I’m going on record that I REALLY want Geno Smith or Matt Barkley to be available when we pick at #8. I think both of them will be franchise QBs if developed properly. And I think we have the right staff in place to make either of them a top level QB in the future. I actually think Barkley (while having a lower ceiling than Geno) can help the Bills be successful almost immediately. He’s ready to step in and be a solid QB from day one.
However, even with Alex Smith going to KC, I can’t see both of those guys getting past Jax, Oak, Phil, Clev and Ari. They all still have huge needs for a long term, franchise QB. So I am going to assume that both Geno and Barkley are gone by pick 8 and we don’t trade up for one of them. What would that leave us for draft options?
Based on everything I hear, I think we can very safely say that Joeckel, Floyd and Fisher will be off the board by the time we pick. That leaves the Bills with a choice from the following group: Milliner, Jordan, J Jones, Ansah, Mingo or Patterson. There is a strong chance that two of these guys will be selected before us, but it still leaves us with a solid group to choose from. Other than Patterson, I would be thrilled with any one of those selections. I am not thrilled with the possibility of taking another CB so early, but I can’t say the thought of having two young, stud, shut down CBs doesn’t appeal to me.
I would love to see what Pettine could do with Dion Jordan, Jarvis Jones, Ziggy Ansah or Mingo. I think any of those 4 would fit our OLB needs and be serious weapons on defense for the next 10 years. Other than Jones, they can all play that hybrid DE/OLB position and be dynamic players in our new defensive scheme.
So, while I am still going to be praying that Geno or Barkley fall to us, I can’t say that I am not extremely excited about the possibility of grabbing one of those 4 OLB, hybrid monsters for our defense. And then I’d be praying that somehow we could still get our future QB with our second pick. I don’t see a huge difference between the next group of QBs. I’d be happy with Glennon, Nassib or Wilson with our second pick.