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I have the following observations, and think that these elements are driving OBD's draft plan:
1. We are drafting for need, not purely BPA. It's obvious OBD is trying to fill our weakest positions (DT, S, LT?), maybe to win sooner. We are leaving guys with great talent at other positions on the board to fill our needs.
2. Character is playing a HUGE role in our selections (and other teams' as well. justice and Jimmy Williams free-fell, and Wroten is still on the board). I'm okay with that. I'm getting really tired of guys like Nate and Willis. I want guys without egos, who want to work hard for the TEAM, and love the game. I think that's going to be the common thread in this draft, as Marv alluded it would be. If we sacrifice a little on the talent side but make it up in attitude, (i.e. McCargo instead of Wroten), fine by me.
3. The Bills have a short list of guys they want at the need positions, and are doing what they need to do to make sure those few don't get away.
a. DT was a huge priority for OBD, but at #8, the Bills didn't see a guy they liked. Perhaps Ngata didnt fit the system, and perhaps Bunkley's character issues scared them off. For whatever reason, OBD didn't view either of those prospects worthy of the #8 pick.
However, they rightfully understood that we needed a top DT talent, and decided that based upon their evaluations, which included character/drive, there was a huge drop off after McCargo (note that no one has taken Wroten or Wright yet). Thus, Marv moved back up into #26 to make sure that the Bills got out of this draft with a DT prospect that they felt comfortable with.
Note that Pitt traded their #32 pick, who knows, maybe they were eyeing McCargo too. Parhaps 26 was a little high for McCargo, but perhaps he would have been gone at #42. I'm not happy about losing the #73 pick, but I'll say it was worthwhile to make sure we got a DT that OBD thinks will get the job done within their system.
b. There was no LT that theyfelt worth the #8. Look where Justice ended up going.
c. With no DT or LT that they liked at #8, Marv focused on Safety. They obviously really liked Whitner, and had him rated very highly, probably close to where he was picked.
Perhaps Denver or Philly did offer a trade. But Marv didn't want to trade down to 14/15 and be stuck with no DT, S, or LT prospect available that they felt was worth the 15th pick. Thus, whatever Philly and Denver was offering wasnt enough to justify that risk. Why accept a, say, 3rd round pick if it screws you out of getting the first-round talent you want at a need position.
There's at least an even chance that Marv was right. Detroit or St. Louis may very well have grabbed Whitner, and Bunkley/Ngata may also have been gone (as indeed they were). So Marv played it safe, and took Whitner a mere 5 slots higher than Mel Kiper had him ranked. A reach, maybe, but a calculated reach.
4. The draft ain't over yet.
I was not a happy camper earlier today, but am starting to warm up to our picks, and at the very least, think I understand the logic behind them. I'm not going to be an apologist for the front office, but I think this might actually be a pretty well-thought out draft. They do have a plan, and they are sticking too it. Let's see how it plays out.
1. We are drafting for need, not purely BPA. It's obvious OBD is trying to fill our weakest positions (DT, S, LT?), maybe to win sooner. We are leaving guys with great talent at other positions on the board to fill our needs.
2. Character is playing a HUGE role in our selections (and other teams' as well. justice and Jimmy Williams free-fell, and Wroten is still on the board). I'm okay with that. I'm getting really tired of guys like Nate and Willis. I want guys without egos, who want to work hard for the TEAM, and love the game. I think that's going to be the common thread in this draft, as Marv alluded it would be. If we sacrifice a little on the talent side but make it up in attitude, (i.e. McCargo instead of Wroten), fine by me.
3. The Bills have a short list of guys they want at the need positions, and are doing what they need to do to make sure those few don't get away.
a. DT was a huge priority for OBD, but at #8, the Bills didn't see a guy they liked. Perhaps Ngata didnt fit the system, and perhaps Bunkley's character issues scared them off. For whatever reason, OBD didn't view either of those prospects worthy of the #8 pick.
However, they rightfully understood that we needed a top DT talent, and decided that based upon their evaluations, which included character/drive, there was a huge drop off after McCargo (note that no one has taken Wroten or Wright yet). Thus, Marv moved back up into #26 to make sure that the Bills got out of this draft with a DT prospect that they felt comfortable with.
Note that Pitt traded their #32 pick, who knows, maybe they were eyeing McCargo too. Parhaps 26 was a little high for McCargo, but perhaps he would have been gone at #42. I'm not happy about losing the #73 pick, but I'll say it was worthwhile to make sure we got a DT that OBD thinks will get the job done within their system.
b. There was no LT that theyfelt worth the #8. Look where Justice ended up going.
c. With no DT or LT that they liked at #8, Marv focused on Safety. They obviously really liked Whitner, and had him rated very highly, probably close to where he was picked.
Perhaps Denver or Philly did offer a trade. But Marv didn't want to trade down to 14/15 and be stuck with no DT, S, or LT prospect available that they felt was worth the 15th pick. Thus, whatever Philly and Denver was offering wasnt enough to justify that risk. Why accept a, say, 3rd round pick if it screws you out of getting the first-round talent you want at a need position.
There's at least an even chance that Marv was right. Detroit or St. Louis may very well have grabbed Whitner, and Bunkley/Ngata may also have been gone (as indeed they were). So Marv played it safe, and took Whitner a mere 5 slots higher than Mel Kiper had him ranked. A reach, maybe, but a calculated reach.
4. The draft ain't over yet.
I was not a happy camper earlier today, but am starting to warm up to our picks, and at the very least, think I understand the logic behind them. I'm not going to be an apologist for the front office, but I think this might actually be a pretty well-thought out draft. They do have a plan, and they are sticking too it. Let's see how it plays out.
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