2012 NFL Draft: Top 7 First-Round Prospects for the Buffalo Bills

At the No. 10 selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills find themselves in a position where they can both pick the best player available and fill a need on their roster, with plenty of equally-talented prospects between the fifth and 15th players on many teams' draft boards.

However, the past reaches in the top 12 of the draft for Buffalo (2010: C.J. Spiller at No. 9; 2009: Aaron Maybin at No. 11; 2008: Leodis McKelvin at No. 11; 2007: Marshawn Lynch at No. 12; 2006: Donte Whitner at No. 8) show that the Bills have a tendency to fall in love with the unique talents of mediocre players.

Here are the top seven first-round prospects to help Buffalo keep rebuilding, in hopes that they don't make the same mistakes they have made the past five years in the No. 8-No. 12 spots in the draft.

Bills First-Round Prospect No. 1: Courtney Upshaw

After dominating the 2012 BCS National Championship Game against LSU and playing very well in the Senior Bowl, Upshaw looks like the perfect fit as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the Bills' 34 defense.

He also has the size and strength to put his hand on the ground and play in a 43 defense on third and long pass-rush downs.

The fact that he played on the same defense as Buffalo's defensive cornerstone, Marcell Dareus, and the ability for him to translate to the next level from a pro-style defense under Nick Saban at Alabama only increases.

The concerns about his inability to dominate the college game (only 15.5 sacks in his two years as a starter) didn't stop the Bills from selecting Dareus in the top five last year, and it shouldn't this time around.

Bills First-Round Prospect No. 2: OLB Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

Remember how I mentioned Aaron Maybin at the beginning of this article?

Well, while Mercilus comes from the same conference and had a similar one-year wonder aspect to him this year. Mercilus is a 6'4'', 265-pound beast who can rush standing up or as a down lineman.

Just like with Upshaw, Mercilus is versatile in that aspect, and is a much more dominant pass-rusher (16 sacks this year) with the ability to take the ball away (nine forced fumbles).

Unlike Upshaw, he doesn't come from an NFL defense like Alabama, and doesn't have the technician aspect of a guy like Upshaw from the outside linebacker position.

However, defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt will want a playmaker similar to what he had in Miami with Jason Taylor, meaning he could look hard at Mercilus come April for that reason alone.  

Bills First-Round Prospect No. 3: DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina

Coples has Julius Peppers' size, (6'6'', 285 pounds) went to the same university as Peppers, and is almost as athletic.

He is not, and will never be, Julius Peppers, however.

If any team in the NFL felt this way, he would be a top-five pick without question, but many mock drafts have him dropping to the end of, if not out of, the first round.

He could however be the perfect five-technique to go alongside All-Pro talents Marcel Dareus and Kyle Williams, and make as big a difference as J.J. Watt did as a rookie this year.

While 3-4 defensive ends are often reaches in the draft, finding the right ones like Luis Castillo, J.J. Watt and Richard Seymour are invaluable to a championship defense, and make everyone better.

Coples has that ability, but his inconsistent motor and untapped potential scare scouts almost immediately.

Bills First-Round Prospect No. 4: RB Trent Richardson, Alabama

I know, I know. Another running back for the Bills?

But think about it: Fred Jackson's contract ends next year, when he will be 32. C.J. Spiller is to Buffalo what Reggie Bush was to New Orleans—a luxury back who you want to preserve with two other backs who can start, at least.

So, if Richardson drops, his power (5'11'', 224 pound) and speed combination rivals Adrian Peterson, and his ability to catch the football and block in pass protection at such a young age puts Spiller in a luxury-back role and replaces Jackson within a year.

But the Bills' waste and constant recycling of first-round running backs (Willis McGahee, Marshawn Lynch and C.J. Spiller) has to make fans—including myself—cringe at other very talented tailbacks being selected when needs like offensive tackle, defensive line and quarterback never seem to be addressed year after year. 

Bills First-Round Prospect No. 5: OT Riley Reiff, Iowa

With Demetrius Bell a free agent and constant injury risk, and Chris Hairston coming off an impressive but not dominant rookie season, the Bills may finally look to pick a blindside protector for whom they hope is their franchise quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Reiff is a great Kirk Ferentz product who is a more athletic and consistent version of Bryan Bulaga—making him a natural left tackle with a good base (6'6'', 300 pounds) and the ability to get bigger and stronger.

Instead of picking big studs like Mike Williams and Ruben Brown to start on the offensive line, the Buddy Nix-Chan Gailey regime has done a great job picking offensive lineman similar to the Patriots' line, who aren't huge but can move well in space.

This would be another step in that direction.  

Bills First-Round Prospect No. 6: CB Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama

The Bills rarely take chances on players coming into the NFL with character concerns, but Jenkins has shutdown corner ability and fills a need with Drayton Florence only good at nickelback, while Leodis McKelvin and Aaron Williams are inconsistent and Terrence McGee is on his last legs.

If Jenkins is picked, Williams can move over to a third safety/extra nickelback and rover position, adding depth and playmaking ability in the secondary.

Multiple marijuana arrests cost Jenkins his last year at Florida, but he is the most dominant corner besides Morris Claiborne.

His versatility from man-to-man to zone will also allow for the Bills to have the deepest secondary in the AFC East.

Bills First-Round Prospect No. 7: WR Alshon Jeffery

If the Bills want to have a great one-two punch at the receiver position for the better part of the next decade, they will have to take a risk with Jeffery, who has Calvin Johnson-esque size (6'4'', 230 pounds) and the ability to catch jump passes.

When he is on, he is as dominant as any receiver in college football, but playing with Stephen Garcia as your signal-caller prevents you from getting into much of a rhythm.

This pick may be just to avoid seeing Jeffery reach his full potential as a steal from the Jets or Patriots, but it has a chance of being worth it if him and Steve Johnson are a top duo in the league at their position.