Draft - Positions of Need - Top Ranked

[Virgil]

As of 3/17, here's the rookies in the upcoming draft that could go in the first 3 rounds.  This is based off ESPN's rankings (everyone over an 80 grade).  Looks like WR and OT are the positions of depth in the first few rounds.  

 

Also, yes, I will be doing the mock drafts this year.  I plan to start them in about 2 weeks.  

 

RB

Bijan Robinson, Texas 93 

Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama 87

Zach Charbonnet, UCLA 83

Devon Achane, Texas A&M 82

 

WR

Quentin Johnston, TCU 92

Jordan Addison, USC 91

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State 90

Zay Flowers, Boston College 89

Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee 86

Josh Downs, UNC 86

Jayden Reed, Michigan St 84

Kayshon Boutte, LSU 82

 

OT

Peter Skoronski, Northwestern 93

Paris Johnson Jr, Ohio St 92

Broderick Jones, Georgia 89

Darnell Wright, Tennessee 89

Anton Harrison, Oklahoma 88

Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland 87

Cody Mauch, North Dakota St 86 

Dawand Jones, Ohio St 86

 

OG

O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida 87

 

C

John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota 86

Steve Avila, TCU 81

 

MLB

Trenton Simpson, Clemson 86

Drew Sanders, Arkansas 85

Jack Campbell, Iowa 81

 

S

Brian Branch, Alabama 88

Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M 86

Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn St 85

Syndey Brown, Illinois 80

Edited March 17, 2023 by Virgil

[Jay_Fixit]

Nah. Just draft BPA. 
 

 

[GETTOTHE50]

Honestly cool with any of the top offensive players. 

[Success]

I've seen mocks that have Bijan Robinson dropping out of the 1st, which are mystifying. If for any reason he drops to 27, I think we'd have to take him (especially if we don't pick up another RB in FA).

 

Thanks for posting, btw. Great rundown.

 

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, Jay_Fixit said:

Nah. Just draft BPA. 
 

 

 

Except we dont, and no team really does. Especially at 27 (or really outside of the top 10), where it starts getting so washy that who can say who is the better player available.

 

BPA at need is what we'll do. All I can hope is that it is at OL, and not DB or RB.

 

Just now, Success said:

I've seen mocks that have Bijan Robinson dropping out of the 1st, which are mystifying. If for any reason he drops to 27, I think we'd have to take him (especially if we don't pick up another RB in FA).

 

Thanks for posting, btw. Great rundown.

 

 

The league is just so off of RBs nowadays, even a good one isnt worth the 1st round pick where you can get a 5th year option on a much more important position.

[Don Otreply]

All teams draft their perceived BPA at positions of need every year, it’s never not been that way, 100% of draft picks are needs. 

[Jay_Fixit]

Just now, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Except we dont, and no team really does. Especially at 27 (or really outside of the top 10), where it starts getting so washy that who can say who is the better player available.

 

BPA at need is what we'll do. All I can hope is that it is at OL, and not DB or RB.

No.

 

BPA is the best way to go. And if the player chosen is BPA but just happens to be at a position that we deem to be a  “need” then it’s BPA “at a position of need.”

 

Otherwise, drafting a player that could be objectively worse than another player just because he’s a “need” is a terrible strategy.

 

Like, awful.

[NewEra]

I really hope we can trade down and get one of the tackles (adding Bergeron to the list), one of the WR’s (adding Tillman to the list) and either Crawford or Simpson.  Sample is intriguing, but I don’t think he’s ready to start @ mlb year 1 

[BuffBillsForLife]

Drafting BPA is how you end up picking CJ Spiller at 9 when you already have Marshawn, no thanks.

[MrEpsYtown]

I would add a list of ESPN's top 50 with their rankings...because I want to see who we are passing on at other positions to reach for need. 

 

I know people get angry, but I believe DL is a need. Edge and interior. We lost last year because those guys could not get to the QB. 

 

We 100% need to continue to add weapons to the offense and add depth to the offensive line, but if we can't get to the QB, we can't win the whole thing. 

[DrDawkinstein]

3 minutes ago, Jay_Fixit said:

No.

 

BPA is the best way to go. And if the player chosen is BPA but just happens to be at a position that we deem to be a  “need” then it’s BPA “at a position of need.”

 

Otherwise, drafting a player that could be objectively worse than another player just because he’s a “need” is a terrible strategy.

 

Like, awful.

 

I dont disagree with you philosophically. That is what every team SHOULD do. Just saying, they dont. And expecting them to doesnt give us much conversation here.

 

Unless you can tell me who you think the BPA at 27 will be. And if you are fine taking a RB, CB, TE there if so.

Just now, Jay_Fixit said:

Drafting BPA is how you get Aaron Donald at 4 instead of trading up for Sammy Watkins.

 

 

You mean Kalil Mack. Donald wasnt on anyones radar as BPA that draft or he wouldve gone at #2 overall.

[Jay_Fixit]

Just now, DrDawkinstein said:

 

I dont disagree with you philosophically. That is what every team SHOULD do. Just saying, they dont. And expecting them to doesnt give us much conversation here.

 

Unless you can tell me who you think the BPA at 27 will be. And if you are fine taking a RB, CB, TE there if so.

If BPA for Buffalo at 27 is any of those positions then I’m all for it.

 

For example, If their 11th overall ranked player is there at 27, and he’s a TE, then I hope they take him. 

[SCBills]

I know I’m constantly pounding the table for Offense, but I might add Nolan Smith to that list.  
 

He may be there at 27, has elite traits, and would be well served to learn under Von Miller. 

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

19 minutes ago, Virgil said:

As of 3/17, here's the rookies in the upcoming draft that could go in the first 3 rounds.  This is based off ESPN's rankings (everyone over an 80 grade).  Looks like WR and OT are the positions of depth in the first few rounds.  

 

Also, yes, I will be doing the mock drafts this year.  I plan to start them in about 2 weeks.  

 

RB

Bijan Robinson, Texas 93 

Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama 87

Zach Charbonnet, UCLA 83

Devon Achane, Texas A&M 82

 

WR

Quentin Johnston, TCU 92

Jordan Addison, USC 91

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State 90

Zay Flowers, Boston College 89

Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee 86

Josh Downs, UNC 86

Jayden Reed, Michigan St 84

Kayshon Boutte, LSU 82

 

OT

Peter Skoronski, Northwestern 93

Paris Johnson Jr, Ohio St 92

Broderick Jones, Georgia 89

Darnell Wright, Tennessee 89

Anton Harrison, Oklahoma 88

Jaelyn Duncan, Maryland 87

Cody Mauch, North Dakota St 86 

Dawand Jones, Ohio St 86

 

OG

O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida 87

 

C

John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota 86

Steve Avila, TCU 81

 

MLB

Trenton Simpson, Clemson 86

Drew Sanders, Arkansas 85

Jack Campbell, Iowa 81

 

S

Brian Branch, Alabama 88

Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M 86

Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn St 85

Syndey Brown, Illinois 80

If Jaylen Addison is available you run to the podium with your pick.

[DrDawkinstein]

2 minutes ago, SCBills said:

I know I’m constantly pounding the table for Offense, but I might add Nolan Smith to that list.  
 

He may be there at 27, has elite traits, and would be well served to learn under Von Miller. 

 

I have a feeling if we do go D at 27, it will be because Antonio Johnson is still there. And they'll say he was BPA. Which is probably all true. But man...

[Virgil]

12 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I would add a list of ESPN's top 50 with their rankings...because I want to see who we are passing on at other positions to reach for need. 

 

I know people get angry, but I believe DL is a need. Edge and interior. We lost last year because those guys could not get to the QB. 

 

We 100% need to continue to add weapons to the offense and add depth to the offensive line, but if we can't get to the QB, we can't win the whole thing. 

 

If we go D-Line in the first 2 rounds.....

[Motorin']

15 minutes ago, NewEra said:

I really hope we can trade down and get one of the tackles (adding Bergeron to the list), one of the WR’s (adding Tillman to the list) and either Crawford or Simpson.  Sample is intriguing, but I don’t think he’s ready to start @ mlb year 1 

 

Campbell not Crawford? Have you taken a look at Pappoe? I don't think he's the kind of prospect that McD would be comfortable with penciling in as starter. But I'm on the fence about whether he can be a starter at mic. 

[Julio Hopkins]

You will get an over drafted offensive lineman and you will like it.  

[SCBills]

1 minute ago, Virgil said:

 

If we go D-Line in the first 2 rounds.....

Normally I’d agree, but Nolan Smith would be about as good of a chance as well ever have to get an elite pass rusher in the draft during the Josh Allen era. 
 

Similar to Rousseau, missing a season may cause him to drop. 

[LABILLBACKER]

25 minutes ago, Success said:

I've seen mocks that have Bijan Robinson dropping out of the 1st, which are mystifying. If for any reason he drops to 27, I think we'd have to take him (especially if we don't pick up another RB in FA).

 

Thanks for posting, btw. Great rundown.

 

Yes, if we don't land a cheap power back in FA, the bpa meter goes off and you're pretty much obligated to take Bijan.  But the 2nd round pick better be OL/ WR.

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, Motorin' said:

 

Campbell not Crawford? Have you taken a look at Pappoe? I don't think he's the kind of prospect that McD would be comfortable with penciling in as starter. But I'm on the fence about whether he can be a starter at mic. 

Yes, Campbell.  Sorry.  
 

I didn’t really watch any Pappoe til after watching him at the combine and only watched what was basically highlight reel. He looks like an impressive athlete, but like you said, not sure if he would be able to start at the mike 

 

[Airseven]

There are so many roster holes/issues that drafting for need vs. BPA is one-and-the-same this year. 

 

More specifically: still need RT, still need IOL, still need RB1, still need WR2, still need TE2, still need DE2, and still need MLB. This doesn't even consider issues with Oliver and the fact they're relying on three vets in the secondary to overcome significant injuries.

[skibum]

You know they're going cornerback, let's just stop with the charade. 

[psuscott16]

6 minutes ago, skibum said:

You know they're going cornerback, let's just stop with the charade. 

QB, CB, Punter or Kicker are the only positions they should avoid early. Rest are on the table IMO. DE and safety are close seconds.

[skibum]

52 minutes ago, psuscott16 said:

QB, CB, Punter or Kicker are the only positions they should avoid early. Rest are on the table IMO. DE and safety are close seconds.

I'm sorta joking, but sorta not. I honestly would never rule out a CB at any spot in the first round from McBeane and company.

 

But, my hope this year is that they trade up a bit to draft a higher caliber player at a position of need. Of all the positions they need to fill, there's a good probability that one of them will have a really good prospect slip into the high teens/low twenties. 27 is usually a wee bit too late for that action. 

 

One question I have is: What would the Bills be offering for trade capital to move up? Picks and/or players? It seems like they don't have a lot of players of value that wouldn't sting if they left.  

Edited March 17, 2023 by skibum

[LABILLBACKER]

10 minutes ago, skibum said:

I'm sorta joking, but sorta not. I honestly would never rule out a CB at any spot in the first round from McBeane and company.

 

But, my hope this year is that they trade up a bit to draft a higher caliber player at a position of need. Of all the positions they need to fill, there's a good probability that one of them will have a really good prospect slip into the high teens/low twenties. 27 is usually a wee bit too late for that action. 

If I'm Josh & Diggs and these clowns pick a CB @ 27,  that sends a terrible message to the offensive section of the locker room. 

[RocCityRoller]

Good list overall. As much as I like Jack Campbell (LB) I just think he is a 1st round reach. His film is good, but not great.

I think Dorian Williams (Tulane) would be a good fit in this defense much later.

 

A lot of the WR who could be available in this draft are smaller/ fast or quick WR. It just so happens Buffalo needs a slot WR.

The Bills clearly missed Beasely's production at WR3. Crowder and Lil Dirty are gone. Harty is 5'6 170 and injury prone.

Is Shakir the answer? Would be aok with one of the smallish top WR falls to Buffalo. I like Hyatt and Flowers the most.

Hyatt is a Mecole Hardman type with better potential.

Flowers is more the safe chain mover Beasley type.

 

Torrance seems boom or bust in the NFL...

 

Not sure this draft is top heavy. Seems stockpiling a 2nd and a 3rd/4th for the first may be a better move.

Get a Bergeron and Campbell in the 2nd.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Screw that, let's draft WPA at positions of least need!!!!

[gjv]

I doubt any of the draft and play O-lineman fall out of affordable move-up range in round one. That being said jumping the LA Chargers for Bijan Robinson would cost us a third-round pick at most. I think that a bargain.

[Virgil]

1 hour ago, SCBills said:

Normally I’d agree, but Nolan Smith would be about as good of a chance as well ever have to get an elite pass rusher in the draft during the Josh Allen era. 
 

Similar to Rousseau, missing a season may cause him to drop. 

 

Your logic makes sense, but I just don't care.  They had there chance for years to get those picks right and I just don't trust them anymore.  We need to support the offense more.  I want an offensive lineman as one of our top picks.  We need to protect Josh

[GunnerBill]

44 minutes ago, RocCityRoller said:

 

Not sure this draft is top heavy. Seems stockpiling a 2nd and a 3rd/4th for the first may be a better move.

Get a Bergeron and Campbell in the 2nd.

 

The only thing this draft is "heavy" on is mediocre football players.

[nosejob]

Don't be surprised... Calijah Kancey DT Pitt. Compared to A. Donald and identical in every stat. Also compared to John Randle. Just sayin....

 

I would have bet the Steelers take him , but see them going LB now.

[RocCityRoller]

12 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

The only thing this draft is "heavy" on is mediocre football players.

I agree that this draft is missing a lot of top end talent. I do think it has good value in rounds 3-5. Maybe a good steal in the 2nd.

 

I'd be thrilled to get Bergeron in the second.

 

Are you hoping for a trade back, or to trade the first for a player?

[Shaw66]

Virg -

 

What exactly does your title mean?   Is there anyone here suggesting that the Bills should draft the second-best available at a position of need?  It's a simple binary debate - BPA regardless of need, or need regardless of BPS.  

Edited March 17, 2023 by Shaw66

[BBFL]

2 hours ago, Success said:

I've seen mocks that have Bijan Robinson dropping out of the 1st, which are mystifying. If for any reason he drops to 27, I think we'd have to take him (especially if we don't pick up another RB in FA).

 

Thanks for posting, btw. Great rundown.

 

Absolutely mystifying indeed if that happens. Pending on Ekeler leaving LAC, he’ll likely get drafted by them; huge void at RB without him… but somehow if he makes it anywhere near 27, you would have to believe there’s a good shout he goes to Dallas @ 26 with Zeke out the door and Pollard fresh off the leg break.

 

Quite a few potential good RBs this year who are projected 4th round or later. 
 

 

2 hours ago, BuffBillsForLife said:

Drafting BPA is how you end up picking CJ Spiller at 9 when you already have Marshawn, no thanks.

😂

sometimes that works out not to be a problem… not the case for Buffalo. 
Both Clemson boys (Spiller & Watkins) were dominant in college and possible BPA @ the time… just weren’t what we needed. 

[PrimeTime101]

2 hours ago, Jay_Fixit said:

Nah. Just draft BPA. 
 

 

No.. OMG we been over this 1000 times on these forums. 

[ControllerOfPlanetX]

3 hours ago, Jay_Fixit said:

Nah. Just draft BPA. 
 

 

With quite a few holes, the chances that the BPA will fill a need is pretty high..

[gobills404]

3 hours ago, Jay_Fixit said:

No.

 

BPA is the best way to go. And if the player chosen is BPA but just happens to be at a position that we deem to be a  “need” then it’s BPA “at a position of need.”

 

Otherwise, drafting a player that could be objectively worse than another player just because he’s a “need” is a terrible strategy.

 

Like, awful.

Literally every team drafts for need to some extent

[Virgil]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

Virg -

 

What exactly does your title mean?   Is there anyone here suggesting that the Bills should draft the second-best available at a position of need?  It's a simple binary debate - BPA regardless of need, or need regardless of BPS.  

I should have just said positions of need,  player rankings.   I’m so used to just saying BPA

[mabden]

I would be tempted to draft TE Darnel Washington with the 27th pick, IF he was there.