LABills08

Spiller is going to be great. Yea, yea...you can find a RB in the later rounds. But you can't find the special players in the later rounds. Gruden has Spiller as the top "sure thing" in this draft. The Bills need a sparkplug for this team. And Gailey and Nix understand what no other Bills fan really gets. Fred Jackson is a good back. He's smart and talented. But he is not the playmaker someone like CJ Spiller is. I would have been happy with Clausen too, but if you take a QB.....you better be sure he is the right guy. Bills are going to be drafting in the top 10 next year. If they need a QB then, they will take one. The Bills have so many holes, they might as well take the best player available.

For a team that has so many holes, you draft the best player available. You know what the Bills have done for the past decade!?!?!? They reached to FILL HOLES. And you know what the result has been? TERRIBLE!

No way the Bills take Tebow at 9. No way.

If this is true, I think it is going to be Clausen. Though given that Bradford is clearly not a given to St. Louis, I would love for it to be him. But if Sam isn't feeling good about St. Louis, I can't imagine he would feel better about Buffalo. If Gailey and Nix have ultimate say, I can't see Tebow coming to the Bills. However, if RW has his say and demands a marketable player...you never know. Plus, Kelly has a lot of influence... for better or worse... and Kelly loved him. I could see McCoy happening before Tebow. A lot of people make comparisons to him and Brees (I don't see it, but whatever). McCoy apparently knows football and can read coverages better than any of the other guys. He has a long track record of collegiate success which is a plus to Nix. Though, I don't think he is worth a 1st rounder. I think the Bills are going to be very active over the next two days. And I'm excited to see what happens. No matter what happens, I think we will wake up Saturday morning with a starting LT and a rookie QB. I have faith.

Haven't seen this posted here. It's pretty much just an embellishment of reports that Clausen visited and met with the Bills at OBD. No indication the Bills are doing anything more than due diligence, but obviously the media is going to stir things up. Link

The only mock I think worth taking into consideration is Mayock's. Just because he actually has connections with NFL brass. He has Clausen going to the Bills. Not Tebow. And I agree with his logic. The question is, do the Bills agree with his logic? Edit: Kirwan has Clausen going to the Bills. My mistake.

Good read, though I still don't think it sheds much light on the Bradford/Clausen debate. As is typical with many scouts, they tend to fall in love with the players they are most familiar with.

Ehh. They signed Delhomme to a big deal. I can't imagine they signed him to that kind of money as a backup. And Holmgren is a pretty straightforward guy. Could they pick Clausen? Sure. They likely signed Delhomme thinking that Clausen would go to the 'Skins anyways. But still, they have a lot of holes to fill and QB has been plugged for the moment. Plus, next year promises to be a strong QB class with Locker and Mallet coming out.

The Bills are in no position to trade up and there is no way the Rams don't draft Bradford after his pro-day. I don't think the Browns will take a chance on Clausen, not after their last experiment with a Notre Dame QB. I also don't see Clausen as a Mangini type of player. Though obviously it will be Holmgren's decision. I think there is a very solid chance that Clausen falls to the Bills. But, I am not convinced the Bills will draft him. I think there will be a solid chance, but nothing certain. Remember how much emphasis the Bills have been placing on getting the "fundamentals" in place. In other words, getting the offensive and defensive lines set up before going after a QB. There have been 0 improvements to our O-line from last year with the exception of adding some depth. The Bills are clearly looking to draft a rookie to start on the left side. Otherwise, the Bills are going into the season with even MORE question marks at the O-line than they did last year. And I can't imagine that will happen.

I don't know how you can compare Reed and Tate. Tate is a much faster player. And speed has always been the difference between Josh Reed being an average possession receiver to being an actual threat.

IMO, Golden Tate is talented enough to be a Wes Welker type player. I would love him on the Bills. I doubt he'll slip to 41 though. He is arguably the 2nd or 3rd best receiver available. And the success of Wes Welker and DeSean Jackson have made small-burners (water bugs in the words of Gailey) a trendy player to have on your roster, I just can't fathom the guy goes in the early 2nd round. But, if he is there at 41 I hope the Bills scoop him up.

I don't see us taking a QB and I especially don't see Clausen falling past 4. But, if he does, and the Bills pick him, I don't understand what the commotion is about. If one of the top LTs isn't on the board (and I don't consider Davis, Campbell or Williams a top LT at this point) I wouldn't be upset with Clausen. He fits Buddy's idea of consistent success and as of now, the Bills' QBs are awful. All of you who say...."lets watch Edwards/Fitz/Brohm fight it out"..... Just know, that arguably NONE of those QBs would be starting on any other team in the NFL. I think Claussen will end up being a better QB than Sanchez. He's in the mold of Cutler, but I could see him becoming a Philip Rivers type guy. And I don't see how anyone can disagree with that given his natural abilities and success in pressure situations. Aren't all of you people screaming NO at Clausen, the same people screaming NO at Bradford (bc apparently he is fragile and has arm concerns)? Well, Bradford just had one of the best pro days of the past decade, so I'm not sure I trust your views. In short, if Bulaga isn't on the board, I'd like to see us sign a pass rushing linebacker/DE (like Morgan or Kindle). But, I would not at all be upset with Clausen.

I'm not a fan of Davis just bc the Bills can't afford to take risks on the LT spot. I'm not too worried about the Bills drafting the guy though bc Davis is completely the opposite of what Buddy Nix has been preaching. That being said, it should be mentioned that a highly respected talent evaluator (i forget his name at the moment) compared him to Oher.

Who would the Pats move up for? They generally don't pay a premium for ANYTHING in the draft, they are the ones getting picks at a discount. I'm not sure what team is looking to move up. The Bills are an unknown to most teams out there. New coach, new GM and a lot of holes to fill. So maybe there is a fog surrounding who the Bills might take and it is making other GMs nervous. At the same time, this draft is very deep at almost every position except for QB, DB and RB (maybe TE too). So, I have to imagine that someone is looking for Claussen, Tebow, Berry, Haden, or Spiller. First off, I don't think Claussen will fall to 8. The Redskins are going to take him IMO. I don't think Snyder will be able to resist, new GM/coach or no new GM/coach. I think Tebow will be there, but I see no way in hell teams feel confident enough in Tebow to make him a top 10 pick. And, despite what Jim Kelly is saying, I don't see how the Bills take a QB when they have the worst O-Line in football and are switching their defensive scheme. Thus, I don't understand why teams are worried the Bills might scoop him up at 9. Maybe the Niners will take a chance on him, but I will be surprised. That leaves Berry, Haden and Spiller. I think Berry will be gone by 9 given his talent (probably to the Browns). Most teams won't pay premiums for RBs because good ones can be found later in the draft. I don't see why someone would trade up for Spiller if they can get Best or McKnight in the 2nd round. And Haden won't be scooped up before 8. Unless a team is sold on one of the OTs, I have no idea who the target is.

According to Billsdaily, Maybin looked good today and added a lot of weight. Tough to say someone looked good w/o doing any football drills, but does anyone have any info on this?

I think its a great draft. I'd take it in a heartbeat. Those who disagree with this draft follow the typical Bills fan mindset. Ie, they would like us to "reach" in the draft in order to fill holes. Maybin was an example of that gone bad, so was McKelvin (I know he hasn't had much of a chance to prove himself yet, but his coverage skills are still very iffy, injury or no injury). I like Lynch, but Lynch was even an example of that. The Bills need to build through the lines. If Bulaga and Okung are gone by 9, I think the Bills seriously need to evaluate how much of a risk they want to take on Davis and Campbell. Both represent contradictions to Nix's philosophy (college players with a strong 2-4 year track record of excellence). T. Williams is a candidate, but putting him at LT is risky IMO. Could he adapt? Sure. But, his track record is anything but solid at LT. The guy is going to be a RT long term and the Bills can find an RT in later rounds. I think that at pick 9, the Bills need to take the best player available for either their defensive front 7 (Kindle, Morgan, McClain, Graham) or for their O-Line (we all know the names of the OT candidates at the 9 spot). With Bulaga and Okung likely gone, the Bills will have their pick of the top pass rushing linebacker/DE on the draft board and I don't think they should hesitate to pull the trigger if the right guy is there. It is very likely that Davis or Campbell will fall. The Bills can always trade back into the 1st to acquire one of these guys if they like.

Agreed. This is crazy.

Ehh. I dunno. Who would we take at 20? I don't think the Bills are in a position to trade back as far as 20, only to get a late 2nd round pick. The late 4th round pick is not a big deal either. Bills have a top 10 pick. I think a 2nd and 3rd rounder at the least .

Williams might be gone in the top 10 or top 15 if you believe the mocks. Not sure if he will be there for us later.

Injury concerns and was a victim of being released in a year not many people were released. Regardless, I'll take it. He is a big guy which can't be said for any of our other linebackers!

Both teams need the boost that Tebow's stardom would bring. But he is way more valuable to the Jags than the Bills. But be on the look out. The Bills need to do something to get those season ticket sales moving.

I would not be in the least point disappointed if Spiller was the pick. This guy isn't Chris Johnson, but he is close in terms of his explosiveness. I promise you he will be a top 5 RB in the league at some point. And at least we would be picking the best player on the board instead of reaching for some player of need. IMO, that has been the Bills BIGGEST problem these past couple seasons, they reach for players of need (bc they have so many holes to fill) and let the best players slip by. Apparently, everyone is convinced Lynch is on his way out of town. If that is the case, Spiller makes even more sense. But, even with Lynch on the team, I wouldn't be upset with Spiller. The Bills will certainly be hazed by the press, especially because the general claim about drafting running backs is " you can get a good one in the 3rd or 4th rounds", but I still say Spiller wouldn't brother me. And for all of you who are in love with Fred Jackson, let me remind you, the guy is almost 30 years old. That is very old for a RB. See: LaDainian Tomlinson. If the draft plays out the way PFW says it will, the only player I would be happier with at 9 is McClain or Kindle. I think Clausen will have a great career, but I don't think the Bills are in a spot to draft a QB right now. And if the Bills REALLY want him, they can get him later on. I wouldn't be surprised if he experiences a Brady Quinn type fall on the draft boards.

I'd be comfortable with Williams too...I'm just saying I wouldn't have a problem with Spiller, bc quite frankly, he might be the best player available at 9.

Spiller is going to be an all star running back. The guy is incredibly athletic and very quick (maybe not Chris Johnson fast, but he will make people miss). Now, if you keep Lynch, it will be tough to justify acquiring him. And the Bills will be hazed in the press for drafting him when they have holes at LT, RT, NT, WR and LB. But contrary to popular belief, I think the Bills are the most unknown commodity out there in terms of who they will draft. The only thing I am sure of, is that whoever Buddy Nix drafts, the player will have a proven track record in college. That is why I think Davis gets ruled out immediately. I think Campbell (if he fell to the Bills) can possibly be ruled out as well, since he is essentially the Aaron Maybin of the OT draft class. He has only started for 1 1/2 years. There is a lot to like, but Maryland is a weak program in a mediocre football conference (at least IMO, the ACC has been weak in recent years). If Bulaga is on the board, I think he is the choice. But if not, I'm convinced the team could go in a number of different directions. Dan Williams fits the bill of having extensive collegiate success and experience. So does McClain. So does Spiller. So does Dez Bryant. None of those names would strike me as a big surprise. With our main hole being at LT, I don't see Williams being a choice. So, in short, I have no idea what the Bills will do at 9. I just know that the guy will not be a one year wonder.

If all of the good OTs are taken, I will have 0 problem with us taking CJ Spiller.