1 - Edmunds projected to be a top rookieLast week, Bills first-round pick Tremaine Edmunds turned 20. At 6-5, and over 250 lbs., no one expected the linebacker from Virgina Tech to fall to the 16-spot, including Bills GM Brandon Beane. Now, the Bills rookie has been projected to be one of the best rookies next season by NFL.com.
[
In a list projecting the top 100 rookies for next season, the former Hokie is ranked 12th overall. The only linebacker higher than him on the list is Roquan Smith, who the Chicago Bears selected eight picks before the Bills got Edmunds.
This is what Chase Goodbread had to say after putting Edmunds 12th on his list.
*Linebackers who weigh 253 pounds and run the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds don't come around often. He can play inside or come off the edge, which will help give him every-down value in Buffalo. *
Along with Edmunds, the Bills had two more of their draft picks make the top 100. The Bills first player taken in the draft, Josh Allen was ranked 34th overall. Then, "Horrible Harry" himself, Harrison Phillips just missed out on the top 50, being slotted at the 51st spot.
2 - Excitement in the city of BuffaloIt all seemed to happen during draft week. On day one of the draft, the Bills not only drafted the franchise quarterback that the city has longed for since Jim Kelly retired, but Brandon Beane also found a steal in taking Tremaine Edmunds with the aforementioned 16th overall pick.
Two days and six more draft picks later, and the Buffalo Bills created an exciting wave that began to swirl around the fan base.
Then, as soon as Beane and head coach Sean McDermott stopped talking to the media following day three, the city of Buffalo learned that the Buffalo Sabres had a chance at a top-three draft pick. Fast forward two more hours, and the Sabres won the draft lottery and the right to pick first overall in this year's NHL draft.
ABC News reported that some Bills fans have been struggling for years waiting for the momentum in the city to shift for their major sports teams, both without a championship yet. After the NFL draft and the NHL draft lottery, fans couldn't contain their excitement.
During the NFL draft, CBS Evening News anchor Jeff Glor got dirty looks from his wife during a rare dinner date sneaking peeks at the Bills' picks. He then yelped with excitement upon learning the Sabres won the lottery while attending the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington.
"I had just resigned myself to never winning it," Glor said. "But listen, I always have hope."
Now with the success of one weekend, fans like Buffalo native Nick Bakay – a comedian and Hollywood screen writer – said that with the additions of players like Allen and Edmunds, along with the Sabres projected to take Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, the vibe in the city is on the rise.
"It's like all of a sudden we've got go-big-or-go-home-talent coming our way," Bakay said.
It appears that the city of Buffalo may be on the rise in areas that stretch beyond Canal Side. Now, the city has its eyes on the two of the most sought-after prizes in professional sports.
3 - Season ticket member milestone for the franchiseFor the first time in the history of the Buffalo Bills franchise, the Bills have 50,000 season ticket members for four consecutive seasons. Bills fans appear to be excited about the change in culture surrounding the team as of late, especially since the Bills playoff drought is finally over.
Starting today at noon, individual game tickets for the upcoming season will be going on sale to the general public. The Bills will also begin selling group tickets (12 or more) at 9 a.m. today.
For anyone interested in taking advantage of discounted group pricing, call the Bills Ticket Office at 1-877-228-4257.
SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE DAY
[
