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A
The draft is almost here. We look at playmaking wide receiver options for the Bills, including one that would take some bean magic, plus another playmaker that Dan might actually not hate. And Jenna makes a power move that's been a long time in the making. All that's coming up on this week's edition of the Buffalo Podcast. Hey, everybody. Welcome to the Buffalo Plus Podcast, brought to you by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana along with Dan Fates, and, yes, Jenna will be joining us in a moment. And I know if she was here at this second, she'd be saying make sure to, like, comment and subscribe, most importantly, to the Buffalo plus podcast. And there's a lot going on, Dan, a lot that we want to talk about. But, you know, we're just going to start with the biggest news, I think, of the week, and we'll do the off season. It really is. It honestly, is it. It may be the biggest news in Buffalo Plus Podcast history. And here we're gonna have it.
B
You guys are the worst.
A
Okay, hold on.
B
Okay. I got a new microphone, and the stand that Mike and Dan bought for me actually works, so I want to thank God, the Academy, my credit card, which I'm afraid to look at the bill, but I have made a big ticket purchase, which is very hard for me. But now we're here.
C
You'll drop $70 on sushi like it's nothing.
B
Oh, yeah, no, no. That is my toxic tree. I think I need sushi every night for dinner, but I can't buy things that I actually need. Well, but I did. I did. Does it sound good? Let us know in the comments.
A
Phenomenal.
B
Okay. Yeah. This is a big step for me.
A
I can hear the applause.
C
Yeah, you're like a real person now, like a real sports reporter.
A
Wow, Podcaster.
B
Honestly, Dan, coming from you, that means a lot. I know that was. That was a lot for you to say. No, I do. I do appreciate it. Thank you for everyone in the comments, as well as Mike and Dan for making sure that I needed a new mic. Thanks for that. Really hat tip on that, but no. Yeah.
A
And the mic stand combo puts you at just a whole nother.
B
Anything I can do with my hands? Grab my water. You can write. I got my notebook here. We are set.
A
All right.
B
We are ready. We're talking draft. I feel the possibilities are. Honestly.
A
Well, you're in charge, as always, of the podcast, so.
B
Yeah, I'm in charge. You can just leave it there. That's good.
A
Yeah, we're not going that far.
B
All right, well, let's get to it. We're a couple weeks away from the draft. You two are going to Vegas, which I know a lot of people Dan is very excited about as well.
A
First trip to Vegas?
B
Yeah, ever.
C
I went when I was like two or three. My parents.
B
Okay, that doesn't.
C
Doesn't count, right?
A
No, that doesn't count.
B
Yeah. You weren't at the boss.
C
Some people do bachelor parties. I'm going with my boss.
B
Nothing says Vegas like having your supervisor there. All right, so let's talk about the draft and what we expect or maybe think or players that have caught your eye. Mike, let's start with you. Someone you think could be a good fit in Buffalo. A skill set would fit and it'd be a boost for this Bills team.
A
Well, let's start with this. We've talked about it. There's multiple ways they can go, and we'll focus on the first round here because that's the first day and a lot can change, as we know. We. When you're in the position they're in 25th, when it should be 32nd picking, and you start looking, man, at all these wide receivers and all these guys that are out there. If you're going to make that move, yes, they could go corner. Well, we know they can go defensive end. You know, Bean's going to find one. If they're out there, he's not afraid to use it. We know there's other positions they can go. I threw out the whole, you know, make the play for Kyle Hamilton last week, and I'm still going to hold on to that one as we get out to Vegas. May I put a little money on that one while we're out there, Dan?
C
Hot.
A
But I got another big ticket move, and this is a guy that Dan talked with at the. At the combine, and this would take a little Bean magic, because I think this guy is going to go early and I'm talking about Jameson Williams out of Alabama. He can fly. The guy can fly, Dan. I mean, I know he had the ACL tear. We'll talk about that. But you talked to him when you were out there with him in the news conference about his speed. Let everybody know the kind of things he says about his own speed.
C
Yeah, he's got. He said, quote, I've got speed you can't teach. And we. If we know one thing about Brandon Bean, he said, you know, part of the reason of adding Emmanuel Sanders was last year was to, you know, to keep his fastball. You know, that. That was one of the things he said, after losing John Brown. And if you look at the Bills roster right now, they just don't have a deep threat really, to go along with Josh Allen's big arm. And that was one of the things that we thought, look, Diggs caught a couple deep balls this year, there's no question. And Gabriel Davis has caught some as well. But like an actual guy that you talk about stretching defenses, taking the top off. And yes, Jameson Williams kind of really came on. His backstory is he was pretty much the third or fourth wide receiver when he went to Ohio State, didn't play at all. It came down to Ohio State or Alabama didn't play because Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson are also studs and Ohio State didn't really need to use them. He goes to Alabama last year in the transfer portal, Nick Saban calls him up and then he pretty much explodes and he has an awesome year. They probably win the national championship game if he doesn't tear his ACL or you can make that case against Georgia. So he hasn't. He's coming back now. Mike, we've seen in Jenna, we've seen him start to do some. The rehab work from when he tore his acl. And then the funniest thing was he, he does have a personality. Some of these guys when they were at the combine were so boring. And if you've never been to the combine, it pretty much goes like this. These players come up and they say, and there's all the media and they say, have you spoken to the Colts? And the guy goes, no. And the guy goes, who do you. What do you want to show a team this weekend? That I'm the best wide receiver out here. And then they go, have you spoken to the. The Steelers? The guy goes, yes. And they go, what do you want to do to. And like, it just on that he had a little bit of a personality. He. He joked around that, you know, it was at Lucas Oil Stadium where he tore his ACL in the national championship game. He's like, no, I didn't really care. He's like, I've watched it a bunch of times. I wanted to see what happened. I don't know how it happened. And he added to the. That he was asked if he ran a 40 at Alabama, and he kind of laughed and said like, no, we don't run 40s at Alabama. And he said, oh, well, you're not obviously running today, but what would you run as a 40? And he said, the fastest. And he laughed and he goes, I don't Know, he goes, whoever runs the fastest 40, I'm faster than them this week. And I was like, that's awesome. Yeah, the guy's got a personality. He would charismatic, fun, fun guy. That was my vibe. And I think he would add a ton with him and Diggs.
A
Well, Jenna, fun and fast, that's great. Yeah. But there are two issues. One being Dan just said it, he tore his acl.
B
Yeah.
A
January and coming back, but you got to weigh that. And the other one, Jenna, is the bills pick 25th. I don't see any way anyway, unless something comes out right before the draft that this guy last 25. So the question would be, do you think it's in Bean to make the big move draft wise and make a move up to get a wide receiver?
B
I think all of those things could be in play. I actually don't know if it would be Williams though, just because of the ACL tear in my mind really stands out just because it just happened. And you want to see guys kind of fall into form after that, the rehabbing process. But for some players, they, they don't return how they used to. And I'm not saying I hope that's the case with, you know, Jameson Williams or if that's even going to be a factor, but I know for some people, speed can be something that is affected long term after having an ACL tear. And if that is one of the things that's the top of what you have in your scouting report. I would has have reservations about using even more draft capital to go after a guy like that just because of maybe the question marks. Now look, you look at Buffalo, you look at their medical staff and how well they've been able to keep players on the field. They've been able to rehab guys. Obviously Trey White coming off the acl, we'll see what he looks like this upcoming spring. But I just think I could see a guy like him actually kind of falling during the draft because of those question marks. Now, I think the Bills are going to stay aggressive. I don't think Brandon Bean has it in him to, you know, he has to sit on his hands. I feel like during the draft sometimes, because he gets so excited, which is fair, he knows what he needs to do. But Jameson Williams is a guy. I understand the hype. You see what he has done. You see the personality. And like Dan said, when you're being lulled to sleep at the combine, talking with someone who connects, you feel drawn to them. You're like, wow, this guy is someone who you can Kind of, yeah. Because it, it can be so boring.
A
Yeah.
B
But at the same point, I just have that, that big question mark and is it worth investing your draft pick and then even more to go up and get a guy like that? I feel like I would be a little bit more patient. Maybe. But again, I think that's someone that's incredibly talented and the upside is huge. And it's there. And like Dan said, having a guy that could take the top off the defense is something the Bills don't have. When you look at that offense, you just, you don't have that type of speed. And having someone that can have that next level, I think could open up this team even more. So I get the upside. I just have questions.
A
You're right. I would just say that. We know the Bills as a franchise have been obsessed with Tyreek Hill.
B
Yes.
A
Saying he's Tyreek Hill, but there are moments when he is going absurd. It's absurd. It's. It's, you know, it's comically fast.
C
He's com.
A
Video game fast.
C
Yeah.
A
And he moves away from people and he does. It looks effortless when he does. And that's the element this offense has been missing. They are a lousy run after the catch offense.
C
The worst. No, no, no. They're not lousy. They're the worst. Josh Allen had the fewest yards after reception in the NFL and the most, like I said, he threw for over 4,000 yards and it was only like 40% or 31% of his yards came after the catch. Like, that's comical. Like, you look at everybody else and we're. That's what Tyree Kill has. He can catch a five yard ball and then turn up the sidelines. He did it in the game, in the playoffs and he's gone. And, and Williams has that. There is. There's no question about that. And I'll say two things. One, every team needs a wide receiver. That's what's going to make this wild. And if you don't believe me, the Chiefs need wide receivers. The Dolphins, like, you're either trying to sign a number one guy to a massive deal or you are in the market and you are linked to one of these. I've got six guys that I think are wide receivers that, that could go in the first round. So that's one thing. And two, Jenna, I understand your point about the ACL. This isn't 1980, though. Like, I'm not saying that ACLs are nothing anymore, but it's a rather routine procedure. It's kind of like getting an oil change at this point. And what they do say, they do say is the fact of the better the athlete you are, the faster you recover. And if you are comically fast like Jameson Williams or, you know, Adrian Peterson, kind of set the mold, but you do recover faster. That's why they have faith in, in training back. I got Mike going on something.
A
Oh, I'm just laughing. You just compared an ACL surgery to getting your oil change.
B
I mean that's, that is. I get what you're saying. It is not 1980. But at the same point, I think you have to be also realistic about sometimes things happening when the human body is trying to.
A
You're right.
B
Yeah. And also you look at players that the Bills have been able to draft in later rounds. Gabriel Davis being one now, his skill set is different than Jameson Williams. Gabriel Davis was a fourth round pick. There's speedsters all over the place.
A
Yeah.
B
So there's that as well. I'm just saying I have reservations.
A
Well, I will tell you this, Janet, if there's any reservations on Brandon Bean's part, not only are they not drafting him, I mean not moving up, they. You wouldn't be drafting them if you really believe this. I think more likely with a guy like Williams is whoever picks him is going to almost go under the assumption he starts out, you know, they can put him on a PUP list and he starts out with the idea that he's not going to play the beginning of the year. The idea. And then we know what happens, Dan. They get to camp and the stories you hear is Jameson Williams is ramping it up. Jameson Williams is doing this. Then next shaft or breaking news. The plan for the, you know, Miami Dolphins would be, well, I guess, who knows with Miami. The plan for the New York jets is Jameson Williams is trending towards playing on opening day. I mean, that's what ends up happening. But to your point, there is the idea is, oh, do we take this guy now in this case or and do we add assets? But you said it, Janet. Could he fall if he does for some reason start to go back. Look, he's. You can't be trading up to the fifth pick to get the guy. It's too much draft capital. I don't care almost who it is. But if he starts to drop for some reason where other teams maybe look elsewhere and some of those quarterbacks go earlier, then you look around. But I think there's a lot of teams, like Dan said, that are in the wide receiver market.
C
It's Insane. It's insane. And like I said, but everybody's, everybody's saying they're in and everybody says they need one. But Jenna's right. There is, there is depth at this wide receiver position, but there is a, there's a drop off and it's great to have depth and Gabriel Davis is, is great and to find a guy for like what these guys skill sets between Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson and Traylon Burks and, and, and, and Landon Drake, like they're different. They're, they. The upside of Jameson Williams to me would make me want to move up if I had to. If you have. Because that's how much upside I think he has and what he could bring.
A
All right, so here's another guy and this is different. This guy is smooth as can be and he's big.
C
That's running away from Alabama defensive backs.
A
Yeah.
C
If you're listening to the podcast, this guy, they're saying that he's, he's not fast enough. He didn't run a fast enough 40. Traylon Burks is making catches flat footed and running away from Alabama defensive backs. This guy is different.
A
Yeah. And he's six foot three two. What do they list him as? 225 and NFL.com I think it was Lance Zerline said he's A.J. brown with more sizzle. Sizzle I think was the word. You know, more moves. I mean I listened to him talk. Sounds like the kind of guy who's got his head on straight, knows what he is, is ready to come in. You know, physical player, like different. You know, he's, he's a smooth strider kind of guy that gets down the field. Like you said, Danny's running away. It's a different kind of special physical traits than what we just talked about with Jameson Williams. But he is, he's the kind of guy that somebody's going to make a play for. I think early in the draft there.
C
Was a big, you know, everybody wants to find the Debo Samuel as we've said before. But there's, but like he, the way that Burks has so much versatility playing the slot, starting in the backfield, putting him out wide like he did it all at Arkansas. And again he's not going to get enough credit because he was at Arkansas like, but he still went up against SEC talent on a weekly basis and that means something to me. And I see him as like Isaiah McKenzie on steroids. Like not Debo Samuel, but a guy that could do a lot of those things instead of in a 5, 8 body. It's a tight end body.
A
Well, how about.
C
And he's big and he's fast.
A
How about Cordero Patterson? I mean, term in terms of size and speed and power. I mean, but at 21 years old and coming right out of school again, he's the kind of guy would not surprise me if he goes 8th or 18th or 28th.
B
Yeah.
A
Like, there are so many players. You. You see, that's the thing about this. There are so many options. And to Jenna's point earlier, there's options in the second round. Teams have other needs. We know the Bills have other needs, but Jenna, that's the kind of. Kind of player you'd be using. I mean, obviously. Oh, yeah, extensively. Day one, I think, too, when you.
B
Look at it like you. You talk so much about how Brandon B. Wants to keep this fastball, and I think a part of that fastball is having receivers with different skill sets.
C
Yeah.
B
And that's so huge. And to have a big, physical guy that can have those contested catches and also have the ability to go for speed as well, like, that is a unique type of player. Even just watching those highlights for the people that are listening, like, it's a. He's like a bruiser. Like, it looks like a bull in a china shop. Almost, like, looking at him and his ability to play. And I think, yeah, like, I think that is someone that could have the ability to really elevate this offense as well. And Dan, like, when you talk about it, I mean, there is so much depth at this receiver in this receiver class early on, like we talked about. But do you think this is a guy that could fit in with the Bills? Like, do you see him having a spot, especially since we've known, like you said, Tyree Kill and those kind of comps are a player that the Bills are interested in. But I feel like he would have a solid fit in this offense, and.
C
I think it'd be something they would have to work in because it's something they don't have. Like. Like he's. He's a. A more explosive Dawson Knox, like. Like with. With his hands and. And things like that. He's the guy I think that could be inserted in day one and doing three different packages. Like, I just feel like you could use a bunch of race. Jameson Williams may be, like you said, John, to your point, like, he's one of the guys. You're probably gonna have to hold back and say, like, not. You're not going to be in every, you know, formation you're we're. And then next year be easier. Burks, I think, comes in right away, plays in a ton of different things. If that's the case, he could play more of the slot. You would put Gabe Davis more on the outside. Jameson Williams could rotate in with him. Like, you have a lot more versatility with Burks than you do with Williams. So it's just a guy that they don't have. Not many teams do have a guy that can go 6, 3, 2, 20, run away from cornerbacks and pull away in open field. So it's a luxury. It's. He's different and to Mike's point, he's a guy from the south, hunts hogs just with like a knife and dogs. Like, he just takes his dogs out, they get them and he just goes after him like he's. He is built different as, as the. As a Bill's hoodie would say.
B
Oh my gosh. Mike, my question to you is having a guy that you can kind of plug in place right away as opposed to having a guy that maybe needs a little bit more time or maybe even a season. Do you think that factors into Brandon Beans decision with this team kind of all coming together? Like, do you think there is. If I'm. If you're Brandon being. Are you like, I want someone right away or are you willing to take a guy that's maybe more of a quote unquote, not project, but someone that needs a little bit of time?
A
I think at the wide receiver position, it's changed. It used to be so many of these guys, you'd wait, wait to see what they can do. No, no, no. If he's picking anybody in the first couple of rounds, he's got a plan that that player is going to be on the field. I mean, you take a guy, you take a flyer on a player even like Gabriel Davis, I mean, that wasn't really expected in the fourth round. And look at what he contributed as a rookie with a good offense and the way he came right in because he proved that. I think they came in with the idea is let's see where this guy can be and he became that guy. Now, first of all, you're putting three, four at times, you could have five wide. He's got a role on this team. There's no doubt whoever they're picking, if they're picking a wide receiver early, that guy is playing and that that's their plan at least to do that. So. And these guys have shown the ability to do that.
C
Yeah.
A
And so I don't think, you know, when we, when we talked a little bit about Jameson Williams and the acl again, if that's the consideration and it's just monitoring that. But at a certain point, they fully believe if they're taking that guy. This is no guy. This is not Willis McG with a red shirt year and coming back a year later, this guy would be playing.
B
Yeah.
C
And it's Mike you talk about. It's something. I was on the radio and somebody's asking me, like, why are wide receivers getting these massive contracts all of a sudden? Like, this never used to happen. It's like, because that's what it's. Justin Jefferson came in and broke every rookie wide receiver, you know, receiving record.
A
Yeah.
C
And then Jamar Chase comes in the following year and breaks all of his. Like, teams are now seeing this type and the way that the NFL is going, like I said, they ran the fastest 40s ever at the combine this year. And a lot of people are saying too, like, wide receivers are slimmer and faster. Like, like they're just, they're different. We're in a different age of football. So to make those adjustments and change. You're right, Mike. Like, there are no. I mean, even you look at Jordan Love and these guys, like, oh, hey, you're a first round pick. Like, you sit and wait. It's like, doesn't work out that way. Like you're in and you go now.
A
Yeah. I mean, I would say with a guy like a quarterback, that's possible because you're only playing one quarterback during the game.
C
Yeah.
A
Wide receivers are on the field. Now. You talk about other guys. Here's a guy, Johan Dotson out of Penn State. Athlete been compared to Emanuel Sanders, which is really interesting. Now look, you know, I mean, when guys are running that wide open. Wisconsin, what are you doing there? We're showing video of him, but he gets down the field. He's smaller, 511, 184, but he moves well, can play in the slot. Not afraid of contact. That's not his strength. But he gets down the field and he can take off. Another guy with speed, I would think this would be the possible type player that is there closer to their pick. He's also the kind of guy that could slide. I mean, you, you. We just don't know. Yeah, but again, there's a big difference between making a move. You're sitting at 25 and he's available and he gets past that point there where I know the Eagles have two picks, the Saints have two picks. All Of a sudden, if a guy gets past that certain point, you know, teams that have an extra pick that are in need of a wide receiver, that you might get more aggressive or go to one of those teams that has multiple picks if they're not taking one. So I, I mentioned him. The. Chris Olave is the guy, I mean, that some people have as the number one wide receiver in the whole draft.
C
And other guys have. Garrett Wilson, his teammate from Ohio State.
A
Yeah. You know, a lot of these been compared to Terry McLaren. There's a pretty good comp. Another, he's going to get traded too. And by the way, there's reports out that Debo Samuel could be on the move. I mean, it's like.
C
And DK Metcalf's got to get paid. Guys like all these things are happening and then. And then the other one just finishing on wide receivers. Drake London.
A
Yeah.
C
From USC basketball background. So, you know, Bills fans can go. Stevie Johnson is the first guy they always think of. But like went to USC to play two sports. Like, I mean, how, how freak of nature do you have to be to go there? And then it pretty much focused, bigger guy kind of guy.
A
He's like 65205, something like that. 210. Yeah.
C
And then we talked about Jameson Williams. And then there's John Mechi, who is another interesting guy who probably heading in at the end of last year after Alabama wins the national championship. You're probably saying he's the number one wide receiver coming off the board just because of how talented and dynamic he is. He was coming off of injuries and then tears his ACL in the SEC championship game.
A
Right. In the other Georgia game, he tears his ACL and he's an interesting guy. You know, born in the Philippines, lived in Africa. His. His parents were there, his parents homes where they are from. And then came to Canada. Was in Canada, you know, ends up in probably some prep school in Alabama, I think it was, and then ends up playing for Alabama. Very composed route runner, strong player, loves to block, you know, so, you know, that's, that's the one little added element sometimes that's thrown in there. But who knows? Hey, there's not going to be 14 wide receivers drafted in the first round. There's a lot of talented guys who are going to be.
C
Yeah, but there will, there will be reports that There could be 14 wide receivers taken in the first round and then the last one. That's interesting too that, you know, for me, I am team wide receiver in the first round. Getting a guy that can come in, take this offense to the next level. Jenna, I'm, I'm Team Burks and Jameson Williams been pretty, pretty vocal about that. I think both of those guys bring something to this team that they don't have currently. The other wild one is, is Sky Moore. He's a slot receiver out of Western Michigan. Interesting guy. He's being compared to kind of like an Edelman Welker in his three cone drill. Shiftiness. Again, played in the at Western Michigan, was a cornerback. Pretty much got recruited as a cornerback everywhere. This was the only place that would take him as a wide receiver. But really good instinctual slot guy, like a true slot guy. There's another guy that again, if the Bills lost, we know they lost Cole Beasley.
B
Yeah.
C
They bring in Jameson Williams. He's pretty much a band Aid. I think if they could upgrade at that position. You have Isaiah McKenzie, but again, he's kind of more all over the place. Yeah, those are just guys that I'm at. But Jenny, I love your comparison. We were talking the other day your thoughts on drafting a cornerback in the first round compared to drafting a wide receiver in the first round, in your opinion. You had, you had the food comparison.
B
Oh, well, no, I was talking more about like a playmaker. Like, okay, my thoughts are, you know, we talk so much you hate the running game, just in general, but when you call the person a playmaker, you're more or you're less appalled by that, I should say. So I was just thinking about it like the term playmaker. And if we were to look at Devin Singletary and Zach Moss as playmakers, you're like, oh, I don't really think they're. They're playmakers. It's like when you go to a restaurant, like, yeah, it's nice. Singletary is a nice, it's nice, it's nice piece. But that's something that you look at. You're like, that would be nice to have an upgrade there. That would be nice to have someone that could be not a nice restaurant, but a great restaurant, a reliable restaurant, like, things like that, where it's like when you just change the way you phrase it and you think of it as like, is this guy a playmaker? I felt like it was pretty obvious with Devin Singletary. And look, he had a good end of the season. He kind of came on at the end of the year. But a nice.
A
Jenna, let's go to your food analogy. It's a good appetizer. It's not an entree.
B
Yeah, I know, right?
A
You're like, yeah, I like them. I'll have a couple. I'll share it with you.
B
Yeah.
A
But when your dinner's coming, you're full on. You aren't giving that up.
C
Yeah, yeah, we need a full on. Oh, there's blog post and a vlog video comparing players to restaurants or appetizers or entrees. I think that would be Jenna's. That's Jenna's assignment.
B
I would. Yeah.
C
Like, you're like, oh, like, hey, cheesecake's good. Like, you got a bunch of stuff on the menu. Like, you got like, you have a big menu at Cheesecake Factory. But you're like, yeah, I want something better than Cheesecake Factory.
A
Yeah.
B
Yeah. Oh, yeah. Way too many options.
A
And it's about how much you have invested in it, right?
B
Yes.
A
You know, Jenna and I are at the Red Wings game. Lots of good options. Right. That you want to see. But, you know, we're the Wings game. It's like, that line's a little shorter. Let's go for that.
B
Yeah.
A
Not planning the whole day around it.
B
I'm still mad we didn't get fried dough. Really? You know what? We missed our opportunity.
A
We had burgers and fries and.
B
And. Okay, the medium sized drink at a baseball game was. It was like. It was. It was too big. Too much, too much. Should have gotten small. It's all right. But no, I. I just think going back to it, I think when you look at what the Bills have and you look at their roster, there is so much talent, obviously, and there's so many. You could do a guy off. Like, what are we talking about with other teams? But I just think that when you look at a guy like Devin Singletary and Zach Moss, I think it's something that's going to be addressed maybe earlier than people are expecting.
A
All right, I'm going to throw my two cents in here.
B
I'm not saying first round, 25th overall, you're taking a running back, but I'm.
A
Saying, well, we're going to talk about that here in a second. But I'm going to say this. Is this a hot take to say? I do not think the Bill's talent level as a group is that superior to the other contending teams. I think what makes them better than most of those teams is. Is 17.
C
Agreed.
B
Yeah.
A
If you take 17 off the roster and give the team a good starting quarterback.
B
Yeah.
A
I don't think the Rock. You sit there with the roster and go, wow. I think you say really good compliments, Josh Diggs. Is an elite talent and a great player.
B
You, you go Allen Diggs, Von Miller. And then if you know the Bills, you'd say Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, players like that. But in Trey White. But I think if you were on the outside looking at this Bill's team. Yeah. I could see why you would think.
A
And I'm not saying that they're, you know, like when we start saying we know Dawson Knox is a huge contributor to them last year. You know, if you're Kansas City, you've got Kelsey. Like there's guys that are a notch above even at the wide receiver position. You can make an argument that talent wise, Miami has the best wide receiver group in the NFL right now.
C
Yes.
A
Yeah, right. You certainly can make. But then they don't have the quarterback. So it's about complimenting. So Jenna, to your point when you can add high end talent. Dan was describing Jameson Williams and I'm thinking a guy you game plan for and are afraid of.
B
Yeah.
A
Is you need those guys on your roster too. And that that's what elevates the whole roster. What do you got, Dan?
C
Brandon Bean has done a great job of building a 53 man roster. I think the Bills 50th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd players are probably maybe some of the best in the league. Like he deserves a lot of credit for the depth that he has put out there. But there is a big difference and it's what we talked about with defensive end before Von Miller came in between depth and talent. And the Bills have kind of had a smorgasbord. It's all the same like, like their, their number one defensive end, Jerry Hughes isn't that much better than their number eight defensive.
A
Yes. And. And that's a problem.
C
That's great that your number eight guy is great or is solid. That's awesome. Your number eight guy is not going to win you a game. Your number one guy has to. And that is where Mike's. To Mike's point, you're right. Other positions and rosters as a whole, like there may be more talented rosters like you look at linebackers or other tight ends or you know, offensive line. But 17 is the Trump card to most of these conversations that you can have.
A
No doubt. And you know what? Micah Hyde is a great example of this. I don't think there's a player in the league I would rather have on the field for every snap of a game than Micah Hyde.
C
Yeah.
A
And that position works with the. I'm not even calling him steady. Is a Disservice to him. Just really good, consistent, smart leader. All those things back there in the secondary. Right. I think in that position, that's what you want. That's like the ideal you want. There are guys who take chances. There are guys who make big plays. Look at Diggs's brother at corner in. In Dallas. Huge plays and then big plays the other way. Yeah, I guess it's a little boom or bust, and some teams will take that. But at some positions, you don't need four decent running backs. You don't need four steady defensive ends. It's great to have those. But what the Bills went out and did is they got a. We need to get Mahomes down on the ground.
C
Yeah.
A
Defensive end. And they got that in the off season and spent a lot of money on it. That's the kind of move I'm looking for them to make now in terms of that running back position. Jenna, there's a guy out there that. All right, Dan Breeze Hall.
C
Yep.
A
What do you think.
C
First reaction is? And this is also. We're bringing this up because he's been mocked to the Bills in the second round by. By multiple people. I. I think Kuiper or McShay had him and I saw another guy had the Bills taking him at 57. Right. Is that when the Bill sack round pick is. I believe.
B
Yeah.
C
So I did a little, you know, looking into him today. My initial reaction is.
B
Like, okay, is it because of the position or is it because.
C
Because of his. He is so steady. Like, there's really nothing that he doesn't do well. Poor. Like, like, he's, he's. He does it all. Like, like, overall back, like very well rounded, all the things. Good vision, patience, footwork, all this stuff. He ran 4, 3, 9, 40. So it's faster than what a lot of people were expecting him to run. He just doesn't scream playmaker to me. He doesn't scream, oh, even, even. Like, I remember it was Devin Singletary was coming out and Bean had the. The comparison of he can make guys miss in a phone booth. Like, that's not Breeze hall. Like, and. And I think they need speed. And while he ran a good time. And it's funny, they. The Lance Zirline made. We go through his track profiles a lot. We don't. We don't crunch a ton of film spoiler alerts. We're not the All 22 here podcast. But just the fact of the comparison, the. The negative was that he looks like he's pacing himself all game. Like it looks like he's never like going all out. Now it's some of the runs I, I saw he looked like Le'Veon Bell, like sat behind the line, sat behind the line, set like good vision and then went for four yards. And like it is a skill getting three yards when there was, you know, you could have been negative 2. Like that is a skill is to get positive. He's had 800 plus carries and touches in college. Slightly worries me and a bunch of people said that he had a great combine, he had a great pro day, he proved that he can catch the ball. Like he's shown it. It's like catching a swing pass in a field house with no defender doesn't prove to me that you are a pass catching option. So those are my concerns. And the, the comparison is, is spot on. I think Lancerlein said it was. His comparison was Matt Forte, which was like, wow. Yeah, you watch him and you're like perfect, like smooth. Nothing seems difficult to him. Like, I never saw Matt Forte break a guy's ankles. I never saw Matt Forte. And like he played in a different time. And yeah, Matt Forte had seven good years. Like, no question about it. But Matt Forte also caught a hundred passes one season and I don't think Bree hall is doing that.
A
Dan Daniel Jeremiah former NFL exec NFL Network 25th overall Buffalo Bills Reece Hall Wow.
B
Dan is so scared right now.
A
He's gonna mock a. Mock the idea.
C
I'm so upset right now.
A
The idea of being a need as A. Is a 6 one built like a guy who can handle more carries and did have, I think he had five runs of over 65 yards, something like that during the season in the Big 12. I waited on that.
B
You need someone more explosive. I feel like what we had when, you know, the Bills drafted Zach Moss was. We thought it was thunder and lightning, lightning and thunder, Debbie, all that stuff. But they turned out to have pretty similar skill sets.
A
Yep.
B
Yeah, I feel like you just, you see the potential with Singletary and look, he came into camp last year in the best shape of his life, as we all know. But. And again, he found a rhythm later on in the year. But I think you just want, I mean the video we see, like this.
C
Is bad podcasting, but we're watching the films again.
A
Yeah, well, I would put it to this way. Kansas State didn't tackle a lot of.
B
Say there's huge holes, like he's catching.
A
A ball out of the backfield here, I'll describe it to you. He catches it and he runs like.
C
Wow, what a, what a route he ran. He's so involved in the passing game. West Virginia, nice. Nice tackling.
A
Oh, West Virginia is terrible.
B
Wow, that was bad.
A
They are terrible.
C
But Big 12 defense. Guys, here's why I'm not drafting.
A
Here's why I'm not drafting a running back in the first round. It would have to be. Well, not just that, it's also. Yes, it is. Your. Your point is right, in terms of how you use that back and in the same way, it's not that you got to be looking towards four years from now, but boy, you got that fifth year option position and I mean even the dynamic players. Look, honestly, I still think Saguan Barkley may be out there for somebody to have. And Dan's made the point of going for him for the year and, you know, taking the flyer for one year in terms of a difference making potential back, that could be the kind of thing that happens. Could happen on draft day for all we know.
B
Yeah.
A
A deal like that to happen. A lot of times those things happen right after the draft when we see what teams do, but could be, if it's for a pick, it could be. Now that to me, at the right price maybe makes more sense. And I know before I said no, but Dan made the point of. Doesn't mean you got to sign him. Like he's got to come in and play off of that deal and then you see what you're. Then when you see where you are with them. But at least he adds something different and you're not setting yourself up for. For a very difficult decision to make down the line for a lot of money at a position that is not valid.
B
I think Saquon could use a fresh start too.
C
Yeah. I think Warren Sharp had the tweet that the Bills are only the second other team that have brought in more than two running backs already. They brought in. Isaiah Spiller was another one they brought in for an official workout. Official visit. So.
B
Yes.
C
Yeah, like, again, I'm. I'm probably gonna get ripped apart in the comments per usual about, like Dan doesn't know. Like, you can't judge Dan's Breeze hall comparison because he hates running backs. It's like, no, I just want again, I. In my dream world, the Bills could go back and draft Isaiah Spiller in 2022. Like, that's what I'm looking for.
A
Like, you mean C.J. spiller.
C
Sorry, C.J. spiller, like an explosive guy. That. That is a weapon in Breeze Hall, I think will be a Great Matt Forte, which is awesome for a Chicago offense that wants to run the ball 40 times a game. But like, I, I, I just, it's kind of be like putting like all season tires on the Bills offense when I like, I want, I want racing tires. Like I, I want, I want speed.
B
You should be watching so much F1.
C
So much F1 is there.
B
Go ahead, talk about F1 push.
C
No, no, no. Oh, you were gonna say something.
B
No, I just didn't know if there was a back that stood out to you.
C
Well, and it's funny, they talk about how good of a combine in pro day breeze halls had Kieran Williams, the running back out of Notre Dame had an awful combine. He ran a 4, 6, 7, I believe 40, which is very slow. And they expected him to possibly run in the four fours. He's running back out of Notre Dame team captain like, like fitting image of what like McDermott would want. And this was a guy that returned kickoffs. This was a guy that flexed out and like lined up in the slot. Like, he like took Notre Dame screen game to another level. He has had five touchdowns in his career of 75 yards or more. Like, this guy is a big play threat while also being consistent. Now he's got fumbling issues. Like, he does have some things. I'm not saying that he's even a second round guy, but I don't even think in my opinion for the Bills offense and where the Bills want to go. Like, I think if you draft Breeze Hall, I think you're drafting like a better version of, of Zach Moss and like, I don't know if that's really all that dynamic and special.
B
Yeah.
C
Mike smiles and takes. No, I'm saying about to school me.
A
No. Oh, no, no, not at all. I'm saying is we know Zach Moss. I've said this in the last three podcasts. He's coming to camp.
C
Best shape of his life.
A
Best shape of his life. He's out to prove that last year. Hey, you know what? Wouldn't that be awesome for the Bills if he did and he came in ready to go and he becomes something more or someone else you can depend on. I do think there are backs out there with question marks about size or durability and all this kind of stuff that you take the flyer on in the fourth or the fifth round. Yeah, maybe you catch a year or two lightning in a bottle type of thing. I think. I mean they do have even like Duke Johnson. All these guys, they all, they all seem the same. Running back room is the same.
C
I take a flyer on James Cook, Delvin Cook's brother out of. Out of Florida State. Like, yeah, I. Like, I think there's more value in the third day. Three on running back.
A
Yeah.
C
In my opinion, like I said, that's when I have Max Borgi. Like, a lot of people seeing them, like, again, just kind of a. Another offensive weapon that you could do a bunch of different things with, but.
A
Yeah, because at any point, let's throw another. Get another wide receiver early. And let's go four wide. Let's go five wide. You also now have the two tight ends. You've got another athlete at tight end.
C
Yep.
A
There are options that you have with this offense.
B
Yeah.
A
Yeah. Unless that player is really adding something.
B
I want to play.
A
Really? Yes. Playmaker. You want to. You. You want that entree?
C
It's that. It's that Drake meme where it's like, running back, and it's like. Like, playmaker, and it's like, yeah, like, that's the one. That's it.
B
Also, I was thinking about it. I feel like Tremaine Edmonds would be like olives, because you either really enjoy olives. This is how my brain works.
C
We're just like running backs. And then Jenna's still on food in restaurants, and she's like, olives.
B
What is Tremaine Edmonds? Food comp. Olives. You either, like, are like, yeah, olives are great, or you're like, I. Yeah, I'm out.
A
Are you real? Is olives really all in, all out?
B
Yeah, there's like a.
A
That's all in, all out. I don't think I'm any. I don't think people are all in or all out. It's like, Edmonds.
B
There's like, a live tale that, like, couples like.
A
Yeah.
C
It's the olive theory. Mike.
A
Yeah, I. I don't buy the olive.
C
Okay, hang on, hang on. Real life podcast. Terrible, terrible take. Mike, do you like olives?
A
I'm. I'm. You know, like, if they're sitting there.
B
Like, when I was Danny, like, olives.
A
So here's the funny thing. I'll give you a good olive thing. When we were kids, my mom Sunday, making pasta. Right. Come on. I'm a pisan.
C
Get inside the buffalo. Plus office sports. Office. Right. So this is what it is.
A
So she make pasta, but before dinner, she would put olives. I think my dad liked olives. So she'd put these little bowls with olives, like, on a Sunday.
B
Yeah.
A
And we, as kids would all be going, grabbing the olives. And I don't know, you know, those, like, black olives, they don't really taste like much. And then there's the green ones with the pimento, whatever it is in there. Okay. She'd be like, stop eating those. Stop eating those. But once dinner started, nobody wanted an olive.
B
Yeah.
A
So it wasn't like, oh, I love olives. I sit there and eat a, you know, bowl full of olives if they're there. Tremaine, to me is more about, is this going to be in your regular rotation? To your point, Jenna of restaurants, Am I investing Saturday night with our friends going to this place, or if is it like Dan and I, Chili's while we were there? Chili's is fine. Sometimes Chili's looks like an oasis, depending on what town you're in. But are you investing? Big time. So with Tremaine Edmonds. He's good.
C
He's Jenny. Like olives.
B
Does Jenny like olives?
A
Do I like. Do I?
B
Does Jenny.
A
Oh, Jenny. I. We've been. By the way, it's our eight year anniversary today.
B
Congratulations.
A
Well, engaging with the gym. We never went the next step. I'm waiting to mature. I have no idea. That's what I was gonna say. Never really been brought up.
C
Renee loves olives. I hate olives.
B
Yeah.
A
Wow.
B
That's a theory, though, Mike. That one in a couple. One person loves olives and one person.
A
If I was guessing, I would say she doesn't like them, because I don't really. But I could care less. I'm talking about your Tremaine Edmonds comp.
B
I know.
A
No one hates Tremaine Edmonds.
B
No, that's what I'm saying. I.
C
People either pork chop like Jenna doesn't like pork chop.
B
I. I hate pork.
C
Having pork chops tonight.
B
Pork chops when you cook. I don't care. People go eat them when you're go out to dinner podcast. I'm not wasting a dinner on a pork chop.
C
A. I'm gonna have the best pork chop tonight. Better than steak.
B
They turn to sawdust as soon as you start cutting into them. No, I'm out.
A
Okay. I'm. I'm gonna just fin again. You said love or hate. Basically. All in, all out. That's not Tremaine.
B
Well, there's a lot of people that are pretty out on Tremaine.
C
Most are.
A
They're out long term. Tremaine. It's not like they want you to see him cut him this year. You got to replace them.
B
No.
A
Yeah, but you cut olives like Dan's cutting Olives off the menu. Doesn't want them on the table.
C
Correct.
A
Right.
B
Okay. Maybe it was a little too strong on the olives. We've gone rabbit hole. Yeah.
C
Thanks for sticking with us to the end of this. Please, like comment and subscribe.
B
You know this new microphone too. So many food.
A
Takes a power move. It's a power move, Dan.
C
I need a new one.
B
Yeah, step up your game.
A
Look who's talking.
B
Wow, that felt so good. Guys.
A
Jenna's gonna get done and then she's gonna jump in her new car and. Oh, no, look, sorry, we haven't got gotten there yet.
B
Okay. We gotta take small steps. You gotta walk before you run.
A
Yeah.
B
If this is a big ticket item and it's hard for me to buy a car is like the next, next, next, next, next, next, next level. I just don't. I'm weird about my money. Aren't we all?
A
On the plus side, Jenna has a new microp.
B
You're the worst. Okay. All right.
A
We.
B
We should probably. That. That was the podcast. We had a lot of fun. Thanks for joining us. Will we talk more draft as we get ready? Mike, tell them about our special that's airing.
A
Yes.
B
Locally on 13Wham in Rochester, but also on Buffalo Plus.
A
Yeah. It is our Bill's Buffalo plus live show. It's going to take place. Dan and I right now are going to be credentialed for the red carpet. We'll see how that works out. Jenna knows what that's like. This one's a strange one in Vegas because it's, I believe it's like on a floating platform. So we'll have to see. But that's the cool part. It's Vegas. There's going to be a lot of fun. Jenna knows the draft's got a lot going on and this year in Las Vegas is going to be crazy. So we're out there. We'll be tracking down the guys before the draft. You'll hear from the main players, these guys we're talking about that are going to be out there and then certainly on draft night. But our show, 7:30 to 8:00 o', clock, right here on the Buffalo plus YouTube channel. And also in Rochester, in Buffalo, Fox Buffalo and on 13Wham in Rochester. So all three of us together, Dan and I out in Vegas, Jenna manning down things in the studio. And we're looking forward to getting you ready. Leading right up to the draft at 8 o'. Clock, 7:30 to 8. The draft starts right at 8.
B
Yeah. So we'll get you set and ready we also have a new telestrator too in the studio, so big things are coming there. Please be sure to, like, comment and subscribe to the Buffalo plus channel. For Dan and Mike, I am Jenna. We will catch you next time here on Buffalo plus.
Episode: Will the BILLS go BIG in NFL DRAFT for a WIDE RECEIVER or is RB an option
Date: April 16, 2022
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
This episode dives deep into the Buffalo Bills’ first-round options in the upcoming NFL Draft, focusing mainly on whether the team should make a bold move for a playmaking wide receiver or address the running back position. The trio analyzes top receiver prospects who could be game-changers for Josh Allen’s offense and debates the wisdom of drafting a running back early. Expect lively banter, passionate takes, detailed player profiles, and a few memorable food analogies throughout.
“This would take a little Bean magic, because I think this guy is going to go early… He can fly.”
“For some players, they don’t return how they used to… speed can be affected long-term after an ACL tear.” [07:40]
[33:34] Mike stirs the RB debate: “What do you think of Breece Hall?”
Dan’s analysis:
Jenna:
Consensus:
Alternative RBs:
Saquon Barkley trade idea:
“I’ve got speed you can’t teach… whoever runs the fastest 40, I’m faster than them this week.” —Jameson Williams via Dan, [04:44]
“It’s a rather routine procedure… kind of like getting an oil change at this point.” —Dan, [11:57]
“If he’s picking anybody in the first couple rounds, he’s got a plan that that player is gonna be on the field.” —Mike, [20:06]
“I am team wide receiver in the first round — getting a guy that can come in, take this offense to the next level.” —Dan, [25:26]
“Matt Forte had seven good years. But Matt Forte also caught a hundred passes one season and I don’t think Breece Hall is doing that.” —Dan, [36:23]
“The Bills’ 50th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd players are probably maybe some of the best in the league… But there is a big difference between depth and talent.” —Dan, [31:13]
“If you take 17 off the roster and give the team a good starting quarterback, I don’t think the roster’s that superior.” —Mike, [29:56]
For those who missed it:
This episode provides a thorough exploration of the Bills’ roster needs, focusing on wide receiver prospects, an honest assessment of running back value, and a fun, insider look at the personalities covering the team. It’s a perfect primer for fans wanting to understand what could unfold for the Bills on draft night.