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Intersting draft scenario...


Alphadawg7

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I think there is a real potential dark horse scenario. First let me say, I firmly believe Orakpo and Brown will be gone by 11. I also see no way Raji makes it past Cinci as they coveted badly Sedrick Ellis last year and missed out on him...their DT situation is no better this year and I just dont see how they can pass on the best DT in the draft when its a real big need for them and a defensive minded coach.

 

So, with top 2 DE's gone and no Raji...what do the Bills do? Top LB? Pettigrew? Reach for a lower rated DE or Center?

 

Well, I think there is a dark horse player that could possibly heavily influence our draft slot. I think Sanchez is going to have a real good combine driving him up the draft boards as a top 10 player. If he does, it is quite possible he will fall to us at #11 if Stafford is taken first because of team needs, much like Quinn fell and Aaron Rodgers fell after the top QB went off the board. If he does, it will open up 2 possibilities worth considering...(remember this is assuming a strong combine by Sanchez, but I fully expect that):

 

1. For all you trade down enthusiasts...having Sanchez fall to 11 also gives us the most hope for a trade down. For a team to trade up, there has to be a player other teams covet enough to give up value to get. Sanchez could be that player this year ASSUMING he has a stong combine as I expect. With Orakpo, Brown and Raji off the board, then trading down to get some extra picks and still grab say Pettigrew, other DE, Center, Etc. really works out for us.

 

There are quite a few teams BELOW us looking for some answers at QB this offseason...Teams below us that could look to move into our spot to grab Sanchez are Jets (17), Chi (18), TB (19), Det (20), Minn (22), or Tenn (30). The depth of their interest in this scenario will rely heavily on the comination of Sanchez's combine performance and what those teams do in Free Agency.

 

To be honest, I just can't see any other scenario playing out that will have someone there at 11 that another team is going to covet enough to trade up and get at #11 that we wouldn't take ourselves.

 

2. In this scenario, could the Bills consider Sanchez as our pick at 11? I know, its blasphemy to suggest to the Trent lovers here, and I am sure I will get blasted for even mentioning it...but if Sanchez moves up the draft boards like Cutler did, he could be someone they see who could come in and push Trent for the job. I am just not too sure the FO and staff are as sold on Trent as the posters of this board are, especially with the durability issue. The game where his mysterious injury kept him out so JP could come in makes me wonder...add in the fact that we have only a 3rd pick invested in Trent, and you have the makings for a surprise dark horse pick...

 

Please note that I am NOT, let me repeat NOT, currently suggesting that the Bills should take Sanchez or even that they will take him...I am just simply speculating it as an option if the draft plays out this way.

 

I fully expect Orakpo, Brown, and Raji to be gone when we pick at 11, so if they are gone and Sanchez has a great combine, we could be sitting in a very interesting spot at 11.

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On a similar vein, we need to hope Sanchez goes in the top-10. In all likelihood, these guys are projected top-10 picks: Stafford, Curry, Crabtree, 3 of the OTs, Brown, Raji, Orakpo, and possibly Jenkins. If Sanchez goes in the top-10, it would likely push one of the big 4 on defense down to #11.

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On a similar vein, we need to hope Sanchez goes in the top-10. In all likelihood, these guys are projected top-10 picks: Stafford, Curry, Crabtree, 3 of the OTs, Brown, Raji, Orakpo, and possibly Jenkins. If Sanchez goes in the top-10, it would likely push one of the big 4 on defense down to #11.

 

This is true...one of the teams below us I noted could trade into the top 10 to get him, which could push one of the other players down to us...good point and another way Sanchez could have a significant impact on our slot.

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In past years, I might have agreed, but lately it seems that if a top QB slides out of the top 5, he's going to keep dropping for quite a while. It happened to both Brady Quinn and Aaron Rodgers. Maybe someone would consider trading for the right to select him, but I think its just as likely that they'd sit back and see if that trend continued this year.

 

IMO, the darkhorse for the Bills is Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin. Another WR isn't going to be #1 on their wish list in April, but that said, I do expect them to draft one in the R3-5 range. If things break right (wrong?), with Raji, Brown and Orakpo all off the board, I think they'd almost certainly look toward their offense with that pick and it would likely come down to either Pettigrew or Maclin. Given the circumstances at both positions, I would expect them to select Pettigrew, but I would not be surprised one bit if they selected Maclin instead. They're probably planning on drafting one in the midrounds anyway, and if he grades out significantly better than Pettigrew, they may as well pick Maclin and consider the #2 WR position *finally* solved.

 

It wouldn't be a popular pick in terms of fan opinion, but if the chips fall the right way, I can definitely see it happening.

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I think there is a real potential dark horse scenario. First let me say, I firmly believe Orakpo and Brown will be gone by 11. I also see no way Raji makes it past Cinci as they coveted badly Sedrick Ellis last year and missed out on him...their DT situation is no better this year and I just dont see how they can pass on the best DT in the draft when its a real big need for them and a defensive minded coach.

 

I responded to one of your previous posts on your idea about CIN's pick.

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In past years, I might have agreed, but lately it seems that if a top QB slides out of the top 5, he's going to keep dropping for quite a while. It happened to both Brady Quinn and Aaron Rodgers. Maybe someone would consider trading for the right to select him, but I think its just as likely that they'd sit back and see if that trend continued this year.

 

Good point, and I thought about that, but here is why I see it as different this year. Look at the draft slots just below us:

 

17 - Jets

18 - Chi

19 - TB

20 - Det (if they dont take Stafford #1)

 

and also

22 - Minn

30 - Tenn

 

There is a run of 4 teams in a row potentially hunting for QB help with 2 more just below them. At this point in the offseason, there seems to be a decent drop off from Sanchez and the next best QB...that I think tempts teams to move up over each other and get him...

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Sanchez is VERY ovarrated

 

At this point he could be...but with no other quarterback a serious threat currently to over take him as the 2nd best QB in the draft (which is why I think he chose to come out this year) and strong combine (which I think he is fully capable of and likely has), I think his stock rises considerably come draft day.

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Yeah, I responded to your response about that in the other thread...

 

How many CIN games did you watch last season? :D

 

If you are a normal human being who doesn't live in Cincinnati and so can hardly avoid them if you care to watch tv games, my guess is that your answer approaches zero.

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I don't think it's necessarily a darkhorse player, but a darkhorse team. The Lions could shake up everything and take an OT at the #1 selection if one of them stands out at the combine. Both Stafford and Sanchez could then fall because I don't think that KC goes for a QB with their pick. I think they stick with Thigpen for this upcoming season. He played VERY WELL down the stretch for them. That has to count for something. That would leave Chicago with the #18, Tampa Bay with the #19, and Detroit with the #20 pick that they'd almost certainly use as trade bait to move up with some one to get the QB they want. I wouldn't make a trade with the Jets unless they give up their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd just because they're in our division.

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they may as well pick Maclin and consider the #2 WR position *finally* solved.

 

I thought we had the #2 WR position *finally* solved when we drafted Reed, Parrish, Hardy

 

Of course I'm being sarcastic, as we already have the #2 WR position solved. His name is Lee Evans. Now that #1 WR position is another story...

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I don't think it's necessarily a darkhorse player, but a darkhorse team. The Lions could shake up everything and take an OT at the #1 selection if one of them stands out at the combine. Both Stafford and Sanchez could then fall because I don't think that KC goes for a QB with their pick. I think they stick with Thigpen for this upcoming season. He played VERY WELL down the stretch for them. That has to count for something. That would leave Chicago with the #18, Tampa Bay with the #19, and Detroit with the #20 pick that they'd almost certainly use as trade bait to move up with some one to get the QB they want. I wouldn't make a trade with the Jets unless they give up their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd just because they're in our division.

 

This is quite possible and why I listed Det at 20 as possibly a team who could look to move up to our spot to grab a QB. With no obvious threat from teams 2-16 taking a QB, Det might could very well go a different direction at #1 and look to grab one at 20 or move up a few slots ahead of the other teams who could be looking for a QB. Another reason our spot at 11 could become a hot spot...

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I just thought about it and Seattle might take Stafford if he falls to them at #4. Hasselbeck is getting old and Seneca Wallace is not a guy you build your franchise around.

 

Good thought - I didn't consider that. Hasselbeck has his chronic injury problem - his back, too.

 

I do wonder about teams picking a QB in the top five, though. That's really big bucks these days.

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