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Especially before one player steps onto an NFL field, here is a couple;
The Buffalo Bills made one of the worst draft picks in NFL history by taking Donte Whitner at #8 overall and that has nothing to do with Whitner’s potential in the NFL. There is little doubt that Whitner would’ve been available 10-15 spots lower in the draft. The Bills could’ve traded the 8th pick to drop down in the first round. There were a number of teams clamoring for a chance to draft Matt Leinart as he slipped further and further down the first round. The Bills made another terrible pick at #26 picking John McCargo who was almost certainly going no higher than the late second round. The Bills don’t get a failing grade, though, because they made some nice picks in the later stages. Ko Simpson and Kyle Williams are high values in the 4th and 5th rounds. Ashton Youboty may have also been a stretch at #70 but at least Buffalo made an effort to improve its secondary. Whitner and McCargo may end up being fine NFL players. Regardless, the Bills goofed big time on their two first round picks.
Grade: D+
Here is another one (we were 31, redskins dead last)
31. Buffalo Bills - D
8. Donte Whitner, S Ohio State
26. John McCargo, DT North Carolina State
70. Ashton Youboty, CB Ohio State
105. Ko Simpson, S South Carolina
134. Kyle Williams, DT LSU
143. Brad Butler, OT Virginia
178. Keith Ellison
Here's my best guess at how Saturday went for the Buffalo Bills: A huge snowstorm (they have those in Buffalo, you know) prevented any front-office member from arriving at the war-room for the first 6 hours of the draft. When pick 8 rolled around, the only person in the room happened to be the team janitor. Well, the janitor isn't a particularly big football fan; but with the clock winding down, he had to make a selection. He chose a name at random, which happened to be that of Donte Whitner (a player projected by most of us to go between picks 16 and 27). When the pick was announced, the janitor gained a newfound sense of confidence, and decided to trade the team's second and third round picks to take another player at random. This time it was John McCargo, who I thought would have been a reach at any point in the second round. McCargo is similar to Ryan Sims, who put up good numbers at North Carolina despite being overshadowed by Julius Peppers. The only difference - Ryan Sims had real talent. Well, sometime between that pick and the Bills' next selection, coach Marv Levy arrived. He scolded the janitor, and tried valiantly to resurrect his draft. The Bills next three picks were devoted to the same positions its first two were (defensive back and tackle), indicating that the team either forgot who it took in the first two rounds, or that my janitor story is indeed true. While the selections of Youboty, Simpson, and Williams are all good value picks, why in the world would the team make those selections after reaching hard for Whitner and McCargo? Buffalo also appears to be completely oblivious to the fact that its offense is a disaster, and that unless quarterback J.P. Losman is provided with some weapons, he'll continue to be the complete bust that most of us thought he was in the first place. If the team is going to select players like Youboty, Simpson, and Williams in the middle rounds, why not select Matt Leinart and Chad Jackson with the first 2 picks, and help both sides of the ball? The point is: Did Buffalo help itself today? Yes, of course. But did the team help itself to anywhere near the extent that it should have? Not even close.
The Buffalo Bills made one of the worst draft picks in NFL history by taking Donte Whitner at #8 overall and that has nothing to do with Whitner’s potential in the NFL. There is little doubt that Whitner would’ve been available 10-15 spots lower in the draft. The Bills could’ve traded the 8th pick to drop down in the first round. There were a number of teams clamoring for a chance to draft Matt Leinart as he slipped further and further down the first round. The Bills made another terrible pick at #26 picking John McCargo who was almost certainly going no higher than the late second round. The Bills don’t get a failing grade, though, because they made some nice picks in the later stages. Ko Simpson and Kyle Williams are high values in the 4th and 5th rounds. Ashton Youboty may have also been a stretch at #70 but at least Buffalo made an effort to improve its secondary. Whitner and McCargo may end up being fine NFL players. Regardless, the Bills goofed big time on their two first round picks.
Grade: D+
Here is another one (we were 31, redskins dead last)
31. Buffalo Bills - D
8. Donte Whitner, S Ohio State
26. John McCargo, DT North Carolina State
70. Ashton Youboty, CB Ohio State
105. Ko Simpson, S South Carolina
134. Kyle Williams, DT LSU
143. Brad Butler, OT Virginia
178. Keith Ellison
Here's my best guess at how Saturday went for the Buffalo Bills: A huge snowstorm (they have those in Buffalo, you know) prevented any front-office member from arriving at the war-room for the first 6 hours of the draft. When pick 8 rolled around, the only person in the room happened to be the team janitor. Well, the janitor isn't a particularly big football fan; but with the clock winding down, he had to make a selection. He chose a name at random, which happened to be that of Donte Whitner (a player projected by most of us to go between picks 16 and 27). When the pick was announced, the janitor gained a newfound sense of confidence, and decided to trade the team's second and third round picks to take another player at random. This time it was John McCargo, who I thought would have been a reach at any point in the second round. McCargo is similar to Ryan Sims, who put up good numbers at North Carolina despite being overshadowed by Julius Peppers. The only difference - Ryan Sims had real talent. Well, sometime between that pick and the Bills' next selection, coach Marv Levy arrived. He scolded the janitor, and tried valiantly to resurrect his draft. The Bills next three picks were devoted to the same positions its first two were (defensive back and tackle), indicating that the team either forgot who it took in the first two rounds, or that my janitor story is indeed true. While the selections of Youboty, Simpson, and Williams are all good value picks, why in the world would the team make those selections after reaching hard for Whitner and McCargo? Buffalo also appears to be completely oblivious to the fact that its offense is a disaster, and that unless quarterback J.P. Losman is provided with some weapons, he'll continue to be the complete bust that most of us thought he was in the first place. If the team is going to select players like Youboty, Simpson, and Williams in the middle rounds, why not select Matt Leinart and Chad Jackson with the first 2 picks, and help both sides of the ball? The point is: Did Buffalo help itself today? Yes, of course. But did the team help itself to anywhere near the extent that it should have? Not even close.
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