Mock Offseason Plan
I was killing some time today, and started sketching out an offseason priority list. Here's my plan to get the Bills back to the playoffs next year:
A. Trade a 2nd round pick, our extra 5th round pick, and JP Losman to the Lions for Roy Williams. Williams is supposedly on the block, and while I've been wanting to see the Bills spend their top pick on a WR, the truth is that Williams is the best-case-scenario for whatever WR we draft (big smart and talented, with a nose for the end zone and game-breaking abilities). The fact is that drafting WRs is by and large a crapshoot--I don't mean in the first round, I mean drafting them period. For some reason, there just seems to be an inordinate number of WRs that never pick up the nuances of the game. Williams immediately becomes our number 1, and takes a ton of pressure off of Evans, letting him run free on the deep routes. I'm curious to hear feedback on whether or not that's a reasonable offer--I can't see anyone giving up a first round pick, but this still represents a pretty good haul for the Lions pick-wise, and given that Drew Stanton is still an unknown, I can see them taking a flier on a young talented quarterback.
B. Sign a top TE--either Dallas Clark or LJ Smith. We've got the cap room to make this happen, and again, this is a position where developing talent is kind of a crapshoot, so I don't mind paying for more of a sure thing. Given how much Edwards loves to check down, getting him a reliable safety valve is a must.
C. Structure the draft as follows:
- Keith Rivers, OLB, USC. Guy's the prototypical WLB in the draft--great coverage skills, good blitzing ability, and a bit of a playmaker streak. Isn't bulky, but is really fast, which fits the organizational philosophy.
- (Traded in the Roy Williams deal)
- CB
- C (Ideally, Steve Justice from Wake Forest drops here)
- Huge DT--I've seen Texas's Frank Okam in this range in a few mocks
They've got a potentially top-notch defense at that point--LBs and Safeties are the key to the cover 2. DiGiorgio and Ellison are nice depth players, but replacement-level starters at best. Replacing them with Posluszny and Rivers and teaming those two with Crowell will give us an elite LB corp a year or two down the road, and go a long way towards fixing the defense. It also addresses the team's main offensive shortcomings, giving Edwards a reliable safety valve/zone busting TE, and a red zone threat go-to WR who lets Reed and Parrish play in the slot and takes some heat off of Evans.
Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.
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4 comments
Comments
Off season plans
First - I think you're not giving up enough for Roy Williams. I don't think the Lions have any interest in Losman, so you're kind of dumping the Bills problem on the Lions, and I don't think they want to get rid of Roy that badly.
Second - (and this is just my opinion) Dallas Clark isn't leaving Peyton Manning and the Indy offense. He will take less money to stay, and the Colts will pay him because they need him. As for L.J. Smith, I'm not as sold on him as I used to be. I think this position gets filled in the draft.
As I said I wouldn't mind, I'm just not sure it will work.
by sireric on Jan 16, 2008 7:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
You filled some holes but not to much of
by NYTXFAN on Jan 16, 2008 11:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Re:
LJ Smith is pure garbage and is not even worth considering, IMO. Clark will be tagged. We need a young, talented TE to go with Royal and maybe Gaines. There are a number of athletic pass catchers in this year's draft.
I like the Rivers pick, but would still be a little hesitant about a rookie LB starting right away, but at least the talent upgrade would be huge.
I'd also rather get a FA DT who would definitely contribute right away.
by Kurupt on Jan 16, 2008 1:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
pwillis
linebackers normally adapt pretty well in comparison to lineman (see mario williams, wilfork, adams et al) and CBs (just last year revis, hall, ross), so i would rather take a LB here to fit right in than a CB or lineman that will take some time. not that the bills are going to be looking at next year as a must-win season (even if we are), but i would prefer to fill a hole with an immediate starter with the number 1.
by jmorris0823 on Jan 16, 2008 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

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