2012 NFL Mock Draft: Buffalo Bills Select USC DE Nick Perry

Once again, the Buffalo Bills crushed the souls of their dedicated and starved fanbase in 2011, after starting 5-2 only to end the year 6-10, missing out on the playoffs for the 12th consecutive year.

Ryan Fitzpatrick began the season on a tear, frequently connecting on a variety of quick throws to his unheralded receivers. As the season progressed, he came back to Earth and finished with the most interceptions thrown in the NFL during the regular season. 

Buffalo did get an MVP-type season from running back Fred Jackson. He led the league in rushing before suffering a leg injury against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11. 

Stevie Johnson broke the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the second-straight season, but he was ineffective during the Bills' slide and was the subject of more controversy. 

Buffalo's defense was especially awful. They finished the year 26th in total yards allowed and surrendered a whopping 4.8 yards per carry.

They recorded only 29 sacks, which placed them 27th in the league.

Heading into the 2012 offseason, Buffalo needs more help at wide receiver, and are desperately looking for a premier pass rusher.  

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

8. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DE/DT, LSU

9. Miami Dolphins: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

10. Buffalo Bills: Nick Perry, OLB, USC

New defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt is a proponent of the 4-3 defense, and that alignment better suits the Bills defense in the future. Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus are too talented and disruptive to not be on the field at the same time on the interior of the defensive line.

They don't have an influx of talented linebackers, so the 3-4 system isn't in their best interest. I expect them to play a hybrid look during the 2012 season, with the 4-3 as their base. 

Either way, they need a pass-rusher.

Badly. 

USC's Nick Perry is the ideal selection. He's extremely athletic, explosive around the edge and was productive during his three years with the Trojans, racking up 22.5 sacks. Perry has experience in a 4-3 defense and at 6'3'' and 250 pounds, projects ideally to the defense. 

With Courtney Upshaw gone, Perry is the best 4-3 defensive end and will bring a much-needed pass-rusher to the Bills' defense. 

11. Seattle Seahawks: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

12. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

16. New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami  

18. San Diego Chargers: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

19. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

20. Tennessee Titans: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta Falcons): Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama 

23. Detroit Lions: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

25. Denver Broncos: Chris Polk, RB, Washington

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor 

27. New York Giants: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

28. Baltimore Ravens: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

29. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

30. San Francisco 49ers: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

31. New England Patriots: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

32. Green Bay Packers: Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

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