As excited as many of us get this time of year, make no mistake, perennial butchering of the NFL Draft is the absolute root cause of SIXTEEN CONSECUTIVE NON-PLAYOFF SEASONS for the Buffalo Bills.
Conventional wisdom says it takes three years to assess the success of an NFL draft class, so we’ll leave 2014 and 2015 out of the discussion as we look at every draft back to 2006 (when elder statesman Kyle Williams joined this mess.)
Which of the following facts is most damning?
- The Bills’ roster contains only 13 players the team drafted before 2014.
- Of the 6 players left from the 2013 draft class, none are likely starters in 2016. (Maybe Robert Woods?)
- The Bills’ roster contains only 7 players the team drafted before 2013.
- The Bills burned 22 draft picks between selecting their longest-tenured player (Kyle Williams) and their second-longest tenured player (Eric Wood.)
- In 2007 and 2008 combined, the Bills drafted 17 players. They’re ALL gone.
Here’s what the Bills have to show for the 68 draft picks they made during the 8-year stretch from 2006 through 2013.
- 2013 E.J. Manuel, Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, Duke Williams, Jonathan Meeks, Chris Gragg
- 2012 Stephon Gilmore, Cordy Glenn
- 2011 Marcell Dareus, Aaron Williams
- 2010 Marcus Easley
- 2009 Eric Wood
- 2008 (none)
- 2007 (none)
- 2006 Kyle Williams
The average NFL career is short– 3.3 years, according to the NFLPA (see related info below)– but that number is brought down by teams like the Bills and their distinct inability to choose players capable of playing in the league.
Just look at this.
Yuck.
Some of these picks went on to play elsewhere but only one– Marshawn Lynch– at a star level. Want to call Paul Posluszny “solid” in Jacksonville? Fine.
If you’d like further evidence of the Bills’ ineptitude, here’s a recent study showing Buffalo as the third worst drafting team in the league since 1996.
Enjoy the draft, everyone!
All info below from statista.com:
Average playing career length in the National Football League (in years)
The statistic depicts the average length of a player’s career in the National Football League, considering different aspects influencing the length of a playing career. According to the NFL Players Association the average career length is about 3.3 years. The NFL claims that the average career is about 6 years (for players who make a club’s opening day roster in their rookie season).
Players with at least one Pro Bowl appearance usually have the longest career of all NFL players. These players’ careers last for 11.7 years on average, nearly four times longer than the average NFL career. First-round draft picks also have a NFL career length far above average – around nine years. In terms of positions, kickers and punters have the longest NFL career average, as their positions require the least physical contact in comparison to other positions. Quarterbacks are next on the list, with average career length of around 4.4 years. George Blanda, who played both as a kicker and a quarterback, has the longest NFL career of all times, playing for 26 seasons in total.
Most of this data is a direct result of terrible hires and constant turnover at HC. Some of these players might have thrived in other systems. When players do thrive they leave because another coach will come in and turn the whole thing upside down. When we have an effective 4-3 defense we hire a 3-4 coach and vice versa. Sticking with success is not what this team is good at. Rex Ryan hiring is the best example yet of the inept decision making of the front office.