Best and Worst Draft Picks in Buffalo Bills History

When thinking about the Bills, and I asked myself, "What are the best and worst draft choices we have ever made?"

For worsts, names like Eric Flowers and J. P. Losman bumped into my head. Then there were the really good ones, like Jim Kelly and Roscoe Parrish (good second-round steal I say) and I came up with the complete top five for each side good or bad.

The Worst No. 5 DE Walt Patulski, Notre Dame (First overall, 1972)

When he was picked he was expected to do well, but nothing ever really clicked with him, he was eventually traded in 1976 to the Rams, but had his career ended a year later due to a knee injury

No. 4 TE Tony Hunter, Notre Dame (12th overall, 1983)

The sad part to him getting drafted this high was that he was picked two picks before Jim Kelly, although the Bills ended up getting Kelly, it makes it sad because they could have gotten something better than him.

His entire career he had he only caught 69 passes, and there were plenty of better players they could have grabbed, which would have made th team better, such as Darrell Green, Dave Rimington, and Jim Jeffcoat.

No. 3 DE Erik Flowers, Arizona State (26th overall, 2000)

Can you say letdown? He was expected to be the guy the took over the legacy of Bruce Smith, and how did he respond? Made four sacks, four of of them!

In a total of 31 games, and was so bad that he was benched late in 2001 and was released in the following training camp.

He finished his unsuccessful career getting one more sack in Houston the following year, and ended up playing on practice squads for the next four years (Pittsburgh, Atlanta) and had a quick stint in St Louis for two years. ('03-'04)

No. 2 T Mike Williams, Texas (Fourth overall, 2002)

Let me list you some names, Ed Reed,Quentin Jammer,Albert Haynseworth, Brian Westbrook,Jeremy Shockey, Lito Sheppard. These are all players in the 2002 NFL draft picked after Mike Williams.

Now how many people hear of him playing anymore, oh thats right he doesn't anymore.

It shows how you must be careful in the NFL draft, he spent three very forgettable seasons with the Bills,when they were trying to convert him to guard,it didn't work to well.

He was eventually dropped by Buffalo and spent a year in Jacksonville, and hasn't played a game since.

No. 1 LB Tom Cousineau, Ohio State (First overall, 1979)

The man that screwed over the Bills for more money, in the CFL, in which he spent a couple years there before coming back to the NFL and having a couple years with Cleveland and San Francisco.

Which, if you put into terms, it was like the Bills, even though they had done terribly the season before, got no first-round draft pick that year which makes him the Biggest bust for the Bills.

On to the best five...

The Best No. 5 G Joe DeLamielleure, Michigan State (26th overall in 1973)

A guy you can say was committed to his team, he was a true factor in helping O.J. Simpson become the great running back he was. he played 102 games for Buffalo, before being traded to the Browns and played there for five seasons before coming back for one more season with the Bills in 1985.

In which he played 10 games. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003 and is one of the greatest NFL guards of all time,

No. 4 DE Bruce Smith, Virginia Tech (First overall in 1985)

The greatest defensive end in NFL history was drafted first in 1985 and proved why. He is the NFL all-time sack leader with 200 sacks in 19 seasons in the NFL. Went to the Pro bowl 11 times, and went to four Super Bowls and was a key to the defense of the Bills throughout those years.

He finished his career off with three years in Washington before finally retiring. He will be Inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, and will be known as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

No. 3 RB Thurman Thomas, Oklahoma State (40th overall, 1988)

One of the greatest bargains in NFL history as he was tooken in the middle of the second round in the 1988 draft. He was a key player in bringing the Bills to 4 straight Super Bowls.

He lead the NFL in yards from scrimmage from 1989-92. He made the Pro Bowl five times and if Buffalo had won Super Bowl XXV he probably would have been MVP. Afetr he left Buffalo, he had a quick stint in Miami in 2000, but then retired.

He was brought into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

No. 2 QB Jim Kelly, Miami (14th overall in 1983)

Although at first he did not embrace Buffalo at first and went to the USFL when he was drafted, Saying that he didn't want to play in the cold weather, and Buffalo was a very poor team at the time.

When the USFL folded he joined the Bills as their starter and the rest is history.He made it to four Super Bowls and four Pro bowls and from 1986-1996 was the Bills Franchise QB.

While he also has the second best Playoff record at home. (first is Tom Brady) He also passed for more than 300 yards 26 times in 160 games in his career. He retired following the 1996 season and his No. 12 jersey was soon retired, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2002.

No. 1 RB O.J. Simpson, USC (First overall in 1969)

Well barring what he would eventually do, Simpson was one of the greatest NFL Running backs in history.He was the first running back ever to surpass 2,000 rushing yards, living up to his college career.

He played a successful career in Buffalo until he was traded to the 49ers in 1979, and finished his career there. He was brought into the Hall Of fame in 1985, in his first year of eligibility.

Now amongst his controversy, and the things he did you can still not argue against him being one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.