Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

[X-Era]

According to this anyway:

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/story/2008/2/18/181433/930

Biggest off-season need for the Buffalo Bills? Apparently, the restructured front office at One Bills Drive believes it's wide receiver. As user SP lets us know in this diary, Solomon Wilcotts of Sirius radio is reporting this evening that the Bills' front office are "enamored" with free agent wideout Ernest Wilford, and that he will be their top target when free agency begins at midnight on February 29.

[VeggieMan14]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

Whatever i will believe it when i see it im tired of saying who i think we should get but know we will never get

[hydro]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

That will make some people on this board happy.

[B-DON]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

i would love this move. Makes the need to draft a wr rd one not as important

[Carlton Bailey]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

Average player who happens to be big. Ehh.

His best receiving game last year was 72 yards.

[Midwesternbillsfan]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

I'm ambivalent about it but I'll break it down this way:

Pros:

1. Wilford is 6'4", 223 pounds, so suffice it to say, he offers Buffalo what it covets and what it's lacked: height and a genuine redzone threat to improve our abysmal redzone percentage.

2. Wilford is a possession receiver not known for his speed (he ran a 4.79 forty at the Combine in February of 2004, in fact). Since he is a possession receiver who uses his height, fluid body control, and hands to make plays, his age- 29- likely won't affect his ability; he isn't dependent upon his speed, which age most profoundly affects.

3. Wilford had only 45 receptions last year but 35 of those catches went for 1st downs. Obviously, any receiver should average at least 10 yards per reception (even that's particularly low) and 10 yards is self-evidently the equivalent of the amount needed for a 1st (down). Still, that percentage is comparatively decent for Wilford and he will aid on us not only in the red-zone but on 3rd down, too, where we likewise struggled.

Cons:

1. Wilford's ceiling is pretty low; he's certainly no 1,000 yard threat. And even though he was asked to produce on a Jacksonville team without any strong complimentary receivers (Reggie Williams and Matt Jones have been moderate busts), it's hard to imagine Wilford being more than a 650-800 yard receiver. Hopefully a half-dozen TD's a season can mitigate his mere 40-50 yards per game.

2. Again, it's not the most consequential fact about him, but Wilford is already 29 years old, despite going into just his 5th season in '08; Wilford was a 25-year old rookie in '04. It's not enough to pass on him but it certainly isn't what you'd prefer.

3. Wilford is definitely not even an occasional deep threat; the longest reception of his career came in his rookie year and only went for 46 yards. His longest reception the last three years are as follows: 39, 41, and 35 yards. Of course, we already have deep threats, but what I'm saying is with Wilford... what you see is what you get and nothing more. He's solid but he's certainly not spectacular.

[YardRat]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

Justin Gage.

[gr8slayer]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

I'll believe it when I see it.

[Jaybird]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

we can throw him the ball in the red zone, and like u said great on third downs. The 2 biggest needs that we need out of a WR

[SpillerThrills]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

But if you have 2 reciever for the shorter passes and the over the middle stuff like Wilford and Reed, then having Evans and Parrish to go deep is a big plus. add in Lynch out of the backfield and I'd like to see what Trent can do with a spread formation!

[Philagape]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

I'd still want a first-day guy in the draft

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

I just want a big guy who can catch! Is that too much to ask?

[gr8slayer]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

I just want a big guy who can catch! Is that too much to ask?

Rhetorical question?

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

Rhetorical question?

Of course.

[gr8slayer]

Re: Ernest Wilford to be our big free agent!

Of course.

I thought there might be chance that you were being serious.