How can anyone doubt that the Bills will draft a LT in the first round?

[Logic]

As soon as the Bills let Bell walk and made no effort to sign a replacement tackle, the writing was on the wall. There is NO way this regime, going in to a year in which they've made it clear that its time to "put up or shut up", is going to rely on second year 4th rounder Chris Hairston to be the team's starting left tackle. Its NOT going to happen. Furthermore, if you draft a tackle in the second round or later, there's no guarantee that he can start in year 1. The only way to get a surefire year 1 starter at the left tackle position is to draft one in the first round.

This is not about YOUR or MY personal preference, and its not about the need for a receiver opposite Stevie Johnson. Its about the fact that, as of now, the Bills have ONE NFL caliber left tackle, and he's only in his second year. To count on him would be madness. If the Bills aren't able to get a year 1 starter at WR out of the draft, they at least have Jones, Easley, et al to fall back on. If they don't grab a contributing cornerback, they still have Florence, McGee, Williams, McKelvin, and Rogers. If they don't grab a stud OLB, they still have Kirk Morrison and Arthur Moats. Now Suppose Hairston starts and does terribly. Who do they have to fall back on in that case? NOBODY!

Nix isn't dumb. He WILL draft a first round left tackle because he needs a starter at that position. He will not go into such a pivotal season with Hairston and some second or third round backup. First round LT it is. My money is Johnathan Martin, as he has football smarts, impeccable character, nasty disposition, etc. Though it would not shock me one bit if Reiff or even Cordy Glenn were the pick. One way or the other, though, you can darn sure bet that our first round pick will be a left tackle. To think otherwise, in my opinion, is foolish. If draft day comes and proves me wrong, feel free to drag this back up to the front page and mock me. I don't think its gonna happen, though. All you Floyd and Kuechly fan boys, get ready to be disappointed on April 26th.

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

As soon as the Bills let Bell walk and made no effort to sign a replacement tackle, the writing was on the wall. There is NO way this regime, going in to a year in which they've made it clear that its time to "put up or shut up", is going to rely on second year 4th rounder Chris Hairston to be the team's starting left tackle. Its NOT going to happen. Furthermore, if you draft a tackle in the second round or later, there's no guarantee that he can start in year 1. The only way to get a surefire year 1 starter at the left tackle position is to draft on in the first round.

This is not about YOUR or MY personal preference, and its not about the need for a receiver opposite Stevie Johnson. Its about the fact that, as of now, the Bills have ONE NFL caliber left tackle, and he's only in his second year. To count on him would be madness. If the Bills aren't able to get a year 1 starter at WR out of the draft, they at least have Jones, Easley, et al to fall back on. If they don't grab a contributing cornerback, they sitll have Florence, McGee, Williams, McKelvin, and Rogers. If they don't grab a stud OLB, they still have Kirk Morrison and Arthur Moats. Now Suppose Hairston starts and does terribly. Who do they have to fall back on in that case? NOBODY!

Nix isn't dumb. He WILL draft a first round left tackle because he needs a starter at that position. He will not go into such a pivotal season with Hairston and some second or third round backup. First round LT it is. My money is Johnathan Martin, as he has football smarts, impeccable character, nasty disposition, etc. Though it would not shock me one bit if Reiff or even Cordy Glenn were the pick. One way or the other, though, you can darn sure bet that our first round pick will be a left tackle. To think otherwise, in my opinion, is foolish. If draft day comes and proves me wrong, feel free to drag this back up to the front page and mock me. I don't think its gonna happen, though. All you Floyd and Kuechly fan boys, get ready to be disappointed on April 26th.

Is your sig for real?

[Homer Simpson]

As soon as the Bills let Bell walk and made no effort to sign a replacement tackle, the writing was on the wall. There is NO way this regime, going in to a year in which they've made it clear that its time to "put up or shut up", is going to rely on second year 4th rounder Chris Hairston to be the team's starting left tackle. Its NOT going to happen. Furthermore, if you draft a tackle in the second round or later, there's no guarantee that he can start in year 1. The only way to get a surefire year 1 starter at the left tackle position is to draft on in the first round.

This is not about YOUR or MY personal preference, and its not about the need for a receiver opposite Stevie Johnson. Its about the fact that, as of now, the Bills have ONE NFL caliber left tackle, and he's only in his second year. To count on him would be madness. If the Bills aren't able to get a year 1 starter at WR out of the draft, they at least have Jones, Easley, et al to fall back on. If they don't grab a contributing cornerback, they sitll have Florence, McGee, Williams, McKelvin, and Rogers. If they don't grab a stud OLB, they still have Kirk Morrison and Arthur Moats. Now Suppose Hairston starts and does terribly. Who do they have to fall back on in that case? NOBODY!

Nix isn't dumb. He WILL draft a first round left tackle because he needs a starter at that position. He will not go into such a pivotal season with Hairston and some second or third round backup. First round LT it is. My money is Johnathan Martin, as he has football smarts, impeccable character, nasty disposition, etc. Though it would not shock me one bit if Reiff or even Cordy Glenn were the pick. One way or the other, though, you can darn sure bet that our first round pick will be a left tackle. To think otherwise, in my opinion, is foolish. If draft day comes and proves me wrong, feel free to drag this back up to the front page and mock me. I don't think its gonna happen, though. All you Floyd and Kuechly fan boys, get ready to be disappointed on April 26th.

Nix has said time and again that he won't reach for a player just to fill a need.
Obviously LT is a huge need.
However, if Reiff is gone or not worthy of the 10th pick in Nix's mind then we won't draft an LT in round 1.

[postman]

nix wont reach and that is why his drafts so far have been pretty good.......
we r going for the luke the lb from boston college.........if he can play all 3 spots and is a playmaker/game changer then we will take him

[Logic]

I realize that Nix doesn't like to reach for talent, and I also realize that he historically has NOT drafted o-linemen in the first round. Doesn't matter. The Bills' need for a left tackle is too great for them not to take one, value be ****ed.

I don't think Martin or Reiff would be considered too monumental a reach at 10, any way. If Nix thinks one of them can be the Bills' left tackle for the next decade, what difference does it make whether he's drafted at 10 or 20?

[jrober38]

Easy; a LT won't be the BPA on Buddy Nix board.

Nix is a lock to take the BPA in round 1. If that's not a LT, we won't go in that direction until round 2.

[Logic]

To anyone saying "Nix won't reach", answer me this question: Suppose Nix opts not to draft a left tackle in round 1 because the "value" isn't there....In that case...Who starts at Left Tackle?

Normally, I wouldn't think in such terms. However, Nix and Gailey have made it very clear this offseason that by "plugging a few holes in FA and the draft", they feel they can compete. LT is one such hole. To think that they would forgo drafting a first round LT simply because the "value" of a guy like Martin is at 15 or 16 instead of 10 is madness to me. Why? Because Nix and Gailey's jobs are on the line this season and they know it. By signing Williams and Anderson and making all the "its time to compete" comments, they've made it CLEAR that they feel its time for the Bills to take the next step. They can't do it without a starting left tackle. Value be ****ed, Nix WILL take a first round LT.

[SoulCrusher]

I doubt we pick a LT at ten...the value just isn't there.

I see a second round LT drafted, or a trade up if the right opportunity presents itself.

[Homer Simpson]

To anyone saying "Nix won't reach", answer me this question: Suppose Nix opts not to draft a left tackle in round 1 because the "value" isn't there....In that case...Who starts at Left Tackle?

Normally, I wouldn't think in such terms. However, Nix and Gailey have made it very clear this offseason that by "plugging a few holes in FA and the draft", they feel they can compete. LT is one such hole. To think that they would forgo drafting a first round LT simply because the "value" of a guy like Martin is at 15 or 16 instead of 10 is madness to me. Why? Because Nix and Gailey's jobs are on the line this season and they know it. By signing Williams and Anderson and making all the "its time to compete" comments, they've made it CLEAR that they feel its time for the Bills to take the next step. They can't do it without a starting left tackle. Value be ****ed, Nix WILL take a first round LT.

I understand your point. However, it goes against everything Nix has said and done in his entire career.
You asked "how can anyone doubt" and that's the answer.

[jrober38]

To anyone saying "Nix won't reach", answer me this question: Suppose Nix opts not to draft a left tackle in round 1 because the "value" isn't there....In that case...Who starts at Left Tackle?

Normally, I wouldn't think in such terms. However, Nix and Gailey have made it very clear this offseason that by "plugging a few holes in FA and the draft", they feel they can compete. LT is one such hole. To think that they would forgo drafting a first round LT simply because the "value" of a guy like Martin is at 15 or 16 instead of 10 is madness to me. Why? Because Nix and Gailey's jobs are on the line this season and they know it. By signing Williams and Anderson and making all the "its time to compete" comments, they've made it CLEAR that they feel its time for the Bills to take the next step. They can't do it without a starting left tackle. Value be ****ed, Nix WILL take a first round LT.

According to Chris Brown's blog entry today, Nix said, “We need tackles, but we think Chris Hairston can play left tackle for us and win."

Nix isn't going to reach for a position.

He didn't reach either of the last two years and he won't do it this year. He'll stick to his board and get the best talent available.

[rockydm92]

I don't think there is any chance they take an OT at 10 zero, zip

[jrober38]

I don't think there is any chance they take an OT at 10 zero, zip

Depends how much they like Cordy Glenn, because recent reports suggest neither Reiff or Martin are worth anything close to the 10th overall pick.

Considering that Glenn is rated as a mid-late 1st round pick, it's extremely unlikely he'll represent the BPA at 10, which means we'll go in another direction.

[Super Mario90]

I would say there is about a 99% chance that we don't pick a LT at 10.

[D2k]

Is your sig for real?

Yeah its real, and he wont take it down even knowing I paid.

[Shaw66]

As soon as the Bills let Bell walk and made no effort to sign a replacement tackle, the writing was on the wall. There is NO way this regime, going in to a year in which they've made it clear that its time to "put up or shut up", is going to rely on second year 4th rounder Chris Hairston to be the team's starting left tackle. Its NOT going to happen. Furthermore, if you draft a tackle in the second round or later, there's no guarantee that he can start in year 1. The only way to get a surefire year 1 starter at the left tackle position is to draft one in the first round.

This is not about YOUR or MY personal preference, and its not about the need for a receiver opposite Stevie Johnson. Its about the fact that, as of now, the Bills have ONE NFL caliber left tackle, and he's only in his second year. To count on him would be madness. If the Bills aren't able to get a year 1 starter at WR out of the draft, they at least have Jones, Easley, et al to fall back on. If they don't grab a contributing cornerback, they still have Florence, McGee, Williams, McKelvin, and Rogers. If they don't grab a stud OLB, they still have Kirk Morrison and Arthur Moats. Now Suppose Hairston starts and does terribly. Who do they have to fall back on in that case? NOBODY!

Nix isn't dumb. He WILL draft a first round left tackle because he needs a starter at that position. He will not go into such a pivotal season with Hairston and some second or third round backup. First round LT it is. My money is Johnathan Martin, as he has football smarts, impeccable character, nasty disposition, etc. Though it would not shock me one bit if Reiff or even Cordy Glenn were the pick. One way or the other, though, you can darn sure bet that our first round pick will be a left tackle. To think otherwise, in my opinion, is foolish. If draft day comes and proves me wrong, feel free to drag this back up to the front page and mock me. I don't think its gonna happen, though. All you Floyd and Kuechly fan boys, get ready to be disappointed on April 26th.

Logic - I think your logic is wrong. It is, of course, possible, that the Bills will take a tackle in the first round, but it is not necessarily the case.

And, yes, when they let Bell go for modest money, it became clear that the Bills needed another tackle. I think Buddy has said he needs too. So the Bills will draft a tackle, but he may not come in the first round.

First, Buddy has said over and over that he will take the best football player available. That suggests if the best player is at another position, Buddy is taking him.

Second, Buddy has said over and over again that you need to get an impact player in the first round. Tackles are important, and they have an impact in a way, but pass rushers, running backs, linebackers, receivers and even DBs fall more in the category of impact player.

Third, Buddy has said that there are a lot of good tackles in the draft, meaning it's deeper than three. That means he can get a guy he likes in the later rounds.

Fourth, Buddy seems to find his linemen in the second through fourth rounds - I think Pears, Hairston, Urbik all were drafted in that area.

So I don't think Buddy is sitting in his office thinking "I MUST get a tackle in the first round." He's thinking "I MUST get an impact player in the first round" and "I MUST get a tackle before the fourth round."

[cashdude]

Logic - I think your logic is wrong. It is, of course, possible, that the Bills will take a tackle in the first round, but it is not necessarily the case.

And, yes, when they let Bell go for modest money, it became clear that the Bills needed another tackle. I think Buddy has said he needs too. So the Bills will draft a tackle, but he may not come in the first round.

First, Buddy has said over and over that he will take the best football player available. That suggests if the best player is at another position, Buddy is taking him.

Second, Buddy has said over and over again that you need to get an impact player in the first round. Tackles are important, and they have an impact in a way, but pass rushers, running backs, linebackers, receivers and even DBs fall more in the category of impact player.

Third, Buddy has said that there are a lot of good tackles in the draft, meaning it's deeper than three. That means he can get a guy he likes in the later rounds.

Fourth, Buddy seems to find his linemen in the second through fourth rounds - I think Pears, Hairston, Urbik all were drafted in that area.

So I don't think Buddy is sitting in his office thinking "I MUST get a tackle in the first round." He's thinking "I MUST get an impact player in the first round" and "I MUST get a tackle before the fourth round."

And that's about all there is to say about this.

[shaunta53]

Nix believes a LT IS a "difference maker" if it allows your team to do things it normally wouldn't be able to do...

Nix on the No. 10 pick: "You’d think at 10 you’d get a starter. With us, we’d like to get a difference-maker or a playmaker, an impact guy. You should get a starter."

At the end of the 45-minute session, Nix returned to the quesiton of getting a difference-maker as it related to an offensive tackle. Said Nix: "I guess I was thinking a big play maker, which a tackle is not. But a difference maker is a guy that makes youre team better and can do things to make you be able to do more, like throwing down the field more. So I think in that light, certainly a left tackle fits that need."

More Nix on tackles: "We need tackles. But I’m gonna make this clear. We think Chris Hairston can play left tackle for us and win. He did it. He went in there. Everybody says Fitz gets the ball out quick, and that’s true. But we run a lot of empty sets. There’s five blockers. If they bring six he’d better get it out quick or he’s gonna get hit in the mouth. In this offense he’s gotta get it out quick. Chris Hairston he may not be the prettiest foot athlete, but he’s got so much length that he can protect the back side. We feel he can do that."

[HATER NATION]

Bell signed a one year deal for 3.25 mil basically, which means bills had to offer less,maybe they let him go bc they thought hairston was good enough and could get one later on in draft.

[Bleedbuffaloblue]

Logic - I think your logic is wrong. It is, of course, possible, that the Bills will take a tackle in the first round, but it is not necessarily the case.

And, yes, when they let Bell go for modest money, it became clear that the Bills needed another tackle. I think Buddy has said he needs too. So the Bills will draft a tackle, but he may not come in the first round.

First, Buddy has said over and over that he will take the best football player available. That suggests if the best player is at another position, Buddy is taking him.

Second, Buddy has said over and over again that you need to get an impact player in the first round. Tackles are important, and they have an impact in a way, but pass rushers, running backs, linebackers, receivers and even DBs fall more in the category of impact player.

Third, Buddy has said that there are a lot of good tackles in the draft, meaning it's deeper than three. That means he can get a guy he likes in the later rounds.

Fourth, Buddy seems to find his linemen in the second through fourth rounds - I think Pears, Hairston, Urbik all were drafted in that area.

So I don't think Buddy is sitting in his office thinking "I MUST get a tackle in the first round." He's thinking "I MUST get an impact player in the first round" and "I MUST get a tackle before the fourth round."

I have to agree with you Shaw. I don't see Buddy reaching for a LT at #10 if the value isn't there based on what he has said and his past draft history. However, none of us know what Buddy's board looks like and he "may" have a LT not named Kalil graded as high as 10 you never know. This would be contrary to most all the draftnick experts so it is rather unlikely, but anything is possible I guess.
I too think he will take BPA based on his board @ #10 and hopefully get a decent LT in the 2nd or 3rd. To me it all comes down to how much faith he a Gailey have in Hairiston. We all know what he said today and he is a straight shooter, but eight days from the draft it could be a bit of a smokescreen.

[shaunta53]

Bell signed a one year deal for 3.25 mil basically, which means bills had to offer less,maybe they let him go bc they thought hairston was good enough and could get one later on in draft.

Ummm...

No...