Possible but Unlikely Choices: Several QBs are available in Ryan Mallet, Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick. They all have their pros and cons.
QB Ryan Mallet has a superb ball throw, but can be very Bledsoe-like in terms of reaction when he's pressured. He also has questionable leadership skills and some off the field issues. If he were to get picked, Buffalo will be required to work on the OLine for a good portion of the rest of the draft. Mallet is a prototypical pocket passer that needs time or he crumbles to pieces. But he could definitely excel and become a franchise QB with a strong OL.
QB Andy Dalton is athletic, mobile and smart, but needs work on delivery and may need to learn the pro system more.
QB Colin Kaepernick is big and strong but has to adjust to working from under center and on mechanics as well as his taking flight at the 1st sign of pressure.
Initially, I thought the Bills might target a QB in Rd 2, but after hearing Gailey and Nix's post inteview on Dareus, I'm thinking they won't. When asked about drafting a QB next, this was Nix's response: "It’d be in the mix, yea. But again, I think we’ve got several needs. We don’t have as many as everybody thinks but we’ve got several. And the best player to fill one of those needs is who we’ll take." Add to this the response he gave when asked about the 2nd rd pick: "The 34th pick to me is like a first-round pick. You’re talking one or two guys, so we’re excited about being with that 34th pick. We think we can get another starter."
If he holds true to what he said, then Nix will want to get a starter from our high 2nd rd pick that is almost a 1st rd pick. That would mean not taking 2nd tier QBs which the above 3 represent. As such, I list who I think are the top 3 choices below.
Top 3:
DE/OLB Brooks Reed is an intriguing player with a great skillset, but they paid Kelsay $20 million for 4 yrs (most of it backloaded though) - are they really going to draft someone who's going to then take time away from Kelsay? Reed is versatile and could play both in a 4-3/3-4 hybrid scheme.
TE Kyle Rudolph would be great, but for some reason, Gailey doesn't seem to be too into TEs...which is too bad b'cse he could be a potential weapon for Fitz. He would present match up problems as he's too fast for LBs to keep up with him and at over 6'6" with long hands, too tall for CBs and S to contest his catches. He's also a very decent blocker which is a rarity with some TEs today. I think this is our best pick, but I'm not feeling they are going to go this way.
DE Da'Quan Bowers...if we draft this guy, we automatically become the Giants of the AFC East with a freaking superb DLine! The more I think about this, the more I can see them doing this. Why? If you look at what Dwan Edwards has done for us, and even previously, it's really nothing home to talk about. He is an average player. He is stout in stopping the run, but really doesn't do much in terms of creating pressure - which Bowers would most assuredly do. The only problem is how long Bowers might last in the NFL. Having bone on bone grinding on his knee is likely to take its toll sooner rather than later and if the Bills are thinking more long term, he may not fit into the picture. The other problem is that last year Edwards was given a 4 yr $18 million contract. But getting a top pressurer/sack artist in rd 2 who will likely have a chip on his shoulder would probably set fire to the Bills pass rushing right from the start!!!
Summary: Outside of getting a QB (which is a completely different animal), these 3 are the best candidates for us right now. Both Reed & Bowers are good choices for us, but represent a problem with money. Do the Bills care more about being dominant than money? This becomes the question now...
QB Ryan Mallet has a superb ball throw, but can be very Bledsoe-like in terms of reaction when he's pressured. He also has questionable leadership skills and some off the field issues. If he were to get picked, Buffalo will be required to work on the OLine for a good portion of the rest of the draft. Mallet is a prototypical pocket passer that needs time or he crumbles to pieces. But he could definitely excel and become a franchise QB with a strong OL.
QB Andy Dalton is athletic, mobile and smart, but needs work on delivery and may need to learn the pro system more.
QB Colin Kaepernick is big and strong but has to adjust to working from under center and on mechanics as well as his taking flight at the 1st sign of pressure.
Initially, I thought the Bills might target a QB in Rd 2, but after hearing Gailey and Nix's post inteview on Dareus, I'm thinking they won't. When asked about drafting a QB next, this was Nix's response: "It’d be in the mix, yea. But again, I think we’ve got several needs. We don’t have as many as everybody thinks but we’ve got several. And the best player to fill one of those needs is who we’ll take." Add to this the response he gave when asked about the 2nd rd pick: "The 34th pick to me is like a first-round pick. You’re talking one or two guys, so we’re excited about being with that 34th pick. We think we can get another starter."
If he holds true to what he said, then Nix will want to get a starter from our high 2nd rd pick that is almost a 1st rd pick. That would mean not taking 2nd tier QBs which the above 3 represent. As such, I list who I think are the top 3 choices below.
Top 3:
DE/OLB Brooks Reed is an intriguing player with a great skillset, but they paid Kelsay $20 million for 4 yrs (most of it backloaded though) - are they really going to draft someone who's going to then take time away from Kelsay? Reed is versatile and could play both in a 4-3/3-4 hybrid scheme.
TE Kyle Rudolph would be great, but for some reason, Gailey doesn't seem to be too into TEs...which is too bad b'cse he could be a potential weapon for Fitz. He would present match up problems as he's too fast for LBs to keep up with him and at over 6'6" with long hands, too tall for CBs and S to contest his catches. He's also a very decent blocker which is a rarity with some TEs today. I think this is our best pick, but I'm not feeling they are going to go this way.
DE Da'Quan Bowers...if we draft this guy, we automatically become the Giants of the AFC East with a freaking superb DLine! The more I think about this, the more I can see them doing this. Why? If you look at what Dwan Edwards has done for us, and even previously, it's really nothing home to talk about. He is an average player. He is stout in stopping the run, but really doesn't do much in terms of creating pressure - which Bowers would most assuredly do. The only problem is how long Bowers might last in the NFL. Having bone on bone grinding on his knee is likely to take its toll sooner rather than later and if the Bills are thinking more long term, he may not fit into the picture. The other problem is that last year Edwards was given a 4 yr $18 million contract. But getting a top pressurer/sack artist in rd 2 who will likely have a chip on his shoulder would probably set fire to the Bills pass rushing right from the start!!!
Summary: Outside of getting a QB (which is a completely different animal), these 3 are the best candidates for us right now. Both Reed & Bowers are good choices for us, but represent a problem with money. Do the Bills care more about being dominant than money? This becomes the question now...
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