The BILLS Draft plan POSSIBILITIES and ESPN’s Field Yates

Summary

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Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills Podcast

Episode: The BILLS Draft Plan POSSIBILITIES and ESPN’s Field Yates
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fates
Guest: Field Yates (ESPN)
Date: April 10, 2025

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Overview

This episode dives deep into Buffalo Bills' 2025 draft possibilities, focusing on philosophy, roster strengths and weaknesses, Brandon Beane's history and approach, and the current state of the roster. The team welcomes ESPN’s Field Yates for a wide-ranging interview about Bean's drafting, potential Bills targets, and bigger NFL draft trends. The episode also includes lively, in-depth debate on trading strategies, positional needs, and reflections on last year’s picks.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Assessing the State of the Bills Pre-Draft

• Roster Depth and Impact Talent

  • The Bills' roster is considered strong and well-constructed from spots 10-53, but the hosts agree it lacks star, top-tier playmakers at key positions.
  • "Where the Bills are lacking is that top, top tier talent...Depth isn't going to win you a championship." — Dan Fates [08:41]

• Immediate Rookie Contributions

  • There’s frustration that last year’s rookie class made minimal playoff impact, with the group insisting it's not enough to treat rookies as redshirts.
  • "I don't want to hear anymore that rookies can't contribute. Khalil Shakir made some plays in the playoffs when he was young. Gabe Davis made plays in the playoffs when he was young." — Mike Catalana [02:16]

• Drafting for Need vs. Best Player Available

  • Last year’s approach didn't yield enough "difference makers." There’s general agreement the team needs both immediate contributors and future core pieces.

2. Draft Philosophy: More Picks vs. Aggressive Moves

• More Picks Mean More Chances

  • Mike Catalana pushes back on the notion that the roster is "too good" for 10 rookies to make it. The value of more swings at late-round difference-makers is stressed, referencing recent success with mid/late-round picks like Christian Benford and Matt Milano.
  • "The more picks you have, the more shots you have...Don't tell me you can't make all these picks and have them contribute." — Mike Catalana [05:15]

• Considered Aggression

  • Jenna and Dan would prefer targeted aggression to secure players the Bills truly covet, even if it means fewer overall draft picks. But, as Mike puts it, "Two things can be true at the same time"—trading up is good if the right player is there; stockpiling picks also has merit. [07:19]

3. What Does the Draft Class Offer?

• 2025 as a 'Starter Draft'

  • The group references Daniel Jeremiah’s line that this class is about finding multiple starters versus landing a superstar.
  • "Everyone seems to agree this draft is a starter draft. Maybe not a ton of star power, but your goal should be to come away with three to four starters. They are out there." — (cited by Dan Fates) [12:04]

• Where to Search for Value

  • There’s consensus that Rounds 3–5 hold "the meat of the class." Moving around in these rounds could yield important rotational or developmental pieces.

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Field Yates Interview Highlights

(Begins at [13:21])

On Brandon Beane’s GM Tenure

• "My grade is going to be, like, it’s got to start as at least a B+ for Brandon Bean…Josh Allen is a Stones pick...You can’t nail them all. My impression of Brandon Bean is that he’s got the right level of aggressive." — Field Yates [15:07]
• Praises Bean’s extensions and overall roster construction, believes a Super Bowl in the next five years is a reasonable expectation with Allen at QB.

Dream Scenario at Pick 30

• Trade Down is On the Table

  • Field suggests this could be the year to trade back and accumulate further picks in Rounds 2–5 given the draft’s depth and the relatively slim urgent needs on the roster.
  • "I feel like this is the year where they could trade back, do it again…The depth of this year’s class [is] really strong." — Field Yates [17:30]

• Biggest Need: Cornerback

  • Yates identifies CB as the top need, noting that Buffalo’s scheme allows for more flexibility in physical measurables, enabling later-round value.
  • "The Bills don’t value the same things in corners that every team does...Sean McDermott is also a whisper at corner." — Field Yates [18:24]
  • Names Azariah Thomas (FSU), Benjamin Morrison (ND), and Savone Revel (ECU) as possible CB fits, the latter a Day 2 target after returning from injury.

• Notable Defensive Tackle Prospects

  • Darius Alexander (Toledo): "Not a consensus first, but a top 50ish player...very experienced, awesome final season, great pass-rusher."
  • Alfred Collins (Texas): "6’6”, 332 lbs, 35” arms...I think Alfred Collins in time has the chance to become a very, very talented football player." [23:41]

• Wide Receivers to Watch After Round 1

  • Picks out Ella Gale Manor (Stanford), Kyle Williams (Washington State), and Savion Williams (TCU) as intriguing mid-round WR options for Buffalo.
  • "If you’re looking for a fun football player to watch…Savion Williams from TCU, they figured out the best way to unlock him was wildcat QB...he’s become this fun Swiss-Army knife." [25:03]

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Bills Draft Scenarios & Strategies

(from [26:26])

Trade Up

• Practical scenarios involve modest advances (e.g., up to pick 26) by sacrificing a fourth-rounder and future seventh. Matthew Golden (WR, Houston) is floated as a trade-up WR target.
• "If they were sold on him as a receiver, it would be kind of wild that they’d trade up this year." — Mike Catalana [29:57]

Trade Back

• Example: Back from 30 to 36 (Jaguars), possibly gaining pick 88 (third round) and a future seventh.

  • This would give Buffalo four picks in Rounds 2–3 (36, 56, 62, 88).
  • "You are four picks in the meat of this draft. And Bean has said he’s always liked having a third-round pick." — Mike Catalana [35:19]

• Needs a trade partner—teams like the Giants or Browns could be enticed if a QB falls.

Stay Put at 30

• The team could target "immediate impact" options at CB, DT, or WR depending on who drops.

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Draft Needs, Player Preferences, and Bills Board

• Defensive back is viewed as a larger long-term need than WR due to expiring contracts and uncertain depth.
• The hosts rattle off a list of CB, S, and DT targets for Buffalo’s Day 1 and 2 picks:
  • CB: Trey Amos (Ole Miss), Azariah Thomas (FSU), Maxwell Harrison (Kentucky), Savone Revel (ECU), Benjamin Morrison (ND)
  • S: Xavier Watts (Notre Dame)
  • DT: Kenneth Grant (Michigan), Darius Alexander (Toledo)
• "If I’m Beane, I do whatever I can...trading back multiple times to get, in my head, how can I get three of these guys? Maybe four." — Dan Fates [39:44]

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Critique & Reflection on Last Year’s Buffalo Draft

• Keon Coleman is under pressure to elevate in year two and justify his significant draft status (2nd round)—"He left his rookie year with his coach and his GM saying, step up." — Mike Catalana [46:22]
• Cole Bishop expected to start at safety; if not, could be a serious indictment.
• Last year’s class lacked immediate impact and must develop in 2025 for Buffalo to maintain its window.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Roster Construction & Draft Approach

  • "If you draft well and perform well, no matter rookie or veteran, you’re going to play for the Bills." — Dan Fates [05:01]
  • "Don’t pretend that having extra picks means they’re all a waste...You need to fill special teams roles and Sean made that point at the owner’s meeting." — Mike Catalana [07:19]

• On the Difficulty of Drafting Stars

  • "To sit here and say you can find that at 30 is a little bit of a stretch to me…The Chiefs were just, they had higher end players at big time positions and the Bills didn’t." — Dan Fates [10:49]

• On Practical Draft Room Realities

  • "Not only just the trading partner, but it’s managing what you like and where it falls because you’re splitting hairs." — Dan Fates [37:50]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:54] — Episode overview, where the Bills stand pre-draft
• [05:15] — Mike's case for maximizing the value of 10 picks
• [12:04] — Starter draft vs. superstar draft discussion
• [13:21] — Field Yates interview begins
• [15:07] — Yates grades Brandon Beane’s tenure, praises Allen pick
• [17:30] — Yates' dream scenario: trading back, cornerback analysis
• [21:45] — Darius Alexander (Toledo DT) and defensive tackle market value
• [25:03] — WR prospects for Buffalo outside Round 1
• [26:26] — Hosts review Field Yates’ advice, break down trade scenarios
• [29:57] — Matthew Golden as a possible trade-up WR target
• [35:19] — Trade back example: four picks in rounds 2-3
• [39:44] — Host personal boards for Buffalo picks
• [46:22] — Keon Coleman critique and rookie class review

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Tone, Chemistry, and Lightning Round

• The hosts’ banter is spirited and tongue-in-cheek, with self-deprecating humor and well-argued respectful disagreements throughout.
• Personal anecdotes (e.g., car seat battles, airport lounge hacks, family stories) offer a human touch and showcase the Bills community.

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Takeaways for Bills Fans & Draft Enthusiasts

• Philosophy over Splash: Expect the Bills to prioritize finding several solid future starters (especially DBs and DTs) over swinging for single superstar upside.
• Flexibility is Key: Staying nimble—ready to move up or down for the right player or value—is likely Beane’s approach.
• Corner & Defensive Tackle Priorities: CB and DT are considered bigger needs than WR, especially as the draft’s value lines up with these positions in Rounds 2–4.
• All Eyes on Year 2 Picks: Last year’s rookies—Keon Coleman, Cole Bishop—must deliver for this strategy to work.

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Notable Quotes (W/ Timestamps)

• "I don’t want to hear anymore that rookies can’t contribute. Khalil Shakir made plays in the playoffs when he was young. Gabe Davis made plays in the playoffs when he was young." — Mike Catalana [02:16]
• "The more picks you have, the more shots you have ... Don’t tell me you can’t make all these picks and have them contribute." — Mike Catalana [05:15]
• "Where the Bills are lacking is that top, top tier talent…Depth isn’t going to win you a championship." — Dan Fates [08:41]
• "This is the year where they could trade back, do it again ... because of the strength of this year’s draft class." — Field Yates [17:30]
• "If you draft well and perform well, no matter rookie or veteran, you are going to play for the Bills." — Dan Fates [05:01]
• "If you told me to expect or not expect a Super Bowl at some point in the next five years for Buffalo, I fully expect one." — Field Yates [16:54]

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For a Bills fan or draft observer, this episode offers a practical, transparent look at Buffalo’s team-building challenges, encourages realistic expectations, and arms fans with the key names, stats, and draft scenarios that will drive conversation and coverage as the draft approaches.

Transcript

[Dan Fates]

In the time it takes you to actually board a flight from Group 8.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Now boarding Premier Altitude Elite Club members.

[Dan Fates]

You could have bought a Hyundai on Amazon. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. Limited availability pickup through participating Hyundai dealer and select markets. And I'm not saying you can't find.

[Mike Catalana]

An All Pro because the Chiefs traded up for their All Pro.

[Dan Fates]

So it all comes back to draft.

[Mike Catalana]

That's what I was just gonna say. I'm gonna quote another wise person who said draft better players.

[Dan Fates]

There's the open.

[Mike Catalana]

Could you see him trading up to get a wide receiver?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes, because he's a man and he never does it when you want him to.

[Dan Fates]

There's the Open, Part 2.

[Field Yates]

This is the Buffalo plus podcast brought to you by Connors and Ferris.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast, presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates, I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe and share. You know how much appre. We appreciate it. All right, this pod, we're going to talk a little bit about how we're feeling coming into the draft, where they are, where they're going to be. We have an interview with Field Yates and of course we're going to finish off with credit to me. So first and foremost, Mike, I want to start with just where is this Bills team at? As we are now about 15 days away from the NFL draft.

[Mike Catalana]

So I think they're in a good spot in terms of having options because of the way this draft is. And we are going to talk later about some specific things that fit in line with what the things Brandon Bean has done in the past, how it might work for this draft. But I always think about the draft, Dan, and I think to myself, you can't draft strictly for need for the upcoming year.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But you need players that are going to contribute. So when you look at these last few drafts, when we see all the guys they resigned that are core players that have contributed, been really good for them. Fantastic. Right. You're bringing back Shakir when a new deal and you've got the deal with Bernard, all this. Right. That they've done, that's great. Last year you had a draft where you got to the biggest games and the draft picks did nothing for you in those games.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

It's not enough. I don't want to hear anymore that rookies can't contribute. Doesn't mean they're a finished product. Khalil Shakir made some plays in the playoffs when he was young. Gabe Davis made plays in the playoffs when he was young.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

There needs to be players who step in and contribute right away from this team. So I do think there's a bit of a balance. They have been good, but I think you can do more.

[Dan Fates]

Well, I think we joked around when you were on vacation, Jen and I, and I said it was the Ryan Rosilla where he joked around about how he's been alive for every important, the most important presidential election of all time. This is the most important draft of Bean's career. Like it's as important as the last one and the one before that and then the, you know. So yeah, like I think there is that magnitude that goes into every single draft and the need now more than ever, whether it's because you now have a quarterback that you're paying what you're paying because you have come up so close, because you've had rookie, a rookie, you're coming off a rookie class that didn't really have an impact because you're coming off an off season where you traded away your. A former first round pick that you traded up. I think all of those circumstances come into effect when you look at this draft and the magnitude that it is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

For Brandon Bean, especially since the Bills have been so close. We talk all the time about getting over the hump and having. Mike, you mentioned like impactful rookies. I think sometimes, yeah. Because of what we've seen from the Bills. Sometimes I think we think, oh, you know what, the Bills, they like to have these rookies have almost like not a red shirt first year but kind of get their feet wet, all this stuff. Whereas there's other NFL teams, I think of the Eagles that obviously just won the super bowl, that have some first year players that are playing huge moments on the field. Cooper De Jean being one of them. Like it. Just because guys are new doesn't mean they can't immediately contribute. And that's. That is what. And a lot of people have talked about how this draft class does have the potential for starters to be out there. Like there's not a ton of top tier talent. That's a lot of talk. But there are the ability for, for GMs to find starting talent out there.

[Mike Catalana]

Osiris Torrance, right in and play.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Dion Dawkins, right in and played.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And that's not to say it's perfect, but it's obviously an immediate guy on the field that feels a need that.

[Dan Fates]

Kind of goes to the point of.

[Mike Catalana]

Draft better draft better players I. I'm.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, like, I hear you.

[Dan Fates]

So easy for fans to say. Sean McDermidge doesn't play rookies. And Sean has scoffed at that inclination before of, like, look at this. Like, Cyrus Horns comes in right in place. Spencer Brown, another guy that, like, comes in and plays and makes impact.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Christian Benford.

[Mike Catalana]

Christian Bedford. Yes, exactly.

[Dan Fates]

So, like, if there's one thing that we can get through on this podcast, it is the fact that if you draft well and perform well, no matter rookie or veteran, you're going to play for the Bills. You are going to start for the Bills. It's crazy how that works.

[Mike Catalana]

It also goes into the point I wanted to make. And this, I'll say this pisses me off when I hear people say this. They have 10 draft picks. 10 players aren't going to make the roster. I find that to be a dumb take. You don't have to have 10 players make the roster. Players can come from anywhere. The more picks you have, the more shots you have. You got a Christian Benford in the sixth round, right? You have gotten players in the later rounds. Don't tell me you can't make all these picks and have them contribute. There have been years where they didn't take as many players, but they got more impactful players. It doesn't mean you need to use all 10, but if you use all 10 and you take more players, it's more swings, more bites at the apple that they say. And I do not want to hear that this roster is so good that players can't make the roster. Absolutely they can. It's good. It's a very good roster. It is not where you're like, there's no spots, like, who's going to come in here and play as a rookie.

[Dan Fates]

Didn't we.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We said that. I said that before because here's my thought process and I don't know, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I would rather have the Bills go after instead of just being like, all right, we can smatter. We'll take guys throughout the first. You know, we'll do this. And then we have 10 picks. We'll get all 10 picks. I would rather, if there's a guy they really love and they're like, this guy could make an immediate pack impact on a roster. I would rather have them pack. Mike is literally chomping at the bit. Someone's gonna say that.

[Dan Fates]

Mike's also going to turn his mic forward. The mic.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We'll take the one.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, well, I gotta do it.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, there it is.

[Mike Catalana]

But I think you could hear me clearly when I was making that point.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, loud and clear.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think I understand what you're saying, Mike. Of like yeah, you're right. This, this roster is not so talented that they can't have 10 guys that are rookies make it. My more thought process is I would rather have you go and get the players that you really want to get, that you really think will work and then not end up taking 10 pics because of it.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm going to quote a very wise person, oh my God. Who once said two things can be true at the same time. Okay, yeah, I agree with you. If you want to use the capital to move up, go ahead. But do not pretend that having extra picks means they're all a waste of you. That would be, it's this idea that why do you need 10? Well, if you use them because to your point you want to move up. Great. Because now you're taking a shot at a what you would perceive to be a better player. I don't like the reasoning that this team doesn't need the extra picks because they have so many players on the roster. They need to fill special teams roles and Sean made that point at the owner's meeting. I think he wants to get back to having some special teams guys. You can find them in the draft. Yeah, you can find players who will contribute. I'm not disagreeing with you on using those picks if you think you can move up. I'm disagreeing with the point that because you have multiple picks, three picks in the fifth round, whatever it ends up being that you can't find players in those rounds because you had three shots at it. And maybe you're one out of three but that one is a Matt Milano that you end up getting. That was my point and I disagree.

[Dan Fates]

Because we're all respectfully disagreeing here. The fact that what this roster, what we, I, I feel like we've all had the consensus of agreeing is, is that this is a very well put Together roster from 10 to 53. Where the bills are lacking is that top, top tier talent. That's why we have always said Brandon Bean has done a great job of building a 53 man roster and the depth there has won you division titles. Depth isn't going to win you a championship. So when, when we're looking at guys that are immediate impact guys, I don't think the Bills may find that in theory what history shows you at 30. So I agree and that's why Jen and I have made the point of immediate impact guys, top challenge.

[Mike Catalana]

So I would argue that with this current roster you absolutely can find an immediate impact guy. At 30 they need a car rusher, a corner.

[Dan Fates]

I understand.

[Mike Catalana]

Maybe. And maybe another safety. There are players that. Wide receiver. Absolutely. This roster has competent players at those positions.

[Dan Fates]

Correct?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But at 30, absolutely. You can find a guy that can come in and start and be a contributor.

[Dan Fates]

I'm not saying that there's no chance. It's the fact of. It's also part of what we've talked about before you. The history has not been great in this first round and whether it's been small moves up adult and Kincaid a Ky or Elam, like I'm not trying to just bring up bad things in the past, but when we have said, and Jen and I, I don't mean to put words in her mouth, we look at this and go, this roster is pretty deep. What it's missing is what we had said this offseason. We had said it was missing the TJ Watt. We said it was missing the Miles Garrett, the top, top, top tier talent. That's what I'm saying. And to sit here and say you can find that at 30 is a little bit of a stretch to me that you're going to find. Again. We're talking about when we, when they played the Chiefs and everybody said, hey, the Chiefs were just, they had higher end players at big time positions.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And the Bills didn't. And I'm not saying you can't find.

[Mike Catalana]

An all Pro because the Chiefs traded up for their all pro.

[Dan Fates]

So it all comes back to draft.

[Mike Catalana]

That's what I was just going to say. I'm going to quote another wise person who said, draft better players.

[Dan Fates]

There's the open.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. I'm with you on all.

[Dan Fates]

I know, I know it's scrambled eggs. Like I know it's kind of all over the place. It's word soup.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Word salad.

[Dan Fates]

What did you say chicken salad?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. I mean, listen, I'm not going to go all Eagles here. You brought that up. Cooper De Jean went in the second round. Very impactful player drafted well. Yeah. Chris Jones went in the second round. Dion Dawkins went in the second round. Like that's why I say this 30 thing, especially with this draft in the right fit with the right player. I mean you may get multiple players who can contribute right away because I think there's a lot of really good players to go with some of your more exceptional guys. And I'm not disagreeing with you But I, I, Yes. Everybody wants to get a dude, right? You want to get one. Bill's had a top 10 pick. Got Ed Oliver. Really good player.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Maybe not a dude.

[Dan Fates]

So, like, looking around, Daniel Jeremiah, I thought had a really good tweet, he said. I Talked to several GMs that head coaches over the last week and everyone seems to agree this draft is a starter draft. Maybe not a ton of star power, but your goal should be to come away with three to four starters. They are out there. Go find them. I agree 100% with that. That leads me into part of what we are converging. My conversation I had with Field Yates about what his dream scenario would be for the Bills or what he thinks the Bills should do at 30. But that's. It's tough. I don't know how you feel. I feel like Jen and I kind of agree. I know there are some people out there that love draft like, they love the draft. They love the prospects, the combine, the, the measurements, the grind, the meetings, the, the visits, all of those things. I'm not going to pretend to be an expert and pretend to say I'm crunching film on 500 prospects like there are other guys. So to sit there, I, I kind of try and read and educate myself as much through guys that I know know more than me a thousand percent.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I just think what you.

[Mike Catalana]

No, no, no. I was just going to say to Dan, have at it. Let's hear from Field, if you want to go.

[Dan Fates]

It was very nice to catch up with Field Yates from espn. It didn't make the interview, but the first thing I complimented him on before we hit record was his hair. Yeah, it's elite. Here's Field Yates. All right. We're now joined by ESPN's Field Yates. Thanks so much for coming on Buffalo Plus. Really appreciate it, man.

[Field Yates]

Glad to do it.

[Dan Fates]

I want to start out. How's the shoulder? A torn labrum is no joke. I just want to know how we're feeling. Dude, honestly, not good.

[Field Yates]

I. It's funny. And I thought that I, I'm medically cleared. Like, I can do all the things that you need to do, most importantly. And you and I were talking before we got started about, you know, the, we are in the. We're in the trenches right now. We've got five combined kids, the oldest of which is four. Like, I can carry my kids and I can play with my kids, which is really the most important thing that I, I was able to get back to after the surgery. That being said, like, I'm supposed to play in a, in a golf tournament a little over a month from right now. It's after the draft, thankfully. But I haven't swung a golf club more than like five times in seven months. I went out to the yard. We had a decent day, weather wise. Recently, I took five swings. And I'm not here to tell you that I, I don't, I'm not Rory McIlroy in terms of power up there in the golf course. Right. I am a finesse golfer. And after five swings I was like, that doesn't feel right. So a little tight, a little sore. Not exactly ever going to blow you away with my athletic ability, but certainly not right now. But I appreciate you asking. It's. It's been quite a process.

[Dan Fates]

Absolutely. To actual drafts and Bill's news and questions for you. I want to start big picture. What do you think and how would you grade Brandon Bean over, say, the last five years? Because last year's draft class really had no immediate impact.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

On the playoff run that they had.

[Field Yates]

So I said that like, the most important thing you can do as a GM is find a way to like orchestrate high level winning. So my grade is going to be like, it's got to start as like at least a B plus for, for Brandon Bean.

[Dan Fates]

Right. But.

[Field Yates]

And it goes even higher from there. You know, the reality for the Bills is it feels like, you know, if.

[Dan Fates]

You look at some of their, like.

[Field Yates]

Biggest hits over the past or during the Bean era.

[Dan Fates]

Right.

[Field Yates]

We're talking about a monumental grand slam. Josh Allen is a Stones pick. Right. I mean, that's like that, that was a player coming out of college was divisive. It was the 2018 draft class where there were what, two quarterbacks that went ahead of him?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Field Yates]

And two others that were at least in the conversation. I'm not here to debate Lamar Jackson versus Josh Allen. The reality is those two clearly the two best quarterbacks from that year's class, but trading up to get Josh. I mean, I want to go back and check some of the analysis after that deal because I know that there were some who thought that Josh Allen just frankly did not have it at all. He was just too inaccurate, too raw. Just the kind of guy who's going to look more like maybe where Will Levis is right now. Through two seasons at Tennessee, like even last week, I was reminded of this, like Christian Benford, the same draft as Kyrie Elam. Right. And you take one corner in the first and one in the sixth, one from Florida, one from what Villanova. And you're like the guy from Villanova is now going to make 18 million bucks a year, so you can't nail them all. I would just say that my impression of Brandon Bean is that he's got the right level of aggressive. He's done a very good job at some of the most important positions. I have felt as though most of the Bills extensions have not only been smart investments relative to who they are made in, but good values as well. So I think Bean's one of the best in the entire NFL. The roster kind of speaks for itself. I understand there's this one big glaring hole in the resume. I'm sure Bills fans are sick of hearing this, but you know, if you, if you told me to expect or not expect a Super bowl at some point in the next five years for Buffalo, I fully expect one. I get it. There's a lot of great quarterbacks out there right now. But this is the MVP of the NFL last year, Josh Allen, one of, to me, the three, at worst, best quarterbacks on the entire planet.

[Dan Fates]

All right, so let's go to this draft class. Give me the dream scenario for Brandon Bean and Bills fans at number 30.

[Field Yates]

All right, so I'm going to throw a little bit of curveball here for you. You know, being obviously has been unafraid to move up in the order, right? He Dalton Kincaid, and that's the most recent example, I believe. But there's been a couple of other move ups that he has orchestrated. Josh Allen, of course, most notably, I feel like this is the year where they could trade back, do it again second straight year. They traded back twice last year, but the depth of this year's class, really strong on top of that. And maybe I'm just totally wrong and all the quarterbacks will go early, but in a world in which Shador Sanders doesn't go third overall and he instead drops down to the middle of the first, maybe even 21 for Pittsburgh. I think that happens because it also means that Jackson Dart and a Tyler Schuck are still available on the board. Maybe The Bills at 30 have teams like the Browns or the Giants that want to get back in and secure that fifth year team option for the quarterback and also beat others to the punch. In my most recent mock draft, I had them trading with the Patriots from 30 to 38 and then back up to 34 using some of that extra draft capital. And I just think that's a reasonable thing for the Bills to do this year because of the strength of this year's draft class because of the relatively slim number of needs that they have. And I also would argue this, the Bill's biggest need right now is corner. And if you feel differently, I'm happy to sort of talk through what you believe is the biggest need. But the Bills don't value the same things in corners that every team does. Right. This is a heavy zone scheme. Sean McDermott is also a whisper at corner. They're probably a little bit more comfortable waiting on a kid who maybe ran a 4, 5, 5, 40 as opposed to a different team that wants to put their corners and out there on island and say, you got that guy and if you don't cover him, we are screwed. Right. So there are a couple corners. Azaria Thomas from Florida State, who did not run a great 40 time during his pro day. You know, Benjamin Morrison from Notre Dame who didn't run a 40 because he's still dealing with a hip injury. I don't know exactly where his status is at, but wasn't going to run a 4, 440 in my estimation. You've got some corners that might fit the Bills archetype a little bit more in round two that would allow you to move out of round one and, and get some extra swings in rounds three through five. Where I think the meat of this year's draft class is, well, you lead.

[Dan Fates]

Me right into my next question because I do think corner. Obviously locking up Christian Benford is great, but there's still a big hole, like you said, at the cornerback alongside Benford at CB2, a guy that I'm interested in to get your take. Savon Revel. Like, what is the projection, the ceiling? What do you see? And the possibility of a fit because he was a guy that was probably going to be a top 15 for sure before the season. And now after the ACL injury, there's a lot of question marks. So where do you kind of see him fitting?

[Field Yates]

Yeah. So for those that missed sort of the timeline of it, he tears his ACL back in practice in September. ACL recovery. That's possible. I mean, we see tons of examples of guys coming back. The question is, if you're a team using a first round pick on a player who might not be himself to begin the season or even for the entirety of the season, There's a difference between return to play and return to performance. Then are you going to use a first round pick on Savon Revel? This guy has got excellent size, he's got elite speed. He is a terror with the football in his hands. Now in East Carolina. What they basically did was they said you, you've got the perimeter wide receiver. A lot of what that perimeter wide receiver is going to do is just run down the field and try to be faster than you. It's not going to work out. So what Rebel did at East Carolina is a projection relative to what he's going to do at the NFL where like the Seahawks are the type of team that forever under Pete Gerald, you know, that would be the kind of corner they would covet. He's super intriguing though. He's got an incredible story of perseverance, overcoming a lot to get to this point in the first place. So to me, somewhere in round two, just because of the year, Drew, but you're right, I think he's a first round pick if not for the ACL tear.

[Dan Fates]

All right, I gotta ask a question because my boss, Mike Catalana is in love with somebody out of Toledo. Darius Alexander. Yeah. Is he? His text to me when I said, hey, I'm talking to field today, what can I ask him? And he goes, is Darius Alexander a consensus first round pick? Your thoughts?

[Field Yates]

I don't think consensus first, but I think a, a top 50ish player. I think he's hovering. I'm working like day and night on getting the, the final top 200 set and I, I swear I had Darius either at 47 or 51 and I'm, I'm forgetting right now, but the bottom line is call it a top 50 player for Darius, who's a very experienced six year college player, had an awesome, awesome final season, was a great pass rusher during the senior boy, showed some of that against top competition. He's long, he is powerful, he's tenacious. And I am reminding people about how the NFL has shifted. I would say in, in the past few years. The top defensive tackle is Chris Jones in terms of pay $30 million per year. Not far behind him is now a guy in Milton Williams who became a free agent and the Patriots had to pay a bit of a tax because they're not a very good team right now. But he makes $26 million per year. That's an insane amount for a position. It tells you where the NFL feels defensive tackle has risen to in the positional hierarchy. This is no longer, hey, a defensive tackle is repl. A guard. We are seeing those two positions becoming far more popular and prevalent in terms of their, you know, top tier money because NFL teams acknowledge that you got these great quarter like Josh Allen is just too big and too strong for these edge Rushers to consistently just bring down. He'll run around those players at some point using his speed and power. It's hard when pressure is bearing down you in your face to run through 300 pound defensive tackles that are coming right at you. So I believe defensive tackle is a position on the rise which is why you're going to see a lot of the ones that can pass rush go very early in the process.

[Dan Fates]

I know you're a busy guy today. I got two more quick questions if I may. One, give me a defensive tackle that you love that will not go on Thursday.

[Field Yates]

Okay? Darius would be a good example of that one. Let me pull up the big board here and just think of some other day. Two defensive tackles that I love. A little bit of beauty in the eye of the beholder, what you're looking for. I'll give you one here though that I think is very interesting. And when I say do I love this player right now? Not sure I do. What I mean is that like am I guaranteeing that this player right now is going to come in tomorrow and contribute a high, high level? Do I love the potential of this player right here? It's Alfred Collins from Texas. Six foot six, 332 pounds with 35 inch arms. It's just hard to teach that kind of physical skill set. So I think Alfred Collins in time has the chance to become a very, very talented football player. It's just going to require some patience I believe because the tape was up and down during his time at Texas. He was one of those guys you kept waiting for and waiting for and waiting for it. That being said, I do believe that Alfred Collins in his best case scenario can be a legitimate game impacting defensive tackle.

[Dan Fates]

I always like to joke around, can't teach height, can't teach length either. Length, you gotta have it. One last one real quick. Wide receivers on the weekend. Not day one for the Bills, but somebody that the Bills fans can keep an eye on as a possible addition to Josh Allen.

[Field Yates]

Ella Gale Manor from Stanford, Canadian kid who I'm still trying to figure out whether he was a Bills fan growing up. I know a lot of Canada does love the Buffalo Bills. Eloquent Manor from Stanford. Kyle Williams from Washington State. Another example of a guy that can flat out fly. If you're looking for like a fun and I don't listen, this may not be what the Bills need but just a fun football player to watch. Savion Williams from tcu who they figured it out during his last season that the best way to unlock him was to make him a wildcat quarterback. Think Cordrell Patterson later in his career. Not the early, early days with Minnesota, but. But a guy who when the football was in his hands, good things happened. But was he the most natural receiver? No. Once they started scheming touches up for Patterson, he's become this very sort of fun Swiss army knife to work with.

[Dan Fates]

You're the best. You're the second person that has brought him up as we've talked on this channel about wide receivers. So Field, I really appreciate your time. Hope the shoulder gets better. Rest up for the draft. Very excited for all your coverage, man. Appreciate it.

[Field Yates]

Thanks Dan. I appreciate you.

[Mike Catalana]

What was the biggest thing from it that you want to highlight?

[Dan Fates]

For me, it was the fact of we've. I've always been team. Trade up. Yeah, trade up, trade up, trade up. I don't know how much sense that makes this year.

[Mike Catalana]

I can, I'll. I'll give you those scenarios and these are scenarios and what I did was do the numbers so what a potential kind of trade would be. So, so that trade up and trade back and then stay where you are.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I feel like they are going to trade back.

[Mike Catalana]

I, I got a good example of that.

[Dan Fates]

So I thought Field was really cool. I thought that that explanation too of he kind of said there's a lot of the meat of this draft class is the third through the fifth round. That that's where. And again the Bills have quite a bit of capital there. Field had them moving around a couple times back and then up in that second round and you know, kind of looking at the top 64 prospects and those kind of moves of what can be made for teams. The quarterback situation we know is always weird. Jackson Dart is now climbing up draft boards, things like that. So again, that was interesting to me where I've always been go up and get your guy. Which I still think if the Bills in my head and I know we're going to get into these picks but like if you have, hey, if this Guy's available at 25, we got to make a move. If and if you have three guys left, okay, we're comfortable waiting or, or moving back and making sure you still get their guy. I just don't want the Bills this year to seeming feel like last year they kind of got caught with their pants down. Like they panicked to move back and didn't know what they were doing. That that was. I remember our, that was my analysis after when we were up there at 1 Bill's Drive last year.

[Mike Catalana]

You Almost said it.

[Dan Fates]

I know I almost said it.

[Mike Catalana]

I know I put that in your head. They obviously last year wanted to get out of the first round.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

So that was a. A point that he was attempting to make. And then you make the pick on the player and we'll see how it is for this year. But it. The first year wasn't impactful enough. So I came up with a couple of scenarios. These are numbers because there is the. I gotta make sure it's. I think the name is right. Rich Hill from Patriots pulpit, I think is where he was. I apologize to Rich. He had the chart that appears to be the one that's a little more upto date than the Jimmy Johnson chart when you start going by the numbers. So do you want me to give you the trade?

[Jenna Cottrell]

So I have trade up first?

[Mike Catalana]

Trade up. Okay. Trade up is. I think if the Bills make a trade up, it's a relatively minor one, but it cost you assets. So I. An example of one. I had them trading up with the Rams. So the rams are pick 26 overall. Just to make the numbers work, they would trade up. Obviously you swap 30 for 26 and the Bills would give up pick 132, which is one of their fourth rounders. So it's still a valuable pick later. It's in the fourth round. You know, the comp picks start in the third round, so the numbers start to go back. So the Rams a future seventh. Just that last little number. You know, you try to get that there at the end. So they trade that and give up that to move up the four spots. And I was looking at the players like they've been linked to players like Amos the corner.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

But then you have people having gone all the way in the third round.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

This draft is wild that way. I think more variety or variable to volatility is really the word I wanted to use there. In terms of where people have certain players and they talk about fits.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, we have the same. Which one for the player.

[Mike Catalana]

Matthew Golden.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. If they were sold on him as a receiver, it would be kind of wild that they trade up this year.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But they do have a position open for wide receiver.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Here's my thought process on it. Last year we absolutely wanted them to do this. Brian Thomas, Roma Dunze still is in our Buffalo plus podcast studio behind Daniel. You can't really see it because of the glare, but it's never too late.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's never. It's never too late.

[Mike Catalana]

Hey.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I love what. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Hey.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, no. Sorry, guys.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, not that, but I mean, like, with this.

[Mike Catalana]

That depends on who caught the wide receiver.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Like, I kind of want them to push Keon a little bit. I think Matthew golden can be projected out to be a wide receiver. One, he's got speed, he can play all three spots. The agility, versatility, body control. He can make big plays. I think the wide receiver room is good. Fine, good. Slash. Fine. This would be able to take them to a spot that I think we've all thought they have been lacking if they hadn't had another top tier.

[Mike Catalana]

Could you see him trading up to get a wide receiver?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes, because he's a man and he never does it when he wanted to.

[Dan Fates]

There's the open part two.

[Mike Catalana]

No, but I mean, do you. Do you. It's. It doesn't appear to be the draft that has those players, but golden is one that you've seen. I mean, UV I've seen the Cowboys taking them early and I still contend the Cowboys, because it's a Texas wide receiver with speed, they want.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What are they, 14?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, they're 13. 14. They are on there. The possibility of that happening. And golden, you know, being a guy they want to put with CD Lamb because they've needed a speed receiver. So when you talk about that. So then if you were the Bills and you were to make that move, this is the part a deep draft, they go up and get the guy Jenna wants here. Now you say to yourself, okay, we've got this guy in the first round, we have two picks in the second, we have no pick in the third and only one in the fourth. So in this, what people are considering the sweet spot of the draft, you are okay, but you're kind of limited. No third. You got two twos, which is good. But in terms of this draft, I think it might make more sense to add instead of subtracting picks. Yes.

[Dan Fates]

So what about subtracting later picks to move up to the meat of the draft portion of it?

[Mike Catalana]

You can, but now you have to be convincing a team.

[Dan Fates]

And what would you also give up next year's? Well, there's a case or fourth or things like that.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, and that's a possibility. Now, some teams will look at next year's draft and say depending on the team, there's more quarterbacks in it and any ammunition they can get.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

I mean, that's what the Bills did. Added picks. And then when they went and got trash. Josh, now I have a trade down for them. Now, if you're trading from 30, Michael numbers over here, it's either you're.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You should see the font. His computer, it's enormous.

[Mike Catalana]

I just.

[Dan Fates]

I changed a ricochet. Well, this is actually a direct shot.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Sorry.

[Mike Catalana]

So here's. Here's my normal.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Mean girl.

[Mike Catalana]

And so I didn't expect. Oh, lost picture there. See what you did, Jenna? I was not expecting to wear the glasses, but I was like, heck with it. And then I had the bigger font.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So I'm sorry, Mike, I feel bad. That's not.

[Mike Catalana]

You should feel bad.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But it's. I mean, that's how I could tell you had Matthew Goldman was.

[Mike Catalana]

Because. Can you guys read it from the. There. So anyhow, I have a trade down. So if you're 30, you're trading into the second round. I mean, I guess you could move back. Well, it did before. You could move back with the Chiefs. Please, please do not trade with the Chiefs again or the Eagles at 32. Otherwise you're going in the second round. So what I had them doing, they would give up the 30th pick in the draft to the Jags. The Jags have picked 36 in the second round. Now, we've seen teams do that and then make another small move to get up again in the second round. You go back to 36, and then you see a guy is still there and you jump to 33 or 32 or 34, 33. But here's the numbers, and this is why I found this to be good. They drop back 30 to 36, which I do agree, sometimes when you look at the draft, we put the line of demarcation at the end of the round. Because it's 32.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

It's still six picks back. There's a difference between first rounders and second rounders with that fifth year option.

[Dan Fates]

Right.

[Mike Catalana]

And there is less money. But you move back six picks, the numbers would say you can add, in this case, add the 88th pick, a third rounder and a future seventh because it was like a point or two off. So you move back six spots and now you pick up a third. Now, when you look at what they have in the draft, they would have 36, 56, 62, and 88. You are four picks in the meat of this draft. And Bean has said he's always like, I've loved to have a third round pick. Which is great. The only thing better than having a third round pick maybe is two seconds.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Because he does. And that second is more valuable. Could you use the second of the two thirds to move back or the second of the two Twos and move back. Yeah, they're valuable picks, but this one I thought get out of the first round and had it. And that's when these other players. Isaiah Bond is the other receiver from Texas. My crush for this draft is Darius Alexander out of Toledo Maxion. And you've heard Greg Cosell. Greg Cosell raves about him. Yep. Now people can have their own opinion on Greg Cosell. He says all the time, I don't care about anything else. I look at production and what this guy can be. He believes that guy, more than maybe any other D tackle based on his skill set could walk in and start for teams year one. So I'm just thinking of the players you can have and still have 56, 62 and 88.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I was just giggling thinking about Mike crunching the numbers and being like things are a point off and him having like Trump's poster board. These are the numbers. These are my numbers, the numbers and these are the percentage points that we are all off.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh. Of like the chart for the trading.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So I. My one thing is though is. And this is what Bean will talk about, you have to have a trading partner.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And I feel like a lot of teams are going to want to trade back.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Now I made the point of trading back with the Jags because they had that third round pick. You will hear a lot about the Giants and the Browns if they do not take quarterbacks in the first round.

[Dan Fates]

Changes everything.

[Mike Catalana]

They will want to get back in the first. First round.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's true.

[Mike Catalana]

So a team like the Eagles could easily trade 32 for 33.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

That you can. You could almost guarantee that could happen if the Giants want to take Milroe late in the first round.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

Because they didn't take a quarterback, Lamar Jackson. They trade. Which ironically happened to be when the Eagles traded that pick when they had won the super bowl before.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

And it became Lamar Jackson late in the round. The Josh Allen draft. But that would make sense because that team is at 33 or the Browns are at 34. Yeah, you're right. But those are the kind of teams that want that guarantee of that will guarantee the ability to have that fifth year option if they're going to take a quarterback later in the round and jump back in.

[Dan Fates]

Well, I think that's part of what we've talked about too a little bit. Is like not only just the trading partner, but it's also managing that what you like and like where it falls because you're splitting hairs to some respects as hey, we're sitting there at 30. We have this guy as 33 on our board. Okay. Do you. Do you gamble? Do you try and trade back and hope that that guy's still there? Or do you just say, screw it, we take this guy? Or, hey, all these guys went off that we liked, but we have a guy that we like that's. We have 38th on our board. Do we just take that guy because he's the. On Bean? He'll talk a lot about his board. And you said it and you follow it. So that's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's why I can never be a gm. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

That's where I find myself being most interested in. I think it's a whole lot easier because we are not in the building. Thank you, Jenna.

[Mike Catalana]

You know, it's so funny. I will ask for this from the bill. So, Derek Boyko, I know you're watching. After I retire, whenever that is, I'm going to ask him for a retirement gift. I. I want to sit in the room for the draft. I want to be in there when it's going on.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Interesting.

[Mike Catalana]

And I just would have to. And it's easy for me. Just be quiet. Oh, I would be quiet in that room. Oh, I just would love to say it. I would love to watch it in real time.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I just think it's cool.

[Dan Fates]

Like, we ever seen draft day.

[Mike Catalana]

That's true. It is. He leaves the room and he goes with his pregnant girlfriend that he was working with, and. And then comes back and he's like, who's that GM in Jacksonville? Like, dude, I have.

[Dan Fates]

I wrote down seven players that I really like for the Bills doing research. Yeah, it was very. It was. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I know you're going to have one. Well, maybe two of the guys that we have.

[Dan Fates]

And so I sit here and I go, the Bills have three picks, and these are players that are projected in the top two rounds.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

I would try and do whatever I can. If I'm being. Whether that's trading back multiple times to get as in my head, how can I get three of these guys? Maybe four.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Cornerback wise, which I think, as Phil talked about, was. Is. Is key. I. I think where in years past we went, they need to get a wide receiver. I think they need a corner. Like, whether it's. And again, to Mike's point, it's not just for this year, which is massively important, but after that, this year, under contract wise, you. You look down the road, it's like, yeah, Dane Jackson ain't under contract next year. No what is? Like, you look and see. Like, there's not guys that are there long term.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's. It's keying in on your hands. So just.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, sorry.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's okay. Yeah. Okay.

[Dan Fates]

How about that? So I like that Terry Amos out of Ole Miss.

[Mike Catalana]

Is it Trey?

[Dan Fates]

Sure.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. By the way, I. All I know is because mine's in much larger font than yours.

[Dan Fates]

Mine's in my. It's Trey. Terry.

[Mike Catalana]

Terry. His brother Terry is a good player, too.

[Dan Fates]

Back up, Terry.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

So Trey Amos.

[Mike Catalana]

You should have made the font bigger.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Remember how I said I don't.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Dan's dad's research.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. I can't even write the guy's name right. So Trey Amos.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

Azaria. Azaria.

[Mike Catalana]

A. Thomas.

[Dan Fates]

Thomas out of Florida State who was.

[Mike Catalana]

Coming off a torn acl.

[Dan Fates]

Yes. Did not run.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Was he one of the Bills visits?

[Mike Catalana]

Amos was one of the 30 visits.

[Dan Fates]

Maxwell Harrison.

[Mike Catalana]

Thomas was Keon's. They were together at fsu.

[Dan Fates]

Apparently they had great. They talked about the. The competition. They had Maxwell Harrison. He's the guy I really liked out of Kentucky.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, yeah. He's been mocked to the Bills quite a bit. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Savon Revel is the cornerback out of ecu, who was phenomenal also, if you listen to his own. Savone Revel. What'd I say?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Sivan Savone.

[Dan Fates]

Okay, so Savone Revel, his junior. Yeah. His story. Yeah, his story's nuts. Like, his life, his journey, all of these things. Like, he's been. Could have been a Division 1 player for a long time. Couldn't get his grades up, tragedies in his family. Like, this guy has persevered and would have been. Could have been a guy that could transfer to a much higher team if he would have played this year and just tore his ACL in practice.

[Mike Catalana]

It's Christian Benford.

[Dan Fates]

Yes. I thought of that a little bit. And then the other corner I. I thought of was Benjamin Morrison out of Notre Dame.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And then there's a safety. I think if Xavier Watts is there at some point in the second round, or you can move up to get it. This guy led at his time in college, had the most interceptions. Like, talk about guys that cause turnovers, big plays. He's something like that. Then.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Like I said, if you're stuck at 30. Stuck meaning you can't find another partner. Kenneth Grant.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm with you on Grant.

[Dan Fates]

Like those. Those. However you want to divide up those seven, as many as you can is how I look at that as, hey, a safety, a corner Defensive tackle, check a lot of boxes. And the first two days of the draft would be huge, in my opinion.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, I hear you. I mean, it's. That's going to be the meat of. Of what they go after, I would imagine in terms of position, it is wild, though.

[Mike Catalana]

It is something. It's easy for us. I like this player more than that player. But when a team is judging that and they say to your point, how many swings can I take at it in this realm? And these guys can play. And while it may be disappointing if they're not stars, the Bills just signed. Well, Benford maybe is getting to that point. And I think Shakir can get to that point.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

As I told you guys, I was way ahead on him.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Shut up. Don't you dare.

[Mike Catalana]

No, I'm saying is becoming that. But man, having really good starters, that. There's no question. Question you want back Y is still a way to win, Right. It's great to get the other guys, but you still need those players. If you look to the corner position now, it. I'm not saying it cost them the Chiefs game, but it sure didn't help.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Because once Benford went out, they were in trouble.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

And so starters and depth is still important, too. So. Yeah, I'm with you on that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do we think the suspensions play it all into what Bean does in the first round?

[Dan Fates]

Great question.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Thank you.

[Mike Catalana]

I would hope that they don't play into it, as in especially early. Like, you got to take the guy you believe can come right in. I think if there's, you know, like, that's why I like Alexander. I think he just seems like the kind of guy who will step in and play and be ready right away. I don't think, based on the six games as much, I still think the Bills may be back in the market for other veterans.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

Because that's what you do.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

Sort of to fill that space until those guys are back. But I would hope, you know, we talk about it shouldn't be just for this year and you would hope it's not just for six games. But it also says, hey, you. You got a. You have a shot to really have a shot to start.

[Dan Fates]

It's funny you say that. Like, you research more veterans after the draft and it. It's kind of funny because remember Chase Claypool?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Remember that? I do remember when we were like, they have to walk out of this draft with three wide receivers and they walked away with one. And then all of a sudden, Chase Claypool.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Was like, hey, this guy, remember him? They were looking at him in his draft when he came out.

[Jenna Cottrell]

McDermott said he's on a mission. Yeah, I, sorry. I was just flashed through my head.

[Dan Fates]

It, it's in spring, then practice, two days.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He did get hurt.

[Dan Fates]

Yep, yep.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. And then.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, that was it. So.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

Okay.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Looking at the Bills 2024 draft class.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Keon Cole Bishop, Dwayne Carter, Ray Davis, Cedric Van Pran Granger, Eddie Ulafocio, Javon Solomon, Tylon Grable, Daquan Hardy and Travis Clayton.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

That is a draft class.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay. So Keon gets a lot of the attention. He was their first pick, second rounder. I'm feeling negative today on some stuff go off King.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't think there's a direct correlation between what you do on your private time sometimes, you know, if guys do Baker Mayfield did too many commercials.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, he's going to do it.

[Mike Catalana]

That's why he did this and whatever.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Can's been on a lot of podcasts and it's not at his time, obviously. He's got a lot of time. He's a young, single guy. He's got time and I'm sure he's working out and I'm sure he's doing all these things. I've seen him on some big time podcasts. Talking to me comes across a little more like an accomplished veteran guy who did something as a rookie. Instead, he left his rookie year with his coach and his GM saying, step up. And Brandon can say as many times as he wants. He's only 21 years old. That's fine. NFL is not for long. You drafted the guy in the second round, is your only wide receiver, as you said. You expect him to be better. He could come out and be great this year, be awesome.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

Then he'd be on every podcast.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

He's talking about. It's, I guess it's funny. It's like the team travel and all this kind of stuff. I, I, I don't want to hear that from a questionable high draft pick. Not saying he can't be really good.

[Dan Fates]

That's fair.

[Mike Catalana]

Like a little bit like, you know, you got Ocho Cinco telling him how tough it was as a young player and he's like, man, you know, I got it. I, I, I got this. I'm thinking the best of the best sometimes. Admit that.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

What did McDermott say? Biggest thing is knowing what you don't know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

So I'm just saying I'm not, it's not like, oh, My God, it's the end of the world. He's on, by the way. It's pretty big. I mean, he's on with Carmelo.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Carmelo Shay.

[Mike Catalana]

Shay podcast there with those guys. So he also.

[Dan Fates]

Maybe he's just following his gm, who's.

[Mike Catalana]

Also been on a lot of pods. Obviously, we started. Obviously.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we did.

[Mike Catalana]

We did. We got him. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Set the tone, Showed up. No, but looking at that draft class.

[Mike Catalana]

It is like, oh, yeah, Dwayne Carter flashes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think Ray Davis had some nice moments.

[Mike Catalana]

I. I think Ray Davis was productive. Productive, yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Basically, when he was on the field, you were pretty happy with what Ray Davis was doing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Scope of what they needed. The Colt Bishop one. I don't think we've talked about it enough. There's a big expectation for him this year.

[Dan Fates]

Has to be.

[Mike Catalana]

And I do think it was weird, you know, that, you know, he came in. He did come in early because Mike Edwards end up bad on my part to think he would do anything. He's back with the Chiefs now.

[Dan Fates]

Good for him.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. So he play there. You know, got showed some. Some.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But now we're talking about a guy who should be the starter.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

Or should. I'm sure it's a competition between he and demar, but I think they expect him to win.

[Dan Fates]

As I've said, if demar Hamlin starts for the Bills this year, it'll be more of an indictment on Cole Bishop than it will be on.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Demar Hamlin.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Also, what they do in the first or what they do in the draft is indicative of how they feel. They might tell you one thing, but they'll do something else. And if those don't line up, then.

[Dan Fates]

You know, Spencer Brown was always the biggest one.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

And Dwayne Carter, you know, I. I have some hope.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

You know, but again, to your point of the contribution. Yes, I know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

One hand in the other.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. No, that's fair. All right. Do we want to do credit to me?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. You want to start?

[Dan Fates]

I got two. Oh, one. I'll give myself a pat on the back, which I never. I never.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Michael, can you imagine?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm stunned.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Dan giving himself a pat on the back.

[Dan Fates]

Credit to me. I am really, really elite at taking car seats in and out.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, that's a good one.

[Dan Fates]

Like, I. I am NASCAR pit crew style with. With the car seats. And so maybe any other parents out there can relate to this. My wife got a new car. Got it from Bob Johnson, who was a proud Sponsor of Uncle Dan's Best Bets. We got a look at that. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

Kia Telluride. So it's got three rows. It has bucket seats in the middle.

[Mike Catalana]

So are you doing the commercial?

[Dan Fates]

No, I'm just saying. So. So our oldest can just walk back in. And it's. It's easy. I'm still in the midsize suv and to have all three car seats because Shane, our oldest, is in a booster seat. Ryan is in, like, a car seat. Your kids mix them up all the time. And then Taylor is in, like, the carrier that, like, locks in with the base. So all three. Shane's in the middle, and she's, like, squished. So unless I need to have all three car seats in my car, I just have them in my trunk. And it's just inner, you know, interchanging.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And I am there.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. I got there, and I'm a lead at it. Renee's like, it's going to take you forever. Give me 30 seconds. So I'm very good at that. My other credit to me is to my wife and my friends. We met them at Thirsty Turtle. Basil and Caitlin, they had their baby. Baby's doing great.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Amazing.

[Dan Fates]

All those things. Credit to Caitlin, who's our good friend. I think she's going to get Renee to watch Buffalo Plus.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Really?

[Dan Fates]

I think so. They went and got drinks the other night. And I know that Caitlin is watching this in Basil, her husband, because they say we put it on the TV when we're cooking dinner. They love all of the stories, all these things. And she's telling Renee about. Oh, my gosh, it was so funny when Dan was talking about you on the podcast. Renee's like, what did he say? What did he say? And she's like, finally, click. She's like, my friends are listening to it. I should probably start listening.

[Jenna Cottrell]

She listens to you enough.

[Dan Fates]

That's a great point.

[Jenna Cottrell]

She's probably like, I don't need.

[Dan Fates]

So I think it's like one of those things, like, when you're a kid and your parents are telling you one thing, you're like. And then when your friend tells you something, you're like, yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Credit to Caitlin and Basil. I think they may finally get my wife to watch the podcast.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay, big step.

[Dan Fates]

Big step. So shout out to them.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No. I was about to ask you if Jenny watches, but she listens to you way too much.

[Dan Fates]

She does.

[Mike Catalana]

She hears the podcast. She hears different versions of it daily. That brought it up. I'll go next. But I wanted to come off What Dan said, so I'm girl dad, girl stepdad, girl granddad. Yes. Right. I am not elite at the car seats. And so we had to swap them out. Dan was nice enough because he has equipment for all 15 of his kids. And so we borrowed one of those pack and plays, which are awesome. But the car seats. Put them in the car. Oh, my God.

[Dan Fates]

Should ask.

[Mike Catalana]

You know what the problem is? The trip is then. And then you get the kid in there and the kids are squirming and whatever it is. And you know, ours. Really simple. You guys were probably in a lot of trouble because. Yes, you're the same age as my girls. And I was like, they were not as secure as these car seats.

[Dan Fates]

Well, there's levels now built into the car seat to make sure. Really? Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

The old way is just like genuinely don't know that, but it will drive you out of your mind to try to do them. But we got them done.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So I have a dumb question. Do you and Renee both have car seats or do you have to. Okay, do some people just change them out?

[Mike Catalana]

I guess that's. Hell.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's gotta be.

[Dan Fates]

We have.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We're so expensive.

[Dan Fates]

We each have a base for the. The newborn babies.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Carriers. The carrier can just go in both cars.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

But then, like, Shane's just in this little booster seat, so it's just. She just sits on it like. Like she's not. And then she can buckle herself in.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And then Ryan is just about to turn to the forward facing car seat.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, okay.

[Dan Fates]

So, like, that's your second child. Yeah, that's the second one. It's just. Every day it's just like, okay, who do I. Who am I picking up? Who am I driving? Okay, I need to have these car seats in. Boom. We're ready to go.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. Love it.

[Dan Fates]

Michael.

[Mike Catalana]

Credit to me. So at some point in the spring, we're going to have the draft. Once we know the bill schedule, we're going to have the draft and travel. Draft Dan and Joe for us.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes, yes.

[Mike Catalana]

We'll have our draft for the travel. And you know, there are some flights. There are some. Some in the distance, depending on, you know, how it maps out who's going to the games. But we travel together, so it's. Most of the time it's two of us. Credit to me. I upgraded a credit card that will include lounges at the airports. Let's go.

[Jenna Cottrell]

This is breaking news.

[Mike Catalana]

Breaking news. It's one of those cards that cost a little more, but you can get some stuff back and my daughters are elite. Elite at using all the benefits because it's a little costly, but then you get a bunch of other stuff. So it comes with. And I checked on where many of the places that will be available to us are.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And it's the airports that we know and love. Charlotte, Atlanta, if we need to. Some in Baltimore and then like JFK and LaGuardia a lot of times. Philly, any of those that we connect in.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Amazing.

[Mike Catalana]

Because it is a lot to travel. It's in and out and. Yes. So credit to me, you guys can come along and you get to hang. And by the way, for Jenna, in some of these places, depending on how long it is, you can literally take a shower there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No way.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Thanks, dad.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. Wow.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Honestly, that is massive.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. It depends on where it is. So. There we go.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my gosh. That's huge news.

[Field Yates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

You guys, I'm g. To. You know, you guys are going to pay a cut.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I figured that was coming.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

There was a layup there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You took my Marriott points for like five years, so. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But you didn't have a card. You didn't have anything.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's fine. I still was like, yeah, you can have.

[Mike Catalana]

You're being engaged with your house and your new car and all this.

[Jenna Cottrell]

New car. I. I needed a new.

[Dan Fates]

Your old car was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

My old car was.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Not.

[Mike Catalana]

Wonder if that car's still going.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know. Okay. I worry about that.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay. So my credit to me is actually going to my grandpa because this weekend will be his 100th birthday. Saturday, April 12th. And so Dan has alluded to this on the podcast before. I love writing letters, and I get that, I think, from my grandpa because I have here the letters that my grandpa writes his 10 plus grandkids every week. And he's a stamp collector, so. Stamp collector. So he has like all different stamps on them and he uses his typewriter to write out letters. Like, it's like, really cool, really impressive. He's hilarious. He's sweet, funny, kind. Like, he gets everybody laughing. His nurses love him. He's pumped to be turning 100, which always makes me laugh. But they're having a big party for him this weekend. Can't go because I'm actually in a wedding, but I know my family's gonna have a great time. And I just think it's like the.

[Dan Fates]

Little stuff, but it's like a trip back in time.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It really is. And like the house. My grandmother passed away a couple years ago, but the house is like Just the antiques in there. Just. I mean, he's literally 100 years old, but it's. It's just really cool. And he's. He's such a special person. So.

[Mike Catalana]

And your grandpa's name is Tom Cotrell. Tom. And is. He watched the podcast? Have you gotten him to watch? He.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So he's not.

[Dan Fates]

Imagine this, Mike. She said typewriter.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, imagine this.

[Dan Fates]

It wasn't a Google Doc that he's printing these on.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't think he's ever had an email address. Like, my grandma. My grandma used to do everything. Like, if you FaceTime, he's like, what is happening here? But, yeah, I used to typewrite.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, that's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, hold on. Let me see if you can. Yeah. Now that. Now that he's older, he will. He just clips out the newspaper and he'll always send, like, comics. It's really cute.

[Dan Fates]

So nice. Quick side note, when you said that your. Your grandpa doesn't have an email address, which is totally normal to be 99 years old, not have one. Did I tell the story that we went and signed up at Costco? You know how they try and push you on all these things? And they asked Renee for an email address, and Renee, like, didn't want to get upsold. And she goes, I don't have one. I swear to God. I looked at her like, the. Are you talking about? I go, it's 2025. They're like, yeah, we just need your name, number and an email address. And she goes, I don't have an email address. And the lady was like, well, you're lying. But it was the most bizarre thing ever. I was embarrassed to be standing next to somebody that is. Was my wife and be like, don't have an email address.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Could just tell them. She's like.

[Dan Fates]

Because they do try and upsell you. You're like, I just want the basic membership. Like, well, if you do this and you can do this, then you'll get this, this, this. And I was like, renee, I'll do the talking. Just want the basic all set. Save your breath. Like, respectfully, we're all set. And he goes, well, we just need an email address from. My wife goes, I don't have one. Like, what are you talking about?

[Mike Catalana]

By the way, do you ever have that with somebody who has a. Just an awful email address that they've never given away?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

You know, or gotten something simple like your name and Gmail?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

One of my girlfriends in college, her first name is Samantha and her last name is Heart, and it's the first letter and your last name at Syracuse. It was sharp. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

DJ Fates.

[Mike Catalana]

Yo, yo, yo.

[Dan Fates]

Try to be professional. Sorry, dj.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So there's that. All right. On that note.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Hey, a couple shout outs, quick. Jenna and I were at Dinosaur Barbecue with our friend John Doss, who was in town, and his kids and guy came up. Eli watches the pod was very cool, very nice. We appreciated him stopping by to say hello. And my friend Sean Mullen, who I actually Masters week. I went to the Masters with him.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's so cool.

[Mike Catalana]

This was years ago. Yeah, he used to work with me at channel 13. He texted me this morning and said, my son, I think he said just one of his sons. He's got like 15. Like you do. Thinks loves the podcast and thinks his dad is really cool because he knows me.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Wow, look at you.

[Mike Catalana]

Look at that. You're helping out another generation. So, Sean, you're cool enough, but, you know, get them all watching. That's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

How about that? All right, perfect.

[Dan Fates]

I don't have an email address. Just so good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't have an email. All right, thank you so much for joining us here on Buffalo plus, presented by Connors and Ferris. For Mike Atlanta and Dan Fates, I am Jenna Cottrel, sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. We will catch you next time on Buffalo plus, presented by Connors and Ferris.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, no.