The player will hopefully be someone who can be an immediate spark, like last season's first round pick Marshawn Lynch.
After a 7-9 season, and being in the playoff hunt, it's hard to call the season a complete disappointment, but improvement is needed. The Bills approach the 2008 draft with needs in the key positions of wide receiver, tight end, and cornerback. The draft should be the main focus for the Bills to better the franchise, but a late trade certainly isn't out of the question.
The lack of a big physical wide receiver contributed to the Bills lackluster total of 25 touchdowns all season, ranking 30th in the NFL. It's no secret the Bills are looking to add a big presence to the wide out position, but likely won't address this need with their 11th overall pick simply for the reason that there is not a prospect who can bring the physicality and size the Bills are looking for. The Bills were interested in Malcolm Kelly from Oklahoma, but after a weak on-campus workout and the questions surrounding his health, he may have completely dropped out of the first round. Devin Thomas from Michigan State also has come up in conversation, but has the lingering notion of being a one-year wonder.
Look for the Bills first round pick to be a defensive back, specifically a cornerback. This year's draft is rich in the cornerback department and therefore heavily sought after by many teams. The Patriots and Saints are two teams ahead of the Bills who also are in the market for a cornerback. Look for the Bills to take either Aqib Talib from Kansas, Leodis McKelvin from Troy, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from Mid. Tenn State, or Mike Jenkins from USF, depending on availability.
In later rounds the Bills need to address the issue of a tight end and a back up running back. With offseason losses to both departments, the Bills will look to add a third down back and possibly an impact tight end in the second or third round.
With the need for a physical wide out, a trade is a great possibility, especially if Chad Johnson were to get serious about making a move to a new team. The addition of a player of Chad Johnson's caliber could be the piece of the puzzle the Bills may need to make the push at a AFC East title and a Super Bowl title.
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5 months ago
what are you stupid or something we will take a much needed wr with 11 pick
from 5 months ago
to donnie and justin thank you for your input but it looks like the bills made the smart choice like i knew they would.
5 months ago
I agree with donnie...not about you being stupid, but about the Bills first round pick. It should be a wide receiver.
5 months ago
why would you take a wr if there isnt a good one out there? Thats stupid. Its smart to take a cornerback because there is so many this year and good ones and its the second weakest spot on the team.
5 months ago
How crappy is it that our biggest need, WR , is such aweak crop this year? But lets be fair, no one would have said Andre Reed was worth a #11 pick pre-draft either. Or Marquis Colston. The fact of the matter is, virtually every draft has players who produce way beyond what the "experts" say they will. Tom Brady in the 6th round. Nuff said. Simply put, there is almost no doubt that at LEAST one WR, who is not supposed to bring 11th pick-worthy production, in fact WILL do so. Buffalo's job is to find that guy, not offer up a fortune and the franchise's future stars to land a disgruntled star whose team refuses to even consider trading him, and who no doubt would consider himself too special for a small market stage like Buffalo anyway. Guys like Chad do not leave small city teams for other small city teams. They all run like lemmings to "BIG NAME" cesspools like Dallas. Besides, I am not all that unhappy with Robert Royal. (And we see supposed sure-fire tight end busts EVERY YEAR!! EG. Vernon Davis, Freddie Jones, Bubba Franks, etc.) Most top TEs only are good for 2-3 years anyway, then vanish. Ben Coates, Wesley Walls, Mark Chmura, Keith McKellar, Randy McMicheal, Cam Cleeland, need I go on. As far as wasting an early pick on a guy who probably won't even be as good as Royal, lets not and say we did. Oh, and why did we bother drafting Ashton Youboty if we are SO SURE he isn't the answer at corner? He has a lot better upside than Peerless Price at this point, so WHO should we replace? If the DB crop is so deep, lets pick one of them in the second, or trade down and take both in the first. If we wait to draft WR, we'll end up with a tomato can, mark my words.
5 months ago
The Bills shouldn't forget Dan Connor, ILB Penn State either... if they have him ranked highly he might still be there, and he can also play outside. He also played with Posluzny in college so they'd "gel" right away.
If the Bills take a WR with #11 (that's too high IMO) it should be Limas Sweed. Big, physical, strong. He'd be a great complement for Lee Evans.
5 months ago
Okay not that I know better than all of you but seriously on some of these comments (and the article for that matter...need a 3rd down RB?) I agree that at the #11 spot WR is a reach and there is value at the CB positon. Also think about the CB buffalo has drafted in past years: Winfield, Clements, and Burris, they have a nack for finding corner talent. I would love it if buffalo traded out of the #11 and for a later first round pick w/ adding another second round pick. In this case I would take Devin Thomas or Antwon Cason w/ the first round pick and either Malcolm Kelly or Cason (if he falls out of the first) obviously depending on the first round pick. Than use the 2nd second round pick for a TE (and that would be nice if Fred Davis is around, but I don't see it happening). On the idea of Dan Connor from Penn State.... common on have you been fallowing the bills offseason pickups? With Mitchell at the WILL, Puz at the Mike, and Crowell at the Sam I don't think we will address LB until late in the draft if at all.
5 months ago
Oh and this writer doesn't know what he is talking about....on the 3rd down RB notion...what about Fred Jackson. He had two 100yd. all purpose perfomances and one of those was against the Redskins who was 6th in the NFL in total defense (and that was his first career start). He was good enough to make Anthony Thomas expendable (we let him go early on in free agency) and moved him ahead of Brandon Wright (our 4round pick last year). Lastly he only got in 7 games with one start. I would be suprised if we pick a back even late in the draft (unless there is a high grade on someone).
5 months ago
they do need a 3rd down back. fred jackson is a speed running back that cannot be relied on for 3rd and three situations. if you knew anything about the team you would know they need someone like anthony thomas that is reliable and that they are planning on adding depth to the running back position. but thank you for your misinformed input.
5 months ago
I like the DE from Miami Harvey, or a CB. The tallent is not there at number 11 for WR. If we go for a WR in the first round I think we will have traded out of the 11 spot.
5 months ago
As in the past I believe the Bills will take the highest rated player on their board regardless of the position.
5 months ago
yeah i agree we dont need a 3rd running back we got depth and good depth jackson has proved himself last year and DAWYNE not brandon wright is decent too big and strong he can take a-trains place on 3rd down for blocking situations but so can freddy jackson hes been working hard his whole career but anyways i say if cromartie or leodis mclevin is there we take one of them i believe that a 3rd cornor taken in the draft is not worth a 11th pick also before kelly ran his terriable 40 i thought he would of been a great pick but now i want cornor with the 11th and a big atheletic WR in 2nd maybe kelly will still be there i dont want devin tomas cuz he is only 6'2 and a one year wonder
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