Early returns on 2024 Draft is awful

[mjt328]

My opinion is that rookies should occasionally flash, but any kind of real impact you get from them in Year 1 is a bonus.  Second year players should become more consistent and dependable.  Still room for growth, but making positive contributions.  By the middle of a guy's third season, you usually have a pretty good idea what kind of NFL player they are going to be for the long-haul (in most cases).

 

 With that said, part of the problem with most of the Bills 2024 draft class is that almost all their picks haven't even gotten a chance to sniff the field.  That's because much better players are above them, and will remain so for the foreseeable future.  Not much you can do when a Pro-Bowl player is already at the position.  The only guy we've really gotten an extended look at is Keon Coleman.  He definitely flashed as a rookie, and has been one of the stars of training camp.  

 

-  The story with Cole Bishop has been injuries and missing training camps.  The opportunity is there for him to take the starting role, but he's just lost so much development time.  Hard to judge where he's at until he actually gets onto the field.

 

-  DeWayne Carter is probably the biggest bust of the group so far.  Day 2 pick at a position where he could be making a real impact in the D-Line rotation.  But he never did anything as a rookie, and is already getting outshined by the guys in this year's class. 

 

-  Ray Davis was probably drafted as the heir-apparent starter at RB.  He's looked pretty good in limited time.  But then James Cook had a huge breakout season and signed an extension.  So barring injury, Davis will likely be stuck as the #2 for the remainder of his time in Buffalo.  That doesn't make him a bad pick.

 

-  Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Tylan Grable are both stuck on the bench behind Pro-Bowl O-Linemen.  And both have been injured this offseason.  Maybe SVPG gets a shot next year if we don't bring back Conner McGovern, but it's hard to see Grable becoming more than a swing tackle with Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown above him.  Like Davis, this doesn't make either guy a bad pick.  

 

-  Javon Solomon and Daequan Hardy have both flashed as potentially decent depth players in this league.  Can't ask for much more out of 5th and 6th Rounders.

 

Overall, I think we can be happy if Coleman and Bishop develop into good starters.  None of the other guys really have a clear path to even reach the starting lineup, regardless of how they play.  Davis, SVPG, Grable and maybe Solomon can be important depth players going forward.  

 

 

Edited August 19 by mjt328

[Mikie2times]

5 hours ago, JGMcD2 said:

Who is better then? The Ravens, can’t beat us, the poorly ran Buffalo Bills when it counts. 
 

The Bengals? Living off their miracle run to the Super Bowl. They’re more likely to miss the dance all together than make a run: 
 

The 49ers? You’d have a ***** cow of we mismanaged the QB position like them. 
 

So who do you want to point to Chiefs? Sure. Eagles? Absolutely. 
 

Brother, the same media that you’re taking their votes into account barely wanted to give Josh any credit this year. They’re JUST finally coming around on him. 

The Ravens outgained us 843 to 509, 45 first downs to 32, 7.59 yards per play to 4.39. Unless we force 3 turnovers it won't be a game. Those stats are what you would expect to see with a top NFL team playing a team in last place. The current line is a gift. 

[Mikie2times]

5 hours ago, RoscoeParrish said:

Very fun to head into the 2024 offseason with massive needs at WR and safety, and now, post the 2024 FA period and 2024 draft and the 2025 FA period and the 2025 draft, STILL have massive needs at WR and safety.

2023, we enter the year with a huge question mark behind Tre White. We try and fill void by drafting a first round CB. He doesn't work out, we trade mid year for Rasul Douglas. Douglas gives us one solid year, but his physical skills all but evaporated one year later.

 

2024, we enter the year with a hole at WR and Safety and soon to be CB. We draft Coleman and Bishop. Coleman doesn't immediately fill the void. Bishop does nothing. We bring in Amari Cooper in a trade. Reviews are mixed as to what he brought to the team, but he's not going to be here a year later.

 

2025, we enter the year with a hole at CB, S, and WR. We draft a CB. For the time being it doesn't look like we will get significant reps from that player.

 

We keep "addressing" critical issues with the draft and we have yet to see any of those issues get better. We can say, sure, give these guys more time, but the reality is our strategy has not allowed for these guys to have time. We needed the production almost right away. I would be willing to bet Beane will trade for another aged vet at the deadline in one of these positions. Perhaps we don't look at a rookie filling that spot or street free agent and we won't keep finding ourselves in that position. But at the end of the day you just can't miss on this many players. If that's how this ends up going it will be a massive failure.  

    

 

 

[JGMcD2]

8 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

The Ravens outgained us 843 to 509, 45 first downs to 32, 7.59 yards per play to 4.39. Unless we force 3 turnovers it won't be a game. Those stats are what you would expect to see with a top NFL team playing a team in last place. The current line is a gift. 

Holy *****, the Ravens had 843 yards in the playoff game?! 

[finn]

16 hours ago, mannc said:

You don’t see the difference in evaluating a prospect who’s going into year 2, after being injured most of his rookie year, and a guy who’s already completed three full NFL seasons?

How's this: "As for being better than Bishop, I don’t know for sure, just as I didn’t know Elam wouldn’t end up being better than McDuffie"?

 

Better?

[HOUSE]

I dont judge a GM solely on players drafted. There is free agency and little gems accumulated during the season.  No GM is knocking home runs using just the draft. Players like Cody Ford and Kaiir Elam would have been selected high even if Buffalo passed. Brandon Beane is much better at finding talent after round 3. 

Also, some drafted players are not very good as pros, I call them landmines, be careful where you walk. 

Overall I give Beane an B+ at acquiring roster talent. 

[GunnerBill]

15 hours ago, RoscoeParrish said:

Very fun to head into the 2024 offseason with massive needs at WR and safety, and now, post the 2024 FA period and 2024 draft and the 2025 FA period and the 2025 draft, STILL have massive needs at WR and safety.

 

Yep. I said that after last season. That we went into the 2024 offseason knowing those were the two weak spots... spent our top two picks on those two positions and came out of the 2024 season with those as the two weak spots. You are right we have now gone through another roster building period - FA and Draft - and are still in that place. 

 

It's really disappointing. 

[JP51]

9 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

2023, we enter the year with a huge question mark behind Tre White. We try and fill void by drafting a first round CB. He doesn't work out, we trade mid year for Rasul Douglas. Douglas gives us one solid year, but his physical skills all but evaporated one year later.

 

2024, we enter the year with a hole at WR and Safety and soon to be CB. We draft Coleman and Bishop. Coleman doesn't immediately fill the void. Bishop does nothing. We bring in Amari Cooper in a trade. Reviews are mixed as to what he brought to the team, but he's not going to be here a year later.

 

2025, we enter the year with a hole at CB, S, and WR. We draft a CB. For the time being it doesn't look like we will get significant reps from that player.

 

We keep "addressing" critical issues with the draft and we have yet to see any of those issues get better. We can say, sure, give these guys more time, but the reality is our strategy has not allowed for these guys to have time. We needed the production almost right away. I would be willing to bet Beane will trade for another aged vet at the deadline in one of these positions. Perhaps we don't look at a rookie filling that spot or street free agent and we won't keep finding ourselves in that position. But at the end of the day you just can't miss on this many players. If that's how this ends up going it will be a massive failure.  

    

 

 

100% agreed and can we please add in the massive money in free agency and draft capital used over the past years to get a Defensive line that can get to the QB and not get pushed around... Phillips, Jefferson, Ford, Miller, Hoecht, Ogunjobi, Carter, albiet rookies but have not looked in anyway good in their short time Landon, Deone Walker, TJ Sanders...  literally an entire front end of a draft to address the defense especially the D Line and the pass rush and to date I have seen nothing but them get dominated (I know its way early, but I would like to have seen at least a glimpse of promise like oh I see what the possibility is here... ) Like how long can you go trying to improve this line and how many misses does it take.  Bosa is the only hope I see for improvement at this time...  or that somehow the Sanders, Walker, Jackson trio get it to click and show us there is potential...  but color me frustrated as well with our inability to get a premier player on the DL.  

[YattaOkasan]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yep. I said that after last season. That we went into the 2024 offseason knowing those were the two weak spots... spent our top two picks on those two positions and came out of the 2024 season with those as the two weak spots. You are right we have now gone through another roster building period - FA and Draft - and are still in that place. 

 

It's really disappointing. 

Last year, I was interested to see what happened at WR and def thought it could go sideways.  But considering how the offense flourished and we returned almost everyone but Cooper and Hollins, I was not on these borders pounding for huge WR investment this past offseason.  Basically didnt really think WR was a problem cause we demonstrated extremely efficient offense without using them heavily.  I expected we could replace what those dudes did with UFA.  Feeling pretty good that happened (and maybe more) with the emergence of Shavers, development of Coleman, and signing of Palmer.  

 

Safety though was really concerning this offseason (I felt more confident after they got Bishop last year, but worried about growth after what we saw year 1).  Was really hoping Forrest or Hancock would start along side an improved Bishop.  Seems more likely we wont get any of that (though odds are a lot more even than a lot of the doom and gloomers would say).  

[Pete]

Carter’s tape was very bad Joe Marino said.  He was consistently being pushed around, and could not hold his ground, let alone bring pressure.

 

He stayed in the Bears game until the final ending- that tells you all you need to know about how Bills coaches feel about his play.  TJ, Deone, Landon were long out of the game.

 

He is in very much danger of being cut.  Joe much prefers Zion.  
 

If we cut our 3rd round pick from last year, it’s a wasted draft pick.  Beane whiffs again at DT

[Pete]

Cole put on notice

[Mat68]

Top 2 picks are primmed for starting roles.  They also drafted a backup running back some were ready to discard Cook for.  Grable apparently is the back up at LT.  Not too bad after 1 season.     

[MPL]

Definitely too early to tell with Bishop. I think it will look much different when he's on the field with Rapp, Bernard, Milano, and Taron Johnson. Coleman seems poised to play a huge role this year. Davis is good as a change-of-pack. They love Grable and he's an important depth piece/swing tackle. Not sure what more you want out of a 6th round lineman in year 2. For a 3rd rounder, Carter looks like the only major wart at this point. But otherwise, I'm not going to be too critical about day 3 picks that don't turn into NFL starters. 

Edited August 20 by MPL

[nuklz2594]

Ladd McConnell should've been the pick. Shakir and ladd solves wr room

[Success]

I loved how Carter looked before he was injured last year.

 

Has he played poorly in the preseason games?

 

[Coach Tuesday]

1 hour ago, Success said:

I loved how Carter looked before he was injured last year.

 

 

Really?  He looked borderline useless last year.

[Mikey152]

 

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

2 hours ago, nuklz2594 said:

Ladd McConnell should've been the pick. Shakir and ladd solves wr room

I would have preferred Ladd McConkey myself, but I get your point 😂

[RoscoeParrish]

7 hours ago, Pete said:

If we cut our 3rd round pick from last year, it’s a wasted draft pick.  Beane whiffs again at DT

even worse, he traded out of the first round and gave KC Worthy to get that pick to take Carter.

 

another disastrous KC trade

[todd]

10 hours ago, JP51 said:

100% agreed and can we please add in the massive money in free agency and draft capital used over the past years to get a Defensive line that can get to the QB and not get pushed around... Phillips, Jefferson, Ford, Miller, Hoecht, Ogunjobi, Carter, albiet rookies but have not looked in anyway good in their short time Landon, Deone Walker, TJ Sanders...  literally an entire front end of a draft to address the defense especially the D Line and the pass rush and to date I have seen nothing but them get dominated (I know its way early, but I would like to have seen at least a glimpse of promise like oh I see what the possibility is here... ) Like how long can you go trying to improve this line and how many misses does it take.  Bosa is the only hope I see for improvement at this time...  or that somehow the Sanders, Walker, Jackson trio get it to click and show us there is potential...  but color me frustrated as well with our inability to get a premier player on the DL.  

Wait. You are disappointed in our rookies based on two preseason games?