1 - AJ McCarron already building relationship with BenjaminThe Buffalo Bills newest quarterback, AJ McCarron, has yet to build a relationship on the field with any members of the team's offense. However, he's taking a proactive approach and getting familiar with his new teammates off the field.
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On Wednesday morning, McCarron spoke on the Howard Simon Show on WGR sports radio 550. The former Bengals QB mentioned which Bills players he knew before coming to Buffalo from Cincinnati.
"I know Kelvin Benjamin, just because we have the same agent," said McCarron. "So, I've been talking to him and other guys that're going to be offensive skilled guys. We've all kind of been in a group chat talking and getting a feel for each other."
Benjamin and McCarron were both selected in the 2014 NFL Draft. After a two-year career at Florida State University, Benjamin went on to be drafted 28th overall. Following McCarron's four-year career at Alabama, he was later selected in the fifth-round of the draft.
McCarron's currently at his home in Mobile, Alabama, but he can't wait until it's time to get things going in Buffalo.
"I think it's going to be an awesome process coming up," he said. "We all can be around each other a lot during the day and really get to learn and know each other."
2 - Bills secure second overall pick in CBS' mock draftThe Bills are undeniably equipped with the capital to make a move in the 2018 NFL Draft. In CBS Sports’ two-round mock draft, they utilized that capital to complete a trade for the second overall pick.
This is the mock trade R.J. White of CBS made between the Bills and the Giants.
*In this mock draft, I have the Bills sending three first-round picks to the Giants as well as a second-round (while also getting a Day 3 pick back). *
*The trade: *
- *Bills get No. 2 overall, 2019 fifth-round pick *
- Giants get No. 12, 22, 56, 2019 first-round pick
That's a lot of picks the Bills are giving up, but that's why you acquire the draft capital in the first place. In the end, Buffalo would still have the second overall pick in the first-round, one second-round selection, two third-round picks, and many more in the later rounds for this year's draft.
By sliding into the second pick, White projects the Bills will draft quarterback Sam Darnold. The 6-4, 220-pounder is arguably the top QB prospect this year.
Here's what White had to say about Darnold falling to the Bills at number two.
*The Bills are almost certainly not done moving up, and with the familiarity between the Bills and Giants' front offices (both Carolina alums), this fit makes too much sense, particularly with the AFC East rival Jets now at No. 3. *
After finding a franchise QB, why not take a speedy wide receiver with the next pick to pair him with? With the 53rd overall selection, White has Buffalo bringing in WR D.J. Chark from Louisiana State University.
The 6-4, 198-pound prospect ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.34) among WRs at the 2018 Combine. During his three-year career (2015-2017) at LSU, he recorded 66 receptions, 1,351 yards, and six touchdowns. With his legs, Chark also chalked up 25 carries for 264 yards and four TDs.
This is White's input on the Bills adding a speed threat on the outside.
*The Bills traded up for their QB earlier but kept this pick in the deal. Now they pair their new signal-caller with a size/speed complement to Kelvin Benjamin and Zay Jones.
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3 - Darnold's QB coach compares him to Carson PalmerOn Wednesday, many watched Sam Darnold's much anticipated Pro Day at USC. Fifteen years ago, another famous Trojan quarterback was tossing passes at his Pro Day.
That former USC QB is Carson Palmer, a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his 14-year career in the NFL.
During the NFL Network's Path to the Draft Pro Day special, they spoke with Darnold's QB coach, Jordan Palmer. Jordan just so happens to be Carson's younger brother. So, how does Darnold compare to Carson Palmer?
"It's funny. So how I met Sam was, he was 14-years-old and we were throwing with our old quarterback coach Bob Bosanko. A guy who's been around the Palmer family forever, the Darnold family," said Jordan Palmer. "I was laughing, 'This guy walks like Carson, he talks like Carson.' Then two years later, he's looking at SC [Southern California] and all of a sudden, he's the top recruit. He's been on this trajectory where it's impossible not to see those things in him."
In Carson Palmer's 14 seasons (2004-2017) in the league, he threw for a whopping 46,247 yards, 294 touchdowns, and 187 interceptions. For Darnold, that's a pretty respectable player to be compared to.
"In terms of the physical traits, I've kind of said he's got 20-percent less arm talent than Carson had at his peak and a lot of people said Carson would've been the number one pick in any draft, so it's not an indictment," said Jordan Palmer. "He's got about 20-plus athleticism, so however that balances out.
"Even-keeled, cool, calm, collected, confident, but he's a kid who can create when it's not there. I think the future of the quarterback position is the quarterback's ability to create time and space and I wouldn't touch somebody who couldn't. He's got that in spades."
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