HEADLINES

Doug Whaley

AFC East Links: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Pats

May 11th, 2014 at 6:54pm CST by Ben Levine

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.

Draft Notes: Whaley, Bills, Linebackers

April 27th, 2014 at 6:17pm CST by Peter Sowards

If the Bills want to draft Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins or Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews — who each have visited with Buffalo — they’ll likely have to trade up from the No. 9 slot to do so. And judging by comments made by general manager Doug Whaley, it’s a definite possibility.

“If we think this guy is going to get us over the hump and get us into the playoffs, which is our stated goal, why not make the deal?” Whaley said on radio station WGR-AM, according to Jason Butt of National Football Post.

The Bills are likely more than just a player away from making the playoffs in the AFC, but that won’t stop its GM from being aggressive in the upcoming NFL Draft.

More draft notes from around the league on a Sunday night…

  • Brent Sobleski of USA Today Sports ranked the top 10 linebackers in the draft, slotting Alabama’s C.J. Mosley, Ohio State’s Ryan Shazier and Wisconsin’s Chris Borland at the top.
  • Ranking the top 5 tackles was Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune‘s assignment, who likes Nevada’s Joel Bitonio as the No. 5 tackle behind the consensus top-4.
  • Indiana wide receiver Cody Latimer, who recently had a pre-draft visit with the 49ers, also visited with the Ravens, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. Latimer is one of the fastest rising prospects in the draft and projected to be a first-round pick.
  • Heading to the Browns in Jeff Schudel of The Morning Journal‘s latest mock draft are Sammy Watkins and Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr at the No. 4 and No. 26 spots, respectively.

Bills GM Doug Whaley: “We’re Set Up”

April 26th, 2014 at 9:11am CST by Matt Feminis

Bills GM Doug Whaley spoke at the team’s annual pre-draft luncheon, and Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News relayed some of the key talking points:

  • Said Whaley: “We can go any position We’re set up. If a guy is there with our pick, whenever that pick is – be it one, eight, nine, 20 – if he’s the guy we think can get us to the playoffs, there’s nothing that will preclude us from taking that guy. That’s the beauty of how we set it up this year.”
  • Surrounding quarterback E.J. Manuel with talent and giving him the best chance to thrive is a high priority.
  • Whaley admits to trying to the use the media to his advantage in the time leading up to the draft: “There are things that you put out there to see if someone bites and there are some things you put out there that are true. You have people read between the lines and you don’t want to show your hand. I’m sure everyone is doing the same thing,”
  • When asked about the possibility of trading up, perhaps as high as No. 1 overall, Whaley said he’s open to all options and “it all depends on the deal.”
  • In terms of the draft pool, receiver and offensive tackle “have high-end talent and depth.”
  • The old-school philosophy that left tackle is more important than right tackle is changing thanks to the evolution of defenses using speed rushers on both sides of the line. Accordingly, Whaley believes a plug-and-play right tackle would be worth a first-round pick.
  • The team is seeking more depth at defensive end and linebacker.
  • The team’s scouting staff considers Clemson’s Sammy Watkins’ talent “on par” with A.J. Green and Julio Jones, comparing Watkins’ style to Percy Harvin‘s.