Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

[X-Era]

In that draft we had Marshawn Lynch and Freddy Jackson already in the backfield but took CJ Spiller at 9.

Many here hated that pick.

And look where we are now... With one of the most dynamic backs in the whole league.

Let's give credit where it's due. Gailey never wavered in his stance that Spiller was something special. It was a bold move and if we pull our heads out of our asses and use him more we know we will have a top 5 RB in this league.

Taking the best player available can often work out well in the long run even if it isn't a huge need. I'd like guys like Te'o, maybe Geno Smith and both would fill bigger needs. But, if a guy is worthy of the pick he should be considered regardless of position.

[Night Train]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

I wanted Jason Pierre-Paul... but thought the Spiller pick did make sense at the time. The Bills missed out on the 2 LT's they wanted and had to go to plan C. They were trying to unload Lynch, who was self destructing and needed a change of scenery.

What's funny is that Pierre-Paul had many medai types labeling him as a probable bust after the Giants selected him. If you google and look at the draft, now, he's by far the best selection in that spot of the first round.

Spiller is in year 3 and is still being ignored far too often. He should be seeing at least another 5-6 swing passes and 5 carries a game...but our coaches always seem to know better, despite the loss column showing a larger number than wins every season. Hmmm...

[jamze132]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

Our coaches suck.

[Skooby]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

We could draft King Kong & we'd find a way to make sure he was used incorrectly or not enough.

[DraftBoy]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

Said it the moment he was drafted he's not just a RB he's a playmaker and he's shown that this season. It was a good pick then and remains a good pick to this day.

[T-Long]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

I loved the pick too....Nix has always said he will take the best player on the board, regardless of need. That isn't a time to reach for a player when you are picking that high.

[OpIv37]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

Here's the problem with drafting BPA rather than drafting for need: the team has needs that need to be addressed somehow.

This off-season, DE was a huge need, but the FO went out and got Mario Williams and Anderson to fill that need, so we didn't have to worry about it.

However, in the past, the team did next to nothing in FA, getting only second and third tier guys after other teams spent the big money on the best players. So, if we don't plug holes in FA and go BPA in the draft, then holes go unaddressed.

If we stay active in FA, then I'm ok going BPA. But if we return to the status quo with FA's, then going BPA in the draft is going to leave us with some severe roster deficiencies. Case and point: the last 10 years except 2012 and 2007.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

Let's give credit where it's due. Gailey never wavered in his stance that Spiller was something special. It was a bold move and if we pull our heads out of our asses and use him more we know we will have a top 5 RB in this league.

Are these sentences literally back to back? Of course Gailey waivered, he's the one with his head up his ass not giving Spiller the football. Gailey's the one that insisted on a scatback to open up a rebuild and then built a pass-first offense around Ryan Fitzpatrick. The pick was idiotic because you need to build your team around your talent and he hasn't done so. Perhaps the next coach will salvage it.

[better days]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

Here's the problem with drafting BPA rather than drafting for need: the team has needs that need to be addressed somehow.

This off-season, DE was a huge need, but the FO went out and got Mario Williams and Anderson to fill that need, so we didn't have to worry about it.

However, in the past, the team did next to nothing in FA, getting only second and third tier guys after other teams spent the big money on the best players. So, if we don't plug holes in FA and go BPA in the draft, then holes go unaddressed.

If we stay active in FA, then I'm ok going BPA. But if we return to the status quo with FA's, then going BPA in the draft is going to leave us with some severe roster deficiencies. Case and point: the last 10 years except 2012 and 2007.

Well, another hole was TE. Chandler is no Gronk, but he fills that hole. I have said & will continue to say Nix is a good GM & is doing his best to rebuild this team.

[stuckincincy]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

In that draft we had Marshawn Lynch and Freddy Jackson already in the backfield but took CJ Spiller at 9.

Many here hated that pick.

And look where we are now... With one of the most dynamic backs in the whole league.

Let's give credit where it's due. Gailey never wavered in his stance that Spiller was something special. It was a bold move and if we pull our heads out of our asses and use him more we know we will have a top 5 RB in this league.

Taking the best player available can often work out well in the long run even if it isn't a huge need. I'd like guys like Te'o, maybe Geno Smith and both would fill bigger needs. But, if a guy is worthy of the pick he should be considered regardless of position.

Their cumulative record so far, after taking that BPA in 2010, is 15 and 30. Dynamic.

[OpIv37]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

Well, another hole was TE. Chandler is no Gronk, but he fills that hole. I have said & will continue to say Nix is a good GM & is doing his best to rebuild this team.

Nix's drafts have been shaky so far. And for every Chandler, there are 10 guys like Hangartner, Andra Davis, Matt Bowen.... I'm trying to think of more because there are dozens, but they are so forgettable that it's hard to come up with names.

And before Mario and Anderson, his FA hauls were atrocious. Hell, Mario didn't even play well until the last 3 or 4 games and Anderson's been hurt all year, so even they didn't really contribute.

Nix has his head up his ass.

[DraftBoy]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

Here's the problem with drafting BPA rather than drafting for need: the team has needs that need to be addressed somehow.

This off-season, DE was a huge need, but the FO went out and got Mario Williams and Anderson to fill that need, so we didn't have to worry about it.

However, in the past, the team did next to nothing in FA, getting only second and third tier guys after other teams spent the big money on the best players. So, if we don't plug holes in FA and go BPA in the draft, then holes go unaddressed.

If we stay active in FA, then I'm ok going BPA. But if we return to the status quo with FA's, then going BPA in the draft is going to leave us with some severe roster deficiencies. Case and point: the last 10 years except 2012 and 2007.

That's why you blend the two theories. I don't think you draft straight BPA or straight need. It could be argued Spiller filled a need for the Bills who needed an explosive player who was a threat to score on every touch. To this day he's still the only player on our team who can do that.

[justasportsfan]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

Lynch's off field issues was making the position a position of need. He was suspended for 4 games the year we drafted Spiller and another stupid move would make him suspended for a whole season.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

Lynch's off field issues was making the position a position of need. He was suspended for 4 games the year we drafted Spiller and another stupid move would make him suspended for a whole season.

We had a 29 year old Jackson then, coming off his 1000 yard season. Call Spiller BPA if you want, but there is no way you can call halfback a "need" in 2010. Indeed, in the modern NFL halfback is never enough of a "need" to justify a top 10 pick.

[OpIv37]

Re: Nix took best player available with our 1st in the 2010 draft

That's why you blend the two theories. I don't think you draft straight BPA or straight need. It could be argued Spiller filled a need for the Bills who needed an explosive player who was a threat to score on every touch. To this day he's still the only player on our team who can do that.

Agreed.

If you're drafting at 10 and the best player left at your position of biggest need is projected to go 14-15, and the guys projected to go 10-14 all play positions that are pretty solid, I'm ok with a little bit of a reach in that position. But if you're drafting 10 and taking a guy predicted to go 20-25 to fill a need, or if you're drafting #2 and the best player at your position of biggest need is projected to go 9-10, well, that's just stupid. Trade or go BPA.