KOKBILLS

Well... I think it can be easily argued that while it may not have been convention wisdom around the league that a QB was worthy of a 1st round pick last year, most Bills fans knew there was a very, very, good chance they were going to take one in the 1st anyway... And with the exception of the EJ Draft pick all that other stuff you mentioned was done under other leadership...Maybin was a Jauron pick...Spiller a Nix/Gailey special...Whaley is his own man, and it seems to me more calculated and Pittsburgh Steelers-pragmatic than those before him...And I said that as kindly as I could... A better way of saying it would be that Whaley, IMHO, is smarter...And I fail to see the intelligence of giving up picks in what most scouts are saying is the deepest Draft in the past decade...So...I doubt very much convention wisdom will be damned at OBD...I think Whaley sticks to the plan, maybe even trades down a couple spots...It would really shock me if they gave up anything in 2014 to trade up I understand what you're saying Kirby, but the fact is most scouts I read are saying the difference in talent in this Draft, especially through the 1st round, is minimal...For example...Is there really that big a difference between Matthews and Lewan? Watkins and Evans? Maybe as a rookies...But beyond that? The Bills are sitting in a nice spot at #9...There is not much of a difference in what you're going to get talent-wise in a trade up with the possible exceptions of Clowney and Robinson...One ex NFL Scout I follow has prospects from #4 to #35 overall within three tenths of a grade point to each other...Which is really, really close...That same scout had double the grade differential from #4 to #35 last year...The problem with going up to get something big is obvious...You have to give up something that is potentially big...Kiko went #46 overall last year...The player the Bills would be giving up at #41 this year will have a MUCH higher grade than Kiko did last year...IMHO it's not worth the risk... I think in a Draft that is very top heavy your argument has merit if you assume a team is truly close to being a legit contender...Which is a completely different point of contention with this current Buffalo Bills team... I really respect Whaley...I like him a lot...I think it's over-reading his comments if you're assuming they lend credence to a trade up scenario...All he was saying is the Bills have no glaring needs which lessens the possibility of forcing a pick...He was not saying the Bills have no needs...He was simply saying it helps them stick with their board and get the best possible player where they Draft...Whaley just strikes me as the type of GM who can't have enough picks because he's ultra-confident in his scouting department at this point...I just don't think he's interested in giving up premium Draft picks...But we'll see...

Agreed...No question more picks is almost always better than less...And depth is ultra-important... But specifically in this Draft I don't think it's worth a trade down from #9 to #14 for anything less than a 2nd round pick...#14 is a potentially tough spot for the Bills in this Draft...Reason being there is a good chance that Matthews, Evans, Ebron, and Lewan are all gone in the top 13...And while the Bills may not have a specific need they are shooting for in the 1st Round, I think if WR, TE, and OT are eliminated it would be a huge mistake...It's just a bit too risky...I think it's easy to imagine that Clowney, Robinson, Watkins, Manziel, Mack, Bortles, Bridgewater, Matthews, Lewan, Evans, Ebron, and Barr all go in the top 13...And if one player slides out of that top 13, I would guess there is a decent chance it would be Bridgewater...That would mean another player the Bills may like would slide in... It's just too much of a risk right now without knowing who would still be there at #14...If you could assure me right now that one from Evans, Ebron, Matthews, or Lewan would still be on the board at #14 then we can talk...

I hear what you're saying...Don't get me wrong... But in the same regard some NFL teams with multiple millions on the line don't care who you are if you're flashing gang signs on and off the field, or if you're associating with known gang members...It's bad for business...And after Aaron Hernandez some of these NFL teams are not going to sit back and wait for something bad to happen...

Trading down for anything other than an extra 2nd Round Pick is basically a waste of time...I think the number is something like 30% of 3rd Round picks become starters for 3 years or more, and only 6% ever make the Pro Bowl...

Interesting...

Agreed... No doubt the Bills will be looking for another LB for depth that can play in the middle in case Spikes is injured...But as it stands right now they have plenty of LB's and decent depth...Kiko will stay on the field in Nickle and Dime packages...I just don't see ILB as being a pressing need right now...Not to say they won't Draft one...But I seriously doubt it will be in the first 3 rounds unless we get some extra picks in a trade down... How is ILB a priority need? Spikes is the starter, if he gets hurt Kiko would likely move back inside...57% the Defensive downs are played with only one or two LB's...The Bills 1st LB is Kiko, 2nd on the field in Nickel would probably be Spikes at this point...I just don't see ILB depth as a pressing need...

No... What has Watt, with all his incredible ability, got the Texans really? He's one piece in what has been a good to very good Defense over these past three years...They made the Playoffs 2 out of his 3 years, and are 2-2 in 4 Playoff games with Watt...They got thumped on the road in the Playoffs 2 consecutive years... Watt is an incredible talent...But he can't win anything all by his lonesome, and he especially can't win anything without a good QB on his team...If a team was going to give up a ton for a JJ Watt-type talent they better be darn sure they are a JJ Watt-type talent away from a legit SB run...Because at the end of the day he's just one out of 11 on Defense...And he's not a QB...

Still a ways to go... But I continue to think it's going to be Evans, Ebron, or Lewan to Buffalo at #9...At this point I would be surprised if it's not one of those 3...

It may be just my opinion, but I think Bortles is still in play at #1 overall...There are a lot of dots that can be connected with O'Brien and Bortles...It's no secret O'Brien likes that kid...

As far as I know McClain has not backed down on his claim that the Texans are taking a QB at #1 no matter what...I think Johnny Football's Pro Day only helped those chances...The more the QB's get pushed up the more pressure there is on the Texans to go QB there... And no offense to Garropolo...He may very well turn out great...But good luck to the Texans with that plan...That's a big risk...

Murph referred to this on his show last night as well...

I'm not sure what the answer is to the question... I am 100% sure the Bills have not announced their intention to do anything...I'm also pretty sure the rumor has no legs...Or very, very short legs... For what it's worth the Bills very own hired talking head John Murphy pretty emphatically shot down these rumors last night on his show...Murph did not have his usual casual voice on when responding however briefly to this rumor...And yes before any of you say it I realize Murphy is not the Bills GM and they could easily hide their intentions from him...But it was more of the way he responded to it...Like it was shoddy reporting that had no basis in fact...He opened his show saying they've "got a great show tonight rooted in reality not wild rumors..." So...Anyway...Take it for what it's worth...

Agreed... I'm usually 100% against giving up picks in any Draft...But I don't have much of a problem giving away picks in 2015 if the player the Bills target will truly put them over the edge...I look back at the Biscuit trade as an example of that...The thing is the Bills already had Kelly, Bruce, and Andre in place when they made that deal... That being said...I think giving up picks in a Draft that most Scouts are saying is the deepest in a decade is just not too smart...That makes no sense to me at all...

Wow!!! Did not see that coming!!!

Cam Newton... Just like him...Plus...He helped me win two different FF leagues over these past two seasons...

Not that this would ever happen...But it's fun to see speculation on the target nonetheless... I would think if they moved to #1 the target would be Robinson...The way Marrone wants to run the ball, and the fact that he's an ex O-lineman, and ex O-line coach, makes me think he would be absolutely salivating at the opportunity to land Robinson...Robinson is a mauler, incredible athlete for his size, and has Orlando Pace-like potential...That would be my guess anyway...

You should listen to that interview 26CornerBlitz posted above with Erie County Exec Mark Poloncarz...It's at about the 9:45 mark of the interview... To say there is a bit of disdain among the people in the know (at least the Erie County people) about Mr Bongiovi seems to be an understatement...Apparently he's part of the group from Toronto that wants to move the Bills...I had no idea what group Bon Jovi was aligned with, only that he was interested in buying a team...But it's pretty clear Poloncarz is not a big fan...I'm uncertain if he likes his music though...

Amen to that... And most importantly...The Bills are not taking a QB whether they need one or not...So...

He won't bet there...

Wow... I expected this article to come eventually...From someone in Toronto...But you're right... Too soon? Jeez...

I don't completely disagree...But the only way? There's never only one way... Those 90's Bills teams were pretty good on Offense too...Especially in the early 90's...But more than anything they were a FAR more balanced team than they are today...Offense, Defense, and ST's... A look at a few of the Pats losses over the past two years...And a few is most because they don't lose much... Jets 30-Patriots 27 Panthers 24-Patriots 20 - Brady has 296 yds passing Fish 24 - Patriots 20 - Brady has 364 yds passing Ravens 31 - Patriots 30 - Brady has 335 yds passing 49ers 41 - Patriots 34 - Brady has 443 yds passing... Good team efforts, from good teams, beats the Patriots...As far as Brady goes keeping him out of the end-zone seems to be the most important factor...He only had 5 passing TD's in those 5 losses... But you still have to put points on the board to beat them while you hold Brady out of the end-zone...The Bills held Brady to 23 points in the opener last year, and lost because they could not score more than 21 at home... Don't get me wrong, I agree you need a strong Defense to beat the Patriots consistently...But more than that you need a strong, balanced team...The Bills have a far better Defense right now than their Offense...They needs to add to that Offense and become more balanced...Move the ball to keep the Defense rested...Give EJ as much help as humanly possible so he has the best chance to succeed... The Bills added key UFA's at LB and DB already this off season...They will add to that Defense somewhere in this Draft...But early on they need to get EJ help...They need to block better for him, give him better weapons, etc...Because realistically the easiest way to overtake the Patriots is if EJ becomes a top NFL QB...

This article claims he did admit to threatening the girl...It's written by a guy who got his MBA from Michigan...It's about half way down in the article... http://www.chatsports.com/michigan-wolverines/a/Michigan-football-covered-up-rape-allegations-and-threats-of-violence-then-lied-about-it-people-need-to-be-fired-immediately-10-2-4830 As far as the assault goes he's been charged now...We'll see how it plays out...Admittedly I've leaned a bit on the accusers accounts of the situation...Mainly because it just stands to reason that no one in Ann Arbor wanted to bring charges against Lewan unless they absolutely had no choice based on the evidence...One thing is certain...Lewan has been steadfast in saying he basically did nothing...Anything beyond that will be viewed as a lying to NFL teams...So I am inclined to give him the benefit if only for that reason...He's gone out on a ledge...It would be enormously stupid for Lewan to lie to NFL teams about what actually happened knowing these teams are considering making a large investment in him...Especially knowing the investigation was still ongoing... Like I've said before I just don't get a great feeling about Lewan, but that's not to say he can't be a modal citizen from this point on...Before the charges were brought against him I was AOK with Drafting him...I knew about the incident, there had been no charges...No harm, no foul...But now...Well...I'd rather be on the safe side and pass on him...I hope I'm wrong and he goes on to have a successful decade-long NFL career without incident...

Depends on who you ask... Mike Mayock (who attended the UNC Pro Day) praised Ebron's workout today, including his ability catching the ball, and said Ebron is absolutely a top 10 talent...

Just my opinion...But I pretty much want nothing to do with Defense at the top of this Draft... Mack will be gone at #9 anyway...If he's there at #9 I'm OK with the Bills taking him even though I don't think there is a need on this team for an OLB (Rivers, Lawson, Alonso, and Bradham already)...Barr is also an OLB...He's not a DE...I think Barr is a great fit for a 3-4 OLB...Not as much for a 4-3...If the Bills go Defense at #9 I would prefer Aaron Donald...But again I'd rather see an Offensive player with that pick... I like Jordan Matthews...A lot...Not as much as Evans...But I like him a lot...I've thought for a while now that Matthews is going to sneak his way into the bottom of the 1st round somehow...But if the Bills came out of the 1st two rounds with Ebron and Matthews I would be thrilled...Personally I think Matthews is more Reggie Wayne than he is Alshon Jeffery...But who cares? He's good...

This post was so much like the conversation I just had with a co-worker I'm wondering if you were in the room... Great post...Totally agree 100%...