finn

Ongoing conversation in another thread, but I'll just agree with those who are bewildered by Beane's lack of urgency on wide receivers. Mahomes has Rice, Hollywood Brown, Worthy, and now Royals. Burrow has two studs in Chase and Higgins. Hurts has DeVonta and AJ Brown. Allen? Shakir, who has never had a 1000 yard season, Coleman, a slow possession receiver who wasn't even catching jump balls late last year, Palmer, who is supposed to be the second coming of Jerry Rice but who the receiver-starved Chargers happily let go, Samuels, who we keep making excuses for, and a bunch of practice squad level players. Color me underwhelmed. Meanwhile, he continues to dump--DUMP--resources into the defensive line. Lovely to have, what, four big investments in the DT position, but at the expense of mediocrity at another key position? Maybe he's planning to trade for Pickens or someone. But I doubt it. As others have said, he's probably thinking, "Hey, Allen and the running game did it all last year, so let's assume they'll be able to do the same again this year. What could go wrong?" Let's watch Jalen Royals, whom he could have picked instead of Walker. I really, really hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling it's not going to be pretty.

Man, if Jalen Royals, drafted by KC one pick after the Bills passed on him, turns into a star a year after the Bills passed on Worthy, we're never going to hear the end of it, especially if Coleman and Walker don't pan out.

I agree with this analysis, except I think they should have picked a free safety in the fourth round, Billy Bowman, for example, instead of waiting until the sixth round. The Walker pick seemed like a luxury they couldn't afford with needs at safety, WR, and LB. Still, Walker might end up being a stud if he gets in shape.

That's an understatement. Have we ever seen him do more than catch the ball, usually less than ten yards down the field, and immediately get tackled?

It's because they gave up on Boogie Basham too soon! 😃

Meanwhile, Allen ranks first of all quarterbacks in the past five years in playoff EPA. In short, when it counts the most, the best quarterback in the league is carrying the worst defense in the league. It's about time they addressed the problem.

Or maybe the Alec Anderson experiment is over? Maybe they want at least a small receiving threat in addition to the in-line blocking.

Backup to Taron and whoever plays free safety. Works for me.

Ah.

Is Isaiah Bond falling because of character issues? He's a top-100 player according to Bruegel. Might be a nice pick for the Bills with one of the fifth round picks. Maybe his teammates can improve his character if that's the problem.

I'm surprised all of them don't break down like Jackson. Think of the pressure on these young guys. National TV is watching as the picks go by, your family, friends, everyone you know in the world watching to see how worthy you are in the eyes of the professionals. How do you stay stoic? (And why should you?)

Right. Trying to define athleticism is like defining pornography (according to Lewis Powell): You know it when you see it.

Agree. The team obviously needed a CB, but in my view the need for a safety was/is more than DT and DE. The Bills defense was elite a few years ago, but when they lost Poyer and Hyde, the wheels fell off. I like the Sanders pick, but I think the Bills would have done better picking Malaki Starks as a true ball-hawking free safety, allowing Bishop to play his natural strong-safety position. The Bills had it right a few years ago with Poyer and Hyde, just as Baltimore has it right with Hamilton and now Starks, and the Eagles with DeJean and now Mukuba (both 2nd round picks, incidentally). Beane sees Mahomes crushed like a tin can in the Super Bowl and thinks "pass rush." But he should be thinking "safety."

I always wonder about that term. His RAS score is elite (speed, jumps, etc.), but he's universally described as "stiff," with little ability to bend or dip around the corner. To me, an athlete is someone who is fast and quick but also able to move effortlessly, like Bruce Smith or Von Miller. This guy reminds me more Phil Hansen. That's no insult, either. A nice player, but "athletic"? We need a term for "fast and quick but not particularly supple."

But he needs someone to throw it to besides JV players, castoffs, and Shakir.

It's one way to beat a perennially low draft position. Let's hope it blows up in their faces.

I did!😁

Where do you see DeWayne Carter fitting in? Is McBeane looking for all his interior players to be able to play both tackle positions?

Exactly. Hoping they'll be good isn't the same as they're being good. Rapp is merely adequate when he's healthy, and Bishop is a projection. He could be another Elam for all we know. Yes, he missed time in training camp, but he certainly didn't wow the coaches over the course of the season. I'm hopeful but not at all confident. If you have just one bad safety, like Hamlin, it screws up the whole defense. If he has a Kincaid-like sophomore year, they'll have two meh players and a rookies starting in the secondary.

He really liked George Pickens a few years ago, too, when others were not so keen on him (he dropped to the second round).

Don't overthink it, Beane. Take Amos and go get a beer.

No matter where they are in the draft, the perfect player falls to them--and they pick him. They make it seem so easy.

Damn. I know we need a CB and DT, but I secretly wanted Starks all along. The play of Hamlin has made me shell shocked.

Ravens always draft well. Maybe one of the safeties, although I don't know if it's a need for them.

It was easy to forget him last year.