Buffalo Bills 2012 Draft: Narrowing Down the 5 Best Options

For months the direction the Buffalo Bills needed to go in the 2012 NFL Draft was a no-brainer, they needed to add a pass-rusher. But that was before the Bills signed free-agent defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, addressing the team's biggest need.

Now the Bills choice at No. 10 is not so clear cut. The overwhelming majority of fans, experts and analysts have the Bills drafting a left tackle in the first round after Demetress Bell signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.

The Bills still have a capable starting left tackle in Chris Hairston, but they may choose to draft a left tackle nonetheless.

As the 2012 NFL Draft closes in, here are the top five options the Bills should target come draft day.

5. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

The Buffalo Bills undoubtedly have a draft need in their secondary. Terrence McGee is getting older and can't seem to stay healthy, while Leodis McKelvin has not proven himself to be a solid option as a starting corner.

Admittedly, drafting a cornerback this high, especially Gilmore who has been projected by some to be the fourth best cornerback in the draft, would draw some criticism.

If the Bills are content with the team they have, but want to add a player to the secondary, it would be wise for them to trade down.

Even if trading down from the No. 10 spot only nets the Bills one additional draft choice, it should be considered an option.

With Morris Claiborne an almost certain lock to go in the first nine picks (despite his atrocious Wonderlic test score), drafting a cornerback at No. 10 just seems to be a stretch.

While Dre Kirkpatrick and Janoris Jenkins may be seen as better options talent-wise, both Kirkpatrick and Jenkins have off-field issues, which have hurt their draft stock.

Gilmore may have some questions surrounding him about his coverage game, but he has proven to be an excellent run defender.

Last season for South Carolina Gilmore tallied 46 tackles, four interceptions and a sack.

4. Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Luke Kuechly would not be described by scouts as a freak athlete.

Nevertheless, there is something to be said about Kuechly's consistency, productivity and durability. Those are three traits that you want out of any athlete, maybe even more so for an NFL linebacker.

Kuechly consistently tallied double-digit tackles on a game-to-game basis for Boston College a year ago. He failed to do so only once all season, where he recorded nine tackles in the last game of the season against Miami, a game in which he also returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown.

Kuechly spent his collegiate football career as a tackling machine, leading the nation in tackles in 2010 and 2011.

Overall, Kuechly isn't exactly what you'd call the "sexy" choice, but he would fit well at middle linebacker as the Bills revert back to a 4-3 system.

3. Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Riley Reiff has been the most common player appearing in mock drafts at the Bills' No. 10 spot, and he may very well be the team's choice on draft day.

Reiff has an interesting list of pros and cons heading into the draft.

Pros:

Reiff played tight end in high school. Many believe that playing tight end helped his footwork skills, which will be invaluable at the offensive tackle position.

Reiff filled in at left tackle for Bryan Bulaga in 2009 after Bulaga went down due to injury. That early experience at left tackle allowed Reiff to make proper adjustments and understand what it takes to play the position.

He has very good quickness and lateral movement for an offensive tackle.

And my personal favorite from cbssports.com, "(Reiff's) best-documented display of footwork at Iowa occurred before he even suited up when, in 2008, he outran Iowa City police for 20 minutes before being arrested for public intoxication." Now that's some endurance!

Cons:

Critics believe he would be better suited at right tackle in the NFL.

Twenty-three bench press reps at the combine leaves something to be desired.

His relatively short arm length of 33.25" has been seen as a concern by critics.

2. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Ryan Fitzpatrick struggled down the stretch last season. He needs as many weapons in the offense as the Bills can afford to give him.

So, after addressing some of the team's biggest needs defensively this offseason by signing Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, maybe the Bills organization is planning to add a playmaker on offense by way of wide receiver Michael Floyd.

Outside of Stevie Johnson and David Nelson, the Bills will be relying heavily on their run game in 2012. If either Fred Jackson or C.J. Spiller suffers an injury next season, Fitzpatrick may struggle once again.

Adding a talented threat at wide receiver will open up the passing game for the Bills franchise quarterback, while taking pressure off of the Bills great running attack.

Floyd impressed last season at Notre Dame, catching 100 passes for 1,147 yards and nine touchdowns.

1. Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Honestly I don't think that Jonathan Martin is getting enough credit for anchoring the offensive line that protected future No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck.

Luck would obviously have success even with a mediocre line, but the Stanford offensive line helped make him great.

Matt Kalil out of USC is unanimously seen as the best offensive tackle in the draft according to scouts and draft experts. Martin, according to the St. Louis Rams Twitter feed, has said he believes he is the best offensive tackle in this year's draft, even over Kalil.

I don't know about you, but that's the kind of swagger I want out of my franchise left tackle. If Martin believes that he is the best offensive tackle in the draft, he's going to spend his entire NFL career trying to prove that he was right to say so.

Chances seem high that the Bills will draft Riley Reiff with their pick at No. 10, but you have to respect the swagger (or perhaps foolishness) of Martin.

One thing is for certain, if he proves all the draft experts wrong in the future, I want him to do so in a Bills uniform.