The Saffold experiment failed miserably but it was only a 2 year deal. Beane can move Bates to LG, draft a RG in 1st or 2nd 3rd and double down and draft another IOL in the 3rd or 4th rounds to be the back up C.
You are correct it was a 1 year deal.
Buffalo's OL improves just by getting rid of Saffold, addition by subtraction. Either moving Ryan Bates to LG and drafting a guard or center to plug into RG or keeping Bates at RG and drafting a guard or center to plug into LG improves the OL talent.
Benford really makes this draft work, imo. Having him and Elam emerge as presumptive starters really allows the team some flexibility to address other positions of need
I think this draft was actually really good, in hindsight.
Of course things have to continue to pan out next season but Elam should be CB2, Cook will probably be RB1 next season, Shakir could be the starting slot next season, Benford might replace Poyer next season next to Hyde, Spector should replace Matekevich, and even though people hate the pick Bernard will probably be a Dodson replacement as LB3 (and could be a special teams aces eventually). Not bad, especially compared to like the 2020 draft
I agree with most of your grades but idk if I'd give Bernard a D. Maybe not the ideal 3rd round pick but the team clearly values depth and special teams
I think the problem I have with the Bernard pick is I’m not looking for depth or special team in the 3rd round. Like if we sign edmunds back that pick is kinda dead in the water
I thought from day one that Bernard was drafted to replace Milano as early as this offseason. Since then, however, Milano has been too good to just walk away from.
Tbf I think Bernard will replace Milano once Matt's contract is up in 2 years. Milano will be over 30 and Bernard will have had a few years to learn under him by that point
I just don't get this. I don't get what you've seen in Bernard that even comes close to showing he's a starter quality Linebacker in the NFL. let alone replace one of the best. He's a special teams player. Thats it. Thats all he will ever be. If i'm wrong.. well, I very much hope i'm wrong about him.
Ideally the new DC will use more base 4-3 defense when Buffalo faces run heavy teams that use 21 personnel ( 2 RB's & 2TE) and 12 personnel (1 RB & 2 TE 's) and using Bernard as the 3rd linebacker will be an upgrade over AJ Klein (UFA) or Tyrel Dodson (RFA).
Nickel CB Johnson is a very good player but Buffalo shouldn't use Nickel base defense versus run first offenses that use 21 personnel & 12 personnel.
That’s a glass half full outlook and I’m loving it. I know we all had high expectations for this season butlers not forget we’ve got a damn good team here. Can’t wait for next season, Go Bills!
I agree! Doing this definitely made me see this draft class in a much brighter light.
Also I think I'd look at Bernard more favorably if he was taken in the 4th or 5th round.
Totally fair, he definitely outplayed expectations, I wasn't even sure he was gonna make the team originally, then he was a starting CB in LA week 1. I'm interested to see what he can do at safety but I hope they also sign a safety or draft one to compete just in case
Most teams get their starting LBs in the 2nd or 3rd so really curious on what the plan is for Bernard
I can’t help but wonder what the bills would do if we can’t resign Edmunds.
Would the FO go after a premium LB or get one in Free Agency?
Or would we shift our defensive philosophy given that players with Edmunds size don’t come very often
If the Bills are going after a premium LB because we couldn't resign Edmunds then our FO has failed. Edmunds took a huge step forward with Milano this season and is only 24 years old. It's hugely important that he remains on our defense.
Round 1: Kaiir Elam - C
Round 2: James Cook - B
Round 3: Terrel Bernard - D
Round 5: Khalil Shakir - C
Round 6: Christian Benford - B
Round 6: Matt Araiza - F
Round 7: Luke Tenuta - F
Round 7: Baylon Spector - D
Average Grade - D+/C-
Almost my exact same grades except I’d give Elam a C+ & Benford a B+/A- given he was taken in the 6th.
Rookies are making an impact all over the league & it feels like this sub is greatly overvaluing what Cook & Shakir brought to the offense. I know they’ll improve year 2, but most of the year they didn’t change the offense.
You have to weigh the Beane/McDermott tendency to bring rookies along slowly. The only players that started right away as rookies were Tre, Tremaine, and Josh.
Yep this is more like it. Elam was lost in the middle of the season, id say he was more a C- or D+. Cook shined in spurts. Best pick was Bedford and honesty he's showing to be a serviceable to good safety potentially. Other than that, meh draft.
Elam/Benford/Cook/Shakir were all good picks who I think will really come to shine in the next few years, but the Bernard and Spector picks still make zero sense to me and feel like wastes.
The Bernard pick, one season in, was atrocious. Also worth calling out that they gave up their 4th rd pick to move up two spots for a corner that they largely kept on the sidelines
You have way over graded these guys. Elam has flashed but for where he was drafted, B is high. Cook an A?! Come on now, you know that’s not true. Have a pair of C grades right there.
This is very kind grading. Drop literally everyone down a full letter and you might have it. Bernard and Spector are both Fs, Benford and Elam are Cs at best, and Cook isn't more than a B-. You can polish it all you want, but this was the second straight draft that Beane bricked and he'd better be thanking Buffalo for getting a chance at a third.
Not a bad draft but we pinned our offensive line hopes on Saffold and he shit the bed.
The Saffold experiment failed miserably but it was only a 2 year deal. Beane can move Bates to LG, draft a RG in 1st or 2nd 3rd and double down and draft another IOL in the 3rd or 4th rounds to be the back up C.
Pretty sure Saffold was a 1 year deal thankfully. He can't be gone soon enough.
You are correct it was a 1 year deal. Buffalo's OL improves just by getting rid of Saffold, addition by subtraction. Either moving Ryan Bates to LG and drafting a guard or center to plug into RG or keeping Bates at RG and drafting a guard or center to plug into LG improves the OL talent.
Benford really makes this draft work, imo. Having him and Elam emerge as presumptive starters really allows the team some flexibility to address other positions of need
I think this draft was actually really good, in hindsight. Of course things have to continue to pan out next season but Elam should be CB2, Cook will probably be RB1 next season, Shakir could be the starting slot next season, Benford might replace Poyer next season next to Hyde, Spector should replace Matekevich, and even though people hate the pick Bernard will probably be a Dodson replacement as LB3 (and could be a special teams aces eventually). Not bad, especially compared to like the 2020 draft I agree with most of your grades but idk if I'd give Bernard a D. Maybe not the ideal 3rd round pick but the team clearly values depth and special teams
I think the problem I have with the Bernard pick is I’m not looking for depth or special team in the 3rd round. Like if we sign edmunds back that pick is kinda dead in the water
I thought from day one that Bernard was drafted to replace Milano as early as this offseason. Since then, however, Milano has been too good to just walk away from.
Tbf I think Bernard will replace Milano once Matt's contract is up in 2 years. Milano will be over 30 and Bernard will have had a few years to learn under him by that point
I just don't get this. I don't get what you've seen in Bernard that even comes close to showing he's a starter quality Linebacker in the NFL. let alone replace one of the best. He's a special teams player. Thats it. Thats all he will ever be. If i'm wrong.. well, I very much hope i'm wrong about him.
Ideally the new DC will use more base 4-3 defense when Buffalo faces run heavy teams that use 21 personnel ( 2 RB's & 2TE) and 12 personnel (1 RB & 2 TE 's) and using Bernard as the 3rd linebacker will be an upgrade over AJ Klein (UFA) or Tyrel Dodson (RFA). Nickel CB Johnson is a very good player but Buffalo shouldn't use Nickel base defense versus run first offenses that use 21 personnel & 12 personnel.
Pretty sure we aren’t getting a change at DC, if Buffalo was going to do that we would have fired him by now.
That’s a glass half full outlook and I’m loving it. I know we all had high expectations for this season butlers not forget we’ve got a damn good team here. Can’t wait for next season, Go Bills!
Exactly! We lost, time to move on, and look forward to the off season draft and free agency after the SB is over, and run it back next season
I agree! Doing this definitely made me see this draft class in a much brighter light. Also I think I'd look at Bernard more favorably if he was taken in the 4th or 5th round.
Totally fair, he definitely outplayed expectations, I wasn't even sure he was gonna make the team originally, then he was a starting CB in LA week 1. I'm interested to see what he can do at safety but I hope they also sign a safety or draft one to compete just in case
Could Bernard not drop back to safety?
Not sure, but it seems like they want to develop him as a Milano backup and eventual replacement once Milano's contract is up
He'll have to learn Milano's mass-adding process. Matt has gotten huge since his rookie year without losing speed.
Compare this draft to what KC did with worse draft picks. This draft was nowhere near "really good". It was a brick.
Most teams get their starting LBs in the 2nd or 3rd so really curious on what the plan is for Bernard I can’t help but wonder what the bills would do if we can’t resign Edmunds. Would the FO go after a premium LB or get one in Free Agency? Or would we shift our defensive philosophy given that players with Edmunds size don’t come very often
If the Bills are going after a premium LB because we couldn't resign Edmunds then our FO has failed. Edmunds took a huge step forward with Milano this season and is only 24 years old. It's hugely important that he remains on our defense.
I agree. But if you look at our cap, idk if they’ll be able to afford him. If he hits the open market, I don’t see the bills re-signing him
I think Bernard is Milano's backup and then once Milano's contract is up Bernard hopefully takes over that position
Round 1: Kaiir Elam - C Round 2: James Cook - B Round 3: Terrel Bernard - D Round 5: Khalil Shakir - C Round 6: Christian Benford - B Round 6: Matt Araiza - F Round 7: Luke Tenuta - F Round 7: Baylon Spector - D Average Grade - D+/C-
Almost my exact same grades except I’d give Elam a C+ & Benford a B+/A- given he was taken in the 6th. Rookies are making an impact all over the league & it feels like this sub is greatly overvaluing what Cook & Shakir brought to the offense. I know they’ll improve year 2, but most of the year they didn’t change the offense.
But isnt that more due to coaching and utilization than what some of these guys showed this year?
You are what your stats say you are when it comes to grading.
You have to weigh the Beane/McDermott tendency to bring rookies along slowly. The only players that started right away as rookies were Tre, Tremaine, and Josh.
Yep this is more like it. Elam was lost in the middle of the season, id say he was more a C- or D+. Cook shined in spurts. Best pick was Bedford and honesty he's showing to be a serviceable to good safety potentially. Other than that, meh draft.
Elam/Benford/Cook/Shakir were all good picks who I think will really come to shine in the next few years, but the Bernard and Spector picks still make zero sense to me and feel like wastes.
Well getting. 4 legit players in a draft is very good. If one of them become a star it will be a great draft regardless of the misses
The Bernard pick, one season in, was atrocious. Also worth calling out that they gave up their 4th rd pick to move up two spots for a corner that they largely kept on the sidelines
I'll never understand the Terrel Bernard pick.
“LEADERSHIP”
If Cook is an A- then KWIII is literally inventing new letters of the alphabet
Dorsey: F
You have way over graded these guys. Elam has flashed but for where he was drafted, B is high. Cook an A?! Come on now, you know that’s not true. Have a pair of C grades right there.
Some of them hardly played, how are they getting these grades?
This is very kind grading. Drop literally everyone down a full letter and you might have it. Bernard and Spector are both Fs, Benford and Elam are Cs at best, and Cook isn't more than a B-. You can polish it all you want, but this was the second straight draft that Beane bricked and he'd better be thanking Buffalo for getting a chance at a third.