A Few Written Thoughts on the Bills After Round One
Preaching Patience To A Man (Me) Who Doesn't Have Much Of It
Some thoughts on the Bills after night one of the draft--I had to sleep on this.
- I'm not as mad that the Bills traded down twice last night even if it sucked at the time. I liked both Xavier Worthy and especially Xavier Legette so it was frustrating to have them both land on you and see Beane trade away from it. Beane didn't have high enough grades on them and wanted improved draft capital, which he got and I respect that. That third round pick tonight especially (95) is not nothing--you can land a starting caliber player with it (totally see a guard or safety going there)
- It's rightful and fair to say down the line, if Worthy is what we think he can be in Kansas City that Beane screwed up big time. People are saying KC would've found a way to get Worthy anyway if the Bills didn't pick him. My concern is what was it about Buffalo's evaluation of Worthy didn't they like compared to KC, who not only liked him but liked him enough to move up for him.
- I (we) obviously have some KC trauma on all the levels. Whether it's trading back in 2017 with KC when that turned into them getting Patrick Mahomes or the fact we keep chasing this team and can't get past them (when it actually matters in the playoffs) it's frustrating that THEY were the team you traded down with to help them get a WR.
- I fear that McDermott is making this team more and more into an offense that wants to run the ball, manage the game and control the clock.. Only "unleash" Josh when you have to. I can't tell you in words how much I fucking hate that.
- There's plenty of time left for the Bills to improve this roster. You got the rest of this draft, maybe someone post-draft and then after June 1st when some more money (not much but some) becomes available.
- As things stand right now this roster is a shell of what it was last year and you're absolutely delusional if you think otherwise. More specifically when it comes to wide receiver, Curtis Samuel is your top primary option. That's just straight up not good enough.
- A lot of people are assuming Beane's going to trade for a big name veteran WR either tonight or after June 1st. I'm not here to say it's impossible but financially it ALMOST is---a lot and i mean a lot of salary cap gymnastics would have to take place.
- Last point, I get the sense more and more that while the Bills certainly aren't punting away 2024, it's clear that Beane's goal is to hope they can be competitive as possible while he sheds a ton of salaries and adds as many cost-controlled rookie and cheap contracts as possible-- with an eye on going bigger in 2025 with a much better salary cap space and three picks in the first two rounds.
There is no sane person who can sit there right now and conclude the Bills are as "all in" at winning a championship this year as they have the past handful of years. There's far too much evidence to know that's not the case. It's more of a "let's have a good roster and see if can get lightning to strike" feeling here in 2024 instead of being one of the best 1-3 rosters in the conference.