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Column I wrote today on the heels of Sal's show, Brian as a guest and some information of my own.. BTW, looks like Watt is some solid stuff at OBD today.
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Tuesday night, Sal Capaccio hosted his weekly edition of Buffalo Bills Now! on his JustinTV internet station. For those who may not happen to know Sal, he was the guy two years ago to first break the news that the Bills were in pursuit of Terrell Owens. He’s a friend to this site and carries plenty of credibility with us.
Anyway, after not having much going on over his past few shows, Capaccio cited Buffalo Bills’ sources with some noteworthy nuggets of information.
Among them… (and you could, and really should listen to the entire podcast by clicking here)
He hears Marcell Dareus and Blaine Gabbert are sitting atop the Bills draft board, in no particular order. Although they’re not married to either guy quite yet, Sal says if one is available and the Bills don’t trade down, those will be the top two candidates to be packing their bags for Orchard Park.
He thinks the Bills are actively looking, maybe even hoping to move down in the draft to as far down as the 10-12 range. He thinks Cincinnati, drafting as high as four or Minnesota as low as 12 could want to move up to get their guy. Capaccio even mentioned Tampa Bay at 20 as a team looking to move up, badly in need of a top cornerback.
He dropped the name J.J. Watt on listeners and identified him as a guy Buddy Nix really loves. He thinks if the Bills are able to move down the draft board, Watt will be the target for Nix. He also identified tight end Luke Stocker (Tennessee) as a guy the Bills like a lot in the second or third round.
Lastly, he discussed Cam Newton at length, saying his sources tell him Chan Gailey likes him a lot while Nix is “wavering on him” because he’s not sold on him being a franchise quarterback.
Meanwhile, Capaccio had Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings as his guest. Like Capaccio, Galliford holds a lot of trustworthiness, at least in my book. Among other things, Galliford stressed Nix’s short track record in Buffalo of drafting “clean” players and said he’s the heard the complete opposite regarding Newton; saying it’s Gailey not sold on drafting him.
I’m going to jump into the fray with things I’ve heard via sources, mainly about two players who share the first name of Cameron. Take it as you will, but I’m confident in what I’ve learned.
I’ve been following, borderline stalking Newton’s every move, especially when it comes to Buffalo. I’ve had a well placed source when it comes to Newton. Not to toot my own horn, but if you’re a regular to Buffalo Sports Daily, you know we were the first to report Newton was coming to Buffalo to meet one-on-one with Gailey last week, despite ESPN getting credit, largely because of WGR’s irresponsible “report” that credited ESPN with the original story (thanks boys).
Anyway, sources I’ve talked to tell me the polar opposite regarding Newton. It’s Nix that is very, very high on Newton and Gailey that is entirely unsold. Sources tell me that despite the media’s assertion that Gailey is a quarterback guru with which Newton is a perfect fit, it’s the things that Gailey requires most that are not Newton’s strengths.
Gailey wants a guy whose premiums are accuracy and quick decision making. Newton, for all his illustrious talents, is more of a sandlot type of quarterback that makes the majority of his plays through improvising. While I don’t know this much for fact, it seems Gabbert seems a lot more of a Gailey guy than Newton.
Of course, it’s Nix who will ultimately make the decision.
I also think it’s irrelevant. There is a growing buzz Newton will be off the board to Carolina with the top selection.
I do not expect the Bills to draft a quarterback with their first or second pick. In fact, a source I spoke to said the priority at One Bills Drive isn’t to find a successor to Fitzpatrick, but to land a quality backup. It’s pretty much a lock that Brian Brohm, a restricted free agent that wasn’t tendered by the club before the deadline, won’t be back. With only Levi Brown on the roster, the club is going to have to find a competent backup and odds are that will come when free agency eventually starts.
There’s still a few weeks before the draft and things can and often do change, but if the Bills take any quarterback in the first two rounds, I’ll be very surprised.
Regarding the other Cameron (Jordan), the Bills have been and remain very interested. He along with Dareus are perhaps the only linemen in the draft that can be equally effective in a 43 or 34 defense. However, much like Capaccio said with Watt, I think three is too high to select Jordan and would represent poor value. Without question, selecting either at three would result in a field day for critics to bash the organization.
When it comes to trading down, I’m in complete agreement with Capaccio and his sources, and have heard in general the same sentiments. The Bills would love to move down for a team lusting for Gabbert with the third pick. However, what I hear is that Nix would only move down far enough where he could get a guy he still covets, which I think is Jordan while Capaccio is hearing Watt. In my opinion, both have legs and both could be the target.
Either way, I can’t see the Bills moving down past 10 in any trade down scenario. The 12th pick or lower, with Houston drafting 11th, may to be too late to get either defensive end.
There’s no question that Gabbert (or Newton if Carolina doesn’t draft him) is the big wildcard. The source I spoke to said a “very large factor” in this draft like no other preceding it is the labor dispute. With teams being unable to address the quarterback position right now via free agency or trades, there’s a growing worry among quarterback hungry teams that may value Gabbert or Newton more with an uncertain future market.
Cincinnati, Arizona, San Francisco, Tennessee and Washington are all teams drafting in the top ten that are or will be in the market for a quarterback.
Donovan McNabb and Vince Young are veteran quarterbacks sure to be on the move when/if the labor situation is ruled upon, and Carson Palmer and Kevin Kolb may join them. But who’s to say what the respective teams asking prices will be? For that reason alone with so many teams in need, Gabbert and Newton will go earlier than normal years, as may Jake Locker, Christian Ponder and possibly even Ryan Mallet.
If you’ve noticed, I’ve barely mentioned Dareus. That’s because people I talk to are convinced there’s not a single person in the organization that expects him to be available with the third pick. If he were there, I strongly suspect Nix would have his card to the podium faster than C.J. Spiller’s arrived last year.
The last thing I want to talk about is Galliford’s nugget of Nix’s track record of drafting clean players. I don’t have inside information about that, but it sounds completely logical. Of every draft pick last year, not one of them had a blemish on their character record nor did any have significant injury histories either. I do think that’s very important to this organization, especially one trying to erase their losing ways.
For that reason, I think you can scratch Nick Fairley, Da’Quan Bowers and Robert Quinn off the list of potential picks. Fairley reportedly has major effort questions, while Bowers has an iffy knee and Quinn didn’t play a down last year. It may not be fair and the Bills may live to regret it, but I don’t think any will be the pick at the top of the first round.
To me, that narrows the list of Bills candidates down to four players for their first selection; two if they move down and a pair if they keep the third pick.
If they move down, I’m going with what I’ve been told for seven weeks that Jordan is the target. I’ve personally heard nothing about Watt, but Capaccio has so I’d definitely include him as another solid trade down option. There certainly seems to be a growing interest in Watt—- in fact he’s visiting the Bills this afternoon in Orchard Park.
Assuming the Bills keep the pick and Dareus is off the board, I think it ultimately comes down Von Miller and Patrick Peterson. With absolutely no concrete information on the topic, I feel the pick would be Miller. With all due respect to Peterson, who may become a perennial Pro Bowl corner, I simply can’t fathom the Bills addressing the secondary this high with the front seven in the kind of shape it’s presently in. Miller can be a difference maker from the first day he arrives in camp.
The Bills currently have plenty of outside linebackers, but it’s quantity more than quality. Shawne Merriman is a walking injury waiting to happen, Arthur Moats has a lot to learn and Chris Kelsay isn’t the type of guy you avoid drafting a linebacker around. As for Aaron Maybin, please don’t get me started.
The sentiment for Miller seems to be growing. I noticed both Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have him going to Buffalo in their mock drafts this afternoon.
The last thing I want to touch on, with apologies for this turning into a Peter King MMQB rambling-style column, is this draft like no other is impossible to forecast. It’s unprecedented for teams to not be able to address holes via free agency or trades. Right now, teams with holes in specific areas in early January have the same headed towards April 28. I think you’re going to see a lot of draft day movement by teams, and don’t be surprised to see Buffalo among them.
I’m forecasting Miller with the third pick, but strongly feel after years of talking about it, the Bills will finally move down in the first round, acquire more picks thanks to Gabbert, and end up with Jordan flying to Buffalo for an introductory press conference.
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Tuesday night, Sal Capaccio hosted his weekly edition of Buffalo Bills Now! on his JustinTV internet station. For those who may not happen to know Sal, he was the guy two years ago to first break the news that the Bills were in pursuit of Terrell Owens. He’s a friend to this site and carries plenty of credibility with us.
Anyway, after not having much going on over his past few shows, Capaccio cited Buffalo Bills’ sources with some noteworthy nuggets of information.
Among them… (and you could, and really should listen to the entire podcast by clicking here)
He hears Marcell Dareus and Blaine Gabbert are sitting atop the Bills draft board, in no particular order. Although they’re not married to either guy quite yet, Sal says if one is available and the Bills don’t trade down, those will be the top two candidates to be packing their bags for Orchard Park.
He thinks the Bills are actively looking, maybe even hoping to move down in the draft to as far down as the 10-12 range. He thinks Cincinnati, drafting as high as four or Minnesota as low as 12 could want to move up to get their guy. Capaccio even mentioned Tampa Bay at 20 as a team looking to move up, badly in need of a top cornerback.
He dropped the name J.J. Watt on listeners and identified him as a guy Buddy Nix really loves. He thinks if the Bills are able to move down the draft board, Watt will be the target for Nix. He also identified tight end Luke Stocker (Tennessee) as a guy the Bills like a lot in the second or third round.
Lastly, he discussed Cam Newton at length, saying his sources tell him Chan Gailey likes him a lot while Nix is “wavering on him” because he’s not sold on him being a franchise quarterback.
I’ve been following, borderline stalking Newton’s every move, especially when it comes to Buffalo. I’ve had a well placed source when it comes to Newton. Not to toot my own horn, but if you’re a regular to Buffalo Sports Daily, you know we were the first to report Newton was coming to Buffalo to meet one-on-one with Gailey last week, despite ESPN getting credit, largely because of WGR’s irresponsible “report” that credited ESPN with the original story (thanks boys).
Anyway, sources I’ve talked to tell me the polar opposite regarding Newton. It’s Nix that is very, very high on Newton and Gailey that is entirely unsold. Sources tell me that despite the media’s assertion that Gailey is a quarterback guru with which Newton is a perfect fit, it’s the things that Gailey requires most that are not Newton’s strengths.
Gailey wants a guy whose premiums are accuracy and quick decision making. Newton, for all his illustrious talents, is more of a sandlot type of quarterback that makes the majority of his plays through improvising. While I don’t know this much for fact, it seems Gabbert seems a lot more of a Gailey guy than Newton.
Of course, it’s Nix who will ultimately make the decision.
I also think it’s irrelevant. There is a growing buzz Newton will be off the board to Carolina with the top selection.
I do not expect the Bills to draft a quarterback with their first or second pick. In fact, a source I spoke to said the priority at One Bills Drive isn’t to find a successor to Fitzpatrick, but to land a quality backup. It’s pretty much a lock that Brian Brohm, a restricted free agent that wasn’t tendered by the club before the deadline, won’t be back. With only Levi Brown on the roster, the club is going to have to find a competent backup and odds are that will come when free agency eventually starts.
There’s still a few weeks before the draft and things can and often do change, but if the Bills take any quarterback in the first two rounds, I’ll be very surprised.
Regarding the other Cameron (Jordan), the Bills have been and remain very interested. He along with Dareus are perhaps the only linemen in the draft that can be equally effective in a 43 or 34 defense. However, much like Capaccio said with Watt, I think three is too high to select Jordan and would represent poor value. Without question, selecting either at three would result in a field day for critics to bash the organization.
When it comes to trading down, I’m in complete agreement with Capaccio and his sources, and have heard in general the same sentiments. The Bills would love to move down for a team lusting for Gabbert with the third pick. However, what I hear is that Nix would only move down far enough where he could get a guy he still covets, which I think is Jordan while Capaccio is hearing Watt. In my opinion, both have legs and both could be the target.
Either way, I can’t see the Bills moving down past 10 in any trade down scenario. The 12th pick or lower, with Houston drafting 11th, may to be too late to get either defensive end.
There’s no question that Gabbert (or Newton if Carolina doesn’t draft him) is the big wildcard. The source I spoke to said a “very large factor” in this draft like no other preceding it is the labor dispute. With teams being unable to address the quarterback position right now via free agency or trades, there’s a growing worry among quarterback hungry teams that may value Gabbert or Newton more with an uncertain future market.
Cincinnati, Arizona, San Francisco, Tennessee and Washington are all teams drafting in the top ten that are or will be in the market for a quarterback.
Donovan McNabb and Vince Young are veteran quarterbacks sure to be on the move when/if the labor situation is ruled upon, and Carson Palmer and Kevin Kolb may join them. But who’s to say what the respective teams asking prices will be? For that reason alone with so many teams in need, Gabbert and Newton will go earlier than normal years, as may Jake Locker, Christian Ponder and possibly even Ryan Mallet.
The last thing I want to talk about is Galliford’s nugget of Nix’s track record of drafting clean players. I don’t have inside information about that, but it sounds completely logical. Of every draft pick last year, not one of them had a blemish on their character record nor did any have significant injury histories either. I do think that’s very important to this organization, especially one trying to erase their losing ways.
For that reason, I think you can scratch Nick Fairley, Da’Quan Bowers and Robert Quinn off the list of potential picks. Fairley reportedly has major effort questions, while Bowers has an iffy knee and Quinn didn’t play a down last year. It may not be fair and the Bills may live to regret it, but I don’t think any will be the pick at the top of the first round.
To me, that narrows the list of Bills candidates down to four players for their first selection; two if they move down and a pair if they keep the third pick.
If they move down, I’m going with what I’ve been told for seven weeks that Jordan is the target. I’ve personally heard nothing about Watt, but Capaccio has so I’d definitely include him as another solid trade down option. There certainly seems to be a growing interest in Watt—- in fact he’s visiting the Bills this afternoon in Orchard Park.
Assuming the Bills keep the pick and Dareus is off the board, I think it ultimately comes down Von Miller and Patrick Peterson. With absolutely no concrete information on the topic, I feel the pick would be Miller. With all due respect to Peterson, who may become a perennial Pro Bowl corner, I simply can’t fathom the Bills addressing the secondary this high with the front seven in the kind of shape it’s presently in. Miller can be a difference maker from the first day he arrives in camp.
The Bills currently have plenty of outside linebackers, but it’s quantity more than quality. Shawne Merriman is a walking injury waiting to happen, Arthur Moats has a lot to learn and Chris Kelsay isn’t the type of guy you avoid drafting a linebacker around. As for Aaron Maybin, please don’t get me started.
The sentiment for Miller seems to be growing. I noticed both Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have him going to Buffalo in their mock drafts this afternoon.
I’m forecasting Miller with the third pick, but strongly feel after years of talking about it, the Bills will finally move down in the first round, acquire more picks thanks to Gabbert, and end up with Jordan flying to Buffalo for an introductory press conference.
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