears - 1 Redskins - 1 Titans - 1 Jaguars - 1 Browns - 1 Dolphins - 1 Steelers - 1 Eagles - 0 Broncos - 0 If we expand the count to include round 4, here's what we get: Bills - 5 Falcons - 4 Buccaneers - 4 Chargers - 4 Raiders - 4 Giants - 3 Chiefs - 3 Saints - 3 Vikings - 3 Patriots - 3 Panthers - 3 Rams - 3 Jets - 3 Bengals - 3 Lions - 3 Colts - 3 Packers - 2 49ers - 2 Texans - 2 Ravens - 2 Eagles - 2 Bears - 2 Redskins - 2 Titans - 2 Seahawks - 2 Cardinals - 1 Cowboys - 1 Broncos - 1 Jaguars - 1 Browns - 1 Dolphins - 1 Steelers - 1 Your champion of under-prioritizing the secondary? The Denver Broncos, ladies and gentlemen, with just ONE 4th-rounder in the past 3 years. Your champion of loving 4th-round DBs? Let's give it up for Al Davis, who has gone DB in the 4th in all of the last 3 years! As for the Bills (under Jauron), it's clear that they are among the tops in the league when it comes to prioritizing the secondary on draft day. No, they're not the clear leader in that department, nor do they completely blow anyone away. But it's definitely been a money position for the Bills compared to the league as a whole. Through 3 rounds, the league has averaged 1.75 DB picks per team with a standard deviation of 0.95. Through 4 rounds, the average is about 2.5 with a standard deviation of about 1.1. Anyone is welcome to do a test for significance on these numbers. Now, just because the Bills have made their secondary a priority at the top of the draft for the last 3 years doesn't guarantee that they will continue to do so. Personally, I'm hoping they consider it shored up and look to other positions, as I think the team's secondary is probably its greatest strength.

And before that, the Bills also traded up for a second 1st-rounder to pick JP Losman in 2004 (Lee Evans was the first). Slightly different question: When was the last time the Bills had two 1st-round picks, but didn't acquire one of them by trading up from their 2nd-round pick? I'm actually not sure of the answer. In 1986, the Bills picked Ronnie Harmon with the #16 pick that originally belonged to Cleveland, and picked Will Wolford with the #20 pick that originally belonged to Dallas. Obviously there was some wheeling and dealing there, but I don't know if it happened on draft day or prior to the draft. I do know the Bills didn't have a 2nd-round pick that year, so that suggests they may have traded up for Wolford. The year before, the Bills picked Bruce with their own pick at #1 overall, and Derrick Burroughs at #14. (Those worked out about equally well.) The Bills also picked Mark Traynowicz in the second round at #29 overall, so it looks like 1985 definitely gets us there, even if 1986 doesn't. And by the way, ESPN's draft history tool is really cool, even if they made it impossible to find: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/history

Ditto. I think the confirmation form for the ticket said that it would be mailed 10 days before the draft, so they should arrive soon. I'll be getting in Friday evening as well, though I'm not sure when yet. I'm definitely down for meeting up. PM me for contact info. Also, for anyone attending the draft, the NFL finally released their official guidelines for this year: http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8...mp;confirm=true Note that this year's draft starts at 4 PM, not 3 PM like last year.

To me, Maybin seems like a guy you have to play at OLB in a 3-4. Besides how undersized he is, most of the scouting reports I read on him talk about how he has a great first step, but doesn't play with power. There's no way a guy his size can hold up against the run at DE. If you want to play him in a 4-3, it means you're either converting him to OLB, which is a major position change, or you're just employing him as a situational pass rusher. I think #11 is too high for a situational player. In fact, I think just about any first rounder is too high for a situational player. If the dude can't ever start in your scheme (and I don't think Maybin can ever start in ours), don't pick him in the first round. I really like him as a pass-rushing OLB in a 3-4, though. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pats grab him with their first-round pick, and see him put up 8-10 sacks this year. But he's perfectly suited for a scheme like theirs, and poorly suited for a scheme like ours. That's how I see it, anyway.

Great post! Very useful and intriguing. Pettigrew is really the only TE in the draft who can block, and he's unlikely to be the threat as a pass-catcher that Scheffler already is. I wouldn't necessarily mind Pettigrew, because a two-way TE is very useful in just about any offense, but I'd prefer Scheffler over anyone else. Considering Kellen Winslow II went for a 2 and a 5, Scheffler should be worth a 3 and change or a 2 straight-up. I'd be fine with either of those.

Last year was my first year of draft attendance. I went to McFadden's for Day 1 (and it was as good as advertised), and attended the draft on Day 2, so I can really only help you with Day 2 related stuff. Day 2 starts at 10am, and is no trouble to get into. I think I got there around 9am, but that was plenty early. If I recall correctly, they didn't let anyone in until around 9:30am, and the place didn't come close to filling up, so don't worry about being last in line. If you want a good seat on Day 2, you'll have to get there a few hours early, but otherwise, just make sure you get there before 10am. That's key, because here's how you get your free no-waiting ticket for next year's Day 1: 1.) When you enter Radio City Music Hall, there are a bunch of people handing out forms and yelling about "Day 2 Diehards." Make sure you get one of these forms. These people close up shop as soon as Day 2 starts, so make sure you're not late. 2.) Fill out the form (basic name, address, etc. stuff). 3.) For heaven's sake, don't lose the form! You can only get the form before the first pick of Day 2. 4.) After the last pick of the draft, there will be a bunch of people collecting the forms on your way out. Give them your form. 5.) Wait patiently for your Day 1 ticket to arrive. Mine still hasn't arrived, so it'll be a while. Once you get inside, I think you'll enjoy it quite a bit. I'm assuming you're pretty into the draft, and if so, it's really cool to walk into Radio City Music Hall and see the familiar podium, with both of the broadcast crews right there. The NFL also handles it really well. There are several giant screens with both ESPN's and NFL Network's broadcasts playing. They give you a mini AM radio, which you can use to tune in to either broadcast, so you don't really miss anything that the viewers at home get. And they give you a goodie bag with the aforementioned radio, a basic-but-not-horrible draft guide/scorecard (and a pen so you can write down who gets drafted when), and some assorted junk. If you go on Day 2, I advise you to bring some stuff to keep you occupied, as it can really drag. I think last year ended around 7pm or so, so you're looking at something like 9 hours of being there. Lots of people brought backpacks, which I recommend. I saw a bunch of people with their laptops out, so I'm guessing that there's wifi in Radio City. I'd also recommend bringing your own food to Day 2, as the options inside Radio City are less than optimal. All in all, I had a blast last year, and I'm psyched about hitting up Day 1 this year.

+1. Although I'll be very surprised if Barwin last past the early part of the 3rd round. I'm guessing he'll go somewhere in the 2nd.

Yeah, none of these crazed critics can seem to take a break from foaming at the mouth and actually spell out what they think the downside is. "Disrupt the locker room" and "clubhouse cancer" don't actually mean anything. What track did they think the Bills were on? 7-9 again? That's too precious to risk messing with? Personally, I think the Bills were on about a 4-12 track, so I see absolutely zero downside. It's a sign that Ralph was not lying when he said the team wouldn't be complacent. Worst case, TO explodes during training camp, gets cut before the season opener, the team has an abysmal record, and Jauron gets fired. But even then, they've probably gotten enough season ticket renewals to make up the guaranteed money in TO's contract. And unless the Bills make the playoffs or at least come really close*, Jauron probably gets fired anyway. *And no, being mathematically in the hunt with 2 weeks remaining is not close to making the playoffs. Losing a tiebreaker is close to making the playoffs.

That they were extremely impressed by his jaw-dropping speed (4.48 in the 40) and phenomenal first step. That even though he was undersized at 266 lbs., he was still big enough to play DE in a 4-3. Check it: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/colu...&id=3251338 Also, Freeney was much more productive in college, and for a longer time. Maybin is a one-year wonder who played at about 230 lbs. in college. Yeah, he weighed in at 249 at the combine, but he also ran a 4.78 in the 40. So he's still undersized, but now he's slow? Pass. To me, Maybin is exclusively an outside linebacker in a 3-4.

My favorite is that old chestnut, "Just wait for the draft." As though we're the only team acquiring players through the draft. Exactly what gives these people the impression that our draft will be SO much better than everyone else's? News flash: the Bills are about an average drafting team. Some high picks pan out, some bust, there's an occasional late-round gem, and the rest are pretty mediocre. But the draft only improves the team if you get more out of it than the teams you play against. Why should we expect that?

With 6 O-linemen now under contract, we can turn to more pressing issues, like 3rd-string running back. I'll be pretty disappointed if it turns out that the Bills' plan is to put Chambers at LG and fill out the depth chart with scrubs. It's pretty likely that your top backups both on the interior and at tackle will each get multiple starts every year, so it's worth your while to get someone who can play in those spots. I'll be happy if the Bills get Brian Waters (or at least Kendall Simmons) and also draft an interior lineman (or 2) in the first 4 rounds.

$3.3 million per year IS bad for a 4th or 5th cornerback. Really bad. If Florence is anything less than the first DB off the bench, this signing is full of fail. $3.3mil is probably about right for a nickel back, but I'd have preferred to fill that hole cheaper with Youboty and Corner.

Great signing for depth. Now just re-sign Youboty & we'll have some decent competition for the nickel corner. Then re-sign Greer & we'll have some decent competition for the starting job. Plus, Greer should be able to help groom the CB we draft at #11. Meanwhile, we have only 2 interior O-linemen under contract, no starting TE or SLB, and have done zero to upgrade the pass rush. And the next scheduled free agent visit? Kevin Jones, a potential 3rd-string running back. Good to see the front office has its priorities in the right order.

Difference between Barwin & our current ends is that Barwin is a premiere athlete (even though he happens to be white). Look up the combine numbers for Barwin, Denney, and Kelsay, and you'll see that Barwin blows each of them out of the water. I haven't compared Barwin's combine numbers to Schobel, but since Schobel was really good back in the day, I didn't feel like Barwin needed to out-athletic Schobel. In this year's combine, Barwin was first among all D-linemen in 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump (tied), 3-cone drill, and 20-yard shuttle. The only workout he didn't place in the top 10 in was bench press, where he put up a more pedestrian 21 reps. His vertical jump and broad jump were both actually tied for 9th among all participants at the combine. (numbers from nfl.com) EDIT: Actually, Barwin was 2nd in the 40 among D-linemen, losing by 0.02 to Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. Other pluses with Barwin -- having spent only 1 year at DE, he has tons of room to grow as a player. He could also serve as a backup TE in a pinch, or be part of one of those tricky Belicheat-esque goal line packages. And, unlike a lot of players who blow up at the combine, he was very productive (granted in a weak conference): 15 TFL, 11 sacks, seven passes broken up and three blocked kicks in 14 games. (numbers from walterfootball.com) I'd be utterly thrilled with Raji & Barwin as our top 2 picks, but I doubt either one will happen. Especially Raji -- I think it's unlikely he gets past Green Bay at #9, and he could go earlier than that.

On one hand, Dockery's performance didn't live up to his contract, so cutting him was good. On the other hand, he was a pretty good player who will now probably be replaced by a pretty bad player. Explain again how we're ever going to get better?

Hey The Philster, nice to see you're still in full effect. Remember you from way back in the alt.sport.football.pro.buffalo-bills days. Good Times. In any case, the story I heard (and believe) is that Butler decided to leave with a year left on his contract, but played out the string rather than resign. He was (allegedly) sick of Ralph constantly looking over his shoulder, and wanted to run the show in a more unfettered fashion. I definitely agree that he overpaid his players. The only defense was that we had winning teams, and he mortgaged the future to keep them together. The Sam Rogers and Jerry Ostroski contracts were akin to the Chris Kelsay re-signing. (On the other hand, the Ted Washington and Bryce Paup signings were delectable.)

That, to me, is why he belongs in the Hall of Fame. I'm not super happy about the timing, though. Right after giving the finger to all Bills fans by saying that after three 7-9 seasons "continuity" is what we need, he gets into the Hall? If the Bills don't make a splash this offseason, Ralphie might get booed at his own induction. Which would actually be hilarious to watch on TV: First Bruce gets introduced, and the announcers make it a point to say, "They're not booing, they're saying 'Bruuuuuuce.'" Then Ralph gets introduced, and the announcers are like, "Uh, maybe the fans are still psyched about Bruce Smith."

Great post!

Just say no to LJ Smith. Imagine if Royal was a worse blocker, and you have LJ Smith.

The Steelers play a 3-4, and specifically one where the DEs are mostly there to tie up blockers. In that scheme, the pass rush comes from LBs, even when they don't blitz. We play a 4-3, where the non-blitz pass rush needs to come from DEs.

In fairness, Kelsay was slightly more productive than Osi this year.

I would be THRILLED to trade #11 for McNabb. McNabb >>>>> Bledsoe, particularly at the respective points in their careers. And as for the supporting cast, wha? How is a gimpy Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter, DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, and Hank Baskett any better than Lynch, Jackson, Evans, Reed, and the Hardy/Parrish/Johnson pu pu platter? And if you want to get into tight ends (pardon me!), LJ Smith is Robert Royal minus the blocking, and Celek is probably better than either of our backups, but it's not exactly a blowout. Now, if you want to argue that McNabb would fail here because our joke of a coaching staff would put him in a joke of an offense... you might be right.

Not quite. Cutting Kelsay would definitely save money from Ralph's perspective, b/c Kelsay's got a hefty salary that wouldn't get paid. The bonus is long gone, and unless Kelsay violates his contract, Ralph can't get that bonus money back. Yes, even though the entire bonus has been paid, not all of it has counted against the cap yet. And yes, whatever hasn't been counted against the cap yet will all be counted the year after Kelsay's cut. But the Bills will have so much cap room, Kelsay's dead money wouldn't be a problem.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/12...a_fact_gladwell Malcolm Gladwell suggests that this is a terrific approach. Edwards may become "the guy," but he's not there yet, and FAR from a lock to get there.

Not a colorless world, just one where everyone gets a fair shake. Given that most coaches are former players, and about 65% of players are black, it's not too far-fetched to think that someday, we might see an NFL where white candidates aren't given a fair shake. The rhetoric there would probably be things along the lines of, "How can a white coach possibly relate to black players?"