Buffalo Bills: Latest Combine News and Rumors

Due to not owning a first-round selection, there has not been much predraft or combine coverage on the Buffalo Bills.

General manager Doug Whaley and the Bills are set to make their first selection at No. 50 overall in the middle of the second round. It may not be a first-round selection, but finding a first-year starter certainly isn't out of the question.

With Rex Ryan and Greg Roman now installed as the team's head coach and offensive coordinator, respectively, Buffalo's draft strategy may be a bit different in comparison with recent years.

There hasn't been a ton of news regarding what this strategy may be, but a few statements from important members of the organization should carry some weight.

Let's take a look at what Whaley, Ryan and the rest of the Bills scouting team may be keeping an eye on throughout draft season.

Upgrading Offense Will Be Main Focus

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Potentially the most telling piece of news regarding the Bills' draft strategy is a statement from the team's general manager.

The public can speculate on Buffalo's greatest weaknesses, but the opinion of Doug Whaley is truly the only one that matters. When Matthew Fairburn of The Post-Standard asked him about his team's draft needs, Whaley responded with a less-than-definitive—but telling—answer:

"

I look at it this way: There's not one position we wouldn't take or try to upgrade. We could use another receiver, you could use obviously offensive line interior, quarterback we'll have to add. If a dynamic tight end is out there or a running back. If we look to defense, those guys are going to come in and give us depth and hopefully be in the system a year or two from now to start contributing.

"

Whaley didn't express a focus in his draft strategy, and he didn't name a specific position that needs immediate help, but he sure did list a number of offensive positions. In addition, the Bills general manager noted that a defensive selection would be to add depth—not a starter. As a result, it can be concluded that offense, naturally, will be the focus for the Bills this year.

This shouldn't come as a major surprise; the Bills finished 2014 with the fourth-ranked defense in terms of points allowed on average (18.1). By comparison, the Kyle Orton-led Bills finished 18th in points scored per game (21.4).

Look for Whaley and the Bills to select either a quarterback, tight end or running back whenever the team is on the clock for the first time this year.

Impact of Impending Free Agents

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

While it makes sense for Buffalo to draft the "best available" prospect, it may need to narrow its focus if a few key defensive players depart during free agency.

Among others, defensive end Jerry Hughes and safety Da'Norris Searcy are impending free agents. Hughes has expressed a desire to return to Buffalo—according to Fairburn—but he still wants to be compensated accordingly.

Searcy's future in Buffalo, on the other hand, appears much more in doubt. Per the Bills' website, the 26-year-old defensive back plans to test the free-agent market come March.

It may easily be deduced that losing key starters to free agency impacts draft strategy. However, losing the combination of Hughes and Searcy could alter Whaley's belief regarding his team's needs.

There is a chance both players re-sign with Buffalo, though. In the words of ESPN's Mike Rodak, "Free agency also will have an impact on the Bills' draft needs. Re-signing players such as defensive end Jerry Hughes or safety Da'Norris Searcy will make those respective positions less of a priority to fill through the draft."

Free agency will begin March 10, at which point Whaley and the Bills will have a better idea about what defensive positions may require an influx of young talent.

Minnesota TE Maxx Williams Is an Early Favorite

John Raoux/Associated Press

Scott Chandler may only be 30 years old when the 2015 season begins, but he has failed to make a defining impact in recent years.

According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, Chandler has totaled just 1,152 yards and five touchdowns over the past two seasons. These numbers aren't terrible, but they don't look like those of a starting tight end who has played in all 32 of his team's games since the beginning of 2013. As a result, Minnesota's Maxx Williams has popped up quite a bit in the Bills draft conversation.

Fairburn not only lists Williams at the top of his tight end prospects, but also has Buffalo selecting him 50th overall in his Bills-specific, seven-round mock draft.

Naturally, other prospects have popped up in mock drafts as well. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, for example, has Buffalo selecting Colorado State's Ty Sambrailo. Still, it appears that Williams is the favorite among most analysts to this point.

If there wasn't a (relatively great) chance of Williams being drafted in the late first round or early second round, his name would probably be tied to the Bills more than it already is. Speculation is always fun, but we'll have to wait to see if Williams is a favorite of the organization as well.

Capitalizing on Deep Running Back Class

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

As noted in a previous slide, Whaley mentioned that he considers running back to be a need (to some extent) for the Bills.

With C.J. Spiller being an impending free agent and Fred Jackson already defying age expectations for the position, Buffalo should be looking to add a running back come late April. Fairburn also echoes this theory.

Fairburn notes that it is unlikely the Bills end up with a top-rated running back prospect like Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon. For this reason, he lists seven prospects Buffalo could draft on Day 2. The prospects he lists include: Jay Ajayi, Tevin Coleman, Duke Johnson (pictured), Ameer Abdullah, T.J. Yeldon, David Cobb and Mike Davis.

The skill sets and level of talent vary throughout this list. Buffalo does still have Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown under contract next season, which makes running back a less pressing offensive need in comparison to, for example, tight end. However, due to the depth of the 2015 class, Buffalo could acquire a more talented option with a middle-round pick.

Rodak lists running back as a moderate need for the Bills, behind quarterback and tight end. Regardless of where Whaley lists running back on his positional needs list, analysts expect Buffalo to capitalize on a talented and deep class.

Exploring All Options at Quarterback

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Shortly after Rex Ryan was hired to replace Doug Marrone, he began fielding questions concerning EJ Manuel and the quarterback position.

"Will we explore possible veteran free agents or draft picks out there? Absolutely," Ryan told Ross Jones of Fox Sports. "We're going to explore everything to add competition because that makes your whole team better."

Simply, Manuel's future as the franchise quarterback in Buffalo is in doubt, even if Ryan didn't say so.

Given these circumstances, Rodak noted three possible draft prospects the Bills may target: Brett Hundley, Bryce Petty and Garrett Grayson. Based on their current draft stock, it is expected for Hundley to be selected in the second round while Petty and Grayson should hear their names called between the third and fifth rounds.

There hasn't been any statement regarding a specific quarterback prospect, but the position is on the radar of both Whaley and Ryan.

For more NFL news, statistics and discussion, find me on Twitter @RobertReidell.