I know this may be an unpopular sentiment, but I really am starting to believe that QB is the way to go at number 3.  If Chix believes there is a franchise QB avaiable(and it certainly appears that they are high on both Newton and Gabbert), then that should be the play.  In support of my position consider the following:

As our braintrust stated, it is not often that you pick this high in the draft (hopefully the Bills don't pick this high again for a very long time).  I understand picking a QB high does not ensure he will not be go bust (see:  JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf), however it gives you the opportunity to select a QB that you confidently feel can lead you to a title and be the fact of your franchise for a decade.  That is not an opportunity that comes around very often.  There is always going to be risk at taking a QB this high, but the rewards is just as high if not higher.  Petyon Manning, Philip Rivers, Donvan McNabb all turned their teams into perennial contenders that have a chance to win a title year in and year out.  If Chix believes that either Newton or Gabbert can do the same, they almost certainly have to pull the trigger.

Another common argument against drafting a QB high is that if you "miss," you set your franchise back a number of years.  Well at this point the Bills organization has been irrelevant for about 10 years.  What is another three years if we miss. A number of teams have "missed" in recent years (SF: Alex Smith, SD: Ryan Leaf, CIN: Akili Smith, HOU: David Carr) all of these teams have rebounded to respectability quicker than the Bills have been able to turn things around.  The Bills have missed numerous times on non QBs over th past decade and the consequences have been disastrous.  Nothing could right these wrongs quicker than "hitting" on a franchise QB.

In today's NFL you need a marquee QB to win a super bowl.  Over the past 15 years only 2 mediocre QB's have won a ring, Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer(who both had superb Ds). You could also include Eli Manning those the media seems to consider him an elite QB, which many don't fans don't agree with (he also had a top notch D).  Right now you would be hard pressed to argue that Fitz is a top 12 QB.  Sure, he gained folk hero status and brought a level of excitement to the team that it desperately craved, but the evidence that he is a big time QB just does not hold up.  He has a career record of 8-14-1 and a career passer rating of 73.  That is not championship QB caliber.  Fitz would serve as a great QB to groom a rookie though.  He is extremely intelligent and by all accounts seems to be a stellar teammate.  If Chix thinks either Newton or Gabbert can be elite, a year or two of seasoning behind Fitz would certainly help.

I understand that our D needs alot of help and Miller/Peterson/Dareus would all be a boost.  However adding one of these players wouldn't have the kid of franchise altering ramifications that adding a top flight QB would.  Anyone of these players would immensely improve the D, but the fact is that our D needs multiple pieces to become a strong unit.  Not to mention the young players such as Troup and Carrington who could potentially come on and add some teeth to the D moving forward.

I wouldn't be upset if we go D in round 1, I just feel that the future on the franchise is largely contingent upon finding the franchise QB we have been lacking since Kelly retired.  By adding a QB that they think could be that future, Chix would do alot towards steering this franchise back to relevance.

I am a Bills fan from South Jersey heading down to Baltimore with my girlfriend this weekend.  I was looking for suggestions as far as any real good restaurants or "must see" attractions to visit on Saturday.  Also, how is the tailgate scene.  Researching the internet I found something called the Raven Walk, how is it??

Looking forward to the game, just hoping the Ravens don't beat up on the Bills too bad.  It's gonna be rough, especially watching Ngata and Oher up close since we passed on them a few years back.  I guess on the bright side I have Ray Rice in fantasy football!!

Thanks.

I am heading down to Baltimore this weekend with my girlfriend for the game.  I was just wondering if there is anyone on hear from the Baltimore area.  We are making a whole weekend of it and I was curious as to restaurant recommendations and "must-see" attractions for Saturday.

Also, what is the tailgate scene like their?  Any places worth checking out before the game starts.  Looking forward to seeing the Bills in action as I'm from outside Philly and don't get to see them play much.

Thanks, and go Bills!!

Like alot of other fans, this draft did leave me feeling alittle disappointed.  I  was surprised and dismayed by some of the picks, but at the end of the day that is only my opinion.  Fortunately, my opinion (and everyone else's) has no bearing on wins and losses.  I have no problem with people coming on here and venting, because I do the same.  However, I think as a fan base we all need to take a collective step back and let this thing play out.

The Texans were widely banned for passing on Reggie Bush to take Mario Williams.  Two years later, it looked like the right move.  Tim Couch went before Donovan McNabb.  Wes Welker was an undrafted free agent.  Laurence Maroney and LenDale White were taken above Maurice Jones-Drew.  Jared Allen was taken in the fourth round.  JaMarcus Russell was supposed to be a stud.  I guess my only point is lets see how some of these guys pan out.  I was just as disspaoint if not more so than the rest of you in some of the picks this past weekend.  However, until we give them a few years to see what they can do it doesn't matter what we think.

Hopefully Spiller is as electric as advertised....if so it adds a dimension to the offense that was missing last year, it gives the "O" another weapon teams have to prepare for and helps open up some passing lanes.  Troup and Carrington should help improve the "D."  Rome wasn't built in a day, and this team has awhile to go before it can compete.

As far as the talent we already have on board, I admit it could be better.  The O-line and pass rush are 2 HUGE concerns.  However, Bell was extremely raw last year.  He has the tools, he just does not have as much actual football under his belt as other players and sometimes it shows.  Winston Justice, OT for the Eagles was beaten on so badly in his first career start (4 sacks) that he was completely written off.  The media and fans in Philly were certain he would never be a player.  2 years later and he is probably Philly's best lineman.  No reason to think Bell can't see a similar improvement.

Same goes for players like Maybin.  I will admit I was and still to a certain point am very down on him.  However, hopefully the switch to the 3-4 really accentuates his strength and it shows through in his production.  We have a decent secondary capable of really making plays and our D-line and LB corps seem to be adequate.  Yes we are going to have problems putting pressure on the QB but that was not likely to simply be solved through this draft anyway.

I understand these boards cater to overreaction, which I usually do as well.  Some people seem way too optimistic.  Others see much too despondent.  As much as I would have loved to see the draft unfold differently it didn't.  The only thing to do now is give it time.  Maybe Brian Bulaga turns into Anthony Munoz, maybe he turns Robert Gallery.  Maybe CJ Spiller is Chris Johnson, maybe he is Curtis Enis, etc for all the players in the draft.  There really is no way of knowing until the games start to be played.  Until then, the only thing you can do is be patient.  And Jake Locker could look really good in this offense in 2011 (haha).

Barring a near miraculous season, the Bills likely won't even sniff the playoffs.   As frustrating as the last 10 or so years have been, the one big reason for hope right now is this is a VERY young roster, and given time to develop, that could really pay off a few years down the road.

I was wondering what everyone thoughts are on trading down.  I think it likely would be a smart move, so long as the draft shakes down in a reasonable way.  My reasoning is:

• trading down with the G-Men:  Spiller and McClain are almost guaranteed to be there.  The Giants don't have many needs, but ILB is a huge one.  Also, there are rumblings that the Giants are interested in Spiller, who may be available at 15.  However, McClain will likely be gone by then and there is not another sure fire MLB available in the draft.  We could swap 9 and 107 for 15 and 46.  This approximates the same value for both.  That would give us 15, 41, and 46.
• trading down with the Texans:  If Haden slips to us, which is highly likely, I would think the Texans would be very interested in moving up.  Also, the Texans probably have some interest in Spiller.  There is no way Haden slips to them and Spiller is probably unlikely as well.  We could swap 9 for 20 and 51.  Once again the value would be approximate for both and would give us 20, 41, and 51.
• Should Berry slip:  Although highly unlikely, there is a remote possibility that Berry could be available when we go on the clock.  The secondary is one unit where we are set.  Berry seems to be a special talent and I would have to think there would be a number of suitors interested in moving up.  I would have to believe the Eagles would be at least interested in moving up (I'm from right outside Philly and the fans still haven't moved on since Dawkins departure...Berry would definitely fill that void).  Other teams would likely be interested as well, and we could probably get a King's Ransom by playing the multiple bidders off one another.

No matter who you hope the Bills pick, getting 4 picks in the top 72 would help us acquire the talent needed to be competitive sooner rather than later.  It is sounding more and more likely that the Bills have serious interest in selecting Tebow possibly at 9.  Love him or hate him, that seems pretty absurd.  However, taking him in the teens or twenties would be ALITTLE easier to swallow.

I wouldn't mind seeing them trade down with the G-Men and selecting Clausen, coming back in round 2 and addressing the OT position (Saffold, Duccasse, or Campbell), then the NT position later in round 2 (Cody or Thomas) then in round 3 taking the BPA at either the OLB or WR position.

I don't know that I have ever been this jacked for a draft in my life.  Part based on the talent available, part seeing what the new regime will do.

YOU GOTTA BILLIEVE!!

This is my first post here.  I am fairly detached from any type of Buffalo media (from South Jersey right outisde of Philly) so I don't know what the buzz up there is.  Chances McNabb is dealt to Buffalo are extremely slim, and this is a good thing.  So I am going with the assumption that the Bills keep the number 9 pick and don't deal down for more picks.

I understand the draft is a crapshoot, but no team continuously screws up their first round pick like the Bills.  Whitener, McKelvin, etc.  I actually let out an audible groan, in the library while taking a final last year, when the Bills took Maybin.  With that said if the Bills are ever gonna right the ship I feel that they HAVE to go OT in round 1, and take the OT with the least amount of "bust" potential.

Highly unlikely that Okung falls to them.  To me Trent Williams is the no-brainer.  Baluga has short arms and for all the sure-fire, technically sound talk I can't help but to think back about the hype that surrounded Robert Gallery and he has been nothing but a colossal dissapointment.  As far as Davis, I am from Jersey and a Rutgers alum (he is our best recruit ever) but have to admit the work ethic scares me.  He has some high upside, but alittle bit too much Mike Williams in him.  And Bruce Campbell although a specimen, is in no way a top ten pick.  As far as Williams, he may have struggled a bit this year but he moved from RT to LT.  Also, he is an elite athlete with the game tape to back it up.  Keep in mind that he is touted as a better prospect than Loadholt (who we should have taken last year) he had a really strong first year.  Bradford was barely touched back there the past two years and Williams was OU's best lineman.

After round one I would like to see either Cody (if available) or Cam Thomas in round 2.  A nose is going to be essential and I think Dan Williams isn't that much better than either of these 2.  After that I would love to see Tebow available (definitely worth a flyer in round 3) and hopefully either Carrington, Hardy or Selvie in round 4 to give us a younger end with some upside.

I know opinions seem to differ but I feel this would be the best bet for getting us back on track.  The draft seems to leave me devastated and confused every year (sorta like sitting through "Shutter Island") and I just feel that they can't chance blowing things again this year.