Narrowing the possibilities for Buffalo in round 1

[BigAl2526]

What do we know that might help us figure out what Buffalo will do?  I am not totally against Buffalo picking Kayden McDonald, but there are Bills brass that are on the record saying that Buffalo has little interest in drafting a pure nose tackle.  What they are interested in is a player who can line up at more than one spot on the defensive line.  That doesn't seem to be McDonald's game.  He seems like a nose tackle only.   Moreover, he looks a lot like a two down player since he's not been much of a factor in pass defense.  He's a great run stopper in the nose tackle position and apparently not much else.  Maybe he can expand his skill set with time, but I don't think thewe Bills would be coounting on that.  

 

What clues have you picked up that could point to the Bills' action in round 1.

[WickedGame]

Does “Bills brass are on the record” actually mean anything? C’mon. They may draft him, they may not. They’re not gonna show their cards.

[mannc]

57 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

What do we know that might help us figure out what Buffalo will do?  I am not totally against Buffalo picking Kayden McDonald, but there are Bills brass that are on the record saying that Buffalo has little interest in drafting a pure nose tackle.  What they are interested in is a player who can line up at more than one spot on the defensive line.  That doesn't seem to be McDonald's game.  He seems like a nose tackle only.   Moreover, he looks a lot like a two down player since he's not been much of a factor in pass defense.  He's a great run stopper in the nose tackle position and apparently not much else.  Maybe he can expand his skill set with time, but I don't think thewe Bills would be coounting on that.  

 

What clues have you picked up that could point to the Bills' action in round 1.

McDonald reminds me of Kenneth Grant last year…a big, dominant IDL that lots of Bills fans wanted, but in reality, was never going to be available at our pick.  I think McDonald is regarded much higher than the consensus around here, and is not a 2-down run stuffer.  I think McDonald is definitely going top 20, and maybe top 15.  I’d settle for Christen Miller over most of the edge guys being discussed at 26.

Edited April 19 by mannc

[US Egg]

1 hour ago, WickedGame said:

Does “Bills brass are on the record” actually mean anything? C’mon.

[nuklz2594]

7 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

What do we know that might help us figure out what Buffalo will do?  I am not totally against Buffalo picking Kayden McDonald, but there are Bills brass that are on the record saying that Buffalo has little interest in drafting a pure nose tackle.  What they are interested in is a player who can line up at more than one spot on the defensive line.  That doesn't seem to be McDonald's game.  He seems like a nose tackle only.   Moreover, he looks a lot like a two down player since he's not been much of a factor in pass defense.  He's a great run stopper in the nose tackle position and apparently not much else.  Maybe he can expand his skill set with time, but I don't think thewe Bills would be coounting on that.  

 

What clues have you picked up that could point to the Bills' action in round 1.

I miss mt. washington....

[Kirby Jackson]

Mildly spicy take: this may be the draft to go up a little in. Everyone wants to go back. The Lawrence deal just showed how teams feel about this draft class. If Tyson is on the board at 18 or 19 for example, you may get up there at a big discount. 

[Pecker]

Lee Hunter from Texas Texh is a NG they may like.  I’m not a fan of MacDonald. Only one year of production, didn’t look good at the senior bowl.

[Kirby Jackson]

5 minutes ago, ***** said:

Lee Hunter from Texas Texh is a NG they may like.  I’m not a fan of MacDonald. Only one year of production, didn’t look good at the senior bowl.

Not that I want to defend all Ohio State guys but there were times, and lots of them, where he was the best player on that defense last year. They’ll have 3 guys go in the top 10. He created a ton for them. There were times that he was completely dominant and took over games.
 

Now it was really 1 year of production and he runs a little hot and cold for me. He has pass rush upside which Hunter certainly doesn’t (although Hunter is going to go a round later). I don’t love the idea of McDonald because I think they should give the young guys they just drafted a look in this new scheme first. A run stuffing DT in round 1 isn’t my favorite option even in a bad draft. I’d be very surprised though if he wasn’t an excellent pro.

Edited April 19 by Kirby Jackson

[oldmanfan]

Always want them to draft a big tub of goo for the middle of the D line; I call for it every year.  But round 1 seems early.

[nosejob]

8 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

What do we know that might help us figure out what Buffalo will do?  I am not totally against Buffalo picking Kayden McDonald, but there are Bills brass that are on the record saying that Buffalo has little interest in drafting a pure nose tackle.  What they are interested in is a player who can line up at more than one spot on the defensive line.  That doesn't seem to be McDonald's game.  He seems like a nose tackle only.   Moreover, he looks a lot like a two down player since he's not been much of a factor in pass defense.  He's a great run stopper in the nose tackle position and apparently not much else.  Maybe he can expand his skill set with time, but I don't think thewe Bills would be coounting on that.  

 

What clues have you picked up that could point to the Bills' action in round 1.

2023: Played in 4 games as a reserve (0.5 TFLs, PBU). Played 3 snaps at FB/TE in the Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri.

2024: Played in all 16 games as a reserve for the national champions (19 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, PBU).

2025: First-team Associated Press All-American. Big Ten Conference DL of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten. Finalist for the Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman). Started all 14 games (65 tackles, 9 TFLs with 3 sacks, PBU, 2 FFs).

Miscellaneous: Brother, Jayden, played LB at Troy and UConn.

-- by Chad Reuter

By Lance Zierlein

NFL Analyst

Draft Projection

Rounds 1-2

NFL Comparison

DJ Reader

Edited April 19 by nosejob

[OldTimer1960]

The options late in round 1 are not looking great (at least in my view), so I think that they should be just looking for a good player and that may mean that they have to take a player at a position of “lesser value” and in an area that doesn’t address an immediate need.  I don’t think that any position (except QB, P, K) should be out of consideration - just find a good solid player whom they think can be an eventual starter.

 

Even though I think defense needs more help I suspect that if Concepcion, Cooper Jr or Boston are available would be the best option.  Certainly open to OT, NT, CB, LB or S depending on who is left.

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

I think they trade back. Multiple suggested picks are set to go back of the first or start of second

 

I would love it if a game wrecker drops but I think it makes too much sense to kick it back

[bills6969]

MLB or DE

[LEBills]

Based on the “30 visits” we know of so far, I think we will trade back and draft Christen Miller

[Dr. Who]

2 minutes ago, LEBills said:

Based on the “30 visits” we know of so far, I think we will trade back and draft Christen Miller

I think that is a plausible suggestion, though we only know 14 visits so far as I know. I don't believe they would forego the other 16, so we are speculating based on very partial information.

[mannc]

5 minutes ago, LEBills said:

Based on the “30 visits” we know of so far, I think we will trade back and draft Christen Miller

I doubt Miller would be available in a trade back scenario.  Seems like a first round talent.

[LEBills]

3 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

I think that is a plausible suggestion, though we only know 14 visits so far as I know. I don't believe they would forego the other 16, so we are speculating based on very partial information.

Yea it’s just a best guess with how few we have learned of, we have had visits with more NTs and LBs than any other positions and Miller is the one graded closest to 26. The only 2 WR we had visits with both had knee procedures they probably wanted to check out. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

10 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

What do we know that might help us figure out what Buffalo will do?  I am not totally against Buffalo picking Kayden McDonald, but there are Bills brass that are on the record saying that Buffalo has little interest in drafting a pure nose tackle.  What they are interested in is a player who can line up at more than one spot on the defensive line.  That doesn't seem to be McDonald's game.  He seems like a nose tackle only.   Moreover, he looks a lot like a two down player since he's not been much of a factor in pass defense.  He's a great run stopper in the nose tackle position and apparently not much else.  Maybe he can expand his skill set with time, but I don't think thewe Bills would be coounting on that.  

 

What clues have you picked up that could point to the Bills' action in round 1.

Can't really narrow down too much. So many variables come into play. What will the board look like when we pick? Will Beane make a jump up the board to go after his last first round grade? Will they trade back? Who is there if they do?

 

The two bets I would be willing to make...

 

1) They Bills will not be picking at 26. Be it higher or lower I think we move.

 

2) The Bills will pick a WR, but it will be MUCH later in the draft than people are hoping.

[Sierra Foothills]

I've arrived at the belief that the Bills will go Edge.

 

Interior DL has already been heavily and recently invested in with Oliver, Walker, Sanders, as well as run down candidates Mathis and Logue. Plus the team will use 2 DTs on only 20% of snaps anyways.

 

As far as WR, I believe that the DJ Moore trade was the WR investment. I think they'll add to it but I don't think in the first round.

 

While one might argue that they're set at Edge because of the pairing of Groot and Chubb , there are 3 things that make me think they'll still go in this direction:

1. Many people believe that pass rush is a necessary component of a championship team. The Bills traded for Von Miller and I think they still believe pass rush is a high value and that they're still not yet good enough in this area.
2. This is a very good draft for Edge players.
3. Neither Groot or Chubb (or anyone else on the roster) have the explosiveness that guys like Mesidor, Parker, Lawrence, Howell, or Thomas possess. Each of these 5 players have the get-off, bend, and ability to convert speed to power that Groot and Chubb, and the Bills roster lack.

I feel this missing ingredient is something the Bills view as essential... more so for instance than a boundary X who'll open up the field, or a 2-down run player, which again are positions they can draft in later rounds.

 

By all mocks, the Bills will have a shot at at least a couple of these Edge players... most mocks have Arvell Reese, David Bailey, and Rueben Bain assured to come off before the Bills pick. A bunch more have Keldrick Faulk coming off the board before the Bills pick.

 

Thus I think the Bills will go Edge and that the player will be one of Mesidor, Parker, Lawrence, Howell, or Thomas.

 

Edited April 19 by Sierra Foothills

[nosejob]

49 minutes ago, LEBills said:

Based on the “30 visits” we know of so far, I think we will trade back and draft Christen Miller

Never had over 30 tackles or 2 sacks in a season.  T.J. Sanders deal part 2......IMO