Collingsworth's Top 3 Outside the Box Draft Predictions

[Thurmal]

http://www.kffl.com/fantasy-sports-blog/nfl-draft-chris-collinsworth/2011/04/14

Pretty interesting article. The more I read about Miller, the more I warm up to the Bills taking him. He sounds like a solid worker and a good dude. There was a good article on him in this week's SI, if you're interested.

Personally, I would love Buffalo to draft Dareus, Miller, or Quinn (that order based on availability) with the first pick, then either trade up into the 1st round again or stay at their current spot in the 2nd and take the best available tackle.

[TigerJ]

I wouldn't mind those guys, and that would probably be the order of my preference. I also wouldn't mind a trade down.

[tampabay25690]

I would HATE to see Von Miller in New England.........

[Mike]

I like Mallet as well. I would not mind going 1)Miller, 2)Mallet

[BertSquirtgum]

dareus or peterson for me. if the bills pick von miller, i'll feel like, meh. don't really care anymore since there won't be a season.

[SquishDaFish]

I have same feelings and Hurkey there will be a season.

[Extremebillsfan247]

I would HATE to see Von Miller in New England.........
Your not alone there. I don't think some on this board realize how good Miller really is. If he did go to New England, it wouldn't take that same group long to find that out. JMO

[Buddo]

Von Miller to the Patsies is not a good thought. Unfortunately, Collingsworths reasoning makes a fair bit of sense. ;(

[TigerJ]

Belichick would have to give up all the rest of their first and second round picks to move up that far: #s 17, 28, 33, and 60 for #2. That's a pretty pricey trade.

[stuckincincy]

Belichick would have to give up all the rest of their first and second round picks to move up that far: #s 17, 28, 33, and 60 for #2. That's a pretty pricey trade.

I came across this a few days ago:

NFL's rookie pitch: divert $300M from first-rounders
CBSSports.com wire reports
April 13, 2011

:NEW YORK -- The NFL wants to cut almost 60 percent of guaranteed pay for first-round draft picks, lock them in for five years and divert the savings to veterans' salaries and benefits.

More than $525 million went to first-rounders in guaranteed payments in 2010. The league wants to decrease that figure by $300 million, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press.

The league's offer would free a total of more than $1.2 billion over four years through 2015 -- $37.5 million per team overall -- and slow the growth rate of guaranteed payments to first-rounders, which the documents show increased by 233 percent from 2000-10."...

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/14940495/nfls-rookie-pitch-divert-300m-from-firstrounders


Assuming a new agreement isn't signed between the owners and the union (if one thinks it still exists, as the NFL claims, and the players who say it does not), that could make trading up more palatable. Dunno...

[Ickybaluky]

Miller is exactly what the Pats need on defense.

But it will never happen. You just don't see teams move that far up that often. I think if Miller somehow fell down around 8-10 they could move up, but he isn't falling that far, IMO.

After Miller, the next player like that available is Justin Houston. I know there are some DE-conversions, but the only other 3-4 pass-rusing OLB is Houston. I like Houston, but he is a much riskier pick with a greater bust factor than Miller. Miller is pretty much as sure as it gets in the draft, he is a high-floor player.

[ct bills fan]

If the Bills don't take Gabbert (God hope they pass on him) I think Miller makes sense instead of a d-lineman based on:

(1) We drafted two D-linemen in rd 2 and 3 last year and expect them to make progress
(2) There should be a high quality d-lineman available with the 33rd pick while there won't be a Miller type available there.

[The Jokeman]

If the Bills don't take Gabbert (God hope they pass on him) I think Miller makes sense instead of a d-lineman based on:

(1) We drafted two D-linemen in rd 2 and 3 last year and expect them to make progress
(2) There should be a high quality d-lineman available with the 33rd pick while there won't be a Miller type available there.
The issue I, and others, have with Miller is his size. He played in college at 237, yes he's bulked up in the offseason but the question will he be able to play at that weight and not lose anything on the field. Also there's question if he can be anything more than a pass rush specialist in the NFL by some. I know we need pass rush but not sure of Miller being able to do so at the NFL level so I so help the entire D and take a Dareus if he's available.

[stuckincincy]

The issue I, and others, have with Miller is his size. He played in college at 237, yes he's bulked up in the offseason but the question will he be able to play at that weight and not lose anything on the field. Also there's question if he can be anything more than a pass rush specialist in the NFL by some. I know we need pass rush but not sure of Miller being able to do so at the NFL level so I so help the entire D and take a Dareus if he's available.


Yep - I'd take a shot for him before Miller.

We can debate back and forth about the merits of 3-4 and 4-3. But whoever is out there on the edge, be it an OLB or DE, better be capable of containment, stringing out the LOS to slow down a rb when he runs wide, give a receiver a disconcerting whack if the opportunity presents, and can make a decent cut inside if the rb jukes back there. You might not bring him down, but set the table for a team mate.

I get uncomfortable when a DL/LB player is described as an edge rusher, because if you are part of a front three or four, you are going to be trying to stop a back more than you are going to be able to whack a qb in the backfield.

2 cents.