Bills Select Stanford QB Trent Edwards in Round 3

by Brian Galliford on Apr 28, 2007 10:58 PM EDT in 2007 NFL Draft

No. 92

Trent Edwards
Quarterback
Stanford

With their third and final pick on the first day of the 2007 NFL Draft (#92 overall), the Buffalo Bills selected Stanford QB Trent Edwards. This pick is a bit surprising in the sense that the team's need at QB is minimal; J.P. Losman emerged last season and has a lock on the starting job, and Craig Nall has promise as a backup. Despite the lack of need at QB, I really, really like this pick, for a variety of reasons.

First thing's first: this guy is the prototypical NFL quarterback. He's got great size (6'4", 231) and is very agile - he runs a 4.71 40-yard dash. He never had a good supporting cast at Stanford and much like Jay Cutler last year played on a bunch of terrible teams. But this guy has a good arm, he works hard and he's a smart, high-character individual.

This gives the Bills some options at QB heading into the future. It will take a minimum of two years to develop a guy like Edwards. Keep in mind also that as good as Losman performed in the second half of last season, he was not brought in by this regime. Losman, while displaying great promise, has not proven himself as a winner at this level yet. Drafting Edwards allows the Bills to develop him while letting Losman run the offense - if J.P. becomes a star, the Bills will have a good young QB to use as trade bait (a la Matt Schaub); if Losman falters, they have a QB with 2 years in their system to step in.

Very interesting pick, and one that I don't think any Bills fan could have seen coming. But I love Edwards as a prospect and think he has a bright future. Please leave your comments on Edwards below.

That's a wrap on Day One here at Buffalo Rumblings. I'll be back early tomorrow morning with interviews from SB Nation's Cal and PSU bloggers in regards to Lynch and Posluszny! Very valuable information here - you won't want to miss it!

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Comments

Head scratcher

Guess that's our "who?" pick of the day. Prelim research shows him as drop-back passer with a good gun. He was highly touted out of high school but got banged up early and often behind a poor line in college. Still played well despite the injuries though. Undoubtedly he's a tough guy, and being referred to as a "field general" with leadership skills makes me hold to my trust in Marv & Co.
Looking forward to reading some West Coast perspective.

by marv4prez2012 on Apr 28, 2007 11:25 PM EDT reply actions

Plus...

FWIW, he seemed to be neck-and-neck with Kolb for quite a while as the third best QB (and projected to get taken in the top third of the second round).

It's funny that we've ended up with representatives from each side of The Big Game.

He's just a real hard competitor. An outstanding Frank Reich-type player (I really have assurance - for what that's worth after today - that OBD is absolutely happy with JP). But this is a guy that by next year, will come in and win games for us, and eventually (as Brian said) be able to get us a 1st/2nd. In the meantime, we'll have a smart, accurate leader riding wingman to JP.

Our needs are filled. BPA on out, baby!

by Dock Ellis on Apr 28, 2007 11:57 PM EDT reply actions

good value

but how does he help us?

We've signed Nall to a decent contract for a backup and have basically handed him the #2 job. Edwards is the #3 for at least the forseeable future. I was thinking this could turn into a Matt Schaub situation for us, but when will Edwards ever see the field??

Daymeion Hughes should have been the pick...

by Kurupt on Apr 29, 2007 1:25 AM EDT reply actions

Kurupt, great point

Hughes is a steal at this point. Brian made a great point about Edwards in his post, that he could eventually be either:

trade bait
a starter in two years

but...we don't need a QB. CB is a far more pressing need, and Hughes could have competed for the starter or nickely corner jobs

by nickfeely8 on Apr 29, 2007 1:39 AM EDT reply actions

exactly

and that's why it upsets me.

We could have taken a second day QB in the 6th or 7th with some talent who could eventually fight Nall for the #2 job. Instead, we could have added much needed depth to the CB position with a very underrated ball hawk, or picked up a talented WR in Allison or added more LB depth with one of the numerous LB's still available.

I'm still baffled.

by Kurupt on Apr 29, 2007 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: CB

There are still value guys at CB, namely Tanard Jackson out of Syracuse. We're still OK - I trust Marv and the boys to get depth now.

Buffalo Rumblings: we are awesome.

by Brian Galliford on Apr 29, 2007 7:50 AM EDT up reply actions

oops.

nickel....that is.

by nickfeely8 on Apr 29, 2007 1:41 AM EDT reply actions

A Few Questions...

When was Frank Reich drafted?

In which round?

What qualities did he possess coming out of college?

What is the read on Edwards' attitude?

How much do you know about Craig Nall?

Is JP the type to wilt under pressure, the type to whine about who is drafted where, or the type to work to make the team its best and welcome any structural depth improvement?

And finally...

What is the single most critical position on a football team?

by Dock Ellis on Apr 29, 2007 3:28 AM EDT reply actions

Dock

I agree with what you're saying and yeah, I can't say that JP is going to lead us to the promised land.

I guess the Edwards pick isn't as bad as I originally though. Who know what JP will turn into this year and Nall is only signed for two more years. Plus, we have no idea what he brings.

I just felt there were much more pressing needs we could have addressed. At least we did get good value and a QB with big upside. Our best case scenario is he'll either fill in admiriably for an injured JP or take his job down the line if it doesn't work out.

by Kurupt on Apr 29, 2007 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

I personally...

Love the pick. Edwards is a guy that a lot of scouts had as the #3 QB in the draft and I had heard some people say he was an early 2nd round draft talent. I think he was a steal where they got him and as I am not exactly high on Losman (I don't think he'll ever develop into anything more than he was last year) I think it is good to get a QB to start grooming for the role.

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 29, 2007 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

Re:

I tend to agree, Brent. My view on Losman is a bit different than yours - I think he can be an above-average starter in this league. In the event that I am wrong, however, I think Edwards has a bright future in this league. At the very worst, Edwards can develop into a long-term backup a la Frank Reich for us.

Buffalo Rumblings: we are awesome.

by Brian Galliford on Apr 29, 2007 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I actually...

...am a HUGE JP fan. I feel he has a wonderful combination of abilities and attributes. I actually meant that Edwards just seems like the perfect complimentary Reich-like QB (albeit even better).

by Dock Ellis on Apr 29, 2007 7:58 PM EDT reply actions

I have to admit...

being in the Chicago area, in an apartment where we can not get directv I havn't been able to see a lot of Bills games over the past 2 years. So my opinion on Losman probably isn't too fair. The games I have seen have been bad games for him for the most part. I have discovered a new way to watch out-of-market games without DirecTV and without going out to a bar, but I won't get into it since the NFL probably wouldn't like me very much.

Writer for www.badlefthook.com and www.bloodyelbow.com both a part of the SB Nation family.

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 29, 2007 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions