What would your draft have looked like?

[Logic]

Every year, we see tons of mock drafts, and they all wind up being extremely different than reality.

One exercise I like better is to look back AFTER the draft, once it is known who was available at each pick, and compare who you would have drafted if you were GM.

I should make it clear that I have no problem with the Bills draft. I liked it. I just think it's fun to compare your own tastes with the picks made by the Bills. That said, here's mine. To start with, I wouldn't have traded down from 10. Why? Well...

RD 1 - FS Malik Hooker Potential as an elite center fielder would have been too much for me to pass on
RD 2 - LB Zach Cunningham Instant starting WLB
RD 3 - CB Cordrea Tankersley - Would compete to start at #2 CB immediately
RD 5 - HB Brian Hill - Competes with Jonathan Williams to be HB2

RD 5 - WR Shelton Gibson - WR to compete with Holmes/Brown for WR 2/3
RD 5 - QB Nathan Peterman - Good developmental QB

RD 6 - OT Adam Bisnowaty - Won't be ready immediately, but has tools to start one day

The obvious negative to my alternate draft is that we do not have an extra 1st round pick next year and we do not as effectively address WR. That being said, I think what I laid out would better help the team in the immediate term. S, LB, and CB needs capably filled. Add running back depth and more of a developmental tackle. Holmes and Brown are adequate as WR2 and WR3 for one season if Gibson doesn't impress in camp. I do not pretend that my draft is any better than what the Bills did, as that's impossible to know at this point. Just stating how I would've picked.

And you?

Edited April 30, 2017 by Logic

[stuvian]

1. Derek Barnett
2. Davis Webb
3. best DB
4. best OL

BPA the rest of the way

[jeffismagic]

Round 1- Patrick Mahomes, QB Texas Tech You never pass on a franchise QB if you don't have one to fill needs

Round 2- Chris Godwin, WR Penn State Can step in as a #2 WR and has upside

Round 3- Tim Williams, EDGE Alabama You need to rush the passer, especially in a scheme that doesn't blitz often

Round 5- Desmond King, Safety Iowa Bills need more DB's and depth, very thin

Round 5- Nate Hairston, CB Temple See Above

Round 5- Jeremy McNichols, RB Boise State Can be productive NFL back with +receiving skills

Round 6- Chad Kelly, QB Mississippi lottery ticket but can be more than a backup if he sticks

 

My draft may not help as much this year but has far more upside and secures the QB of the future for less than the 3 1st round picks + it will take next year if the prospects are that great. This is a GM draft as opposed to the Coach draft we received from Sean McDermott.

Edited May 1, 2017 by jeffismagic

[Blokestradamus]

I'd honestly take the trade offer on the table from KC and go from there.

 

27: Tre White, CB, LSU - Love the pick, scheme fit and value. Day 1 starter on the boundary, potential to be an NFL #1 CB.

44: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame - Taking a punt on the final QB I think has the potential to start in the league. Coachable flaws and a scheme fit.

75: Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State - Boundary WR to start alongside Sammy. High value as a Day 1 starter.

91: Tedric Thompson, FS, Colorado - Another potential starter. Ball hawk with incredible coverage instincts.

149: Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson - Seam threat option, receiving upgrade at TE2, needs work as a blocker.

156: Anthony Walker Jr, LB, Northwestern - Versatile LB that can initially back up either WLB or SLB.

163: Matt Milano, LB, BC - Keep the pick as is. Same as Walker, can back up early, plus ST player.

171: Sam Tevi, OT, Utah - Athletic fit, former DL turned OT, betting on upside to get a swing tackle at the very least.

195: Shalom Luani, SS, Washington State - Another potential ST stud. Box safety with athletic traits and can thump vs the run.

Edited April 30, 2017 by Blokestradamus

[KDIGGZ]

Trade back, trade back, trade back, trade back. Have 12 picks for next year including 2 first and 2 seconds. They zeroed in on guys they liked and traded up when they got nervous someone was going to take them instead of sitting back and taking bpa

[Sweats]

round #1 - Howard

 

...........that is all

[frostbitmic]

1. Deshaun Watson - QB - Clemson

2. Zay Jones - WR - E. Carolina

3. Cordrea Tankersley - CB - Clemson

5. Roderick Johnson - OT - Florida St

5. Elijah Lee - LB - Kansas St

5. Lorenzo Jerome - S - St Francis Pennsylvania

6. Bucky Hodges - TE - Virginia Tech

 

With no trades and picking where we were slotted.

[TUBSTER]

I really loved the Zay pick

[BuffaloBillsGospel]

If we would have stayed pat each round after the 1st round trade.

 

1st round. CB Tre'Davious White- LSU

I'm not trying to be lame but it's fits a huge need and meets BPA, rarely happens. Had we stayed at 10 Marshon Lattimore would have been my pick.

 

2nd round. WLB Zach Cunningham- Vanderbilt

He would have been an awesome WLB for us, I love the Zay Jones pick but LB is really important in Sean McDermotts scheme, Reggie Ragland is still unproven, were not sure if Alexander can repeat last years performance and brown's play is inconsistent to say the least.

 

3rd round. WR Chris Godwin- Penn State

I liked Godwin alot in this draft, he and Josh Malone of Tennessee were my favorites.

 

3rd round. CB Cordrea Tankersley- Clemson

I'm not sure why he lasted that long but he, teamed with White along with Darby/Seymour would have been stellar.

 

5th round. RT Will Holden- Vanderbilt

I love the Dion Dawkins pick but I think there are 0 questions that Holden seems like a natural fit at RT where we don't know with Dawkins.

 

5th round. S Treston DeCoud- Oregon State

Solid size, good instincts and a ball hawk for oregon st., solid depth if nothing else.

 

5th round. QB Nathan Peterman- Pittsburgh

I wouldn't change a thing, Peterman is a solid choice.

 

6th round. TE Bucky Hodges- Virginia Tech

I can't believe he lasted as long as he did, this guy is a matchup nightmare.

[BuffaloBud420]

1. Howard

 

2. Obi

 

3. Webb

[stuvian]

1. Howard

 

2. Obi

 

3. Webb

pretty solid

[DasNootz]

I would have taken KC's trade. Then I would have offered the 27th pick plus our original 3rd to trade back up and get OJ Howard.

Then my draft would look like:

18) OJ Howard - TE
44) Obi Melifonwu - S
91) Cordea Tankersly/Cameron Sutton - CB

 

The rest - who knows. We'd still have holes in the roster, but we're in rebuild mode no matter how you look at it.

Edited May 1, 2017 by DasNootz

[Chandler#81]

I wish mine looked like Astrobot's

[Captain Murica]

I'd honestly take the trade offer on the table from KC and go from there.

 

27: Tre White, CB, LSU - Love the pick, scheme fit and value. Day 1 starter on the boundary, potential to be an NFL #1 CB.

44: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame - Taking a punt on the final QB I think has the potential to start in the league. Coachable flaws and a scheme fit.

75: Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State - Boundary WR to start alongside Sammy. High value as a Day 1 starter.

91: Tedric Thompson, FS, Colorado - Another potential starter. Ball hawk with incredible coverage instincts.

149: Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson - Seam threat option, receiving upgrade at TE2, needs work as a blocker.

156: Anthony Walker Jr, LB, Northwestern - Versatile LB that can initially back up either WLB or SLB.

163: Matt Milano, LB, BC - Keep the pick as is. Same as Walker, can back up early, plus ST player.

171: Sam Tevi, OT, Utah - Athletic fit, former DL turned OT, betting on upside to get a swing tackle at the very least.

195: Shalom Luani, SS, Washington State - Another potential ST stud. Box safety with athletic traits and can thump vs the run.

 

[mead107]

You all gave your picks before the draft. Are they the same or different now?

[LABILLBACKER]

I really loved the Zay pick

I can live with a trade up for Zay Jones but not Dawkins. Love Peterman in the 5th. We'll see if White can replace Gilmore. We are getting some very good draft grades. We need healthy play from Lawson, Ragland and Sammy.

[johnwalter]

Without trades:

at 10: Haasan Reddick

at 42: Obi Melifonwu

at 75: Chris Godwin

 

With trades:

at 27: Reuben Foster

at 37: Joe Mixon

at 63: Dion Dawkins (same as actual)

[frostbitmic]

With the 1st round trade

1. Marcus Williams - S - Utah

2. Tim Williams - Edge - Alabama

3. Chad Williams - WR - Grambling St

3. Joe Williams- RB - Utah

5. Damontae Kazee - CB - San Diego St

5. Nathan Peterman - QB - Pitt

5. Brad Kaaya - QB - Miami

6. Marquez Williams - FB - Miami, Ohio

 

Needed a few more Williams' in the 5th but there weren't any more available soI took a CB and a couple QBs.

[rayray808]

10) Mahommes

30) Foster (trade up to that spot)

[BigdaddyinOrlando]

Without trades:

at 10: Haasan Reddick

at 42: Obi Melifonwu

at 75: Chris Godwin

 

With trades:

at 27: Reuben Foster

at 37: Joe Mixon

at 63: Dion Dawkins (same as actual)

I agree with and wanted the same picks with the trade!!

[NewEra]

I'd take the KC trade and draft

1- Rueben Foster

2- Zay jones

3- Fabian Moreau

3- Antonio Garcia

5- Anthony Walker

5- Desmond King

5- Nate Peterman

6- Bucky Hodges

[Poleshifter]

I'd honestly take the trade offer on the table from KC and go from there.

 

27: Tre White, CB, LSU - Love the pick, scheme fit and value. Day 1 starter on the boundary, potential to be an NFL #1 CB.

44: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame - Taking a punt on the final QB I think has the potential to start in the league. Coachable flaws and a scheme fit.

75: Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State - Boundary WR to start alongside Sammy. High value as a Day 1 starter.

91: Tedric Thompson, FS, Colorado - Another potential starter. Ball hawk with incredible coverage instincts.

149: Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson - Seam threat option, receiving upgrade at TE2, needs work as a blocker.

156: Anthony Walker Jr, LB, Northwestern - Versatile LB that can initially back up either WLB or SLB.

163: Matt Milano, LB, BC - Keep the pick as is. Same as Walker, can back up early, plus ST player.

171: Sam Tevi, OT, Utah - Athletic fit, former DL turned OT, betting on upside to get a swing tackle at the very least.

195: Shalom Luani, SS, Washington State - Another potential ST stud. Box safety with athletic traits and can thump vs the run.

Blokes, don't you feel a more urgent need for help at RT? You leave that position to a late 6th round hopeful.

 

I am very glad they targeted Dawkins and then found a way to get him. Some people feel OK with trading up for Zay Jones, perhaps because they had heard of him in lots of pre-draft chatter.

 

But most fans (myself included) had never heard of Dion Dawkins before - because he was listed as OG - and I only knew of the top 5 OTs.

[sjjr]

The Bills had a great draft because they got 3 immediate starters, a 2018 1st round pick and 3 players that will provide depth/special teams with the upside of potentially starting in the future. I believe Watson is a future star franchise QB so would have done things differently....

 

Would have taken Watson at 10 and found a way to get Z.Jones early in the 2nd the way the Bills did.

 

Probably wouldn't have ended up with Dawkins but loved that pick by the Bills too.

 

At 75, could have taken Desmond King and he could man the nickel and punt return duties. He doesn't have the upside White does though.

 

Later in the draft, liked Peterman, Milano and Vallejo ok. Maybe would have looked at Jordan Evans (LB-Oklahoma), Anthony Walker (LB-Northwestern), Brooks Ellis (LB-Arkansas), Xavier Woods (S-La Tech), Jordan Morgan (OL-Kutztown), Matt Dayes (RB-NC State) and Keionta Davis (DE-Chattanooga).

[Blokestradamus]

Blokes, don't you feel a more urgent need for help at RT? You leave that position to a late 6th round hopeful.

 

I am very glad they targeted Dawkins and then found a way to get him. Some people feel OK with trading up for Zay Jones, perhaps because they had heard of him in lots of pre-draft chatter.

 

But most fans (myself included) had never heard of Dion Dawkins before - because he was listed as OG - and I only knew of the top 5 OTs.

 

I'm the founding chairman of the Jordan Mills hatred club so of course I'd like to find a RT option in this exercise. Love the Dawkins pick but, with not trading up in this exercise, I'm assuming Carolina take him at 64. In the case of both Moton and Garcia lasting to 75, Godwin is still the highest ranked player left. Tough choice but got to go BPA and get better.

 

Outside of those guys, there wasn't much value left at OT. Tevi is my top late round developmental guy and took him in a good value spot.

Keionta Davis (DE-Chattanooga).

 

The Bills have scouted him at least once (Astro has all that info somewhere). Davis won't sign with a team now until he gets the all clear from a bulging disk issue but, according to Ian Rapoport, a bunch of teams are still interested. Likely won't get cleared until an appointment with a neck specialist in June.

Edited May 2, 2017 by Blokestradamus