This could also mean the FO views their biggest needs at LB, WR and RB. It’s highly doubtful, but ya never know. What happens if we don’t end up signing a LB, or end up with Pat Thomas or Jamie Winborn? Those guys are starting material, so they may end up addressing the position early in the draft. What if they don’t end up with Jones or Foster or whoever else is out there at RB? Do they take another RB in the middle rounds?

I tend to agree with your thought process on this one, though it very well could end up that we add another depth OL or two in FA, stick with the status quo on the DL (yuck!) and end up taking a LB, TE, WR, RB and S with our first 5 picks. That’d be horrible, but it wouldn’t surprise.

I love the idea of building the lines. We definitely need to add an interior OL, probably a guy that can play C and G. We definitely need a DE or two, and by definitely I mean it’s life or death in terms of on the football field. There is very little talent and youth there now, so it’s a must we address it early. Adding a big fatty would be nice, but they may be wiling to give McCargo one last shot.

I also think we’ll end up with the LB and RB in FA. If we add a WR, that works great too. I also think we’ll bring in another OL or two, at least for depth battles. IF we can go into the draft with a dire need for a DE and TE, and a C/G as a distant third need, I think we’ll be set up for a much more versatile draft.

Hopefully, we don’t end up with nothing in the next few weeks. I can’t see it happening, as it would be quite demoralizing in a way…..

good observations and I think you may be right in your analysis. When you put all the visiting free agent names together, as you did, it really does make the draft exciting in that the trenches look like the targets. I really like this a lot. If thats the strategy I’d like to see DE at #11 and G/C round 2 followed by TE at round 3.

But…….there are a few problems here.

We haven’t signed anyone yet and to my knowledge, correct me if I’m wrong, all the linebackers you listed have left and are probably visiting other teams. We lost Coles at WR and Galloway is too old to make me comfortable signing him. Toomer is still an option but we haven’t heard anything to indicate hes a target. What if we don’t fill those needs well enough before the draft? This is a serious possibility. Personally, I can be ok with keeping our receivers because I fully expect better things out of Trent Edwards but I also know we must provide him with better weapons. A third round TE is no guarantee, Derek Fine hasn’t done much since being selected in the fourth round and didn’t help Trent immediately.

The most serious concern is at linebacker. Freddie K.O. and Cato June both have serious weaknesses that I promise we will all be hollering about during the season when June is getting stiff armed or Freddie gets toasted by a tight end. Peterson is a great pick up but I haven’t heard much about him. Again, Crowell is more appealing than 4 out of the 5 linebackers that have visited.

I guess what I’m saying is, your piece is assuming we do fill the peripheral needs adequately, and nothing yet has indicated this, and its worrying.

Also, one small thing I have to take issue with. You say in the beginning we addressed our two biggest needs already. I don’t think back up QB can be a top 2 need when we don’t have starters at OLB, TE, DE, etc.

Good write up though.

FA
WR- Sign Galloway or Toomer
RB- Sign Jones, he is good when healthy and just can’t stand a feature backs carries, thats why we have ML and Freddy.
LB- Sign Keiaho as our MLB and move Poz to SLB where we can maximize his talents.

Currently, I get the feeling that the Bills have signed Chambers as the starting RG pro-tem unless they can pry Waters away from KC. If that falls through, I think we see one more vet brought in along the line like Mike Goff or Chris Naeole who haven’t gotten much play in FA yet.

Draft
Round 1- DE: Maybin, Brown, Orakpo whichever of them is left when we pick.
Round 2- TE: Nelson, Beckham, Coffman, whichever is left and Bills like most
Round 3- DE: Sidbury, he would pair with Ellis and our Round 1 pick as youth, Kelsay gone.
Round 4- C: Luigis, Geoff’s backup and student
Round 5- G: TJ Lang, big, mean, and never hurt, a Butler redux he played college OT
Round 6- DT: Whatever fat man is left who can punish a ball carrier
Round 7- Fastest kid left in draft doesn’t matter position, speed ALWAYS helps a team.

infact…it would be all the better to shore up the lines for our next head coach next year….so he can bring in the skill people he wants :)

LOL

if you don’t have quality lines you really don’t have much. OBD would be wise to focus on those spots, especially if we are going to run the ball effectively and stop the run now that our division is more of a run first division (New England not withstanding).

I agree with their approach
C/G: Hangartner was actually a great signing. Low key type guy that didn’t break the bank with experience at both C & Guard positions. The draft targets this year are primarilly center propects that also can play guard. I like this strategy because they will have a lot of options.

QB2: Fitzpatrick. Geez. I would have much preferred seeing a real backup come in and not only serve as an insurance policy but also have a chance to win a few games if he needs to go in but even more importantly be able to help Edwards develop by mentoring.. I was disappointed with Fitz. The only good news is that there won’t be any controversy.

WR: We are very happy with our guys “in traninng” Johnson/Hardy so why sign a guy like coles for 4 years? They are looking for a short term “stop gap” for 1-2 years. Or at least a contract that can be terminated after 2 years without huge cap repercussions.

LB: I like Cato June even though I find he is too small. I would like to think that Mitchell could be switched over to SAM with June playing the Weak side. Or Maybe swing Poz over to the SLB and bring in Peterson to man the Mike?
I am not yet convinced that they won’t pull the trigger on a stud LB if they fall to us in the draft.

RB: Unfortunately we are in a certain pickle because our start players doesn’t know who his real friends are. Again, I remain convinced that they will be looking for a “stop gap” type player to get us through the rough spot. Like many other rumblers I agreed that we needed a change of pace type back and unfortunately Jones & Foster are not really that. I do like Jones a lot.

Brian, where I disagree with you is on the TE statement at the end of your post

Yes, other positions (tight end, fullback, safety, reserve linebacker) might be addressed.

There is an absolute certainty that they will be drafting a TE in the first 3 rounds – absolutely no doubt in my mind.

But I agree that it looks like we are going to draft DE, C/G, TE, DT, LB

I definitely believe that we are going to see OBD draft a DE, G/C, TE,

I said this in the other post, too. I really like your strategy and think along the same lines. I believe they will sign a LB before the weekend is over. After that I don’t think they will go after anybody that’s not a new starting guard. No WR.

In the draft we can get quality players at DE, Interior O Line, and TE in the first three rounds. That TE likely won’t start with Fine getting the nod. That TE will be the pass-catching third down TE or the second in the 2 TE set. We can get difference makers and role players and feel really good going into next year. The people who follow the big-name free agent signings are disappointed we didn’t get Coles and signed “nobodys” but in reality this has been exactly what we needed.

but when it comes down to it, that offense does nothing to scare anyone. I sincerely hope that adding OLmen will change that, but I have a sneaky suspicion it comes down to the pass-catchers. There’s so much work to be done before they can even get to work.

assessment of the current situation. However, I kind of fell while OBD has a plan that they are a little “gunshy” with all the free agent visits they’ve had. You trust your pro-personnel people to have accurate reports on players and when FA starts you target specific players because you’ve watched the tape. I hope in the next few days we get some of these guys signed so the entire staff can spend the rest of their time focusing on the draft where their real money is made. We desperately need to hit on our draft picks this year especially if we are taking 2-3 front 7 defensive players.

If Buffalo will target DL at #11, TE in round #2, followed by DL or S in round 3, I will be happy. I know trading out of #11 is not likely but if the opportunity arises, I hope OBD can take advantage of it, because adding a 3rd round pick to find an interior offensive Lineman, a S, or another DL will help increase our odds of hitting on some of these guys. The more the better I say

Also it looks like my Mock draft that I put on here that got some criticism makes perfect sense now:) Yeah I know somebody who knows somebody who’s Aunty dated this barber who cut this certain somebodys hair—Just jokin!

And as always Brian—You’re doin the best job of anywhere else on the net for great Bills coverage!!