Most NFL GM’s and coaches like to use smokescreens on who their teams are seeking at in the draft. But not Bills GM Buddy Nix. Because Nix took the job as Bills GM, he has been a straight shooter with the media, and the fans. His most recent instance of becoming a straight shooter, was backing up his claims of impending aggression in cost-free agency by handing Mario Williams the richest contract ever given to an NFL defender.
Let’s take a look at some of Nix’s quotes major up to the NFL draft.
General 2012 NFL DRAFT/PHILOSOPHICAL OBSERVATIONS
“The a single thing we’ve been missing is playmakers. A guy that can make the distinction in the game. We’ve got excellent players. We don’t have a lot of of these guys.” (February 24)
“We cannot make it happen if it really is not there, and that’s the point you’ve got to keep in thoughts. If we go in and say ‘we’ve got to have a pass rusher,’ and we reach down and get 1 at the tenth choose that we’ve got graded in the third round, then we’re setting ourselves back 3 or 4 years… you’ve got to be disciplined adequate that you remain with the integrity of all the perform that 15 or 20 individuals have done for a year, and you do not get excited by getting to trying to fill a need with a player that can not play.” (March 1)
“I by no means have liked to, and I never have traded picks. I hate giving them up. I like to get them. We’ve got nine, and I’d like to wind up with ten, and we’ll see how that goes.” (March 1)
“I hate to give up a draft pick. If it’s a sixth-round pick, I don’t like giving them up. I feel you develop on these items.” (March 13)
“Chan’s philosophy, and ours, is put as numerous very good players as we can at each and every position, and let the very best ones begin and play.” (March 21)
ON QUARTERBACK
“Perhaps so, yeah. If there’s one particular there at the right time. I do not mean it to be that vague of an answer, but yes, we’d take 1.” (January 9)
ON WIDE RECEIVER
“There is only one Calvin Johnson, but there is some a lot more similar to that, that you throw it up there. They’re not covered when they’re covered. We could use one more large time receiver.” (January 9)
“We want somebody like (Roscoe Parrish) in that position.” (January 9)
“It’s deep. The wide receiver group is deep, and that is the reason you can’t – you’ve got to be cautious at that position, simply because there’s guys out there.” (February 24)
“If you look at the most productive receivers in the NFL, they’re guys that run somewhere amongst four.48 and 4.55. In that range. They are not guys that are 4.32, and four.two – I mean, all that is good. Each now and then, (you get) a Mike Wallace. But once more, you have got to have guys that know how to run (routes) – appear at (Stevie Johnson). He’s just got a knack for separating from a defender.” (February 24)
“I believe we’ve got good guys to go with him, and I believe Steve would tell you the very same thing. We’ve got some talent. Everybody talks about speed on the other side away from him, deep speed – I mean we’ve got guys out there that can run. Now, it is a matter of keeping them wholesome and keeping them on the field. It does not mean we will not sign one more receiver, it does not mean we will not draft one particular. But I do believe we’ve got a great group.” (March 5)
“Wide receiver… the numbers are there, whether it is in the draft or whether or not it is in cost-free agency. There is just a lot of them, and far more teams are utilizing a lot more, so you’ve got far more guys that are topic to becoming cut and let go.” (March 13)
“We’ve got very good receivers, and there’s a lot of them out there.” (March 15)
ON OFFENSIVE TACKLE
“(Erik Pears) is a correct tackle. He’s a good correct tackle and I am glad we got him.” (January 9)
“Chris Hairston I feel can be a genuinely very good left tackle. He’s a rookie. It’s going to take him a small bit. He got some great encounter this year… again, I feel with his length and all that, that Chris Hairston, he’s a smart guy, can play over there and be serviceable for us.” (January 9)
“We’re going to draft a tackle if we can. If there’s one particular there is what I mean. If there’s a single we feel can play we’re going to draft a tackle. You can by no means have too several tackles.” (January 9)
“… it’s less complicated to move a guy from tackle to guard than it is from guard to tackle, obviously. We draft tackles and we are at pretty good shape at guard and center.” (January 9)
“I think tackles – offensive tackles – (are deep).” (February 24)
“It’d be nice to throw deep every now and then.” (February 24)
ON THE PASS RUSH
“… to fix it, I assume our secondary – anything – would look much better if we had some pressure on the passer. If you can not disrupt passers in the NFL and make them get out of rhythm and make them move, any of them will put on you out. We had some rookies that looked like Dan Marino, and we let them look like that simply because we let them stand there. You have got to disrupt the quarterback.” (January 9)
“Defensively I would say the priority would have to be pass rushers, defensive ends, pass rushers – one particular maybe two.” (January 9)
“You mess around and you find flaws in everyone, but I assume from the second round to the fifth, there’s probably a lot of potentially very good players. You’ve got to get the correct 1.” (February 24)
“Pass rusher – or defensive end for us – you get a little nervous with the tenth choose, but in the mid rounds, it’s probably as deep as I’ve noticed it. From the second round on, there will be some guys that can come in and assist you rapid.” (March 1)
“The bottom line, truly: you’ve got to make yourself come back to production. If he’s often done it, there is a very good opportunity he’ll do it once again.” (March 1)
ON DEFENSIVE TACKLE
“Surprisingly, defensive linemen – the interior guys are really deep, I feel.” (February 24)
ON LINEBACKER
“We also at some point require yet another linebacker. We got, we think, Chris White. Kirk Morrison’s up, and I do not know what will come about with him, but we want yet another linebacker. We’ve got some guys that are ‘tweeners, type of.” (January 9)
ON CORNERBACK
“… you could never have adequate corners. We would like to add two corners, regardless of whether it really is by way of cost-free agency or whether it’s by way of the draft.” (January 9)
“Alabama’s secondary and LSU’s secondary. I mean, these guys are as great as it gets.” (January 9)
“I think corner’s deep… there’ll be some corners out there that you can get in the middle rounds.” (February 24)
“I believe corners are actually deep in this draft, and I feel you can get a single – you know, there’ll almost certainly be some worthy of the tenth pick, and there’ll be some in the mid rounds.” (March 1)
From reading all of Nix’s quotes, it sounds like the Bills would like to draft a Left Tackle, a WR in the construct of Calvin Johnson, a WR in the mold of Roscoe Parrish (minus the fragile physique), an OLB, two CB’s, and a QB (if a QB they want is on the board when it is the Bills turn at the podium). Don’t count on the Bills to trade up, as Nix does not like to give up draft picks, but don’t be shocked to see the Bills trade back to gain a lot more picks. The Bills will take the BPA at #ten (if they do not trade down). Nix will not reach for a player, as he stated would set the team back 3 to 4 years (wish Donahoe and Marv Levy took this strategy).
We’ve got much less than two weeks to go until draft day. Whilst we know what positions Buddy Nix plans on addressing in the draft, it’s everyone’s guess what round these positions will be filled in.
