With the 11th Pick....

by Lance in Germany on Apr 17, 2008 9:02 AM EDT Comment 14 comments

The Buffalo Bills select Limus Sweed, WR: Texas. I mean he has all that we're looking for in this draft, a BIG WR, experience in a pro style offense, high character guy. Why would the bills not be high on him? Please inform me what reasons the bills could have not to like this guy?

I think their percieved 'lack of interest' in sweed is one of the best smoke screens of recent history. I mean they didn't even send someone to his pro day! That means either OBD knows something the rest of the NFL doesn't, or they are in the middle of one of the best smoke screens of recent years.

Last year was all about them saying how there was great value in the later round for RB's, and they are confident in some good runners being available there. What did they do: draft the man marshawn..... we'll see how it plays out but I am very excited to see how ODB plays this years draft.

Poll

Would you be upset if the Bills select Sweed at #11

No

31 votes

Yes

29 votes

60 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the views of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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Here's the thing that doesn't add up

A fellow rumbler, although who specifically I can not remember, made an excellent point about this smokescreen. This rumbler pointed out quite well that there are no potential suitors for Sweed in the top ten picks therefor making the smokescreen only probable as a ploy to allow the Bills to trade down without the risk of losing Sweed. If that were to happen I'd be all for grabbing him in the first.

It's not delivery, It's DiGiorgio!

by poz on Apr 17, 2008 11:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

But why do it?

Even the Bengals who pick before the Bills seem to be showing little to no interest in the guy. About three weeks ago the Bills seemed ready to take Kelly, but they still interviewed Thomas, but have not even shown a mild interest in Sweed. I honestly think that the Bills don't want Sweed. If they are smokescreening then they deserve an award.

I don't know why they seem to think so little of him, but he appears to not even be an option.

Man do I miss #78

by sireric on Apr 17, 2008 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Medical Staff?

Maybe our medical staff doesn't think he'll recover 100% from his wrist injury. I can't see any other reason for the apparent disregard of Sweed.

It's not delivery, It's DiGiorgio!

by poz on Apr 17, 2008 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sweed

While a smokescreen is possible it is unlikely here. Again no one above them or even in the top 20 seems overly interested in using that pick on Sweed. I suppose maybe Phili at 19.

I truly question sweed based on production. Compare his production to that of Hardy, Nelson, Thomas or Kelly. Not even close. OBD is big on production in college, especially at the skill positions. Evans produced, Lynch produced, Edwards produced solid stats. Sweed stats do not warrant him being a first round pick.

I have been saying this for a while but do not be surprised if the Bills draft WR James Hardy either at 11 or at 15 if they trade with Detroit. However, I believe if McKelvin is available he will be the pick but I expect him to be gone at either 7 to NE or 10 to NO.

by Berg79 on Apr 17, 2008 11:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

interestingly enough

The odds of McKelvin falling to us have increased today. Steve McNair retired a few hours ago basically shoving the Ravens into drafting a quality QB. Every day its looking more and more like the Falcons may just go with Dorsey or Chris Long at #3 and wait to grab Joe Flacco or Brohm in round 2. If this happens the Ravens would be crazy not to grab Matt Ryan. If that happens I think we have a real shot at seeing McKelvin drop to us. How great would that be? He could instantly become the favorite to start opposite McGee.

It's not delivery, It's DiGiorgio!

by poz on Apr 17, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bingo

He caught 12 TDs in his junior season and was getting a lot of attention for that, but it seems like nobody noticed that he only caught 46 passes in 13 games that season. He caught 19 balls in 6 games this past season and it was the first time in his career he averaged over 3 catches per game.

Texas attempted 371 passes in 2006. They completed 244 of them. Limas Sweed caught 18.85% of Texas' completed passes in his best season. That simply isn't good enough for someone who is supposed to be a great posession WR at the next level.

And this smokescreen stuff just doesn't make any sense to me at all. The Bills have shown ZERO interest in Sweed. Even Gerinomo is telling us that the Bills don't have Sweed very high on their draft board. The Lynch pick wasn't out of nowhere last year. I can't remember anything, but I am going to assume that the Bills had some contact with Lynch last year before the draft. The Bills weren't shy about talking about Patrick Willis and I still think that he would have been the pick if he was available.

by kaisertown on Apr 17, 2008 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I mentioned the smokescreen.

So take your shots, but you never know what OBD will pull out of there hat. Was Whitner or Parrish heavily interviewed/talked about by the Bills? Sweed was generally ranked in the top 25 prospects last year, and arguably the best WR available.
"After his junior campaign, reports filtered to the media that Sweed was going to file early for the 2007 NFL Draft. The receiver quickly shot down those rumors. "I feel like I'm a leader on this team, and I want to be a positive influence on the younger guys," said Sweed. "That's why I think it's important for me to come back, develop as a player and get my degree. My intention is to help this team win as many games as we can."
http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/limas-sweed?id=322

I've always been a fan of senior WRs over the early juniors and it's for reasons like this. After being a highly ranked prospect, he was unable to go %100 and eventually had to hold off completely. Since then, he's proved that he's back at %100 with his 40 time, and vertical (I wonder about his agility drills). To me, then, he returns to his draft prospects of last year, the best WR available. That, paired with his great character, leadership, and the fact he fits what we need at WR BETTER than Thomas or Kelly puts him on my wish list for round 1.

Limas would be a Sweed pick at 11. :) So would Harvey.

by Kumario! on Apr 17, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no shots here

I guess I am just too analytical in my thought process to think that the Bills would put up this big of a smokescreen over a player who is practically a lock to undrafted through the top 15 picks.

Roscoe Parrish was a second round pick and I can't really say what the Bills perceived interest in him was. I do know that nobody reports nationally much on what teams might do in the second round. That was a Donahoe draft also and I don't think it really matters what Donahoe did when talking about what the Bills might do this draft.

I don't remember if Whitner visited OBD or anything like that, but Mike Mayock did have the pick right in his mock. I have to assume that there was some information out there that would link the Bills to Whitner. Mayock can't be that good.

by kaisertown on Apr 17, 2008 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

McKelvin

I believe if McKelvin falls to us he will be the guy. He could be elite in the cover 2. I do agree with many that there is strong interest in Harvey, thus the Bills taking Harvey wouldn't surprise me. However, I also would not be shocked if both McKelvin and Harvey are gone and the bills go with a surprise pick in Hardy if they cant trade down. Also, rumor is Detroit would like Harvey and it is possible a trade of Detroits 3rd and 1st for our 1st would work in which case I see us taking Hardy at pick 15.

by Berg79 on Apr 17, 2008 12:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thomas

Watching his highlights, and seeing him look very much like Andre Reed, and remarkably his height is the same, but he has about 20-30 lbs on the Running Man.
I'd say Thomas is the ideal candidate coupled with his kick return ability. I think alot of people would like o see McGee stop returning kicks and focus on defense, and its good to have a rookie returning, like the Patriots did with Maroney.

The Bills will take a WR and let the chips fall, but I don't think it will be Sweed.

The Bills can win every game

by killascript on Apr 17, 2008 12:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The draft

With the edia coverage being what it is for the draft, any inside information that leaks can cause a change in picks or an unwillingness for people to make trades. In a way when a player visits a team, that show an interest for a player, but what I would also say is that it could be a flow to draw more interest in a player from other teams.

As for how this involves Sweed, is that if the Bills think they have enough film and info on Sweed, they would not show outward interest for him. The outward interest in Thomas and kelly might allow us to trade down and actually nab the reciver we want.

by hilliarddavid on Apr 17, 2008 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that was exactly my point

with this diary post, although you put it better than I did. Although I dont pour over info on these prospects like most on this site, it seems to me that Sweed has all of what the bills are looking for in the WR we covet.

Maybe they really have no interest in them, but it also wouldn't suprize me if he is our pick, for reasons Hilliarddavid pointed out.

by Lance in Germany on Apr 17, 2008 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Smokescreens and declarations

The Bills could literally say they plan to take Sweed and do everything but begin contract negotiations (get him a realtor, take him to Applebee's, etc.) with him before the draft and still be 100% certain he'd be there at #11. They could trade back to #15-16 and still be about 99% sure of getting him. Even trading all the way back to #19 would still leave it 90ish% likely that he'd be available.

There's just not much logic to a smokescreen, unless they're doing it with a trade in mind. If Philly knows or at least suspects the Bills want Sweed (or any other WR likely to be on the board at #19) they might not offer as much to move up to #11 as they would if they thought Buffalo really wanted to stay at #11...say someone like Harvey. Of course, if Buffalo wanted to convey that impression they'd likely be loudly inquiring about Harvey.

Having grown up on military bases, I actually kind of like that I have no idea what Buffalo will do with the #11 pick. Geronimo's insights aside, we literally have no clue whether they intend to pick at #11 or try to trade down. Whether they stand pat or trade down we don't know if they're after a DE, WR, DT, OL, TE or LB with their first pick.

by Ron From NM on Apr 17, 2008 2:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Say no to Sweed, prefer a more Hardy receiver

The Bills are looking for a wideout that makes plays in the middle of the field and when watching film on Sweed the majority of his plays were made to the outside. Hardy on the other hand made plays all over the field. The knock on Hardy was when the play wasn't designed for him he would take plays off. IMO, if there was a smokescreen being set, it would be for Hardy.

by the Skycap on Apr 17, 2008 2:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs