Gil Brandt has a #8-overall pick that actually makes sense for the Bills

The Syracuse alum are all over Orange QB Ryan Nassib as the Bills first pick in the 2013 draft. They point to the connection between Nassib, former Syracuse head coach/new Bills head coach Doug Marrone and former Orange offensive coordinator/new Bills OC Nathaniel Hackett. It's rather cozy, isn't it?

Nassib joined John Murphy on WGR, and it would seem as if he feels it's a foregone conclusion that he'll end up a Buffalo Bill.

Nassib is at the Senior Bowl and is interviewing with a number of teams including the Bills and Marrone. Here's what he had to say when Murphy asked if it was weird interviewing with his former college coach:

Said Nassib, "It was a little strange. It kinda felt like I was interviewing for a job [pause] you know..." Murphy injects, "That you already won?"

Nassib continues, "Yeah...that I had...not too long ago with him. I feel like he knows about me." Nassib throws this out rather casually, "I mean we've been together for four years [at Syracuse.] It's just an opportunity to meet the other guys on the staff that I would be working with...if I were to go to the Bills."

Yikes!

Cozy would be an understatement. A little too perfect. Makes me want to throw up.

This whole Nassib thing is predicated upon the belief that the Bills should draft a quarterback as high as possible. It's a notion that's been gaining steam this whole season, as the boys on WGR--from Jeremy White to Howard Simon to Paul Hamilton to Bulldog--have unabashedly stated time and time again that Ryan Fitzpatrick should never hit the field as the Bills starter again. Most people think the Bills should draft a QB with their first pick, regardless of whether or not he's worthy of it.

Here's what CBSSports.com's draft guru's have to say on the matter.

Rob Rang, a morning show favorite has the Bills picking Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson at #8:

While incumbent starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is far from the team's weakest link, few believe he is the caliber of quarterback that can lead Buffalo to a Super Bowl. Furthermore, general manager Buddy Nix has specifically stated he hopes to find the team's quarterback of the future. While new head coach Doug Marrone might prefer his former Syracuse signal-caller Ryan Nassib, Wilson has the production against SEC competition to make he -- and the rest of Buffalo -- believers.

His colleague, Dane Brugler has NC State QB Mike Glennon going to the Bills at #8:

With new head coach Doug Marrone in Buffalo, his former Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib makes a lot of sense for the Bills in the second round. But Buffalo can't afford to pass on a quarterback in the first round if they feel another one is worth this pick.

Walter Cherpinsky of walterfootball.com has had the Bills picking a QB for months. He keeps the same synopsis, but plugs in a different name. Where once he said Tyler Bray or Tyler Wilson, he now goes with Glennon, yet he has always started out with those four words, "this is a reach":

This is a reach - I had Mike Glennon in the second round a couple of updates ago - but we've seen second-day talents like Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder go in the top 12. Teams are so desperate for quarterbacks that they'll make moves like this.

General manager Buddy Nix, who is generally forthcoming about his offseason plans, told the media that he plans on drafting a franchise quarterback. He even said he'll trade up for one in the 2013 NFL Draft. He may have been talking about Geno Smith if the Chiefs pass on him, but he won't have to move anywhere for Glennon.

It's still early, but I believe Glennon and Tyler Wilson are the two favorites for this selection. Nix will talk himself into taking one of them. Glennon is getting the most hype right now, with Mel Kiper even saying that he could be the first quarterback off the board. I liked this pick more when Chan Gailey was still the coach, as Glennon fit perfectly into his offense.

This completely encapsulates the Buffalo media sentiment while hoping to land that franchise quarterback/savior: "it's a reach." Nix will "talk himself into taking one of them." Glennon is "getting the most hype right now." That is, of course, until Walter updates his Bills' pick with the QB who's presently getting the most hype, Nassib, a player who would be considered a reach that Nix will talk himself into.

By the way, Cherpinsky's partner, Charlie Campbell also has the Bills picking Glennon after a switch from Wilson.

The assumption that the QB position is the major reason the Bills have not made the playoffs is rampant across the league. Yes, they could use an upgrade at quarterback, and they will, as GM Buddy Nix has said, address the issue at the draft, or even through free agency.

And then there are the voices of reason who think that the Bills should be looking at a linebacker, amongst them, NFL.com's, Gil Brandt.

While ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Buffalo taking linebacker Manti T'eo (all-in-all still not a bad pick because of the dearth of linebacker talent on the Bills,) Brandt has them taking another linebacker, Alec Ogletree from Alabama in his first mock draft.

Here's what Brandt had to say: "Ogletree would help the Bills' defense a lot. Buffalo also needs receiver help, but that can be had later in the draft."

I really didn't see any mention of a QB there. No Nassib. No Wilson. No Bray. No Zack Dysert. In fact Brandt has only Oakland (#3--Geno Smith) and Arizona (#7, Matt Barkley) taking first-round quarterbacks in his mock draft. (Brandt, of course, is not given to hype therefore not projecting four, five even six QB's going in the first round.)

And if the WGR boys need more proof that drafting a QB #8 overall is a waste, HOF'er Jim Kelly thinks so as well--"you gotta understand guys," he said to Simon, "what is out there?" (8:48-mark.)

Exactly.