One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

[Albany,n.y.]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2717015-five-nfl-teams-already-in-contention-for-2018-no-1-overall-draft-pick?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

Buffalo Bills

Former head coach Rex Ryan and previous general manager Doug Whaley never saw eye to eye during their time together with the Bills. Both are gone, and it's up to new head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane to clean up the mess.

Three of the team's top four wide receivers from last season have signed with other organizations. The New England Patriots snatched LeSean McCoy's backup, Mike Gillislee, away by working the restricted free-agent market. The defense's leading tackler, Zach Brown, wasn't retained. The team's top cornerback, Stephon Gilmore, also left to join the Patriots.

Buffalo still isn't fully committed to quarterback Tyrod Taylor, either. While the two sides agreed to a restructure his deal this offseason, Taylor is essentially operating under a one-year contract. The team can avoid $9.44 million of his $18.08 million cap hit next season if he's released, per Spotrac.

With McDermott running the draft, the team started to build toward the future by trading the 10th overall pick in exchange for first-round selections this and next year. Clearing cap space, adding assets and stripping the roster of unwanted veterans, Buffalo is checking off the boxes toward tanking and trying to build long term.

As such, the Bills could be battling the AFC East rival Jets for the top pick by December.

[Guest]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

This is good news.

[Novacane]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

I doubt it. We'll be just average enough again to miss a top QB.

[Novacane]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...aign=editorial

Buffalo Bills

Former head coach Rex Ryan and previous general manager Doug Whaley never saw eye to eye during their time together with the Bills. Both are gone, and it's up to new head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane to clean up the mess.

Three of the team's top four wide receivers from last season have signed with other organizations. The New England Patriots snatched LeSean McCoy's backup, Mike Gillislee, away by working the restricted free-agent market. The defense's leading tackler, Zach Brown, wasn't retained. The team's top cornerback, Stephon Gilmore, also left to join the Patriots.

Buffalo still isn't fully committed to quarterback Tyrod Taylor, either. While the two sides agreed to a restructure his deal this offseason, Taylor is essentially operating under a one-year contract. The team can avoid $9.44 million of his $18.08 million cap hit next season if he's released, per Spotrac.

With McDermott running the draft, the team started to build toward the future by trading the 10th overall pick in exchange for first-round selections this and next year. Clearing cap space, adding assets and stripping the roster of unwanted veterans, Buffalo is checking off the boxes toward tanking and trying to build long term.

As such, the Bills could be battling the AFC East rival Jets for the top pick by December.

I think not having a baffoon and his loser brother coaching the team will offset those player loses. 7-9 again.

[OpIv37]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

It's a bit harsh but 1-2 injuries and it could happen. We are much closer to the #1 pick than we are to winning the SB.

[TigerJ]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

Everything the writer says is true, but not everything he says may have the impact he suggests it might. I don't think any Bills fan really wanted to lose Robert Woods, one of three the author points out that the Bills lost, but he was the only meaningful loss, and even Woods shouldn't be that hard to replace. I wanted to keep Zack Brown and Mike Gillislee, but the move to a 4-3 defense made Brown superfluous, and Gillislee was not a difference maker. Gilmore's talents would be wasted in McDermott's defense. No one would argue that the Bills didn't suffer losses this offseason, but there are lots of factors that go into the success or lack of success a team might have, and we've also seen some positive factors. The Bills drafted 3 players who look like they could be ready to step into the lineup day one (White, Jones and Dawkins). Two of them are at positions where the article points out only Buffalo losses. Buffalo is getting a second round draft pick from a year ago back after he lost the whole season. That is at another spot where the author points out a loss. Ragland may not have the elite 40 speed that Zach Brown could boast, but the guy was a heck of a linebacker at Alabama. As Novacane points out, the coaching staff that the Bills have hired seems to ooze competence and focus in comparison to the Bobsey twins.

The article looks to me like a selective lifting out of a few facts from one side of the offseason balance rather than a thorough analysis of what has actually happened.

[The Toe Show]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

For the Bills, there are only two scenarios:

1) A typical mediocre season (7-9ish) or 2) being the surprise up-start (10-6ish).

There's too much talent for it to be a tank. Only the uninformed think otherwise.

The Jets are a lock for the #1 pick. They are going suh-huck.

[Joe Fo Sho]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

For the Bills, there are only two scenarios:

1) A typical mediocre season (7-9ish) or 2) being the surprise up-start (10-6ish).

I think there's maybe a 3rd scenario hiding in there somewhere.

[The Toe Show]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

I think there's maybe a 3rd scenario hiding in there somewhere.

I feel like the team didn't get worse talent-wise. I think Zay and Tre will be upgrades over Gilmore and Woods.

But Rex and Rob were such terrible gameday coaches - I'm pretty sure they lost 3 games last year with mis-calls and mismanagement. Average coaching should keep the team afloat to 8-8

[Joe Fo Sho]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

I feel like the team didn't get worse talent-wise. I think Zay and Tre will be upgrades over Gilmore and Woods.

But Rex and Rob were such terrible gameday coaches - I'm pretty sure they lost 3 games last year with mis-calls and mismanagement. Average coaching should keep the team afloat to 8-8

You could be right. Personally, I'd put my money on 6 wins or less.

We may not have got worse talent-wise, but this talent won 7 games last year. As much as it helps getting rid of Rex and Rob, there could be growing pains with a new scheme on offense and defense, as well as a 1st time head coach. Not to mention our schedule got more difficult, at least at this point in the season. It would surprise me if we won as many games as we did last year. Here's hoping, though.

[The Toe Show]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

You could be right. Personally, I'd put my money on 6 wins or less.

We may not have got worse talent-wise, but this talent won 7 games last year. As much as it helps getting rid of Rex and Rob, there could be growing pains with a new scheme on offense and defense, as well as a 1st time head coach. Not to mention our schedule got more difficult, at least at this point in the season. It would surprise me if we won as many games as we did last year. Here's hoping, though.

That's fair, the new scheme is a wild card I'm not giving enough weight.
I'd much prefer rock-bottom to anything in the grey, 7-9ish would be a total mistrial nightmare.

[Joe Fo Sho]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

That's fair, the new scheme is a wild card I'm not giving enough weight.
I'd much prefer rock-bottom to anything in the grey, 7-9ish would be a total mistrial nightmare.

7-9 would be the worst case scenario for this team, just like it was last year.

[psubills62]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

Have been saying I'm not surprised if they tank this year. Could be several QB's worthy of high draft picks this coming year.

Though will say I don't feel like we are Jets level bad...but we certainly aren't good.

[OpIv37]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

For the Bills, there are only two scenarios:

1) A typical mediocre season (7-9ish) or 2) being the surprise up-start (10-6ish).

There's too much talent for it to be a tank. Only the uninformed think otherwise.

The Jets are a lock for the #1 pick. They are going suh-huck.

You're right that this isn't a tank. You're wrong about the talent.

On O, we have a mediocre QB whose only proven NFL target can't stay healthy. The O will only be successful if Tyrod can be good enough to keep them from stacking the box against McCoy. And McCoy needs to stay healthy too.

On D, the DL should be solid (assuming Kyle stays healthy and Dareus stays away from league-mandated vacations). The back 7 is a mess.

[Goobylal]

Re: One writer thinks we could battle Jets for #1 pick

Stupid article. The bills will be no worse than last year and have a good shot at being better.