NFL Draft 2012: What Weakness Should the Buffalo Bills Address at No. 10?

The 2011 Buffalo Bills season was to the people of western New York what Castaway was to Tom Hanks fans. Great beginning, entertaining and surprisingly successful. Then, the skepticism lurking in the back of your mind began creeping in as you think:

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"How long can this offense sustain 30-plus points a game?"

"How many times can they allow more than 28 points and still win?"

"I bet this movie ends when Tom Hanks returns to civilization."

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The answer is what Bills fans and cinephiles already knew. No chance. The end of a once promising beginning, completely ruined by losing eight of the final nine games, Stevie Johnson getting benched (coincidentally after setting a franchise milestone) and Helen Hunt getting remarried.

Now that the dust has settled, it's time to focus frustration attention on the draft. Sitting at No. 10 this year, the pick—cliche as it is—must be somebody who can come in and contribute right away as part of Buffalo's very young nucleus of players. 

53 percent of the current roster has been in the league for three years or less. 75 percent of them started in 2011, or saw significant playing time.

Before I reveal who my pick for No. 10, let me first address what it shouldn't be.

1. Quarterback

Like it or not, Ryan Fitzpatrick will start for the Bills for the foreseeable future. The Bills are committed to Ryan Fitzpatrick for the foreseeable future. With a full compliment of weapons at the beginning of the year, Fitzpatrick showed a command of Chan Gailey's spread offense. Until the second half slide, he had a top-five quarterback rating in the NFL.

Critics cite accuracy issues and an NFL-leading 23 interceptions as reasons why he is only a "bridge" or as justification for drafting a quarterback this April—but those issues are a mirage.

The offense is predicated on throwing screens and quick passes between three and 15 yards and letting receivers make plays. Fitzpatrick throws darts, not bombs.

The interception surge came when the team was playing from behind on the road against the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots. In those games, Fitzpatrick had to force throws to try and make plays.

At the end of the season, Buffalo was without Roscoe Parrish, David Jones, Scott Chandler, Fred Jackson, Naaman Roosevelt and occasionally David Nelson. The Bills were starting free agents off the street like Derek Hagan at the end of the year.

Finally, every team has injuries, but it seemed apparent that Fitzpatrick was fighting some kind of rib or chest injury sustained when he was sacked by London Fletcher in the Week 7 win against the Washington Redskins.

Through Week 7, Fitz had thrown 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a quarterback rating of 98.4 while winning five games. After Week 7, the Bills won one game, and Fitzpatrick threw 10 touchdowns, 16 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 65.1. Something changed (other than personnel), and I have to believe an injury of this nature is the culprit.

By pick No. 10, Andrew Luck will be gone, Robert Griffin III will likely be gone and there's no other quarterback worthy of such a high pick. Pass on the quarterback here.

2. Outside Linebacker/Defensive End

I'm lumping these positions together because, with the change to Dave Wannstedt on defense, I'm not entirely sure what base scheme he's going to use. The popular theme in today's pass-oriented NFL is the need for pass rushers, but if it were that easy to find them, then Aaron Maybin would be taken over for Erik Flowers right now.

I don't like this year's crop of talent at either position. Vontaze Burfict is a nice Terrell Suggs clone, but his inability to keep himself under control won't bode well for him under Chan Gailey (ask Stevie Johnson). Both Zac Brown and Kevin Reddick from UNC have had productive seasons, but both are risks Buffalo can't afford right now.

Brown reminds me far too much of Aaron Maybin, and Reddick is this year's Robert Quinn. Quinn should be promising, but if the Bills want to make the playoffs in 2012, he's a luxury they can't wait for.

If Buddy Nix and company feel compelled to make a selection from this group, my begrudging pick would be Courtney Upshaw from Alabama, but I feel the answer is on the roster.

Bills fans already know you don't cross the Moats, and casual fans may know Arthur Moats as the man who effectively ended Brett Favre's career. When the staff hasn't been arbitrarily switching his position, Moats has proven he can bring pressure off the edge, and plays with a non-stop motor.

With a full season dedicated to outside linebacker, I'm confident he can be the guy the Bills need.

My Pick at No. 10: Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

If there is one thing Iowa produces, it's offensive lineman. Kirk Ferentz's squad consistently churns out NFL-ready offensive linemen for the draft. It's about time Buffalo take advantage of it. Jonathan Martin from Stanford may have the higher ceiling, but Reiff can step on day one and protect Fitzpatrick's blindside. 

Demetrius Bell is gone, and while Chris Hairston has showed flashes of being capable, I think he's better suited physically to play right guard then on the edge, or in a worst case scenario a backup left tackle for Reiff.

The idea of having an offensive line anchored by the young core of Reiff, Andy Levitre and Eric Wood is something Buffalo hasn't had since Will Wolford left for the Colts in 1993. Clear a spot at the table, Ryan. It's breakfast time for Riley.