It's always funny listening to sports talk shows and reading articles of people trying to dissect what Buddy Nix is thinking going into this year's draft. One minute, everyone thinks Nix is going to draft a tackle. The next minute, he's giving a vote of confidence to Demetrius Bell. Then there's Marshawn Lynch. Two weeks ago, everyone had the dude leaving Buffalo. Now, Nix is claiming that the running back is nothing more than his "buddy."
Yes, we all know that the majority of these sweet nothings given by Nix are nothing more than just draft posturing for the Bills. But, it makes fans, media members and draft experts heads start to explode. Now, I can try and hire a body language expert to watch Buddy Nix's press conference and figure out if he's telling the truth or not. Instead, I've decided to just do some research on what Nix's former team accomplished during his tenure there
Yes, we all know that the majority of these sweet nothings given by Nix are nothing more than just draft posturing for the Bills. But, it makes fans, media members and draft experts heads start to explode. Now, I can try and hire a body language expert to watch Buddy Nix's press conference and figure out if he's telling the truth or not. Instead, I've decided to just do some research on what Nix's former team accomplished during his tenure there
We all know when the Bills hired Nix, that he wasn't going to be confused with Brian Cashman. Nix's resume is all about drafting, not free agency. Bills fans are hoping that his credentials can get their team out of their 10-year funk of missing the playoffs. The ironic thing going for Nix is that he's walking into almost the exact same situation he had in San Diego.
Remember, before the Chargers had the likes of Phillip Rivers and Shawne Merriman, they were one of the biggest laughing stocks in the NFL. When Nix/AJ Smith/John Butler arrived in 2001, the team had no quarterback, no running back and no identity. They had nothing but hot cheerleaders and kick ass weather. They hadn't made the playoffs since 1995 and were just getting over the swine flu with Ryan Leaf. They were losers, just like us.
The Chargers rise to power in the AFC West didn't happen over night. For the next three seasons, the Chargers compiled a record of 17-31. It was a struggle for the Chargers, but one of the main reasons for the team's rise in the AFC was because they were aggressive in the draft.
Under Nix's watch, from 2001-2008, the Chargers made over a dozen trades involving their draft picks. Two of those trades were arguably the biggest draft day deals in NFL history. The first deal came in 2001, when San Diego traded the first pick of the draft (Mike Vick) to the Falcons for their 5th pick (LaDainian Tomlinson), 2nd round pick, 3rd round pick and Tim Dwight.
Then in 2004, the Chargers were at it again. They traded the first overall pick (Eli Manning) to the Giants for the 4th pick (Phillip Rivers), a 2005 first-rounder (Shawne Merriman), a 2004 third-rounder (Nate Kaeding) and a 2005 fifth-rounder (traded to Tampa Bay).
Um, yeah... I think those deals worked out for the Chargers.
Besides the trading factor, lets consider what the Chargers used...actually, didn't use their draft picks on. During Nix's 8 years in San Diego, the Chargers have only selected two offensive lineman within the first two rounds of the draft. None of them being picked in the first round. 24 NFL teams have picked a lineman with their first round selection during that time frame. Real quick; name me an offensive lineman on the Chargers? Yeah...I had to look it up too.
Now, we aren't sure how much Nix had a hand in helping the Chargers rise from the ashes (Hell, he admits to not being the smartest man in the room, so maybe the Chargers just kept him around to crack jokes). However, if you look at the history of promoting front office types from different teams, they normally bring over that team's player philosophy to their new place of employment.
So what does this all mean? Well, my guess is if you put the Bills history of making draft day deals together with Nix's resume, there's going to be some busy phone lines on Thursday. I still believe that the Bills won't address their tackle situation as early as some fans are hoping for, mainly because they used two high picks on lineman last year. If Nix's history of not drafting lineman in the first round stays on target, don't look for Mike Williams or Ruben Brown to be walking on that stage.
I'll be back on Tuesday to reveal who I think the Bills will draft with their second pick. Notice, I didn't say second round pick.
Um, yeah... I think those deals worked out for the Chargers.
Besides the trading factor, lets consider what the Chargers used...actually, didn't use their draft picks on. During Nix's 8 years in San Diego, the Chargers have only selected two offensive lineman within the first two rounds of the draft. None of them being picked in the first round. 24 NFL teams have picked a lineman with their first round selection during that time frame. Real quick; name me an offensive lineman on the Chargers? Yeah...I had to look it up too.
Now, we aren't sure how much Nix had a hand in helping the Chargers rise from the ashes (Hell, he admits to not being the smartest man in the room, so maybe the Chargers just kept him around to crack jokes). However, if you look at the history of promoting front office types from different teams, they normally bring over that team's player philosophy to their new place of employment.
So what does this all mean? Well, my guess is if you put the Bills history of making draft day deals together with Nix's resume, there's going to be some busy phone lines on Thursday. I still believe that the Bills won't address their tackle situation as early as some fans are hoping for, mainly because they used two high picks on lineman last year. If Nix's history of not drafting lineman in the first round stays on target, don't look for Mike Williams or Ruben Brown to be walking on that stage.
I'll be back on Tuesday to reveal who I think the Bills will draft with their second pick. Notice, I didn't say second round pick.
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