Playing the draft safely means Bills will play games well

By Anthony Bialy  |   Friday, April 24, 2009  |  Comments( 403 )

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The Buffalo Bills must restock their essentials in this weekend's NFL draft even though they no longer own a very boring one pick per round. The Jason Peters trade provided them with an extra first- and fifth-rounder, but they still have ample holes to plug, including, um, at offensive tackle. Luckily, they should be able to get what’s needed if they avoid acting prodigally. It won’t take Biblical restraint to use the choices wisely, but the team’s drafters should recognize that there’s zero room for foolishness.

The Bills face a tenuous balance between what they must acquire and how many chances they own to make those necessary acquisitions. With that in mind, they can’t get away with trading away what they have. Such a draft might not be thrilling for observers, but this team should nonetheless keep every pick and use each one to check off every need. It means wins beginning in September even if they don’t get April headlines.

Buffalo’s needs don’t end with ends, even though they of course gravely need help of both the defensive and tight variety. On top of that, they certainly need to draft an offensive tackle to replace the departed one. Even if the Bills decide that they could start a current player in Peters’ old spot, that only means they can wait a few rounds to accumulate offensive linemen. They still need depth and competition that can best be provided by spending a handful of choices on new line alternatives.

While those may be the roster’s most achingly weak spots, the Bills have other relatively minor woes to placate. This team also could use linebacker help and a reserve defensive tackle; even with Dominic Rhodes aboard, they should consider nabbing a low-ranking running back to give them versatility at training camp, too.

Throw in the necessity of building depth at safety and the aforementioned need to provide quantity bulk on the offensive line, and most of their picks will be gone. Every one of those needs must, or at least should, be tackled before they even consider luxury selections like a tantalizing receiver or intriguing cornerback. Avoiding superfluous tendencies will allow them to patch variously large holes.

It’s going to be tricky for them to either deal picks away or draft players where they’re already well-outfitted. That could lead to an uneventful weekend for the type of fans who eagerly count down the estimated minutes between the Bills’ picks. But they should be pleased that that this team would be acting responsibly. Management can’t stray and recklessly take chances on projects who man one of the few spots where they’re already full; instead, they need to look at this as a chance to ensure talent gets evenly distributed across the roster.

Adding players at need positions will lead to excitement when fans truly want it, namely during games. Acting like Hank Hill and not Homer Simpson will allow this team to avoid a Peter Griffin-type season; because nobody wants upcoming games to turn into a painfully dreary series of crude non-sequiturs, this team is best served by tediously keeping its picks and only grabbing players at positions where it's thin.

That means passing on guys the Bills might want but who would currently be unable to participate thanks to getting buried on the depth chart. Their guiding strategy must be to be grown-ups and approach the process as the equivalent of paying bills. It’s mundane, but it keeps the power flowing.
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CommentsComments: 403  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
ddd		10:11 AM
04/24/2009
I have no idea who the Bills will take at #11. The only positions the Bills don't need desperate help are at QB, WR, and DB....
No.2
10:20 AM
04/24/2009
Apparently Bialy gets paid by the piece so we get 2 today to make up for 0 yesterday. I agree with his concept that the Bills...
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No.3
Amir FaSaad		10:29 AM
04/24/2009
Well, I have to figure nobody will trade with us @11. So, unless Orakpo or 1 of the 4 OTs are waiting for us, I'm wishing we...
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