Bills won the draft. Change my mind

[Straight Hucklebuck]

1 minute ago, SCBills said:

I liked AT Perry.  Every time I watched Wake play, he dominated. 
 

That being said, he’s a tall wiry guy, not sure if he plays ST’s and has drops/physicality issues. 
 

Shorter is a freak specimen, plays ST’s, had good hands and wins jump balls. 
 

Two very different WR’s.  Bills don’t have a guy like Shorter on the roster. 

I understand all of that. Thank you.

 

Listen, it’s unpopular.

 

Bills fans want to cheer and clap for their team.

 

Rush in and defend every position. 
 

I praised the Bills for their first two picks. Kincaid made sense after the WR run. Torrence was great. No issues.

 

I just think the Bills got little actual help for their team R3-R7.

 

Maybe I’m wrong, probably am. But you tell me the Cards get Williams, Shorter, Broeker, Austin and Bills get Hopkins? I do that Trade all day every day. 
 

Seeing what the Bills got? 

47 minutes ago, NewEra said:

You need meds.

Got those Pom-Poms just a waving. 

[whorlnut]

28 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Beane also backtracked slightly yesterday  on being Milanos backup. I forgot what he said to the word, but it was along the lines of:  we’ll start him outside for now, but we’ll see what happens.  You never know.  

 

I could be totally off but I saw it as if he was trying to temper expectations for the kid this year by saying he’s Milanos backup in the first PC.  Like he was protecting him from ridicule when he isn’t the starter this year.  Then the social media outrage ensued for picking another ST in rd 3S. So he decided to open the door for him at Mike this year  (even if it’s a backup). IF they drafted him to play outside (and keep Milano outside too) It’s a terrible pick imo.  I just don’t believe that was the plan.  I think they drafted him to compete to alongside Milano, but probably not in 2023.  
 

according to my couch evaluations, Williams was a reach and too small to play Mike.  According to many others that aren’t on the couch- Williams has a shot to play the Mike-  he just needs to put on some weight and hit the books.  
 

he’s a sub 4.5 with long limbs and very good tackling ability.  With McD calling the plays I think we’ll see a much greater variety of sub packages.  Rapp, Bernard, Williams, Spector, Klein, Dodson. Different skill sets for different situations.  I think it’ll be mostly nickel, but not 85-100% every game like under Frazier.  

After I posted this.i saw the updated Beane quote. Sounds like he will have a shot at MLB. I actually like Williams a lot better than bernard. The problem is, bernard has a season under his belt already. Either way, I think Williams is a good player. 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

If Kincaid becomes the best TE in franchise history, then none of the other picks really matter. 
 

He should have a good chance to do that. 

[NewEra]

Just now, whorlnut said:

After I posted this.i saw the updated Beane quote. Sounds like he will have a shot at MLB. I actually like Williams a lot better than bernard. The problem is, bernard has a season under his belt already. Either way, I think Williams is a good player. 

Same.  I don’t hate the Williams pick like I hated the Bernard pick. Seemed like McB got duped by Aranda

[JGMcD2]

18 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Actually if sacks and TFLs don’t count, just tackles, then yes, Dorian Williams was more productive.

 

Also I addressed the position by saying Abdullah played “edge”.

 

Also, Beane kind of cuts your own argument out from under you because he’s most likely starting on the outside given the complexity of the Bills defense and Tulane’s simple system. All from Beane’s mouth.

 

When Beane talks about how fast and athletic Williams is, it just sticks out to me that Jacksonville picked a bigger player, with better overall measurable, big sack production a round and a half later.

 

Our reporters brought up the obvious fact that Bernard and Williams are virtually the same size. 
 

We all know Williams is not going to be a MIKE linebacker in the NFL at 6’1” 228 pounds. Same with Bernard.

 

Kline is the starter right now. 

I guess some of these guys aren’t playing MIKE in the NFL either? 
 

 

[Shaw66]

15 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

If Kincaid becomes the best TE in franchise history, then none of the other picks really matter. 
 

He should have a good chance to do that. 

But that's not true, at all.  He could be a HOF tight end, but the team will suffer if there's no help in the ba k end of the draft.   So.e of those guys have to become starters in a few years or the team will be weaker in those years.  That's why you're right when you say it looks like Beane mailed it in in the later rounds.   I don't think he did, but I agree its hard to see the logic in what he did. 

[SCBills]

6 minutes ago, JGMcD2 said:

I guess some of these guys aren’t playing MIKE in the NFL either? 
 

 

I don’t mind, at all, in the modern NFL going with slimmer, faster linebackers.. my only worry is that we start an undersized 3T and have only one 1T on the roster.  
 

Give me Milano, Bernard, Williams behind some big bodies and I’m intrigued … but we’re really looking like a finesse bunch up the middle.  
 

Beane did say they are looking to add on the DL in FA, so this could certainly change. 

[JGMcD2]

The fact someone is trying to claim a professional sports GM just mailed in the draft is ***** stupid. 
 

I mean seriously, the guy just woke up on day 3 of the draft and said “I’m in this competitive industry where every inch counts and every move is scrutinized. TIME TO MAIL IT IN!” 

[bearcat]

Plus having 10 picks next year. In what many are saying is going to be a stronger draft class. Feels like a win

[ColoradoBills]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

I've wondered about this.  Is Bates actually the long-term answer at center?   I doubt it.   If he were, he would have taken Morse's job by now.   But maybe I'm wrong.   Actually, maybe this season, with solutions at guard, Bates does take Morse's job.  Maybe that's been the plan: get the guards you really want so you don't need to use Bates out of position. 

 

I don't know.   I expected the Bills take a center this year.  We'll see where it goes. 

 

47 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I am with you where I expected the Bills to snag a C. There seemed to be some good ones coming in this year.

 

As for Bates, I know they seem to like him at that spot. At very worst I think Bates backs up Morse. And while I still think Morse is a solid vet player...spending what we do on him with the concussion history is risky. I could see this being Mitch 's last year in Buffalo, taking a C next year and Bates working as a bridge starter in 2024. As you say, we shall see where it goes. But I know I'm looking forward to seeing the IOL battle that's coming up. 

 

Pretty obvious that Bates will be the backup C for Morse this year.  I've been trying to "guess" what Beane's plans are for the future at C.

Lots of fans think Bates is a shoe in but I had my doubts.  I'm going to watch what happens in camp with Bates.  He easily could be the 

odd man out as starter at G.  If that happens, he may take a lot of snaps at C this camp.

 

If Bates is not taking snaps at C, then I don't know what his long-term role will be, and one would think they will have to draft a C next year.

On the other hand, if Bates does take a good amount of C snaps, he may just be their answer to C when Morse retires or is a cap casualty.

In the meantime, Bates will be relegated to the prime IOL backup.  I don't think he would want that role next season. 

 

I'm going to watch this closely and I guess I'm changing my mind and hoping Bates can be the answer.  It would sure make thing a lot easier

for the future.  I wonder if Josh has any input to this?

 

[BADOLBILZ]

2 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

I think the Bills punted on the draft starting with the Dorian Williams pick in the 3rd.

 

The concept of value just went out the window.

 

Honestly after Torrence they should have just traded all the rest of their picks for next years Draft. 
 

If Kincaid turns out to be a HOFer the class is good, but otherwise I think they got next to nothing.

 

Browns had a good draft, I still like what the Lions did, Steelers of course had a nice draft. 

 

Bengals not getting any of the elite TEs, WRs or OTs made me happy. 

 

 

You lost it at "I still like what the Lions did".

 

There hasn't been a 1st round selected RB that has lived up to the hype for the team that drafted him since Adrian Peterson in 2007.

 

[nucci]

speculation is fun but to say you won or lost a draft before a player even suits up....

[Whkfc]

30 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

If Kincaid becomes the best TE in franchise history, then none of the other picks really matter. 
 

He should have a good chance to do that. 

Not exactly a high bar. Kincaid is the type of guy I've wanted the Bills to grab for years. He's a mismatch everywhere a kelce type that can change games and keep drives moving.

[Chicken Boo]

1 minute ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

You lost it at "I still like what the Lions did".

 

There hasn't been a 1st round selected RB that has lived up to the hype for the team that drafted him since Adrian Peterson in 2007.

 

 

You could say the exact same thing for tight ends.

[GETTOTHE50]

iggles and bills both got major value with the blue chip prospects that dropped to them.

 

dalton and that Georgia defensive tackle shoulda went earlier. 

[Alphadawg7]

2 hours ago, Virgil said:

Eagles destroyed that draft.  If they aren’t first, the whole article is wrong

 

Yeah, hard to take a list seriously that shows all the A- and A grades and doesn't have the Eagles somewhere on it.  

[Einstein]

1 hour ago, whorlnut said:

I think Williams is a good player, but to say they replaced edmunds with him is way off. They literally came out and said he would be Milanos backup. They all but said he wouldn’t even compete for MLB. 

 

Beane also said they’ll look at what it takes to get Dorian at MLB. But then said what they always say about it taking a lot to learn the defense.

 

I’ve never seen a team that thinks their defense is so difficult to learn as the Bills do.

 

They had the same excuse for Marlowe last year. And he played in the defense before!

[BuffaloBillyG]

2 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

 

Pretty obvious that Bates will be the backup C for Morse this year.  I've been trying to "guess" what Beane's plans are for the future at C.

Lots of fans think Bates is a shoe in but I had my doubts.  I'm going to watch what happens in camp with Bates.  He easily could be the 

odd man out as starter at G.  If that happens, he may take a lot of snaps at C this camp.

 

If Bates is not taking snaps at C, then I don't know what his long-term role will be, and one would think they will have to draft a C next year.

On the other hand, if Bates does take a good amount of C snaps, he may just be their answer to C when Morse retires or is a cap casualty.

In the meantime, Bates will be relegated to the prime IOL backup.  I don't think he would want that role next season. 

 

I'm going to watch this closely and I guess I'm changing my mind and hoping Bates can be the answer.  It would sure make thing a lot easier

for the future.  I wonder if Josh has any input to this?

 

For my money, Bates is almost as much of a roster lock as can be due to his versatility. Beane even talked 2 days ago about how in addition to the IOL flex, Bates can get you out of a game at tackle if need be. His cap hit isn't unreasonable. 

 

My own thoughts are Bates is a valuable back up and may even start the season at RG before Torrence eventually takes over. Next year Bates makes for an ideal bridge C while a rookie is drafted. 

 

As far as Josh's input...he gave input into Beasley and Brown coming back last year. He (I'm sure) had input into Tanner Gentry eating up a PS squad spot all these years. I could even see Hollister being someone Josh spoke up for. And we know Josh was instrumental in bringing Matt Barkley back. Luckily, he a better QB than GM 😂.Of course he'll go to bat for Morse and want him kept...but I'm hoping Beane calls the ball on this one..lol

[Mark80]

2 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

I think the Bills punted on the draft starting with the Dorian Williams pick in the 3rd.

 

The concept of value just went out the window.

 

Honestly after Torrence they should have just traded all the rest of their picks for next years Draft. 
 

If Kincaid turns out to be a HOFer the class is good, but otherwise I think they got next to nothing.

 

Browns had a good draft, I still like what the Lions did, Steelers of course had a nice draft. 

 

Bengals not getting any of the elite TEs, WRs or OTs made me happy. 

Yep, I'm sure you are a better judge of talent than the professionals that have built a perennial SB contender.  Genius.

[psuscott16]

Nfl.com gave the Bills an A also.

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-draft-final-quick-snap-grades-for-all-32-teams

 

Day 1 grade: A-

Day 2 grade: A

Day 3 grade: A

 

Analysis: I thought the Bills would move up for a pass-catcher in the first round, and that’s what they did to land Kincaid. Torrence was a steal because of the power and nimble feet he’ll provide in the run game and Williams should play immediately in Tremaine Edmunds’ old spot.

 

They picked an outside receiver with downfield ability in Shorter, who could push Gabe Davis. Broeker could have easily been a top-150 selection because of his toughness inside and experience at tackle. Austin has potential as a physical outside corner. 

[Success]

We got better - without doubt, especially w/ the FA additions.

 

Kincaid will be a star, and Torrence will fundamentally change our line (imo).  Williams is our most "controversial" pick, but I've seen a few pundits out there saying he can step in and start right away. We'll have to see on that pick, but I love the skillset.

 

And we could have some late-round gems.  Shorter was a 5-star, and we simply don't have a WR like him.  Just a big dude who might be a great red zone guy.  Broeker could legit make the roster.

 

I loved this draft.  I feel like we're as good as anybody in the AFC.

 

Edited April 30, 2023 by Success

[Chandler#81]

3 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

I think the Bills punted on the draft starting with the Dorian Williams pick in the 3rd.

 

The concept of value just went out the window.

 

Honestly after Torrence they should have just traded all the rest of their picks for next years Draft. 
 

If Kincaid turns out to be a HOFer the class is good, but otherwise I think they got next to nothing.

 

Browns had a good draft, I still like what the Lions did, Steelers of course had a nice draft. 

 

Bengals not getting any of the elite TEs, WRs or OTs made me happy. 

Welp, actually following pro football, I have to disagree. This is the 3X defending AFC East Champion, who are consequently forced to Draft late in every round they have a pick. Nonetheless, we drafted 2 day 1 Offensive starters on one of -if not the most exciting Offenses in the League. I’d encourage you to name another similar team of late who can match this, but you’re a self-described hucklebuck, so I’ll refrain. Even with the teams’ lofty standing, their greatest weakness last season was their RedZone attack where turnovers and unfinished Drives required immediate attention. Adding a highbred TE and a stud, tall, powerful WR along with a powerful OG is more than a doctor could prescribe for what ails this unit. Entering the draft process with just 6 picks and losing one immediately in Rd. 1, was quickly remedied through multiple trades that returned the lost pic and created 9 picks for next season along with a likely comp pick. We reinforced our OL depth in addition to a starting OG and added a ST menace. As for Williams, there’s a lot of traits with him that inspire a strong look at. Assuredly, the jury is still out. 
But, Hey! Thanks for playing!😄👍

Edited April 30, 2023 by Chandler#81

[BADOLBILZ]

15 minutes ago, Chicken Boo said:

 

You could say the exact same thing for tight ends.

 

Absolutely correct.  However:

 

1. That doesn't make the Lions decision any better.

 

2. TE is a position that has mattered a great deal for many SB winning teams over that period.  RB is not.  Regardless of where they were drafted.

 

6 of the last 9 SB winners have featured a HOF level starting TE.  And that doesn't count Zach Ertz.......who was a star for the Philadelphia team that beat NE and in the middle of a 5 year stretch where he averaged 86 receptions per season.

[Eastport bills]

The first 3 picks addressed needs and qualified as arguably best talent at positions. The problem is that by classifying Williams as an OLB, that means we spent the entire offseason whiffing at replacing our best player/signal caller on defense. Now we have to either dip into available ILBs for big money or roll into the season with the subpar group(Klein,Spector, Dodson, Bernard) competition. That qualifies as a job that’s unfinished. The draft usually finishes roster building, so no, the Bills didn’t win the draft.

[ColoradoBills]

32 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

For my money, Bates is almost as much of a roster lock as can be due to his versatility. Beane even talked 2 days ago about how in addition to the IOL flex, Bates can get you out of a game at tackle if need be. His cap hit isn't unreasonable. 

 

My own thoughts are Bates is a valuable back up and may even start the season at RG before Torrence eventually takes over. Next year Bates makes for an ideal bridge C while a rookie is drafted. 

 

As far as Josh's input...he gave input into Beasley and Brown coming back last year. He (I'm sure) had input into Tanner Gentry eating up a PS squad spot all these years. I could even see Hollister being someone Josh spoke up for. And we know Josh was instrumental in bringing Matt Barkley back. Luckily, he a better QB than GM 😂.Of course he'll go to bat for Morse and want him kept...but I'm hoping Beane calls the ball on this one..lol

 

I guess I'm saying IF Bates is in the plans to play Center (in any capacity other than backup) it would behoove the team to get him more

snaps at the position.  He has played a lot less games/snaps at the position than fans think.

[Yantha]

I like PFF.

 

There I said it.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

3 hours ago, Virgil said:

Everyone passed on those guys.  It was a crap draft 

Most IPAs are. 🍺

[PBF81]

3 hours ago, Limeaid said:

Hard to win the draft with only 5 picks.

 

Beane traded down for 6 total picks so that he wouldn't have been the only GM in Bills' history to have only 5 picks.  

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Probably the worst I’ve felt after a draft since we drafted Josh Allen. 2018 draft was a major disappointment the day after the draft.

Edited April 30, 2023 by Buffalo_Stampede

[Matt_In_NH]

Pff is a random number generator

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

3 hours ago, Virgil said:

Eagles destroyed that draft.  If they aren’t first, the whole article is wrong

 

They got an A+ 
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1652457242631733251/photo/1

[PBF81]

2 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

Well, I hear what you're saying, but I think it misses the point, which is that the Bills are a good team, and it's difficult for anyone other than the top picks to actually make the team.   When you're mediocre, like the Bills were several years ago, it's much more likely that you're going to find a Milano in the draft, because (1) you're drafting higher in each round, and (2) you have needs.   So, a Milano then gets on the field right away and gets to grow.  A fifth rounder now has a much higher hurdle to get over to get on the field.  If you can't see the field, you're development is limited.   Milano got to play, and Edmunds got to play.  One developed, one didn't.   So, there's that.  

 

Not sure that's really fair between Edmunds and Milano though.  MIlano only came to be top-end the past two years, at the age of 27/28, and in his 5th & 6th seasons.  Edmunds came on too in his 5th this past season, but at the age of 24.  He's barely into his prime.  That's the problem with drafting players that are 20.  He was the youngest player in the league in his rookie season.  

 

I think we'll see a much better Edmunds in Chicago this season.  IMO they should have found a way to keep him, particularly since they just drafted over Knox whom they just extended at high cost.  I'm actually wondering if Beane is going to try to trade Knox now.  

 

Quote

So, yeah, I wasn't completely happy with Beane's focus in this draft, but I'm not sure it's fair.   Beane does everything for a reason.  

 

Unfortunately those reasons have rarely panned out the way he intended.  

 

 

2 hours ago, dgrochester55 said:

A good draft in my opinion, but too early to call it an A and not the best one in the NFL.   The first two picks were nailed with receiving help for Josh Allen in Kincaid and an instant upgrade of the interior line in Torrance.    The latter part addressed position needs, but whether or not these people can contribute will remain to be seen.     I do not think that Dorian Williams is a bad pick like many others do, but can understand the concern of others that we might have added another Terrell Bernard.    Shorter is a complete boom or bust pick, but most likely needs a couple years of development before they add to the team.    I don't know anything about Broeker and Austin, but no one in the 7th round is a reach(as some others were saying).     They are competition for depth as late round picks are expected to be.

 

After the draft, linebacker is the biggest question mark.     Can Bernard or Williams replace the production of Edmunds?  We won't know until the time comes.    The offense is now significantly better which is what many of us wanted.    That to me is a big success.     There have been a lot of misses in the last three years, I am hoping that this trend changes with the draft.   We will see what happens.  

 

It took both Milano and Edmunds four seasons to develop.  Beane doesn't have four seasons to wait, especially if Kincaid doesn't turn into an immediate impact player.  

 

 

[Chicken Boo]

45 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

Absolutely correct.  However:

 

1. That doesn't make the Lions decision any better.

 

2. TE is a position that has mattered a great deal for many SB winning teams over that period.  RB is not.  Regardless of where they were drafted.

 

6 of the last 9 SB winners have featured a HOF level starting TE.  And that doesn't count Zach Ertz.......who was a star for the Philadelphia team that beat NE and in the middle of a 5 year stretch where he averaged 86 receptions per season.

 

A bit misleading when all 6 of those are Mahomes and Brady led teams.

 

 

[Big Turk]

4 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

I think the Bills punted on the draft starting with the Dorian Williams pick in the 3rd.

 

The concept of value just went out the window.

 

Honestly after Torrence they should have just traded all the rest of their picks for next years Draft. 
 

If Kincaid turns out to be a HOFer the class is good, but otherwise I think they got next to nothing.

 

Browns had a good draft, I still like what the Lions did, Steelers of course had a nice draft. 

 

Bengals not getting any of the elite TEs, WRs or OTs made me happy. 

 

Lions wasted the 12th pick on an RB they could have traded down at least 10 spots for and picked up another valuable pick for and still drafted him if they wanted.

 

Then they overdrafted Campbell where they could have done the same thing.

 

They severely mismanaged their assets meaning they had the chance to get a couple of 3rd round picks at least in addition to those players most likely and didn't.

[Dr. Who]

It's hard to win the draft when you are picking back end of the round, only have six picks, and trade the fourth rounder to move up in the first. You can always point to teams with multiple firsts or who pick early. Those who like the Philly draft, well, I'm a Bulldogs fan, so I'm not going to argue, I think they had a fine draft, but there actually are some question marks on Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, so those selections have some gamble in them. On balance, I believe the Bills' draft is quite good. This draft was not a great talent pool, so one should judge Beane's actions in that context. Moving up to secure an offensive weapon and surely the last or one of the last genuine first rounders on the board was not a ridiculous move. Those who are exasperated as far as I can tell almost always did not like the Kincaid pick. If you don't like the pick, you're going to be annoyed by paying to move up. If you did like Kincaid, you're more than likely okay with the price to make sure he did not end up a Cowboy or a Chief or one of the other teams that were reportedly interested in trading up to get him. On Kincaid, I keep reading a lot of cantankerous fellows complaining about TE draft value. I am wondering how many of them were in a bad mood because Jack Campbell was off the board. Regardless, Kincaid is an offensive weapon. He's not Knox's replacement. Knox will continue to be a fine TE1 who had to provide blocking help too often last year to the detriment of offensive opportunties. Kincaid is a big slot, middle of the field offensive threat who can stretch the field and automatically makes the RZ attack harder to predict.

 

Williams is a MLB. They are afraid to say it. They don't want to put too much pressure on a rookie. He may need a year to learn the system. He may not be ready to qb the defense right out of the gate. But that is where he is ultimately projected. There were receivers I liked better than Justin Shorter available, but he's the big Wr they needed to add to the room. We're going to confuse the hell out of folks when we trot out Harty and Shorter and shorter is the tall one. (Shorter, of course, may well be a practice squad guy, but I wasn't going to waste a good joke.) Broeker is great value in the seventh and I can see him making the team. O'Cyrus and the Kent Hull award winner add absolutely needed snarl to the interior of the line. Torrence fell because he is limited to guard only, but he is tremendous value at 59 and should be an anchor on the line for ten years. With the new numbers through the draft and free agency at IOL, the weakness in the middle should be improved, maybe considerably. Now if only they had found a way to bring in genuine competition for Brown. 

 

Folks who come away this early thinking this draft is a fail have an agenda, were too fixated on the defense and particularly on MLB, or they are not properly gauging the value of Kincaid. If you doubt Dorsey as an OC and believe he is not up to the job, that's not on the players. The league favors offense. This was a year to build a fortress around Josh and add weapons. Within the constraints of the possible, Beane did a very solid job, grabbing one of the elite playmakers who just happens to be called TE by convention, one of the top offensive linemen, a LB with speed, instincts, and MLB potential, a flier on a WR with untapped potential and elite traits, two seventh rounders who have a legitimate chance to compete for a spot, whilst stocking next year's draft. Adding picks for next year when the draft is supposed to be better is prudent, whilst also giving Beane more ammo to maneuver. 

Edited April 30, 2023 by Dr. Who

[JGMcD2]

29 minutes ago, Chicken Boo said:

 

A bit misleading when all 6 of those are Mahomes and Brady led teams.

 

 

Mahomes and Brady didn’t benefit from Kelce and Gronkowski? 

[chongli]

10 hours ago, DJB said:

I guess we love PFF again?!?!

 

Well, other than they graded 5 teams with an A+ grade, higher than Buffalo:

 

 

Edited April 30, 2023 by chongli

[Straight Hucklebuck]

2 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

You lost it at "I still like what the Lions did".

 

There hasn't been a 1st round selected RB that has lived up to the hype for the team that drafted him since Adrian Peterson in 2007.

 

Lions got 4 starters right of the gate and correctly moved off DeAndre Swift who was always hurt.

 

Gibbs becomes what Swift was supposed to be.

 

Day one starter at MLB

 

Day one starter at TE (and you could argue who was better LaPorta or Mayer).

 

Day one starter and best Safety in the class

 

Upside developmental QB in Hooker

[Straight Hucklebuck]

1 hour ago, Eastport bills said:

The first 3 picks addressed needs and qualified as arguably best talent at positions. The problem is that by classifying Williams as an OLB, that means we spent the entire offseason whiffing at replacing our best player/signal caller on defense. Now we have to either dip into available ILBs for big money or roll into the season with the subpar group(Klein,Spector, Dodson, Bernard) competition. That qualifies as a job that’s unfinished. The draft usually finishes roster building, so no, the Bills didn’t win the draft.

You’re not allowed to say that Eastport.

 

The answer is Dorian Williams was highly sought after, as was Bernard and Dodson will be a revelation at MLB.

 

Beane hears the MLB chatter, he acknowledged in his press conference. 
 

They don’t always get it right though- see Hines on November 1st, and Hines now. 11 offensive touches after the trade, when Beane was at the podium saying he’s a weapon - slot, out of the backfield, etc. None of that happened. 
 

The Bills are a great team, so they get the benefit of the doubt. 

[Rockinon]

I was thinking the defense may take a step back. And thinking that a TE is going to struggle in this offense. It seems clear though that the coaches and management are re-imagining what they want to do both on defense and offense. Getting the feeling that there are going to be some pretty big changes in the way plays are designed on both sides of the ball. Less nickel defense and more blitzes from others beside the front 4. On offense, it is clear the plan is to dominate the line of scrimmage. To throw to bigger targets. Not sure what else they have in mind, but I'm certain it will be different from what we are used to. This draft just confirms that the game plan is changing.