Buffalo Bills' NFL Draft Big Board: Position-by-Position Rankings

Predicting the NFL draft is always a crapshoot. Figuring out what the Buffalo Bills might do in the 2015 is virtually impossible. 

The Bills are a team on the rise after a 9-7 season and another busy offseason that was highlighted by a trade for All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy. General manager Doug Whaley's reformation of the Bills roster has been aided by a new owner with big pockets and Rex Ryan's willingness to take a chance on making Buffalo his new home, leaving the team with few glaring holes. 

It's hard as a fan to look at the current state of the roster and not get excited about the next step, especially considering how long the last 16 years have been. Whaley and his predecessors have combined star power on defense with a youthful approach to the offense in an approach that might finally get the Bills over the playoff hump.

Still, the Bills enter the draft in a strange situation. They possess no first-round pick after trading it away to get Sammy Watkins in 2014 and a solid season in the fall leaves their first actual selection in the back half of the second round. Buffalo has no fourth-rounder either—a pick which departed in the Bryce Brown trade—leaving them with only two picks before the fifth. 

The lack of picks make it hard to get a pulse on what Buffalo might do on Day 2, as the needs they do have tend to hold good value in this year's draft class. Will the Bills hold steady at No. 50 and No. 81 to fortify positions like guard or inside linebacker? Or will they trade down to stockpile picks in an effort to move around to the slots they want?

Whatever the Bills decide to do, we will cover some prospects at positions the Bills are likely to target when they finally do pick.

Guard

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If you were to poll 100 Bills fans about what the team's top need was heading into the draft, you would be hard-pressed to come up with a consensus position. 

Buffalo's guard situation ranked among the league's worst in 2014, and thus far the team has only remedied the situation by signing Richie Incognito before the free-agency period began. The former Pro Bowler adds some toughness up front, but a year off in 2014 should give the Bills pause before claiming him to be a savior. 

Free-agent bust Chris Williams is currently penciled in as the starter opposite Incognito, but most are hopeful Buffalo can improve upon him on the left side. Cyril Richardson and Cyrus Kouandjio are two other possibilities at guard as well.

Considering the positional value at guard in the second and third rounds, Buffalo's eyes will most likely be on one of the next three prospects in Rounds 2 or 3.

1. Laken Tomlinson, Duke

Tomlinson seems to be the consensus top player at the position on most analysts rankings.

The All-American uses a combination of a powerful blocking style and a very good football IQ to execute sound blocks. Tomlinson rarely gets beat because he does not take on more than his skill set allows. While he won't blow anyone away with his athleticism or side-to-side motion, Tomlinson is discipline and doesn't overextend himself. 

The Duke senior fits very well into Greg Roman's power-rushing assault and will most likely be on Buffalo's radar if he falls to pick No. 50.

2. A.J. Cann, South Carolina

Cann has similar measurables to Tomlinson, which is why the two prospects are so close together on most Top 100 boards. A four-year starter at South Carolina, Cann is another mauler that fits into what Buffalo is trying to do on offense. 

He looks like a better fit in an attack that goes to screens often, as he has good athleticism to roll outside the tackles and block at the second level. If the screen game to Watkins and McCoy begins a big part of the Bills offense, Cann might present a better value where they sit in the second round.

3. Ali Marpet, Hobart

Yes, competition level is a concern for Marpet. I am partial to Division III football because of my experience in sports, but there's no denying the difference in speed between the D-III and D-I. Marpet likely won't play tackle as he did at Hobart but instead kick inside where he can use his big frame to open up holes. 

Marpet will need to bulk up at the next level to become a day-one starter, but he remains a prospect whom the Bills could target in the third.

Inside Linebacker

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A position of strength at the end of the season has become much thinner after the Kiko Alonso trade to the Philadelphia Eagles and the decision to not bring back Brandon Spikes. 

Nigel Bradham and Preston Brown make up two of the Bills' starting spots, but the two other spots are up for grabs. Randell Johnson was a good find in the late stages of the 2014 draft, but it's hard to say if he is ready for the bright lights of a starting job, despite possessing elite athletic tools. 

Manny Lawson and Jerry Hughes will see time on the outside, but Brown is currently the only real 'Mike' linebacker on the roster.

1. Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State

McKinney is an intriguing prospect for the Bills because of his raw athleticism in the middle of the field. He will struggle in coverage and fakes at first but should develop into a solid starter with good coaching. McKinney feels like the type of athlete Ryan craves in his linebacking corps, as a larger linebacker with smooth movement from sideline to sideline. 

If the Bills decide not to pursue the still-unsigned Spikes following the draft, McKinney can develop into a similar role from the outset.

2. Stephone Anthony, Clemson

The Clemson product is one of my favorite linebackers in the 2015 draft because of his ability to finish a tackle over the middle. The senior is able to see plays unfold and gets into positions to make tackles for short gains. He is more of a run-stuffer than a quality coverage linebacker, but he isn't a liability who would limit his role on a team.

3. Taiwan Jones, Michigan State

While the first two players will be drafted in the second or third round, Jones could fit into the Bills' plans if they wait until the last three rounds. His upside is limited as he projects to be more of a two-down linebacker in the mold of a Brandon Spikes.

A traditional thumper with extreme power-running downhill, Jones struggles to diagnose plays at times and makes incorrect reads because of that. Like most Spartan linebackers, Jones is ready on game day, but he has more athleticism in comparison to the program's recent draftees.

Quarterback

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The quarterback conundrum is an ever-evolving situation in Orchard Park, with Kyle Orton's rodeo of a single season adding to the list of weird stories in 16 years of bad quarterbacking. 

EJ Manuel is the quasi-incumbent starter only because of his stature on the team as a first-round pick in 2013. Jeff Tuel has also started before for the Buffalo Bills. While I let that set in for a moment, everyone should be glad to know that Tuel is not a part of the three-man competition being held by Ryan's staff. 

Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor were both added, one by trade and one through free agency. All three players in the competition have quite different styles of play, making Buffalo's quarterback race one of the most interesting storylines heading into the summer. 

A burning question is, do the Bills think about adding another player to the game, despite the additions this offseason? If some of the second-tier guys begin to fall, do the Bills trade out or pull the trigger on a mid-round quarterback.

1. Bryce Petty, Baylor

Feelings are mixed on Petty based on the reception of my pick of Petty in the third round of the Bleacher Report live mock draft draft. In that draft, both Petty and Brett Hundley fell to the Bills pick at No. 81, presenting quite the dilemma for the "fake" Buffalo general manager. Ultimately, Petty's big arm and solid deep-ball touch, plus Hundley's similarities to Manuel, led me to picking him. 

The concerns about Petty are real and substantial. Injuries and age, as well as poor reads can be killers for a mid-round quarterback. Petty could rely on his natural skill set in Baylor's system, but he won't be able to hide his issues in the NFL game unless he fixes them, while holding a clipboard for a few years.

Already 24, some teams won't want to wait another two years for him to figure out the pro game, and the Bills might be one of those teams who can't afford to be patient.

2. Brett Hundley, UCLA

I have made several references to Hundley and Manuel's career trajectories. 

This quote made by Whaley on The Howard Simon Show on WGR 550 Sports Radio last week really sums up Hundley's prospects nicely.

"

Those guys are guys that you know are going to have a chance to come in and compete right away. Guys like Brett Hundley are going to have a longer shelf life to try to get in and be able to produce.

I like to say he's more of an athletic thrower where as Bryce Petty is more of an athletic passer. Those guys will take a little longer, the Hundleys. But he's in that group. And Brett Hundley in the Seattle Seahawks' offense may be more attractive to Seattle. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

"

The reason Hundley might be of interest to Buffalo if he begins to fall is that they can treat him like they should have handled Manuel at the beginning of his career.

Manuel was thrust into the limelight too quickly, and it hampered his development severely. This isn't to say Manuel is a lost cause just two years into his career, but the inconsistencies have gotten worse the more he has played. The tone in Ryan's voice during interviews this offseason don't necessarily inspire confidence in Manuel either.

Hundley gives Whaley another moldable athlete at the quarterback position, and the right amount of patience could make him into a quality starter.

3. Garrett Grayson, Colorado State

Grayson to the Bills is one of the more referenced quarterback prospects on message boards and in comment sections here at Bleacher Report. 

The senior chucker is a perfect example of what this quarterback class is after Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota—a work-in-progress. Grayson does many things well, including having above-average touch on his passes and good movement in the pocket. He doesn't have as big of an arm as the guys above him on the big board, but he does a pretty good job at stepping into his throws to create a little extra zip. 

An elongated delivery is a major reason why he will likely not hear his name called until at least the third round, but most other things check out. 

If the Bills move down in the draft to collect more picks, look out for Grayson's name on the ticker in the third.

Safety

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Safety is one of the team's unheralded needs going into Thursday's draft after the team lost Da'Norris Searcy to the Tennessee Titans in the offseason. The Aaron and Duke Williams combination should work out just fine in the shifting defensive scheme, but depth is an area of concern here. 

Bacarri Rambo made some nice plays down the stretch after being a late-season pickup, but no one should soon forget what led to his release from Washington. Rambo was torched too many times for Washington to keep him on the roster, and his being the top safety reserve for the Bills isn't a good look.

1. Adrian Amos, Penn State

There are few other words to describe Amos other than smooth. He's not a freaky athlete like some of the first-round safeties who have come out of the college game in recent years, but he can cover all types of receivers. Amos started right away for the Nittany Lions, and the versatility he flashed during his time in Happy Valley could provide serious value to a team in the second or third round. 

Amos is a free safety by trade, which isn't high enough on the Bills' priority list at the time he will likely be drafted, but he's a good consideration.

2. Jaquiski Tartt, Samford

That says Samford and not Stanford, but the FCS player plays bigger than most of the FBS safeties in this class. His size and speed will translate nicely as he jumps to a new level, but he will likely need an adjustment period after playing his entire career at Samford. He did not look outmatched during a week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl and could be a sneaky pick for a safety-hungry team in the third or fourth rounds.

3. Gerod Holliman, Louisville

If the Bills are looking in the late rounds for a safety, then Holliman is worth a look. The former Louisville product declared early after a standout junior season where he intercepted 14 balls for the Cardinals, a NCAA record. The move has exploded in his face a bit, as he hasn't measured out well during the predraft process.

His lack of quality tape outside of his interceptions will make him drop much farther than he had probably hoped when he declared for the draft, but those skills will get him drafted eventually.

Tight End

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Does the Charles Clay signing mean the Bills won't be looking at tight end in the draft?

Clay's expensive contract might make it seem like Buffalo won't be searching for another tight end come Thursday, but Greg Roman's two-tight end system makes it more of a necessity than a luxury. Clay will play a similar role as Vernon Davis did for Roman in San Francisco, but the Bills need another option on the other side. 

Cutting Scott Chandler saves a small amount of money, but it also leaves a void in the big-target category for the offense. Blocking specialist Lee Smith also left in free agency.

1. Clive Walford, Miami

Walford is every bit the athlete Minnesota's Maxx Williams is at the position, but questions surrounding his blocking efforts make him a lesser prospect. Walford is the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde tight end, where he will turn in an outstanding play followed by a head-scratching mistake. 

Catch radius, athleticism and speed make him an intriguing find in the second round, but he'll most likely strictly be a pass-catcher in the NFL.

2. MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois

Pruitt will have the same challenges that many of the other FCS players will as they adjust to the increased speed at the NFL level. Pruitt's body type and style remind me a lot of Antonio Gates when he was coming out of Kent State as a converted basketball player. He has a stock build that is deceptively explosive, and he is a willing blocker. 

Teams will not be able to ignore the incredible production at the position, even at a lower level of competition. He will have to start off as a second or third tight end in a system as he gets acclimated, but the upside of future NFL starter is certainly in Pruitt's wheelhouse. His skill set makes him a good fit for Buffalo in the third or fourth round.

3. Blake Bell, Oklahoma

A three-year quarterback for the Sooners, Bell transitioned to tight end last season. He was the starter for Oklahoma during his junior season before losing his spot due to injury to Travis Knight. Bell was willing to make the type of positional change that many wish Tim Tebow would perform, and that type of flexibility makes him attractive to NFL teams. 

A good tight ends coach will need to shape Bell's rawness into a usable player, but he's a smart and gritty player who should pick up nuances as time goes on. He is a perfect project player in the later rounds and could end up as one of the biggest offensive steals in the draft.