2011 NFL Draft: Why the San Francisco 49ers' Fate Rests With the Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills are the most important team to watch on draft day if you are a 49ers fan. The Bills select at three and are a complete wild card as far as their selection is concerned. The Bills don't have a shortage of needs, but will they draft a quarterback or go with a top defensive prospect?

Let's take a look at the draft order for a moment to explain the significance of pick No. 3. The Carolina Panthers select at No. 1. It is pretty clear they are going to take one of the top defensive line prospects to fill the void Julius Peppers' departure created.

Denver will likely take another top-rated defensive lineman, but could very well go with Patrick Peterson if Champ Bailey leaves Denver.

The Bills could go with a pass rusher like outside linebacker Von Miller. This is a huge need for the 49ers and Miller will probably be high on their board. If not, Peterson could be a great fit in Buffalo. He could be the best talent on the board at that point, so selecting him that high would be justified in that sense.

If the Bills decide to go off the beaten path a bit, they might take a look at a guy like Cam Newton. Newton's stock is expected to soar with the NFL combine approaching. Not only is Newton extremely athletic, he could have the leadership qualities the Bills need to close out games, which they were consistently involved in this season.

The 49ers also need a quarterback, but it is unclear whether or not they are going to select one from the crop of quarterbacks in this year's draft class. If this is the case, they should be hoping the Bills select a quarterback, because all of the other players at the top of their board could fall right in their laps if the Bills do so.

Cincinnati picks at No. 4. They have a serious quarterback issue that needs to be addressed in a hurry if the position is vacated by Carson Palmer. Even if they choose to stay away from the quarterback position, Georgia's A.J. Green could be too talented to pass on. Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens aren't expected to join the roster next season, leaving the Cincy offense in shambles.

The Arizona Cardinals select next. All indications are that Ken Whisenhunt is probably going to take the best quarterback available to fix the nightmarish QB situation in Arizona. He completely whiffed on bringing in a crop of quarterbacks who could fill into the starting role in Arizona to replace Kurt Warner. With the lockout questions, it is unclear whether he will even be able to pursue a guy like Kevin Kolb, so shoring up the position on draft day is a necessity.

The Browns have the sixth pick. Cleveland is certainly not going to take a cornerback. They could go after Green if he is still available, but the only need they could address that affects the 49ers' draft is a pass rusher.

If the Bills choose to pursue a quarterback, it could leave Peterson on the board when the 49ers select at No. 7. It could also very well leave Von Miller, Robert Quinn and Prince Amukamara. In the same respect, the Bills are the most likely team to rob the 49ers of a player they really want.

The 49ers saw a similar scenario when Michael Crabtree fell into their laps at No. 10. If Peterson falls past No. 3, he could easily slip to seven. The third pick in the draft could ultimately determine who the 49ers select. If the 49ers need to gauge one team's thought process prior to draft day, it is the Buffalo Bills.