2011 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills Senior Bowl Edition Mock Draft Special
Florida State QB Christian Ponder led the South team to a 24-10 victory Saturday over the North team in the Senior Bowl, held in Mobile, Alabama.
Ponder was named the MVP of the game.
The South team was coached by Chan Gailey and the rest of the Buffalo Bills' coaching staff.
Now the Bills coaches will sit down with Buddy Nix and the rest of the scouting department and compare notes on all of the players they met with in the past week.
They will also welcome assistant head coach Dave Wannstedt to the fold.
Next up is the Scouting Combines in Indianapolis. Before long, it will be Draft Day. Along that line, what would the Buffalo Bills 2011 Draft look like if they were only allowed to draft players that were part of the Senior Bowl game?
This mock draft is an assessment of the players that put in a good week at practice and would be in a position to help the Bills organization continue their rebuilding process.
We are making a special mock draft of the Senior Bowl because of the vast amount of talent that was on display this past week.
The game had 21 players from the talent-rich SEC conference. Eighty-four players were drafted from the 2010 Senior Bowl, and 10 of them went in the first round.
On to the mock!
Rules for My Mock Draft. Are You Mocking Me?
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For this mock draft, I am going to impose several restrictions for who is eligible to pick.
They have to be players that either appeared on one of the Senior Bowl rosters, or they had to show up for some portion of practice during Senior Bowl week.
If they were invited but passed, then we are passing on them.
In addition, we recognize that all of this mock draft activity is being conducted prior to the scouting combines in Indianapolis, where players will start zooming up and diving down draft boards based on their performance.
As of now, it appears that most draft experts show the top five players will all be underclassmen, although Von Miller might have something to say about that before it is all said and done.
Since I am creating this mock, I am taking the liberty of announcing an alleged trade, where the Bills traded down from the No. 3 overall pick and are now drafting in the 8-10 overall range instead.
For their trouble the Bills have now been provided with an extra third-round pick, which we will take advantage of in this mock.
The Bills are also getting future considerations for 2012 from their mysterious trading partner, who shall remain nameless.
Finally, we know there are some surprises in the draft, when somebody plucks the guy you wanted just before it is your turn. So, we will go ahead and list three draft options for every round of the mock, giving the Bills a certain degree of flexibility in the event that some unexpected twists and turns arise.
Now that we have all of the rules down and the table is set, let's mock.
Round One: Von Miller, Texas A&M Linebacker
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Bills Draft: Texas A&M Senior Linebacker Von Miller (pictured with Luke Stocker).
The Buffalo Bills are in dire need of linebackers who can make plays. Von Miller was widely thought to be the best player on the field at the Senior Bowl by the analysts that covered the game for the NFL Network, Mike Mayock and Charles Davis.
Mayock speculated that Miller is now on the verge of cracking the top-five draft picks—he is that good.
Is he someone they would seriously consider with the third overall pick? Not sure, but if they traded down to the 8-10 range and he is still there, that to me is a no-brainer.
Miller is 6'2", 237 lbs. He possesses great quickness and agility for a big man.
He is considered the leading linebacker for the draft. Junior linebacker Akeem Ayers from UCLA is next on the list.
Since he is a senior, Miller was able to get a considerable job interview by standing out at the Senior Bowl. He missed at least one day of practice due to illness, but he was there for the majority of team drills.
2nd option: California Defensive End Cameron Jordan
If someone drafts Miller ahead of the Bills, they could very well go after California defensive end Cameron Jordan. He had a great week of practice and his stock likely moved up as a result.
If for any reason he falls in to the second round, I would not complain one bit if the Bills could draft him there.
He has played in multiple positions on the Cal defensive line, but his best spot is at defensive end in the 3-4.
We are talking a solid replacement option for Marcus Stroud here.
3rd option: Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue Defensive End
Kerrigan had a great year at Purdue, leading the team in sacks, forced fumbles and tackles for a loss. He wreaks havoc on any offense due to his ability to get in to the backfield and disrupt plays. Had a solid Senior Bowl week.
Round Two: Phil Taylor, Baylor Defensive Tackle
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Bills Draft: Phil Taylor, Baylor Defensive Tackle (pictured).
Phil Taylor had a standout week in practice at the Senior Bowl.
He formed a tight alliance with Clemson defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins and could still be there when the Bills turn comes up on the second round.
The Bills do not have quality depth at defensive tackle behind Kyle Williams and Torell Troup. Taylor would allow the Bills to have some more flexibility to rotate guys in and keep them fresh.
He would also be great for 3rd-and-one, 4th-and-one and goal line scenarios.
At 6'3" and 337 pounds, Taylor has a great body to play defensive tackle. His strength was being showcased all week at the Senior Bowl.
He seemed to take well to the Bills coaching as well.
2nd option: Jarvis Jenkins, Clemson Defensive Tackle
If somebody plucks Taylor before the Bills turn comes up, Taylor's best friend at the Senior Bowl, Jarvis Jenkins, might still be there.
Jenkins is 6'3" and weighs 309. Another very solid body to be able to plug in at defensive tackle.
Jenkins played with C.J. Spiller, and when I interviewed Spiller last August, he named Jenkins as one of the players from Clemson that he thought would become a good NFL player.
3rd option: Derrek Sherrod, Mississippi State Offensive Tackle
Sherrod was considered the best tackle on the South team. The North team had the higher profile tackles in Gabe Carimi, Anthony Castonzo and Nate Solder. Those three are all projected to go in the 10-32 range.
That means that Sherrod could still be on the board in the second round. I am sure that the Bills will sit down with offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris to gain his stamp of approval.
Sherrod goes 6'5" and weighs 328.
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Round Three, 1st Pick: Christian Ponder, Florida State Quarterback
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Bills Draft: Christian Ponder, Florida State Quarterback (pictured).
We don't know yet if Christian Ponder will last until the third round.
Personally, I think taking him with the Bills second round pick is too high, so hopefully he lasts until the third round.
He did have a solid week of practice and wound up being the MVP of the Senior Bowl game.
He had to fight through some injuries, so his lack of big numbers may allow him to slip to the third round.
Ponder was recruited out of high school by Chan Gailey to play at Georgia Tech, so there is a longstanding relationship there between the two already.
That relationship was probably strengthened tenfold during the past week.
Don't be surprised if the Bills take Ponder, to be the backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick, as well as his eventual successor.
Ponder is listed at 6'2" and weighs 222, so his size may let him slide down to the third round.
2nd option: Colin McCarthy, University of Miami Florida Linebacker
The Bills are looking for any kind of help they can find at inside linebacker, and McCarthy fits the bill. He had a solid Senior Bowl game, in addition to a solid week of practice.
At 6'1" and 235, McCarthy has the speed and strength to help plug the run game.
In addition, he made the biggest special teams hit in the game yesterday.
3rd option: John Moffitt, Wisconsin Guard
Moffitt was displaying very strong hands and good punching ability at the point of contact in the linemen drills conducted at the Senior Bowl.
He is a tenacious blocker, and would be able to slide in to Eric Wood's old guard position if Wood, in fact, moves over to center, as has been recently speculated.
Moffitt is 6'4" and 314, so he has the size, strength, and nastiness to be a very effective guard and run-blocker.
Round Three, 2nd Pick: Casey Matthews, Oregon Linebacker
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Bills Draft: Casey Matthews, Oregon Linebacker
When Bills general manager Buddy Nix was interviewed at the Senior Bowl, he made it clear that they were looking for help at inside linebacker.
Of the various inside linebackers at the Senior Bowl, nobody would have a better NFL bloodline or pedigree than Casey Matthews, the younger brother of Clay Matthews.
The Matthews family has seen generation after generation performing in the NFL.
Casey had a solid week of practice and is around the ball. His speed and athleticism allow him to cover a wide range.
Can he stuff the run sufficiently is a good question. His size at 6' 3/4" and 232 probably holds him back from being drafted earlier.
He might even drop down later due to his size.
2nd option: Danny Watkins, Baylor Guard
Where does Eric Wood play in 2011?
If he is moved to center, Danny Watkins could very well find himself playing in Buffalo next year.
He made a strong impression on the Bills coaches with his solid week of practice. Only been playing football for about three years.
Is already 26 years old, so is very mature compared to the rest of the draft class.
He was thought to have made as much of a stride in improving his draft position as anyone. Played with a lot of determination and strength. He goes 6' 3" and weighs 312.
He would be a solid choice for the Bills line. He is Canadian, which would be a marketing angle for the Bills in Toronto series to boot.
3rd option: Luke Stocker, Tennessee Tight End
Stocker made some nice catches in practice at the Senior Bowl that caught the Bills attention.
He appears to be able to do some blocking and receiving so would be a potential fit for improving the Bills anemic tight end production.
Just under 6'5" and 265, he is a big target and could be one more weapon for Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Round Four, 1st Pick: Owen Marecic, Stanford FB/LB
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Bills Draft: Owen Marecic, Stanford Full Back/Linebacker (pictured).
Owen Marecic is as unique of a football player as you can find. He is bright, since he graduated from Stanford.
He is tough, since he is the only major Division I player that plays both ways, offense and defense.
He may not be the best player at either position, but what he gives you is a tough kid that also provides roster flexibility.
He can come in to block, catch a pass, plug a run hole, cover a tight end and play special teams.
I can think of a number of worse picks the Bills could make in the fourth round.
Marecic goes 6' 3/4" and 236. He has a solid body, and does not shy away from contact. He played a key role on the solid Stanford team.
It is almost like you are getting two players for the price of one.
2nd option: Colin Kaepernick, Nevada QB
Unique results oriented quarterback that was able to throw for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.
Very fast and has this easy running style that reminds me of a gazelle.
Lanky, just under 6'5" and 225. Will probably need to put on some more weight to take on the big hits of NFL linemen.
Played in a pistol style offense at Nevada, so will need some time to become NFL ready. Could be an interesting successor to Ryan Fitzpatrick.
3rd option: Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma Defensive End: Beal is a tweener, as it has yet to be determined if he will be a defensive end or a linebacker.
He was very disruptive to opponents while at Oklahoma, creating sacks or making plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Beal is 6' 2" and weighs 268. He had an okay week at Senior Bowl, but did not shine like some of his fellow linemen.
Round Four, 2nd Pick: Arkansas Tight End, D.J. Williams
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Bills Draft: D.J. Williams, Arkansas Tight End (this was the pick the Bills got in Marshawn Lynch trade).
D.J. Wiliams is considered to be in the top five of all tight end prospects in the country.
He has won the John Mackey award twice as the nation's top tight end.
Williams would be another option for Ryan FItzpatrick in the offense, especially if Shawn Nelson can't get over his migraine headache issues.
Williams (pictured) is a tad under 6'2" and weighs 236. He had a solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl.
He might not last until the fourth round, but if he does, the Bills would be smart to draft this Razorback.
2nd option: Kendrick Burney, North Carolina Cornerback
Not physically imposing at 5'9" and 181 lbs, but he sure played like a much bigger player in the Senior Bowl.
Made a number of nice hits and big plays in special teams.
Intercepted at least three passes in Senior Bowl practices and demonstrated some solid instincts for the football.
Would be good insurance if the Bills do not resign Drayton Florence.
3rd option: Quinton Carter, Oklahoma Safety
Carter was having a solid week of practice, until a late injury forced him to miss the Senior Bowl game.
Carter played a key role in the Oklahoma defense and came up with a number of big plays all season long.
I watched the majority of Sooners games, but am not sure if he will last until the fourth round. Carter is 6' 5/8" and weighs 211.
Round Five: DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson Safety
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Bills Draft: DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson Safety
DeAndre McDaniel has 15 career interceptions from his Clemson career, second-most in school history.
This is another Clemson player that C.J. Spiller told me about back in August that he thought would advance to the NFL level.
McDaniel is 6' 1/8" and weighs 213. He was All-ACC Safety for two seasons, and would be solid depth for the Bills if they do not re-sign free agent Donte Whitner.
McDaniel has been exposed to some strong competition at Clemson, so if he is still available in the fifth round, the Bills should not think twice about him.
He may also be long gone by the fifth round.
2nd option: Ahmad Black, Florida Safety
If McDaniel is already gone, then Ahmad Black might still be there. He is not a large safety, at only 5'9" and 183. That is the main reason that he would drop to the fifth round.
But as Mike Mayock kept repeating all week at Senior Bowl practice, this kid is always around the ball.
He is the kind of player that you try to find a spot for on your roster. Enough said.
3rd option: Ross Holman, Ohio State Linebacker
Holman was another player that had an okay week at Senior Bowl practices.
I watched every practice this past week, but didn't really see him as a standout.
He did have a very solid year at Ohio State, so this would be a pick for additional linebacker depth and special teams play.
Round Six: Charles Clay, Tulsa Tight End
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Bills Draft: Charles Clay, Tulsa Tight End
Charles Clay and Ahmad Black were two of the players that Mike Mayock felt you just had to find a place on your roster for them.
They bring so many intangibles to the table.
To my way of thinking, Clay is one of those all-purpose kind of players that New England Patriots seem to be able to find and plug in to their roster.
Clay could be a tight end, could be an H-back, could be involved in special teams play.
At 6'3" and 239, Clay has some nice size.
He scored 38 touchdowns in his career at Tulsa, second on the all-time school career list.
He caught passes that totaled over 2,500 yards in his career and rushed for over 900 yards as well.
He is a dual threat and a nice piece of the puzzle to give the Bills additional weapons.
2nd option: Greg McElroy, Alabama Quarterback
If the Bills have found themselves in the sixth round of the draft, and for whatever reason they have not yet selected another QB and Greg McElroy is still sitting there, I can think of a number of worse choices.
All McElroy does is win.
He is not superbly gifted, or overly athletic, but he is a great leader, is football smart and finds a way to make plays.
3rd option: South Florida Defensive Tackle Terrell McClain
McClain was a late addition to the South team roster due to an injury. McClain is 6'1" and weighs 298. He would be a draft pick to provide some depth to the Bills defensive line.
He is currently ranked as the ninth-best defensive tackle by Scouts Inc.
Another possible late-round defensive line depth choice could be Pernell McPhee, who is ranked 12th by Scouts Inc at defensive end. McPhee is from Mississippi State.
Seventh Round: Cedrick Thornton, South Alabama Defensive Lineman
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Bills Draft: Cedrick Thornton, South Alabama Defensive Lineman
Cedrick Thornton: South Alabama defensive lineman that goes 6'3" and weighs 299.
He is another option that is thought to be a late-round draft choice that can provide some depth to the Bills defensive line.
He may provide greater financial flexibility for the Bills than keeping around first-round draft pick John McCargo, as an example.
2nd option: Mike McNeill (pictured), Nebraska Tight End
McNeill is a nice size target at 6'3" and weighs 232.
He made some nice catches at the Senior Bowl practices.
Depending on his speed and combine workouts, he could wind up being a later round draft selection.
3rd option: We close out the mock draft with Stanford cornerback Richard Sherman.
Sherman has good size at 6'2" and weighs 193. His size is an asset and you know he is smart since he is coming out of Stanford.
He was beaten pretty regularly during the practices at Senior Bowl, which is why I have him being considered in the seventh round.
If he has a solid combine, he can work his way back up.
Honorable Mentions
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If you are wondering where all the slides are for Nate Solder, Jake Locker, etc., they did not make the cut.
There will be a tremendous amount of talent that is off the draft board from picks 10-34, when the Bills are back on the board.
Remember, we traded down from the first pick to the 8-10 range.
I tried to keep this as realistic as I could, but it is very difficult right now for me to project who will drop down to rounds 4-7.
So, How Was The Bills Haul?
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Here is review of the Buffalo Bills hypothetical Senior Bowl Mock Draft:
Round 1) Von Miller, Texas A&M Linebacker
Round 2) Phil Taylor, Baylor Defensive Tackle
Round 3 a) Christian Ponder, Florida State Quarterback
Round 3 b) Casey Matthews, Oregon Inside Linebacker
Round 4 a) Owen Marecic, Stanford Fullback/Linebacker
Round 4 b) D. J. Williams, Arkansas Tight End
Round 5) DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson Safety
Round 6) Charles Clay, Tulsa Tight End
Round 7) Cedrick Thornton, South Alabama Defensive Lineman
In looking at this list, we failed to draft any offensive linemen. Okay, so fire me !! We listed some tackle options, so the question is in the second round who would you rather have, Taylor or Sherrod?
What do you think Bills fans? Would you be happy with this haul? We all know that the Bills still have lots of holes to fill, so this appears to be a good start. Would this be enough to save Tom Modrak's job? Feel free to weigh in on any topic you would like to address with your comments.
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