I like Fowler better defensively
And it's not just that he's younger, it's that he's young enough that he's still getting better

I know that Yandle isn't a top pair guy
Fowler still could be
He's right on the edge of either being a #2 or a #3 type defenseman IMO
These next 2 yrs will probably show us what he'll be for the 5 years or so after that

But also...
Fowler doesn't have to be the guy we trade for either

Let's say Ennis has a bounce back year...
Now we've got a nice trade piece for someone like Ekholm, Lindholm, or any of a number of guys we haven't even brought up yet
- jdfitz77

Fowler struggles in his end though too. That's why I'm confused, and Yandle out produces him by a wide margin.

I also don't get why he's a bad option to pair with Risto? He's a puck mover, it's going to put Risto in better spots, and not hemmed in his own end like he is with Gorges

Agree
Couldn't be happier right now with the picks
- jdfitz77

2 picks for a defense that was top 5 before Rex muddled with it. Ok, Mario left and we needed a guy to fill in, but this no QB is going to bite us on the ass, hard, unless Cook somehow slides to the 3rd. But really outside of Goff, Wentz, and Lynch I don't see a legit top 12 guy. And even those three are on the edge. Tyrod is going to go for eleventy billion dollars that we can't/won't match and then where are we? Back in the same place. A (hopefully)good to very good defense but can't move the ball for Richard. The Broncos have the best LB, and maybe the best defensive player outside of JJ Watt in the game in Von Miller and a bunch of other Pro Bowlers. The Bills don't have anything close to that. They have 2 good corners, a DE in Hughes who's on the downside, Dareus who's a good player and Kyle Williams who has maybe 2 good years left.

2 picks for a defense that was top 5 before Rex muddled with it. Ok, Mario left and we needed a guy to fill in, but this no QB is going to bite us on the ass, hard, unless Cook somehow slides to the 3rd. But really outside of Goff, Wentz, and Lynch I don't see a legit top 12 guy. And even those three are on the edge. Tyrod is going to go for eleventy billion dollars that we can't/won't match and then where are we? Back in the same place. A (hopefully)good to very good defense but can't move the ball for Richard. The Broncos have the best LB, and maybe the best defensive player outside of JJ Watt in the game in Von Miller and a bunch of other Pro Bowlers. The Bills don't have anything close to that. They have 2 good corners, a DE in Hughes who's on the downside, Dareus who's a good player and Kyle Williams who has maybe 2 good years left.
- Wetbandit1

so you would have taken a quarterback at 49 instead of trading up to get a player that every prognosticator rated in the top 20?...a player that also fills a need?

2 picks for a defense that was top 5 before Rex muddled with it. Ok, Mario left and we needed a guy to fill in, but this no QB is going to bite us on the ass, hard, unless Cook somehow slides to the 3rd. But really outside of Goff, Wentz, and Lynch I don't see a legit top 12 guy. And even those three are on the edge. Tyrod is going to go for eleventy billion dollars that we can't/won't match and then where are we? Back in the same place. A (hopefully)good to very good defense but can't move the ball for Richard. The Broncos have the best LB, and maybe the best defensive player outside of JJ Watt in the game in Von Miller and a bunch of other Pro Bowlers. The Bills don't have anything close to that. They have 2 good corners, a DE in Hughes who's on the downside, Dareus who's a good player and Kyle Williams who has maybe 2 good years left.
- Wetbandit1

We have cap space after this year. Resigning Taylor then wouldn't be a problem

If the Bills can somehow get Connor Cook I give them an A+

If the Bills can somehow get Connor Cook I give them an A+
- Deuce81

imo, I think they wait and go after Hogan, jones or Prescott tomorrow as there will probably be third-round players at positions of need who grade-out better than cook

edit: that said, with what they were able to do in the first two rounds, I have no problem with them going after cook

Odds are against them regarding Matthews. We know this all too well. As far as Stamkos goes, who knows. Dreger and others don't seem to think he's going there. I think the Leafs are doing the right things and are on a good track, which will strengthen the rivalry with us. That could actually be cool.

Having said that, f$&k that team! Twice, three times, as many as you like.
- Deuce81

The thing I worry about with the rivalry getting more fun as both teams get better is that soooo many people are just going to sell their tickets to make some money. It's always going to be like a home game for them. Way more than it is now. And that sucks. Especially during the playoffs.

You know, I turn my ad blocker off for 5 minutes and I get an ad I can't mute. Sorry, maybe if you wouldn't use atrocious ads I wouldn't use the ad blocker.

The thing I worry about with the rivalry getting more fun as both teams get better is that soooo many people are just going to sell their tickets to make some money. It's always going to be like a home game for them. Way more than it is now. And that sucks. Especially during the playoffs.
- Frizzlefry

This is true. I'd like to think that people would keep their tickets for that reason, but money talks unfortunately

We have cap space after this year. Resigning Taylor then wouldn't be a problem
- sbroads24

I'm not really talking about having the space, I think he's going to want way more than he's worth. This season is set up for disappointment. I don't think it's possible he matches his numbers from last year, but he's still going to want a boatload of money.

I'm not really talking about having the space, I think he's going to want way more than he's worth. This season is set up for disappointment. I don't think it's possible he matches his numbers from last year, but he's still going to want a boatload of money.
- Wetbandit1

I agree with this. I like Tyrod, he produced well above expectations. But when you start asking for 18 million (allegedly) the standard jumps astronomically. Just because Houston is stupid enough to pay insane money for an unproven qb doesn't mean we should.

I'm rooting for Tyrod, but my gut says last year was his ceiling. I hope I'm wrong, but everyone's got tape on him now.

Sigh.....hackenburg

so you would have taken a quarterback at 49 instead of trading up to get a player that every prognosticator rated in the top 20?...a player that also fills a need?
- Michael Pachla

No, I would've taken Lynch at 19. A player that dropped before the draft for no apparent reason other than maybe just because of the Eagles and Rams moved up and the other teams not needing a QB before us. Or even Jack would've been better. A healthy top 5 guy, who gives a (frank) if he needs surgery in 4 or 5 years? Which is not a certainty, James Andrews says he won't need it at all. He(Jack) correctly said that the average career is less than 3 years, that includes 1st and 2nd round guys. NFL GMs need to have some guts, well outside of the Raiders, and apparently the Bucs for trading up to take a kicker in the 2nd round. It's all about "best player available" which is pretty stupid to begin with. The packers aren't taking a QB even if he's the BPA. But Jack is a top 5 guy that slipped to the 2nd round because he maybe, might, but probably not need surgery in 5 years and he's definitely healthy now. How does that make any sense?

I agree with this. I like Tyrod, he produced well above expectations. But when you start asking for 18 million (allegedly) the standard jumps astronomically. Just because Houston is stupid enough to pay insane money for an unproven qb doesn't mean we should.

I'm rooting for Tyrod, but my gut says last year was his ceiling. I hope I'm wrong, but everyone's got tape on him now.
- Deuce81

Yeah, I guess I should've said shouldn't/won't instead of can't/won't.

No, I would've taken Lynch at 19. A player that dropped before the draft for no apparent reason other than maybe just because of the Eagles and Rams moved up and the other teams not needing a QB before us. Or even Jack would've been better. A healthy top 5 guy, who gives a (frank) if he needs surgery in 4 or 5 years? Which is not a certainty, James Andrews says he won't need it at all. He(Jack) correctly said that the average career is less than 3 years, that includes 1st and 2nd round guys. NFL GMs need to have some guts, well outside of the Raiders, and apparently the Bucs for trading up to take a kicker in the 2nd round. It's all about "best player available" which is pretty stupid to begin with. The packers aren't taking a QB even if he's the BPA. But Jack is a top 5 guy that slipped to the 2nd round because he maybe, might, but probably not need surgery in 5 years and he's definitely healthy now. How does that make any sense?
- Wetbandit1

every team that had a pick in the first round passed on jack so you need to take every one of them to task...

if lynch was that good, the Cleveland browns, who have 12 picks in the nfl draft and who traded down twice would've picked him instead of a wide reciever

every team that had a pick in the first round passed on jack so you need to take every one of them to task...

if lynch was that good, the Cleveland browns, who have 12 picks in the nfl draft and who traded down twice would've picked him instead of a wide reciever
- Michael Pachla

I'm not challenging you on the Lynch point, but I would never use Cleveland's talent analysis to back up your point

I'm not challenging you on the Lynch point, but I would never use Cleveland's talent analysis to back up your point
- Deuce81

touché

touché


- Michael Pachla

Sorry, couldn't help it.

Sorry, couldn't help it.
- Deuce81

yeah, kinda set myself up with that one

*shrugs*

every team that had a pick in the first round passed on jack so you need to take every one of them to task...

if lynch was that good, the Cleveland browns, who have 12 picks in the nfl draft and who traded down twice would've picked him instead of a wide reciever
- Michael Pachla

If you were on last night, and earlier I did take every team to task for passing on Jack. I had a spirited convo with Gerbe about how I couldn't believe not only did he fall as far as he did, but that Jaylon Smith a guy who's not healthy was taken over Jack. I think he'll be the steal of the draft at 36. He was linked to the Jags at 5th overall. Before that stupid press conference. Hey good on the Jags. Will he be a HOFer? TBD. But he's a rarely seen talent, that's currently healthy, that fell way too far. Pretty much every player has some injury history. Lawson, for example, has a shoulder problem. They were saying last night that he was going to need surgery after this season and be out for 6 months. Now they're saying maybe not, but how is that any different than Jack? Again, he's healthy right now. Lawson may or may not be.

If the Bills can somehow get Connor Cook I give them an A+
- Deuce81

I don't follow college football and don't know who's good and who isn't but I would bet that with current coaching/mgmt the Bills end up .500 again, give or take a game. They're terrible. Hoping TPegs learns soon that he needs to clean house. Did anything change after he bought the team? Shake up the scouting department at least? They've been so bad for so long. Why would you keep anyone?

If you were on last night, and earlier I did take every team to task for passing on Jack. I had a spirited convo with Gerbe about how I couldn't believe not only did he fall as far as he did, but that Jaylon Smith a guy who's not healthy was taken over Jack. I think he'll be the steal of the draft at 36. He was linked to the Jags at 5th overall. Before that stupid press conference. Hey good on the Jags. Will he be a HOFer? TBD. But he's a rarely seen talent, that's currently healthy, that fell way too far. Pretty much every player has some injury history. Lawson, for example, has a shoulder problem. They were saying last night that he was going to need surgery after this season and be out for 6 months. Now they're saying maybe not, but how is that any different than Jack? Again, he's healthy right now. Lawson may or may not be.
- Wetbandit1

we don't know the extent of those injuries, and it would seem as if the medical staff of every team in the first round agreed that they shouldn't take a chance in the first round on jack or smith...

in saying that, the bills couldn't gamble this year on the first rounder, especially with two major holes to fill in the d-front-seven...and they really couldn't gamble in the second round either, imo

i'd trade the 80th pick for the best two picks they can get between 81 and 115 or so

Can we switch with the Eagles and move to the NFC East? That would help.
- Wetbandit1

Why? Bills lost to the skins and giants last year, and wouldn't beat the Cowboys with romo back.

we don't know the extent of those injuries, and it would seem as if the medical staff of every team in the first round agreed that they shouldn't take a chance in the first round on jack or smith...

in saying that, the bills couldn't gamble this year on the first rounder, especially with two major holes to fill in the d-front-seven...and they really couldn't gamble in the second round either, imo
- Michael Pachla

Just the 2?

Do we even have any LB on the roster currently? Preston Brown is the only guy who can start and we're going to need 4 starters this season because for some reason Ryan wants a 3-4 even though we already have 2 very good tackles and another guy who's pretty underrated in Bryant.

I'm just saying a guy's stock dropped because he, somewhat refreshingly, said that he could maybe, need surgery down the line, who knows? Because he was top 5 before that interview. And when you saw the look on his face last night it was a lot like Rodgers. Like WTF? Why am I dropping so far? When there are players that are hurt right now that went ahead of him just doesn't make sense to me. NFL execs need to grow a pair. Every pick is a gamble. You think Jared Goff or Carson Wentz aren't gambles?