There are so many people arguing about what position to take in round 1... Few are able to wrap their arms around the progression of the offseason.
IMO, our top 4 priorities are O-line, D-line, LB, CB...
1) What priority gets the round 1 pick?
2) Will that pick exceed the immediate impact of an upper end free agent?
3) Will that pick even surpass who we currently have as a starter?
Now... go through the priority progression...
What priority gets round 2... round 3... round 4?
Do you see where I'm going with this?
Generally draft picks (most time even 1st rounders) grow into starters. The Bills are behind the game as far as talent level goes... So they can't just go the draft route and wait for them to develop. They have to bring in some upper end free agents to address their most pressing needs, because that's where they are gonna get the greatest immediate impact.
Therefore, chooches like myself are calling for our top 4 priorities to be addressed via free agency. (BTW... IMO #2 WR is priority #5 because we have a great #1 and a stable full of good #3's... But no true #2).
I think we address (to the best of our ability) priorities 1 through 4 in free agency. Then we look to fill priorities #5 WR and #6 TE and #7 depth/future starters.
Obviously a plan needs to be dynamic because sometimes you just can't run with the dogs when it comes time to bid for certain players... And you can't force players to sign.
Here's how I see it...
Free agency begins before the draft (beginning of March vs end of April). I'm looking to go after players on the market that best address my priorities.
2 months later comes the draft...
1) What priorities did I eliminate to date via free agency?
2) How do the draft rankings line up with where we select?
3) Am I gonna reach for need or am I gonna draft best player available?
4) Can I trade up... down?
IMO, our top 4 priorities are O-line, D-line, LB, CB...
1) What priority gets the round 1 pick?
2) Will that pick exceed the immediate impact of an upper end free agent?
3) Will that pick even surpass who we currently have as a starter?
Now... go through the priority progression...
What priority gets round 2... round 3... round 4?
Do you see where I'm going with this?
Generally draft picks (most time even 1st rounders) grow into starters. The Bills are behind the game as far as talent level goes... So they can't just go the draft route and wait for them to develop. They have to bring in some upper end free agents to address their most pressing needs, because that's where they are gonna get the greatest immediate impact.
Therefore, chooches like myself are calling for our top 4 priorities to be addressed via free agency. (BTW... IMO #2 WR is priority #5 because we have a great #1 and a stable full of good #3's... But no true #2).
I think we address (to the best of our ability) priorities 1 through 4 in free agency. Then we look to fill priorities #5 WR and #6 TE and #7 depth/future starters.
Obviously a plan needs to be dynamic because sometimes you just can't run with the dogs when it comes time to bid for certain players... And you can't force players to sign.
Here's how I see it...
Free agency begins before the draft (beginning of March vs end of April). I'm looking to go after players on the market that best address my priorities.
2 months later comes the draft...
1) What priorities did I eliminate to date via free agency?
2) How do the draft rankings line up with where we select?
3) Am I gonna reach for need or am I gonna draft best player available?
4) Can I trade up... down?
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