Buffalo Bills Add Four Potential Starters in Day One of NFL Draft

(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Round 1, Pick 28: Buffalo Selects OL Eric Wood

In the pick that the Bills received for the trade of Jason Peters, Buffalo selected Wood to help out the middle of their line and to help protect young QB Trent Edwards.

Pros

Wood has great size (6-4, 310 lbs.) and excellent strength (30 reps at the combine).  He plays to the whistle on every play and has a nasty demeanor, because of this he is also very physical and tough. 

He is a very smart player with great footwork and is pretty light on his feet in comparison to his size.  He is also quick and can pull on running plays, something that the Bills love to do when trying to run outside. 

He is very intense while playing and is a hard worker off the field.  He studies the game and has a great football IQ.  He also brings a lot of experience with him, as he has started 49 straight games at the center position in college. 

Considered one of the best centers in college football coming out this year, he can play other positions on the offensive line too.  He is also a leader and loves contact.

Cons

Can sometimes get pushed back in pass coverage, and can get overpowered sometimes. He has trouble with big nose tackles, something the AFC East has plenty of.   He is not a dominating run blocker, so he needs to add a little bit more strength.  He can also struggle with leverage and balance at times.

Already There

Wood is expected to start at the offensive guard position, where the Bills currently have Brad Butler and Kirk Chambers penciled in.

Both Butler and Chambers are good players to have, and with Wood added to the mix, the depth at the position is pretty good.  Chambers could also move out to right tackle.

Wood could also get some look at center, along with newcomer Geoff Hangartner, who the Bills signed this offseason.

On paper, the Bills line has Langston Walker at LT, Wood at LG, Hangartner at center, Butler at RG and Kirk Chambers at RT.

However, with Demetrius Bell, and another first day pick, OG Andy Levitre (we will get to him in a little bit), the Bills have plenty of talent and depth on the offensive line.  A line that looked to be in trouble after the Peters trade was re-done with two early picks to make it a position in which you don't have to worry about too much.

Outlook

Wood is a player with great size and intelligence and should be starting for the Bills this season.  His experience will certainly help him out, as he will be quick to learn the Bills offensive.  He is a student of the game and will study his opponents strongly before each game.  Overall, Wood was a great pick and will greatly help out the middle of the line.

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