Buffalo Bills Week 18: Buffalo (13-3) at New England (3-13), 1/5/25, 1 PM, CBS

[Zman5778]

I know this is draft talk, but:

The 12 NFL draft prospects with a true Round 1 grade: What makes them 2025 first-rounders, plus comps

We'll see 32 picks in Round 1 in April, but which prospects are actually graded as first-rounders? We named 12 and made pro comps for each standout.

www.espn.com

The average draft class has roughly 15 players who are deemed "first-round talents," though the number varies by team and scouting department. These sacred evaluations are reserved for prospects who would be Day 1 selections regardless of year, and my own guideline is whether a player would have been a first-rounder in each of the past five classes.

My first look at the 2025 class has the lowest number of true first-round grades I've ever awarded. The final list in 2024 had 18 names on it, and the 2023 list had 20. This year, we're at ... 12.

RB -- Jeanty
WR -- Hunter, Burden III, McMillan
TE -- Warren
OT -- Banks Jr.
EDGE -- Carter, Walker, Williams
DT -- Graham
CB -- Johnson
S - Starks

That's it. That's the list.

Note that he said that Hunter would be his #2 CB behind Johnson and still a 1st rounder if he plays CB.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I know this is draft talk, but:

The 12 NFL draft prospects with a true Round 1 grade: What makes them 2025 first-rounders, plus comps

We'll see 32 picks in Round 1 in April, but which prospects are actually graded as first-rounders? We named 12 and made pro comps for each standout.

www.espn.com

RB -- Jeanty
WR -- Hunter, Burden III, McMillan
TE -- Warren
OT -- Banks Jr.
EDGE -- Carter, Walker, Williams
DT -- Graham
CB -- Johnson
S - Starks

That's it. That's the list.

Note that he said that Hunter would be his #2 CB behind Johnson and still a 1st rounder if he plays CB.

The Bills always carried two draft grades for a player:

In draft year grade was a +/- system. Eg: Hunter would be an A+ because he’d get picking in the top 10 picks. Warren would get an A because he’d get picked 11-20.

The second was a number grade through 8. Most first rounders carried a 7 or higher grade. They only used that to compare years and draft value.

I wondered why they carried the second grade (I was still in high school when I interned for them) because they never traded up or down in the first round.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[buffalowing88]

Hamlin getting an alternate nod and not Benford is lame but I guess any leverage we can get in contract negotiations with CB this offseason should help.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[TehDoak]

The Pro Bowl doesn't really matter.

I look forward to all the Ravens players talking about 'the DISrESPECT' if Allen wins the MVP over Lamar in our divisional game though.

 

[Jim Bob]

The Pro Bowl doesn't really matter.

I look forward to all the Ravens players talking about 'the DISrESPECT' if Allen wins the MVP over Lamar in our divisional game though.

Well, they don't announce the MVP award until the NFL honors around the Super Bowl.

The discussion if one guy wins MVP after their team lost a playoff game to the other guy's team will be the really fun one.

Part of me wants Josh to not get MVP, McDermott to not get COTY, and Beane to not get Exec OTY to add to the disrespect factor.

 

[TehDoak]

Well, they don't announce the MVP award until the NFL honors around the Super Bowl.

The discussion if one guy wins MVP after their team lost a playoff game to the other guy's team will be the really fun one.

Part of me wants Josh to not get MVP, McDermott to not get COTY, and Beane to not get Exec OTY to add to the disrespect factor.

Ah, I thought the AP awards got announced earlier for some reason.

Either way, the only team that plays the disrespect card more than the Ravens is the Bengals with the Chiefs being in a close 3rd. I still remember them bitching about the Bills doing a presale for the next round (when the Bengals were doing the exact same thing)

 

[Jim Bob]

Ravens fans are going to be in their feelings today.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[old kummelweck]

Seems to be a last minute push for Lamar over Allen for MVP by the talking heads today.

 

[Jim Bob]

Seems to be a last minute push for Lamar over Allen for MVP by the talking heads today.

They need their rage engagement from Bills Mafia bump to start the new year.

 

[Jim Bob]

I went back over the AP MVPs to the 2000 season. There are 26 winners because McNair & Manning split it in 2003.

QB - 22
RB - 4
All other positions - 0

Team playoff seed
1 - 18 winners
2 - 2 winners
3 - 2 winners
4 - 0 winners
5 - 2 winners
6 - 2 winners

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[OkimLom]

While I do think Allen has been the MVP, I don't think Lamar winning is the wrong or a bad choice. I'm surprised Darnold isn't getting some MVP love which I think he's deserved.

 

[Dirty Dog]

While I do think Allen has been the MVP, I don't think Lamar winning is the wrong or a bad choice. I'm surprised Darnold isn't getting some MVP love which I think he's deserved.

I think it’s really close between Lamar and Allen this year, and you can argue either way.

My problem is with last year and the standards they apply seemingly changes to fit whatever narrative they want

 

[misterchainsaw]

Pro bowl rosters both an argument for Allen for MVP and McD for CotY

 

[ValJamesDuex]

last line in the vid..."and he saved the Sabre's"

 

[missingmika]

Taylor got like half his stats in 2 games too.

 

[DolanPlsGoSabres]

Imagine the meltdown by both fanbases if both the Bills and Ravens lost in the Wild Card round and the irrational screaming about how who let down Josh/Lamar more in a weird attempt to justify MVP.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[buffa dud]

I think it’s really close between Lamar and Allen this year, and you can argue either way.

My problem is with last year and the standards they apply seemingly changes to fit whatever narrative they want

The cook on my wings, come Sunday afternoon, matters more to me and my family than what these voters decide.

 

[SabresFan26]

Kind of interesting that all four teams with the bye lost in CFB.