Donte Whitner may be available

[Lurker64]

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/03/06/979421/whitners-status-with-bills-uncertain.html

This guy can play both FS and SS, and doesn't seem to want to stay with the Bills. Would definitely be an upgrade over Bigby if he can stay healthy. I wonder if Thompson will go after him.

[steve823]

Wouldn't surprise me if TT made a move if the price isn't unreasonable. It would help give us depth and he would most likely beat out Bigby for the starting job. We also wouldn't have to address a safety in the draft and can focus on OT, OLB, and CB.

[Brandon494]

I would be all for getting him, what would it take? Maybe a 4th or 5th round pick? We need a SS who can cover and he would be a improvement over Bigby IMO.

[Fritz]

I wonder what it would take, and how much of an upgrade he'd be over Bigby.

Skin?

[Bretsky]

I wonder what it would take, and how much of an upgrade he'd be over Bigby.

Skin?

No need to call on Skin for this one


Whitner is to Bigby as Nick Collins is to J Bush

[Administrator]

I would be all for getting him, what would it take? Maybe a 4th or 5th round pick? We need a SS who can cover and he would be a improvement over Bigby IMO.

Whitner was the #8 pick, I think. It would probably take more than a 4th to get him.

[pbmax]

I wonder what it would take, and how much of an upgrade he'd be over Bigby.

Skin?

No need to call on Skin for this one


Whitner is to Bigby as Nick Collins is to J Bush

Then why are they letting him go? The Buffalo brain trust thinks they have at least three safeties that serve their needs better than him (Bryan Scott, George Wilson, Jairus Byrd). Is is cost? He was considered a reach at 8 I think.

Their run defense was bad though the pass defense seemed good (they faced under the average number of passes so that helps their totals but even opponents QB rating and net yard average were good).

Are they changing scheme?

[Brandon494]

I would be all for getting him, what would it take? Maybe a 4th or 5th round pick? We need a SS who can cover and he would be a improvement over Bigby IMO.

Whitner was the #8 pick, I think. It would probably take more than a 4th to get him.

Was just going be recent trades.

Kerry Rhodes was traded to the Cardinals for a 4th and 7th round pick, don't think Whitner is that much better then Rhodes.

[Brandon494]

I wonder what it would take, and how much of an upgrade he'd be over Bigby.

Skin?

No need to call on Skin for this one


Whitner is to Bigby as Nick Collins is to J Bush

Then why are they letting him go? The Buffalo brain trust thinks they have at least three safeties that serve their needs better than him (Bryan Scott, George Wilson, Jairus Byrd). Is is cost? He was considered a reach at 8 I think.

Their run defense was bad though the pass defense seemed good (they faced under the average number of passes so that helps their totals but even opponents QB rating and net yard average were good).

Are they changing scheme?

I believe I heard they are changing to a 3-4 defense.

[pbmax]

I wonder what it would take, and how much of an upgrade he'd be over Bigby.

Skin?

No need to call on Skin for this one


Whitner is to Bigby as Nick Collins is to J Bush

Then why are they letting him go? The Buffalo brain trust thinks they have at least three safeties that serve their needs better than him (Bryan Scott, George Wilson, Jairus Byrd). Is is cost? He was considered a reach at 8 I think.

Their run defense was bad though the pass defense seemed good (they faced under the average number of passes so that helps their totals but even opponents QB rating and net yard average were good).

Are they changing scheme?

I believe I heard they are changing to a 3-4 defense.

Yep, you are correct, found that on PFT. Also why they weren't keen to sign Aaron Schobel up again. But if he isn't a fit there for a 3-4, why would he be a fit here?

[Lurker64]

Then why are they letting him go? The Buffalo brain trust thinks they have at least three safeties that serve their needs better than him (Bryan Scott, George Wilson, Jairus Byrd). Is is cost? He was considered a reach at 8 I think.

Their run defense was bad though the pass defense seemed good (they faced under the average number of passes so that helps their totals but even opponents QB rating and net yard average were good).

Are they changing scheme?

As I understand it the issue is as follows:

1) Jairus Byrd looks to be a long-term starter at FS, and he's coming off his rookie year so he's locked up for a while.

2) They have two other veteran safeties, one of which was higher up on the depth chart than Whitner at SS for the second half of last year.

3) Last year, the Bills approached Whitner to talk about a contract extension as he's on his last year of his rookie contract this year, I believe, and talks were far from productive.

So I'm pretty sure all of that makes him expendable to the Bills. Switching schemes may be a part of it too, dunno. I've always been impressed with Whitner when I've seen him played.

[KYPack]

Whitner is the kind of guy you need to make up a good defense. He's a foot soldier, a position guy. Not much on big plays, 4 picks in 4 years. There is another thing that I think would make him comfortable here. He was the #8 pick. When he had a solid, but not great season, he got a lot of crap from Bills fans.

A change of scenery might really help the guy. His situation is very similar to Pickett's when he was with the Rams. He can relax and just come in and play ball.

The big thing against this is the fact we only have one extra pick in the 7th (+ any comp picks). if we had an extra 3 or 4 pick, I think TT would look at making a deal. The way it is, I doubt it.

[Lurker64]

The big thing against this is the fact we only have one extra pick in the 7th (+ any comp picks). if we had an extra 3 or 4 pick, I think TT would look at making a deal. The way it is, I doubt it.

Though, the fact that this draft is so very deep and talented means that something like a 3rd of 4th round pick is much more valuable than it is in normal years. The Bills might take a fourth in this climate, when they'd ask for something like a 2nd with a draft of last year's quality.

[Brandon494]

Bolden just got traded for a 3rd and 4th, highly doubt the Bills would get more than a 4th for Whitner.

[Fritz]

Whitner is the kind of guy you need to make up a good defense. He's a foot soldier, a position guy. Not much on big plays, 4 picks in 4 years. There is another thing that I think would make him comfortable here. He was the #8 pick. When he had a solid, but not great season, he got a lot of crap from Bills fans.

A change of scenery might really help the guy. His situation is very similar to Pickett's when he was with the Rams. He can relax and just come in and play ball.

The big thing against this is the fact we only have one extra pick in the 7th (+ any comp picks). if we had an extra 3 or 4 pick, I think TT would look at making a deal. The way it is, I doubt it.

Does this make him much better than Bigby, though, KY? I don't know much about Whitner except he was considered a huge reach for the Bills in that draft.

The way you described his situation in Buffalo, I was reminded more of Hawk than Pickett, myself.