Bruce Feldman 1st round mock for The Athletic

[Kirby Jackson]

2 minutes ago, Bangarang said:

 

There has also never been a franchise QB to come out of Wyoming...until it happened. 

 

I'm not pounding the table for Howell but he obviously has some NFL quality traits regardless of his arm length. Quality pass rushers are hard to find, just ask Beane that. If he has what it takes then I don't think he should be removed from consideration because his arms are an inch or two shorter than you'd prefer. 

I think school choice and physical traits are apples and oranges. There’s never been an NBA All-Star under 5’9” but there’s been an All-Star Game MVP from Buff State. Howell’s arm length is more akin to being a 5’2” NBA player. 

[DaggersEOD]

Only 2 picks off from KC Conception. 
 

I’d hope that as the draft began to fall that way, the bean would be on the phone trying to jump a few places. 
 

Id love the KC pick and am Meh on this selection. That should be worth a late rounder   IMO just on the difference in team impact potential alone. 
 

But I’m on the couch (chair actually) and don’t get paid the big bucks. 

[HappyDays]

This is worst case scenario for the Bills with all the 1st round WRs gone but unfortunately I could see it. The position has become too valuable.

 

In this scenario I would badly want the Bills to trade back. Maybe Arizona after foolishly trading back would be interested in coming back into the 1st. If we stick and pick it is probably Kayden McDonald or CJ Allen based on how this board has fallen. High floor players at non-premium positions. Blech. Would much rather drop into the 2nd and then take BPA at whatever position.

[HappyDays]

50 minutes ago, LEBills said:

Well how that mock fell seems to be about the worst case scenario for the Bills lol. TJ Parker would be my clear top pick for the Bills in this scenario, followed by one of the OL that are left.

 

My problem with TJ Parker is his skill set is redundant to Rousseau and Chubb. I have no opinion on the player, I just don't see the value of taking a redundancy in the 1st round. I get having a good rotation there is important but the thought underwhelms me. Then again I am going to be mildly to severely underwhelmed by any 1st round pick not named Denzel Boston or Omar Cooper so I should probably get acquainted with the feeling.

[GunnerBill]

14 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

This is worst case scenario for the Bills with all the 1st round WRs gone but unfortunately I could see it. The position has become too valuable.

 

In this scenario I would badly want the Bills to trade back. Maybe Arizona after foolishly trading back would be interested in coming back into the 1st. If we stick and pick it is probably Kayden McDonald or CJ Allen based on how this board has fallen. High floor players at non-premium positions. Blech. Would much rather drop into the 2nd and then take BPA at whatever position.

 

I confess I'd be a little surprised if all 6 were off the board before #26. It's not impossible, but I think it is less likely than more likely. 

[NewEra]

58 minutes ago, Bangarang said:

 

There has also never been a franchise QB to come out of Wyoming...until it happened. 

 

I'm not pounding the table for Howell but he obviously has some NFL quality traits regardless of his arm length. Quality pass rushers are hard to find, just ask Beane that. If he has what it takes then I don't think he should be removed from consideration because his arms are an inch or two shorter than you'd prefer. 

If he’s the pick, I’ll find a way to get excited about it.  I just have my doubts about drafting a guy with a physical profile that has never had success at the nfl level.  The first Wyoming QB to succeed had one of the best physical profiles ever at the position.  

[gonzo1105]

Honestly if the Bills like a guy that’s considered a 2nd round pick by pundits and they can’t trade down then just take the guy you believe in. 
 

I understand Lomu and Bisontis, TJ Parker or Zion Young but if you like Gabe  Jacas more then take him. 
 

I really really like Chris Johnson from San Diego State. He’s a Cornerbavk and I realize it would get panned as a reach and not a huge need but I think he is going to be a player in this league and he’s versatile like Leonhard likes in his secondary 

Edited April 2 by gonzo1105

[LEBills]

8 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

My problem with TJ Parker is his skill set is redundant to Rousseau and Chubb. I have no opinion on the player, I just don't see the value of taking a redundancy in the 1st round. I get having a good rotation there is important but the thought underwhelms me. Then again I am going to be mildly to severely underwhelmed by any 1st round pick not named Denzel Boston or Omar Cooper so I should probably get acquainted with the feeling.

Embrace the pain!

 

For Parker, I just think he is the best pass rusher. Love how hard he hits the QB. He’s only redundant as long as Chubb is healthy or effective - which based on his history and the Bills history - might not be long. And even if Chubb makes it through, he will get in the rotation.

Id also like an OL in this scenario, but I dont know what their thoughts are of Dion’s long term future. So its hard to know if OT or OG would be in their sights.

[Back2Buff]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

If you are taking a speed rusher round 3 or round 4 to be a designated pass rusher only - absolutely fair. 

 

But if you have 30.5" arms and the OT doesn't totally whiff the play is dead, you are done. He gets a hand on you and you are flailing. You can't take that in the first round IMO. A speed rusher in the first round needs to have something else to his game too because even the best speed rushers in the NFL don't just blow past OTs untouched 6 or 7 times per game. 

 

Howell has no plan B, is poor playing the run and can't disengage from blockers consistently. The length definitely hurts him. 

 

I remain very much of the view the Buffalo Bills will NOT draft Cashius Howell.

 

This draft stinks, round 3 pass rushers are now picks 30-60.  Just the nature of where the league is at with covid still impacting some really old players and now NIL.

 

What you said is true about all undersized speed rushers, no matter the size.  When a tackle gets their hands on a speed rusher that is undersized, they are done and you move on to the next play.  Not gonna matter if the guy has an extra 2 inches on his arm.

 

Speed rushers don't have 100% success rate on every passing play.  That's just ridiculous to think.  What makes a good pass rusher sack wise, is literally one sack a game.  So if a speed rusher is able to get around the edge one time a game, even though the tackle engulfs him 20 other times, that would be considered a great year.

 

I just don't know what people expect to get at 26 in a weak draft.  I personally want a WR (KC or Cooper), but I would absolutely take a speed rushing OLB this team desperately needs.  Like I said, if he can get one sack a game, pick well spent.

 

Not you, but I've seen people mention about DL and Howell would never play on the line so it's a useless observation.

 

I just think his first step is really strong which I like it speed rushers a lot more than arm length.

[Allen2Moulds]

Most of the picks in this mock do make sense, except for (2) things, both involving Dallas.

 

no 1.  In no way can Dallas go from number 12, all the way up to the 3 pick for just a late 3rd.  I must've missed the rest of the trade compensation. 

 

no. 2  No way does Dallas go WR.  They already have a ton invested in the position.  They are desperately trying to fix their defense.  They will leave the draft with 2 defensive players.

 

In most years, I'm wishing for the Bills to be aggressive in a trade up, if a top tier player starts to drop and lands in an affordable range.

 

I've never had the desire of a trade down, like I do this year. 

 

I think I honestly like the WR prospects that are projected to go in day 2 of the draft (Chris Bell, Ted Hurst, Chris Brazell).  Getting an additional asset, we could potentially use on a LB.  In a perfect world, we go edge, WR, and LB on day 2.  Day 3, we target the following positions (G, DT, & S). 

 

 

[boyst]

Pirates rule! Journalists drool. 

[Captain Hindsight]

4 hours ago, DJB said:

If Arizona trades back like that again passing on a “potential game changing DE” again…their GM will be fired 

 

Not putting much stock into this mock of his “sources”

12 and 92 is pretty weak offer. I would think a few more would be needed to move up that much

[GunnerBill]

27 minutes ago, Back2Buff said:

 

This draft stinks, round 3 pass rushers are now picks 30-60.  Just the nature of where the league is at with covid still impacting some really old players and now NIL.

 

What you said is true about all undersized speed rushers, no matter the size.  When a tackle gets their hands on a speed rusher that is undersized, they are done and you move on to the next play.  Not gonna matter if the guy has an extra 2 inches on his arm.

 

Speed rushers don't have 100% success rate on every passing play.  That's just ridiculous to think.  What makes a good pass rusher sack wise, is literally one sack a game.  So if a speed rusher is able to get around the edge one time a game, even though the tackle engulfs him 20 other times, that would be considered a great year.

 

I just don't know what people expect to get at 26 in a weak draft.  I personally want a WR (KC or Cooper), but I would absolutely take a speed rushing OLB this team desperately needs.  Like I said, if he can get one sack a game, pick well spent.

 

Not you, but I've seen people mention about DL and Howell would never play on the line so it's a useless observation.

 

I just think his first step is really strong which I like it speed rushers a lot more than arm length.

 

I agree this is not a good draft. I am also not saying that a speed rusher has to win every snap, but not every snap they win is a sack either. And a speed rusher with not just short arms.... but the third shortest since the Combine started measuring them.... is just a really hard translation however good his first step is. When you add that to the other holes in Howell's game he isn't ever going to more than a situational pass rusher IMO. Even in this class that would be a poor use of #26 IMO.

 

And it's all moot because I am pretty certain he won't be for Brandon Beane.

Edited April 2 by GunnerBill

[boyst]

6 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

 

Arm length has mattered to the Bills (and I think Carolina before that). I don’t see any way that the guy that reset the scale in terms of arm length is their target.

 

Personally I like the idea of more explosive pass rushers. I just don’t think there’s much chance he’s the guy. Howell was literally “off the charts” in terms of his arm length. 

I was bored and checked. I have just under 32" arms at 6'2. Biceps were 17.5ish.

 

My fingers are short but mitt is big. I measured a few weeks ago - 9 7/8" on hand I had surgically repaired and 10.25 on left. 

 

Need to fix my knee and work on my 40 speed.

[colin]

that guy they have us taking has arms about as long as cole bishop, who was criticized for having short arms for a safety!  i think cole is awesome, but how the heck do you lock up w the spencer and dion's of the world with mini arms?  

 

it would drive me nuts to see local boy kc go two picks before ours, i'd totally support a swap of a 5th or something to go up a few slots to get him.  i think he's perfect for us.

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, Allen2Moulds said:

 

no 1.  In no way can Dallas go from number 12, all the way up to the 3 pick for just a late 3rd.  I must've missed the rest of the trade compensation. 

 

 

Agreed. We will get discounted trade ups this year, I'm pretty sure of it. But they won't be that discounted. The 2013 first round keeps being my comparison. And Miami made that exact move that year - from #12 to #3 for Dion Jordan. They did it for the cost of just their 2nd round pick which was about 500 points short by the value chart. I could see that sort of trade again, but Dallas doesn't have a 2nd so he has just forced the trade to happen for a price that doesn't make sense. No way a late 3rd gets it done.

[Allen2Moulds]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Agreed. We will get discounted trade ups this year, I'm pretty sure of it. But they won't be that discounted. The 2013 first round keeps being my comparison. And Miami made that exact move that year - from #12 to #3 for Dion Jordan. They did it for the cost of just their 2nd round pick which was about 500 points short by the value chart. I could see that sort of trade again, but Dallas doesn't have a 2nd so he has just forced the trade to happen for a price that doesn't make sense. No way a late 3rd gets it done.

Another comparison in more recent memory, was the Josh Allen draft.  The Jets moved from 6 to 3, and it cost them 3 2nd round picks. Now of course there's a quarterback tax in there.  That being said, the price is probably somewhere in the middle of those 2 trades. I would say the bare bone minimum is a 2 and a 3.  It could be a 3 this year, and a 2 next year, or something like that.  Even that, feels a little light. 

Edited April 2 by Allen2Moulds

[Kirby Jackson]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Agreed. We will get discounted trade ups this year, I'm pretty sure of it. But they won't be that discounted. The 2013 first round keeps being my comparison. And Miami made that exact move that year - from #12 to #3 for Dion Jordan. They did it for the cost of just their 2nd round pick which was about 500 points short by the value chart. I could see that sort of trade again, but Dallas doesn't have a 2nd so he has just forced the trade to happen for a price that doesn't make sense. No way a late 3rd gets it done.

Back from 20 and up from 12?

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Back from 20 and up from 12?

 

What are they offering to get up from 12 though?

 

Or are you saying maybe give #12 and #20 for #3 and #34?

 

That might work I suppose.

Edited April 2 by GunnerBill

[BillsShredder83]

11 hours ago, dreadlox said:

I don’t hate it. The Bills need pass rush and this kid provides that. 

Man, this kids polarizing and id both understand why we took him, and why a kid with speed & bend - LIKE THAAAT-  made it this far down the board.

 

Just so we're aware, its not like people are bagging the kid over a few negative traits.  He has HISTORICALLY AWFUL measurements, in the full history of the combine. 4th percentile arms? Ever. In full combine era. Yiiiiikes  How is he going to regularly beat a Tackle? He's got a decent running game rating, but man I's be nervous you're looking at a 3rd down only guy.  No hyperbole, its possible.

 

 

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Cashius-Howell-DL-BowlingGreen

 

Quote

Scouting Report: Summary

Indianapolis changed the calculus on Howell, and anybody who tells you otherwise is not being straight with you. The 30 1/4-inch arms and 74 1/4-inch wingspan confirmed what some evaluators quietly feared heading into the week. Those are historically short measurements for an edge rusher, the kind of numbers that have kept players out of the first round at this position for decades. You can talk yourself into a lot of things on film, but when a guy's reach puts him at a fundamental disadvantage before he even fires off the ball, that demands a serious conversation about ceiling.

And yet, the film is the film. Howell has elite get-off speed, legitimate bend, and three straight years of stacking sacks against increasingly difficult competition. The 11.5 sacks and 41 pressures against SEC offensive lines were not a mirage. His spin move is a problem for tackles at any level, and the closing burst on the backside is something you cannot teach. The issue is that every one of those tools lives inside a frame that NFL tackles will try to smother. Without the length to keep blockers off his chest, Howell has to win with precision and timing on every single snap. His hands are not there yet. They are functional, but functional does not cut it when the guy across from you has four inches of arm length in his favor and knows exactly how to use it.

What you are betting on with Howell is a player whose motor and pass rush instincts can outrun his physical limitations on enough snaps to justify significant investment. The realistic outcome is a designated pass rusher in a four-man front who terrorizes quarterbacks on third down and in obvious passing situations. The run defense concerns were already real before the Combine, and the lack of length only makes the anchor issues, the edge-setting struggles, and the contact discipline problems harder to fix. Some front offices will watch the 2025 SEC tape and see a future double-digit sack artist. Others will fixate on those arms and wonder how long the production holds up against NFL-caliber scheming. The talent is obvious. The questions are just louder now.