Buffalo (Bills) Roam Onward: A Look Ahead at the 2009 Draft

Another year, another disappointment, and yet another 11th pick. Coming off their third straight 7-9 season, the Buffalo Bills must once again decide how to shake off another losing campaign and add to a team that showed flashes of improvement this season. 

The biggest issue for the Bills in their 2008 season was their 25th ranked offense. With their first pick in the draft, expect the Bills to look for more help for quarterback Trent Edwards. A receiving tight end like Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham would fit the bill well, if the Bills wanted to use an early pick for this need. 

Should Gresham or any other TE's value be considered too low for the 11th pick, the Bills could tender offers to trade down or they could stay put and consider an elite pass rusher. 

Someone like Florida State’s Everette Brown, who should drop to the 11th spot, could help bolster a Bills defense that showed a marked improvement this season. Look for the Bills to address their need for a pass rusher and a receiving tight end in the first two or three rounds. 

The Bills will want to help their offensive line as well. The run blocking was average at best through most of the season and an anchor at center would help the offense for years to come. California’s Alex Mack or even Oregon’s Max Unger could fill this hole well. 

Buffalo will also want to look for depth at the quarterback position. This is an area where the Bills may be better served looking in free agency. A veteran backup who could mentor Edwards and step in at times would be a better fit than another draft pick. 

However, if this need is not met and the Bills have a chance to draft someone like Graham Harrell in the third-fourth round, don’t put it past management to take a flier on another rookie. 

The team will also want to keep an eye out for depth at the linebacker and safety positions. Injuries have plagued the defense for the last two years and bringing in fresh talent at these positions can only help.

The linebacker position is a more pressing need, as Angelo Crowell may be forced into retirement with a knee injury suffered in the preseason, but both positions need help to improve a defense that struggled at getting opponents off the field at times. 

The Bills have shown a penchant for sticking to their picks and taking who is available, but they may need to change their philosophy some this year and do whatever they can to mold this year’s team into one that can at least compete for a wild-card position.

The team showed some promise at the beginning of the season and the talent level has gone way up in the last few years. The question at this point is how the much maligned Bills coaching staff will groom the talent they acquire and if they can turn this team into a 2009 contender after nearly a decade of disappointment and frustration.