Potential Hint to Draft Priorities?

[SCBills]

2 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Question:  Why do people keep listing WR as an immediate need?  I dont get why thats an immediate need right now

For some teams, it wouldn’t, but for a team like us that runs 3-wide, 4-wide on the reg, it may be.  
 

We have 5 WR’s set, and one is a gadget guy in McKenzie.  
 

The stud outside WR prospects will be gone, but the potential slot prospects at 30 are really talented.   No reason we can’t run a rookie slot in 4-wide and plan for life beyond Cole (whenever that happens). 
 

Or we can wait until the 2nd/3rd Round and dip into the 2nd tier of outside WR’s. 

[Solomon Grundy]

I still think Collins is in play if there at 30. Go look at the size of McDermott’s 2009 Eagles LBs. 

[BADOLBILZ]

1 hour ago, Ethan in Portland said:

For the record I don't understand why people feel drafting for need is a bad thing? I agree if there is a run on OT's you don't want to take the 8th best OT when you could have a better player at another position.  

 

If your front office is basing a player selection decision on how many players at that position had already been selected rather than how they stack up against the field............then they are incompetent.

 

 

[HOUSE]

2 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Beane lies. He says he drafts BPA but drafts for need.  He is an idiot if he is drafting for long term. The window to win the SuperBowl is now and next year.  He should be drafting for immediate help!  Now that can be nuanced.  Drafting a 1-tech DT or edge early can fit both a short term and long term need. 

The only position that I would say should be drafted for long term is a true center so they can move on from Morse next year.  

If you have a true top 5 superstar QB then the window is as large as his career. Your team will always be in the mix

[4merper4mer]

2 hours ago, mjt328 said:

If you look at the Bills roster, the only position where a rookie could potentially start on Day 1 is at Running Back. 

All the other spots have solid veterans in place for 2021.  And even if the Bills drafted Travis Etienne/Najee Harris, it's very possible they are forced to play behind Devin Singletary/Zack Moss at first.

 

Not sure anything can be taken from Beane's comments.

 

Also, there hasn't been a "delay" in activating the 5th-Year Option on Tremaine Edmunds.  The deadline isn't until after the draft, and none of the NFL teams have activated those options yet.  The Bills haven't done it for Josh Allen either.

 

You must know by now that Edmunds must be bashed in every thread.  I think it is a board rule so I’m sorry but I have to report you to the mods for using logic and reason when it comes to Edmunds.

[aristocrat]

might be o line imo. 

[Don Otreply]

57 minutes ago, thurst44 said:

That's as good an argument that I've seen that they are going BPA, whatever you think he did the last few years, as the best player at any position is most likely to help you in the long run. I've always looked at BPA as best player for the longterm as opposed to best player immediately. For example, if you're drafting for the longterm it might make you more liable to draft, say, Caleb Farley, if you think his injury is temporary.

 

Ultimately, what might be the problem here is that people have their own definitions of what "BPA" means or what different teams' needs are. 

I would agree for the most part with how you classify BPA..., 
 

For me, I have pretty much always thought that there has never been a draft pick that wasn’t need driven, I say this because, needing a RT for your team for example,  is a need, or getting a player that is “better” at what ever, is always a need, a better player no matter how that is measured is and always has been a need for every sports team ever. All draft picks are needs, because all teams need all sorts, from role players to stars, needs needs needs.  So to say that “BPA” is some how different, and not classified as yet another need just doesn’t make sense.  It’s all about getting the right combination of players that puts your team over the top. 

[maddenboy]

I think Beane's comments are for ONE reason.  To increase the value of Pick #30.

 

"Oh, we know there wont be immediate impact starters at 30, but (to all NFL teams) dont think for a second we wont draft a player for long term.  So if you call us, be prepared to pay full fare, if not more"

[LeGOATski]

Draft picks are always long term investments. No serious GM says "we're drafting this guy because he's gonna put us over the hump right now!" That's what FA acquisitions are for. They're known commodities.

So, I wouldn't read too much into that specific comment. It's a statement of the obvious to me.

[ColoradoBills]

3 hours ago, glazeduck said:

I know this has been posted elsewhere, so mods feel free to merge if deemed necessary, but wanted to lay out a general line of thinking taking this comment a step or two further...

From Beane's presser the other day: 

1. Immediate needs become less of a priority than longer-term ones (see DE/WR age/depth/future contract situations)

In general, if my thesis is proven correct, I think this statement from Beane probably means:

Stock up: DE, CB, WR, OT, C

Stock down: S, OG, 

 

3 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Question:  Why do people keep listing WR as an immediate need?  I dont get why thats an immediate need right now

 

I don't see the WR need either.  It has become another "obsession" lately.

 

I will make a few statements/facts about WR.

 

1.  The highest drafted WR on the Bills is Sanders who was a 3rd rounder (Pick #82).  This includes recently released Josh Brown (Pick #91).

The Bills have a great WR room for the 2021 season and NONE are top picks in any draft.

2.  Diggs cost a 1st+ BUT WRs have a long shelf life as compared to lets say RBs.   It's not a bad idea to take at least 1-2 WRs in FA.

3.  My most important statement:  Is there anyone who seriously thinks that if the Bills find themselves next year needing a WR that the

upcoming Free Agency would not be full of players wanting to come to Buffalo to catch balls thrown by Josh Allen?

4.  The Bills had 8 plays (THAT IS 8 PLAYS) last year with a 5 WR set.  Only 15% (not a small number) but only 15% with a 4 WR set.

This "fantasy" that the Bills need 5-6 top line WRs is not based in reality.

 

The Bills already have Diggs and to add to that Josh Allen has proven to spread the ball around like a HOF QB.

 

I'm not saying drafting a WR is a bad move, I'm just saying I don't think it's an imperative need to in the first couple of rounds.

IMO.

 

Edited April 22, 2021 by ColoradoBills

[LeGOATski]

Beane's draft presser summed up in one sentence: We're taking the BPA on our board and price will determine if we trade up or down.

[OldTimer1960]

3 hours ago, mjt328 said:

If you look at the Bills roster, the only position where a rookie could potentially start on Day 1 is at Running Back. 

All the other spots have solid veterans in place for 2021.  And even if the Bills drafted Travis Etienne/Najee Harris, it's very possible they are forced to play behind Devin Singletary/Zack Moss at first.

 

Not sure anything can be taken from Beane's comments.

 

Also, there hasn't been a "delay" in activating the 5th-Year Option on Tremaine Edmunds.  The deadline isn't until after the draft, and none of the NFL teams have activated those options yet.  The Bills haven't done it for Josh Allen either.

 

A good rookie could compete to start at CB, though I don’t know that there will be such a player available at 30.

 

I think a good OL could compete to start on the interior of the OL.

 

 

[Buffalo Barbarian]

3 hours ago, NewEra said:

Jayson Oweh 😳
 

ugh

 

More like Noway

 

 

[TheBeaneBandit]

13 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

 

I don't see the WR need either.  It has become another "obsession" lately.

 

I will make a few statements/facts about WR.

 

1.  The highest drafted WR on the Bills is Sanders who was a 3rd rounder (Pick #82).  This includes recently released Josh Brown (Pick #91).

The Bills have a great WR room for the 2021 season and NONE are top picks in any draft.

2.  Diggs cost a 1st+ BUT WRs have a long shelf life as compared to lets say RBs.   It's not a bad idea to take at least 1-2 WRs in FA.

3.  My most important statement:  Is there anyone who seriously thinks that if the Bills find themselves next year needing a WR that the

upcoming Free Agency would not be full of players wanting to come to Buffalo to catch balls thrown by Josh Allen?

4.  The Bills had 8 plays (THAT IS 8 PLAYS) last year with a 5 WR set.  Only 15% (not a small number) but only 15% with a 4 WR set.

This "fantasy" that the Bills need 5-6 top line WRs is not based in reality.

 

The Bills already have Diggs and to add to that Josh Allen has proven to spread the ball around like a HOF QB.

 

I'm not saying drafting a WR is a bad move, I'm just saying I don't think it's an imperative need to in the first couple of rounds.

IMO.

 

Free agent WR (good ones) cost a ton. It's money the Bills won't have next year. 

[The Wiz]

3 hours ago, Arkady Renko said:

No team truly drafts BPA in the first few rounds.  Otherwise you could see something crazy like an all LB draft class.  When teams say they draft BPA they mean BPA at a position of need or where there is at least potential space on the roster.  

Why people still don't understand this is beyond me.   

 

"We have 6 pro bowl LTs but the best player available is a LT, we have to draft him!"

 

Not the case.   

 

Need: we have two returning wrs  and need to get more weapons. 

 

BPA: we could upgrade at RG with this player since we're good everywhere else. 

[Buffalo Barbarian]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

It is not. But Beane talked about drafting a guy who could learn behind players with 1 year left. Beasley and Sanders fall in that camp. 

 

I am at the point where #30 (if they don't trade out) is down to Travis Etienne, a corner, a project pass rusher or a receiver based on the presser.

 

Really Jalen Phillips but those concussions are concerning

 

 

[ColoradoBills]

5 minutes ago, TheBeaneBandit said:

Free agent WR (good ones) cost a ton. It's money the Bills won't have next year. 

 

#1WRs cost a lot of money.  The Bills have Diggs for that role.  My point is that Beane could draft a WR in round 3-5.

I see no NEED to draft one in the 1st or even the 2nd.  We will see next week what will happen.

[Mat68]

De, Cb, Wr, Te imo.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

1 hour ago, Solomon Grundy said:

I still think Collins is in play if there at 30. Go look at the size of McDermott’s 2009 Eagles LBs. 

 

League is different now BUT could definitely see Collins there. If he can rush, stop the run and cover like they say id be stoked to have this guy.

 

 

[stinky finger]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

It is not. But Beane talked about drafting a guy who could learn behind players with 1 year left. Beasley and Sanders fall in that camp. 

 

I am at the point where #30 (if they don't trade out) is down to Travis Etienne, a corner, a project pass rusher or a receiver based on the presser.

 

At this point, I'd be very surprised if Etienne (or any RB) is the selection at #30.

[machine gun kelly]

4 hours ago, glazeduck said:

I know this has been posted elsewhere, so mods feel free to merge if deemed necessary, but wanted to lay out a general line of thinking taking this comment a step or two further...

From Beane's presser the other day: 

 

So what might this mean in terms of position and player priority as they're looking at the draft? While none of this is mind-blowing, it tells me a couple things:

1. Higher paid positions likely more in play than lower (CB, over S, for instance)
2. Immediate needs become less of a priority than longer-term ones (see DE/WR age/depth/future contract situations)
3. What impact does our franchise QB's health play into that? Might be too deep of a read into that quote, but we know the staff believes in building successful season on top of successful season. Could potentially bring OT into play...
4. General player health might play a role too -- specifically thinking of Morse here. Given the contract they gave him to come from KC, the staff clearly prioritizes the C position...
5. Probably "nothing to see here" but also fair to wonder if the decision to delay committing to Edmunds' 5th year extension could play interestingly there as well. Given his age and his athleticism, he'd still be an intriguing trade chip and there's depth to be found in the LB class this year...

 

In general, if my thesis is proven correct, I think this statement from Beane probably means:

Stock up: DE, CB, WR, OT, C

Stock down: S, OG, 

🤷‍♂️: LB, TE, 3T, 1T

Cmon bud liars season.  Do i have to send again the animal house remain calm youtube.

 

Note to anyone who wphasnt watched drafts for over 30 years.  They all lie.  Believe NOTHING.  There is nothing that is true.  NOTHING.  I didn’t even watch his pre draft presser.  Why?  He’s living like every other GM.  you can’t read a tea leave to find not one thing out and I wouldn’t either if I were them.   That’s giving away you’re leverage.  These guys are smart.

 

they are not dumb enough to give you any hint of what they will really do.  The whole RB thing from the other day.  Lie!  or not.  We won’t know until the end of next weekend.

 

enjoy it like Christmas and see what toys we get.  

[glazeduck]

2 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

Cmon bud liars season.  Do i have to send again the animal house remain calm youtube.

 

Note to anyone who wphasnt watched drafts for over 30 years.  They all lie.  Believe NOTHING.  There is nothing that is true.  NOTHING.  I didn’t even watch his pre draft presser.  Why?  He’s living like every other GM.  you can’t read a tea leave to find not one thing out and I wouldn’t either if I were them.   That’s giving away you’re leverage.  These guys are smart.

 

they are not dumb enough to give you any hint of what they will really do.  The whole RB thing from the other day.  Lie!  or not.  We won’t know until the end of next weekend.

 

enjoy it like Christmas and see what toys we get.  

As others have said, most draft choices ARE long-term decisions. I'm not sure how much what he's saying could possibly be a lie. I was just trying to take his comments and apply them to what we think we know about our own team's setup, going into the draft.

[John from Riverside]

That confirmed to me more then ever that it is a corner

[machine gun kelly]

Bud, I’m not busting you personally’s chops.  I’m saying I believe non of them.  No matter what he or any of them say.  They lie and they lie even more before the draft.

 

Its a smart move so no one knows what they are really doing.  Sometimes they tell the truth, because they want others to think they are lieing.  It’s not about you, and I see you put a nice summary together.  I’m saying I’ve been watching drafts since espn made it popular in the early 80’s and they all lie.  Hell, Gil Brandt from the 60’s to the 90’s and so many others say the same darn thing.  Believe nothing.

 

You can’t read anything into any GM except maybe the jags that sent the playbook to Lawrence.  They have no reason to lie as they are #1.  That one I agree.  I don’t even know if Wilson will go to the Jets at #2 even though all accounts say he will.  I have absolutely no idea even with all the speculation who the 49ers are going to take nor do you or anyone else.

 

At 30?  Anyway, glad you put some thought into it for fun.

7 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

That confirmed to me more then ever that it is a corner

 

With absolutely no information, or anyone telling me anything, I agree.  That’s my WAG as it is most likely a better CB is there at 30 or close than other positions, but then I could completely be 100% wrong.  What do I know or anyone else.

[Augie]

15 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

 

 

 enjoy it like Christmas and see what toys we get.  

 

My wife would always sneak in the night before and open her presents, then wrap them back up. You don’t have a key to the war room, do you? She’d do it and get a pic of our board!  She never got caught!  Sneaky, that one! 

 

Seriously, I’ve been to one Super Bowl. Rather than go to another, I would chose to attend a draft if I ever could. That sounds AMAZING to me! 

Edited April 22, 2021 by Augie

[John from Riverside]

4 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

Bud, I’m not busting you personally’s chops.  I’m saying I believe non of them.  No matter what he or any of them say.  They lie and they lie even more before the draft.

 

Its a smart move so no one knows what they are really doing.  Sometimes they tell the truth, because they want others to think they are lieing.  It’s not about you, and I see you put a nice summary together.  I’m saying I’ve been watching drafts since espn made it popular in the early 80’s and they all lie.  Hell, Gil Brandt from the 60’s to the 90’s and so many others say the same darn thing.  Believe nothing.

 

You can’t read anything into any GM except maybe the jags that sent the playbook to Lawrence.  They have no reason to lie as they are #1.  That one I agree.  I don’t even know if Wilson will go to the Jets at #2 even though all accounts say he will.  I have absolutely no idea even with all the speculation who the 49ers are going to take nor do you or anyone else.

 

At 30?  Anyway, glad you put some thought into it for fun.

 

With absolutely no information, or anyone telling me anything, I agree.  That’s my WAG as it is most likely a better CB is there at 30 or close than other positions, but then I could completely be 100% wrong.  What do I know or anyone else.

I am also saying that without a wealth of "in the know"

 

30 just seems like the place to take a corner (or a OG) unless someone significant drops at DE or WR

 

Its about the dollars to......getting a stab at a shut down corner on a cost controlled contract would be amazing.....Tre could do his thing....move Dane Jackson into the slot

[GunnerBill]

40 minutes ago, inaugural balls said:

 

At this point, I'd be very surprised if Etienne (or any RB) is the selection at #30.

 

I still think it is less likely than other spots but Beane definitely left the door open for a guy who can "give us something we don't have" and then 2 or 3 questions later said the thing we don't have is a home run hitter. 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

I don’t believe he would hint anything.  Being nebulous about what you’re doing adds trade value to your picks. 

[thurst44]

3 hours ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

You have no idea what the draft board looks like so you cannot say these are just "need" picks.  You're basically saying every single time you improve a weakness in the draft, it's a need pick and not BPA.  

 

Why would someone draft a position they don't need at all?  Would it make sense for us or KC to draft a QB in the first round?

Would it make sense for the Bucs to draft a MLB?

Would it make sense for the Pats to draft a tight end?

 

You always criticize Beane for drafting players to improve areas for whatever reason.

 

The Jags and Jets both need QB's and they're both drafting QB's....need pick.

 

 

We have no idea what Beane's draft board looks like.

 

It's just childish for Ethan to call Beane an idiot and a liar. 

Wow, that escalated fast. I missed that he called Beane an idiot or a liar and if so, I certainly do not agree with that.  I do think Beane will be a bit opaque in his intentions at time, which is fine. Honestly, I'm at the point with Beane where if there's a draft move or a pick that I think is dumb, and he makes it, I'll rethink my own strategy. I get mad if I see a GM ranking list and he's not at least top 10. At this point, the team's record has gone up substantially every offseason he's been here. I'll trust the process and after all these years, I'm thankful to have a team that seems to be working.

Edited April 22, 2021 by thurst44

[Ethan in Cleveland]

3 hours ago, HOUSE said:

If you have a true top 5 superstar QB then the window is as large as his career. Your team will always be in the mix

You are mostly correct. If you have a superstar QB, then you can can overcome some flaws. It just gets much harder.  Look at the Seahawks. Their O-line and defense has fallen apart. Is that all because of Wilsons contract? No of course not.  But it makes it harder.  The Packers have not been able to build a decent defense in a decade to pair with Rodgers.  Will the Chiefs be able to sustain this run when the real impact of Mahommes' contract kicks in?  We will see. 

[billsfan89]

1 minute ago, Doc Brown said:

Answer:  It's not.  It could be a big need next year though so it would be prudent to draft and develop one if the Bills feel they have a future star in rounds 1 or 2.

 

Based on where we pick, the players who will likely be available at #30, and our current personnel the only position I think could have a significant positive impact this year for our team is CB.  I hope a good one falls to us and that's who we take.

 

I think if WR is by far the best player on the board I wouldn't hate taking it. Sanders is a one year rental and I am not sure how many more years Beasley has left in the tank too. Diggs should have a few prime years left and Davis is young but still not fully comfortable with him as a WR2. There is a lot of longer term instability at the position. But I think the odds of a corner or Edge player not being there at a good value is fairly small. But it is nice to have options at pick 30.

[ganesh]

8 hours ago, TheBeaneBandit said:

WR before the 3rd round. MARK IT DOWN lol.

It does make sense... Sanders, Beasely  and McKenzie are FA at the end of the season, that  leaves us with Diggs and Davis

[ganesh]

1 minute ago, ScottLaw said:

Then Beane should’ve thought about that before he spent two 3rd round picks on two slow ass RBs..... It will be disappointing if he takes a a RB in the first round after wasting 3rd round picks on two the last two years. 

May be he trades both of them on draft day for 5th round picks....

People are underestimating the home run thread of Breida.  

[ColoradoBills]

14 hours ago, ganesh said:

It does make sense... Sanders, Beasely  and McKenzie are FA at the end of the season, that  leaves us with Diggs and Davis

 

Cole Beasley is not a FA next year.  He is under contract thru 2022.

[TFBillsfan]

22 hours ago, TheBeaneBandit said:

WR before the 3rd round. MARK IT DOWN lol.

Ihmir Smith Marsette would be a solid add in the 3rd/4th.

[DJB]

I'll keep saying it. 

 

Big nickle

[Rigotz]

If you put any stock into anything Brandon Beane says 1 week before the draft, the joke is on you.

50% chance it's true, 50% chance it's a lie.

[colin]

21 hours ago, mannc said:

The Bills utilize WRs more than any team in the league.  Two of their top 4 WRs are well over 30 years old, and their number 1 guy will be 28 to start the season.  All it takes is an injury to one of the top 4 guys and all of a sudden, it's a major need.  As long as JA is slinging it like he did last year, we'll be looking to draft a WR just about every year--as we should. 

 

you aren't wrong, but i think a fair part of us using so many WRs so often is our weak run game (if the run game is strong, passing out of running formations is better, since it is weak we just give up on making the d guess and load up w speed), and something that will impact both the run and the passing game directly is TE talent/production.

 

a slight improvement in the run game (a better back would help, but i think better interior linema(e)n might be the secret sauce) and a TE (knox gets better?  i hope) who can block and catch means we can do what our O is really designed to do, create match up problems and let the QB just dictate the flow of the game.

[SCBills]

16 hours ago, billsfan89 said:

 

I think if WR is by far the best player on the board I wouldn't hate taking it. Sanders is a one year rental and I am not sure how many more years Beasley has left in the tank too. Diggs should have a few prime years left and Davis is young but still not fully comfortable with him as a WR2. There is a lot of longer term instability at the position. But I think the odds of a corner or Edge player not being there at a good value is fairly small. But it is nice to have options at pick 30.

 

This.  The value at 30 for Edge or CB doesn't look like it will be there.  Value at WR should..  Kadarius Toney, Elijah Moore, Rondale Moore... One, or all, could be there when we pick.  I also think Etienne has value at 30 as a playmaker.  He has a lot of Kamara potential. 

 

 

Edited April 23, 2021 by SCBills