The Bills certainly gave up a lot for the opportunity to draft wide receiver Sammy Watkins, including this year’s and next year’s first-round pick. Understanding that he’ll soon be working for new owners, general manager Doug Whaley knew he needed to make a big splash. If he was indeed intending to make a big move, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com opines that the team should have instead pursued All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham.
Had they signed Graham to a contract that the Saints “wouldn’t or couldn’t match”, they would have still been able to grab a serviceable player with their ninth overall pick. Florio says that the two future first rounders that the Bills would have had to surrender would have been worth the cost, especially since Whaley may be fired before those drafts even come around.
Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC East…
- The Dolphins have 11 wide receivers but will only keep around six, tweets ESPN’s James Walker.
- Jets quarterback Matt Simms should be worried about his job security, writes ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. With the drafting of Tajh Boyd, there doesn’t seem to be a spot on the roster for the veteran.
- In the same article, Cimini says the team will rely on one of their rookie receivers to play opposite Eric Decker.
- The Patriots‘ drafting of Dominique Easley was the riskiest first-round pick in Bill Belichick’s tenure, says Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.