GBN Updated Overall Top 125

[jaymitch84]

http://www.gbnreport.com/top100.html

1 *Darren McFadden RB 6-1, 215 Arkansas
2 Glenn Dorsey DT 6-2, 300 LSU
3 Jake Long OT 6-7, 320 Michigan
4 Matt Ryan QB 6-4, 220 Boston College
5 Chris Long DE 6-4, 285 Virginia
6 Brian Brohm QB 6-3, 230 Louisville
7 *Ryan Clady OT 6-5, 320 Boise State
8 Sedric Ellis DT 6-2, 295 USC
9 *Malcolm Jenkins CB 6 -0, 180 Ohio State
10 *Rashard Mendenhall RB 5-11,195 Illinois
11 *James Laurinaitis LB 6-2, 245 Ohio State
12 Mike Jenkins CB 5-11, 200 South Florida
13 Keith Rivers LB 6-3, 220 USC
14 *Vernon Gholston DE 6-4, 260 Ohio State
15 *Michael Oher OT 6-5, 325 Mississippi
16 *Kenny Phillips FS 6-1, 205 Miami
17 Andre Woodson QB 6-5, 230 Kentucky
18 *Derrick Harvey DE 6-4, 245 Florida
19 Dan Connor LB 6-2, 233 Penn State
20 *Calais Campbell DE 6-7, 282 Miami

And it continues...

[gilchristfan]

They don't really have a single WR ranked until 25? Ouch...

[admarc]

They don't really have a single WR ranked until 25? Ouch... and no TE until #87

[JLB]

They don't really have a single WR ranked until 25? Ouch...

that should help us right?

[jaymitch84]

and no TE until #87

And no Frank Okam till 119.

Staying in college murdered his draft stock.

[gilchristfan]

that should help us right?

Its tough to say and its depending on what you're looking for. I really wouldn't mind having another stud at WR to go along with Lee Evans.

A stud WR is usually ranked in the top 15, especially a big one. Between Kelly, Sweed, Bowman and Hardy, you'd kind of expect one of them to be rated higher.

Highlight film-wise, each looks really good. Maybe they aren't as fast as they look. We'll find out at the combine, when the measurables kick in.

If not, there are going to be others available. As Admarc and others say, draft the best player available in a position of need.

Except DB. I'm tired of drafting DB's in the first round.

[gilchristfan]

and no TE until #87

yeah, I thought Miller and/or Rucker would be higher.

[JLB]

Its tough to say and its depending on what you're looking for. I really wouldn't mind having another stud at WR to go along with Lee Evans.

A stud WR is usually ranked in the top 15, especially a big one. Between Kelly, Sweed, Bowman and Hardy, you'd kind of expect one of them to be rated higher.

Highlight film-wise, each looks really good. Maybe they aren't as fast as they look. We'll find out at the combine, when the measurables kick in.

If not, there are going to be others available. As Admarc and others say, draft the best player available in a position of need.

Except DB. I'm tired of drafting DB's in the first round.

If we are targeting a WR maybe we can trade down.

I'm kinda of partial to an animal at DL myself. :D

Free agency is probably going to provide some answers as well.

[treydawg]

These types of lists are completely pointless until the Combine.

[jaymitch84]

These types of lists are completely pointless until the Combine.

True.

Well, sort of. These lists are based off performance on the field, not influenced by workout warriors yet.

[gilchristfan]

If we are targeting a WR maybe we can trade down.

I'm kinda of partial to an animal at DL myself. :D

Free agency is probably going to provide some answers as well.

If each of these WR's is in the 4.6 range, chances are they will be average. Once in a while, a Boldin slips through and is productive without being very fast.

That's pretty rare though. Most end up being decent possession receivers. If we're looking for a possession receiver, there's no need to use the no. 11 pick for one, or the first round.

You can end up with a dominating player with No. 11, and that's what I'm hoping for...whether its WR or another position of need.

For instance, like you mentioned, a dominating DL wouldn't be a bad idea. Ellis could fall. There are a few other intriguing ones, Vernon Ghoulston or Calais Campbell, possibly. Both could end up being monsters in the NFL.

[wpod]

I am hoping for, but not expecting, DT Sedrick Ellis. I would be relatively happy settling for WLB Keith Rivers. These are greater potential impact players at need positions for the Bills. While you can certainly quibble at a detailed level with this list, and the all-star games and Combine results will tweak things, I hope all Bills fans are beginning to understand the first round isn't where they should be focusing on getting either WR or TE help. The Bills should sign a UFA for WR and they can have their pick at TE in Round 2. The only problem is which defensive starting position to fill in FA: DT or WLB?

BTW, my opinion is based on more than GBN, but they are among the draft sites I frequent.

[gilchristfan]

I am hoping for, but not expecting, DT Sedrick Ellis. I would be relatively happy settling for WLB Keith Rivers. These are greater potential impact players at need positions for the Bills. While you can certainly quibble at a detailed level with this list, and the all-star games and Combine results will tweak things, I hope all Bills fans are beginning to understand the first round isn't where they should be focusing on getting either WR or TE help. The Bills should sign a UFA for WR and they can have their pick at TE in Round 2. The only problem is which defensive starting position to fill in FA: DT or WLB?

BTW, my opinion is based on more than GBN, but they are among the draft sites I frequent.

Its a pretty unimpressive UFA WR list...unless we have a chance at Randy Moss.

[wpod]

Its a pretty unimpressive UFA WR list...unless we have a chance at Randy Moss.

I respectfully disagree. I don't think the Bills want or need Randy Moss, TO, or Ocho Cinco on the roster. All they need is a guy who is at least 6-1, runs good routes, has good hands, enough speed to pose a deep threat, enough bulk to go across the middle (at times), and who will take some pressure off Lee Evans. And, to go with that, a TE who can bust zone coverages and threaten a defense deep up the middle, to keep the SS out of the box, but they can get that in the draft (if they do it in Round 2).

There are guys like Berrian, Crayton, Hackett, Bryant Johnson, Justin Gage, Drew Carter, and Andre Davis available - at least most of those guys could fill the Bills needs and they have all gone through their potty training already. I'm not among the crowd who think Lee Evans can't be an effective #1 WR in the NFL, but he obviously needs help and he obviously has height limitations. They don't need Randy Moss to be successful in the passing game in 2008. In fact, I think they'd be better off having a more varied attack involving more weapons than the "star WR" syndrome usually allows.

[gilchristfan]

I respectfully disagree. I don't think the Bills want or need Randy Moss, TO, or Ocho Cinco on the roster. All they need is a guy who is at least 6-1, runs good routes, has good hands, enough speed to pose a deep threat, enough bulk to go across the middle (at times), and who will take some pressure off Lee Evans. And, to go with that, a TE who can bust zone coverages and threaten a defense deep up the middle, to keep the SS out of the box, but they can get that in the draft (if they do it in Round 2).

What that sounds like is a 500-600 yard 4 td per year guy. We basically have that now, except maybe for redzone target.



There are guys like Berrian, Crayton, Hackett, Bryant Johnson, Justin Gage, Drew Carter, and Andre Davis available - at least most of those guys could fill the Bills needs and they have all gone through their potty training already. I'm not among the crowd who think Lee Evans can't be an effective #1 WR in the NFL, but he obviously needs help and he obviously has height limitations. They don't need Randy Moss to be successful in the passing game in 2008. In fact, I think they'd be better off having a more varied attack involving more weapons than the "star WR" syndrome usually allows.


I'd be surprised if Berrian and Crayton make it through free agency. The others...Gage has had one good year with a few 400 yard years. None of them really excites me.
If they were good redzone targets you'd expect more than 3 or 4 TD per year, which is all most get on average.

I agree that if we're looking for a halfway decent possession receiver, we could probably find one in the 2nd round.

I'm not sold that WR is an absolute necessity, but it would help, with the right receiver.

As I said in another thread, if there's another Dwayne Bowe in this draft, I wouldn't hesitate to take him at 11. I just don't know if any of the current crop is a Dwayne Bowe.

[wpod]

The problem with spending a second round pick on a possession WR is two-fold: 1) that's also where you want to take a TE in this draft; 2) he's a rookie - you have to go through NFL potty training waiting for him to really become effective.

Bowe is a rarity; a rookie WR who is productive right away. I remember scouts saying how much he stood out in the senior all-star games last year from the other WRs in terms of being NFL-ready. I haven't read a single scouting report about any of the current WR prospects say anything of the sort.

As for what you think the Bills could get if they signed D.J. Hackett or Bryant Johnson, I again disagree. I think you're looking at more like 650 - 850 yards and 7-8 TDs, but just as importantly, someone dangerous enough to take some pressure off Lee Evans, and big enough to be more useful on third down conversions and Red Zone situations. Reed is good on the third down conversions, too, but he's not much of a Red Zone target and he doesn't have the speed to make defenses respect him on the outside opposite Evans. He's a good, physical slot receiver. Parrish is a real nice extra weapon, but he's obviously no possession receiver. Put a good #2 WR out there and those guys can be great role receivers.

Don't forget about that TE upgrade you can make in Round 2 (instead of drafting a WR). Fred Davis (or John Carlson or Martin Rucker or Martellus Bennett) can threaten the deep middle and force the Safeties to respect that threat (in addition to a legit threat from a young veteran #2 WR). They don't need Randy Moss to achieve the objective. And they're better off getting Edwards a veteran he can use right away instead of asking him to be patient, waiting for the rookie to develop.

D.J. Hackett or Bryant Johnson, plus Fred Davis (or one of the other TE prospects I mentioned) in addition to Lee Evans, with Reed or Parrish in the slot, is going to give Edwards a set of weapons he can use right away to change the offensive identity of the Buffalo Bills over night. There is no rookie WR deserving of the #11 pick, flat out, and what I'm proposing also beats taking a rookie WR in Round 2. Think about it.

[jaymitch84]

Bowe is a rarity; a rookie WR who is productive right away. I remember scouts saying how much he stood out in the senior all-star games last year from the other WRs in terms of being NFL-ready. I haven't read a single scouting report about any of the current WR prospects say anything of the sort.


Guess we'll have to wait until the all-star games happen to see if reports like that come out for any of these guys.

[wpod]

Guess we'll have to wait until the all-star games happen to see if reports like that come out for any of these guys.

True, but even then they aren't always going to pan out in their rookie season. There are strong odds that say they won't.

I'll add at least one more name to my list of supposedly mediocre UFA WRs: Drew Carter. Are any of these guys going to turn into Pro Bowlers in Buffalo? Probably not, but they don't need to, either. They just need to be competent #2/possession WRs.

The guys I'm suggesting should all come at a reasonable salary, would all welcome the chance to be the unquestioned #2 starting WR, will all be around 27 in 2008, are all at least 6-2 and at least 200 lbs, and they've all put up at least reasonable numbers in an NFL uniform. Hackett may pose an injury concern, but his numbers in Seattle this season when healthy (32 384 3TD in only 6 games) project to about 75 catches for 750 yards and 7 TDs over a full season. Bryant Johnson has been stuck as the #3 option on a team with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and he's been productive when given a chance. Drew Carter plays on a team with no QB but his numbers suggest he could probably be in the same ballpark as Hackett (and he hasn't had the injury issues).

So none of these guys are Randy Moss, and they never will be. But the Bills don't need Randy Moss. These guys could fit the need and they'd come ready to go right away, which I think is going to be important.

[treydawg]

True.

Well, sort of. These lists are based off performance on the field, not influenced by workout warriors yet.

Either way, these lists get totally turned upside down after pro days and the Combine.

[jaymitch84]

Either way, these lists get totally turned upside down after pro days and the Combine.

Indeed.

Run a sub-4.4 at a skill position, teams forget how mediocre you were in college (ahem, Chris Henry).

[Callaway]

True, but even then they aren't always going to pan out in their rookie season. There are strong odds that say they won't.

I'll add at least one more name to my list of supposedly mediocre UFA WRs: Drew Carter. Are any of these guys going to turn into Pro Bowlers in Buffalo? Probably not, but they don't need to, either. They just need to be competent #2/possession WRs.

The guys I'm suggesting should all come at a reasonable salary, would all welcome the chance to be the unquestioned #2 starting WR, will all be around 27 in 2008, are all at least 6-2 and at least 200 lbs, and they've all put up at least reasonable numbers in an NFL uniform. Hackett may pose an injury concern, but his numbers in Seattle this season when healthy (32 384 3TD in only 6 games) project to about 75 catches for 750 yards and 7 TDs over a full season. Bryant Johnson has been stuck as the #3 option on a team with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and he's been productive when given a chance. Drew Carter plays on a team with no QB but his numbers suggest he could probably be in the same ballpark as Hackett (and he hasn't had the injury issues).

So none of these guys are Randy Moss, and they never will be. But the Bills don't need Randy Moss. These guys could fit the need and they'd come ready to go right away, which I think is going to be important.


A mistake a lot of people make is that they seem to think that FA's are a safer bet then rookies when in reality they are not. You rarely ever get what you pay for

Honestly you didnt name 1 WR that would be a big enough upgrade over what we already have here to justify signing them to anything.

Berrian: Pass, A deep threat but we already have that here
Crayton: Avg at best, does more running with his mouth
Hackett: Our IR is full enough
Bryant Johnson: This one gets me evertime someone says there tired of seeing our WR drop the ball and then mention getting Johnson who since his college days has been notorious for dropping the easy ones. Hes a body catcher and thats not good
Justin Gage:Sucks
Drew Carter: Avg to below avg and horrible inconsistant
Andre Davis: Already had a go around here and theres no need to bring him back

At least if we draft a WR theres a chacne he could turn out to be something where if we sign one of these guys we already know what they are and thats Average, we already have to many of that at the WR posistion

[Merk]

A mistake a lot of people make is that they seem to think that FA's are a safer bet then rookies when in reality they are not. You rarely ever get what you pay for

Honestly you didnt name 1 WR that would be a big enough upgrade over what we already have here to justify signing them to anything.

Berrian: Pass, A deep threat but we already have that here
Crayton: Avg at best, does more running with his mouth
Hackett: Our IR is full enough
Bryant Johnson: This one gets me evertime someone says there tired of seeing our WR drop the ball and then mention getting Johnson who since his college days has been notorious for dropping the easy ones. Hes a body catcher and thats not good
Justin Gage:Sucks
Drew Carter: Avg to below avg and horrible inconsistant
Andre Davis: Already had a go around here and theres no need to bring him back

At least if we draft a WR theres a chacne he could turn out to be something where if we sign one of these guys we already know what they are and thats Average, we already have to many of that at the WR posistion


I agree

Where ya been Callaway? Havent seen ya around in a while

[TheAnswer74]

Im leaning toward Mike Jenkins or Malcolm Jenkins at pick 11, slight edge in Mike Jenkins favor.

[Callaway]

I agree

Where ya been Callaway? Havent seen ya around in a while

Off defending this country against Jerkoffs so other Jerkoffs can put another dollar in there pocket. I'll be around more towards the draft