NFL Draft 2011: Buffalo Bills Day 3 Preview

Here we go. Day 3, the final day of the 2011 NFL draft, is now upon us. There will be a grand total of 157 players drafted today, so you have to be prepared to go deep on your draft boards if you are looking to secure additional depth for any positions on your roster. This is where your scouting department has a chance to really shine; to find that uncovered gem or potential future star players. 

Buffalo Bills' General Manager has stuck to his guns and the results so far are three potential solid starters for his defensive unit that really was in need of some new blood. So far so good. Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, Texas defensive back Aaron Williams and LSU linebacker Kelvin Sheppard.

There are going to be other needs on defense, and the offense will also be addressed on Day 3. This presentation will give you some names to look for as the 157 draft choices are announced. Looking forward to seeing what other talent Buddy Nix and staff are ready to add to the draft class of 2011.

Here Is the Order of Bills Picks Today

The Day 3 draft is so long that you can get lost in all of the names flying around. To check out player profiles, check out the player profiles at Draft Tek.com, and you can follow along live.

Day 3 means that Buddy Nix will be drafting six players today. They start out with two picks in round four (100 and 122 overall), single picks in round five (133) and round six (169) and then wrap it up with two more picks in round seven (206 and 245).

For what it is worth, these are the picks that the Draft Tek computer's simulated draft came up with for the Bills in their final mock run:

Round 4a) Casey Matthews - Oregon Linebacker

Round 4b) Pat Devlin - Delaware Quarterback

Round 5) James Brewer - Indiana Tackle

Round 6) Mike McNeill - Nebraska Tight End

Round 7a) Anthony Gray - Southern Mississippi Defensive Tackle

Round 7b) Kenny Rowe - Oregon Linebacker

Quarterbacks

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies rolls out of the pocket against the Stanford Cardinal during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (Photo by Marc Se

During one of his press conferences at One Bills Drive, Buddy Nix announced that he plans to bring in a total of four quarterbacks to camp. With only Ryan Fitzpatrick and Levi Brown on the roster, that probably means one veteran free agent will be signed. The fourth quarterback will be drafted or be an undrafted free agent.

Here are some quarterbacks still out there waiting to hear their name called:

Ricky Stanzi (Iowa), Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech), Pat Devlin (Delaware) and Greg McElroy (Alabama).

Fullback

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE - OCTOBER 30: Running back Owen Marecic #48 of the Stanford Cardinal rushes against Desmond Trufant #6 of the Washington Huskies on October 30, 2010 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Stanford won 41-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Owen Marecic, the Stanford fullback and linebacker, would also be a special teams player. He is versatile, flexible, and hard-nosed.

This is a guy I would love to see on the Bills. You know he is smart, and being able to play both ways in the Pac 10 speaks volume about his endurance, motor and toughness. How can you not want him on your team?

He will open holes for Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, pass protect for Ryan Fitzpatrick, and can grind out tough yards or catch the ball out of the backfield.

Tight End

So far the Bills have not drafted anyone for the offense, but that will change on Day 3.

There are some tight ends still left in the draft who can come in and serve a role on the team, and provide some degree of competition to Shawn Nelson.

Pictured is Virgil Green (Nevada). Other available tight ends are Luke Stocker (Tennessee), D.J. Williams (Arkansas), Jordan Cameron (USC), Lee Smith (Marshall) and Julius Thomas (Portland State).

From this group, Chan Gailey coached Stocker and Williams in the Senior Bowl. Thomas is a converted basketball star. Virgil Green is put together very solid as you can see from the picture.

Offensive Linemen

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 21: Clint Boling #60 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Kentucky Wildcats at Sanford Stadium on November 21, 2009 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Quite a bit of the upper tier of offensive line talent has already been weeded out during the first two days of the draft. The Bills will need to coach up any players still out there, but that is to be expected.

Here are some available options to consider:

Clint Boling - pictured (Georgia), Marcus Cannon (TCU), Chris Hairston (Clemson), James Brewer (Indiana), Lee Ziemba (Auburn), Carl Johnson (Florida), Derek Hall (Stanford), Derek Newton (Arkansas State), Ryan Bartholomew (Syracuse) and Brendan Fusco (Slippery Rock).

In some cases, you are looking to add depth to the roster. In other cases, you are looking for people who can come in and challenge starters. Right now the right tackle spot is one that could use a challenge. Expect the Bills to add at least one tackle today.

Defensive Line

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

LOUISVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 02: Adam Froman #9 of the Louisville Cardinals is sacked by Greg Romeus #91 of the Pittsburgh Panthers during the Big East Conference game at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on October 2, 2009 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by An

Greg Romeus had some productive years at the University of Pittsburgh under Bills coach Dave Wannstedt. He might be a player the Bills target to supply some depth for the defensive line.

Other defensive linemen who are still available for consideration: Christian Ballard (Iowa), Sam Acho (Texas), Jeremy Beal (Oklahoma), Ricky Elmore (Arizona) and Ian Williams (Notre Dame).

The well has been tapped so often during the first three rounds that the talent level is starting to run thin on the defensive line. Defensive linemen have been coming off the big board in droves but, luckily for the Bills, they got the best one in the draft class right off the bat.

Anyone from the above group would be for depth purposes at this point. Some of them may actually be viewed as more of a linebacker candidate than as a defensive lineman.

Linebackers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Casey Matthews #55 of the Oregon Ducks looks on against the Auburn Tigers during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Get

Casey Matthews has been one player who repeatedly came up whenever I polled Bills fans for players they hoped would be drafted this year. He is still out there, but figures to go anywhere from the fourth round to the fifth round.

Other linebackers who are still available for today are: Alex Wujciak (Maryland), Greg Lloyd (U Conn), Greg Homan (Ohio State), Lawrence Wilson (U Conn), Quan Sturdivant (North Carolina), Chris Carter (Fresno State), Colin McCarthy (Miami, Fla), Mark Herzlich (Boston College), Greg Jones (Michigan State) and Doug Hogue (Syracuse).

Wujciak is a tackling machine from Maryland and would be another solid addition for the defense. Herzlich, of course, is the cancer victim and is a testament to courage and commitment. He is an inspirational player.

We can use some more depth at linebacker due to the high amount of injuries we usually sustain at that position. There can also be some players from this list who can be special teams players. Who knows? One of them may be good enough to force Aaron Maybin off the roster.

Cornerbacks

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 20: Wide receiver DeMarco Sampson #1 of the San Diego State Aztecs makes a catch over cornerback Brandon Burton #27 of the Utah Utes at Qualcomm Stadium on November 20, 2010 in San Diego, California. Utah won 38-34. (Photo by Steph

Pictured here is Brandon Burton of Utah. He is one of the many cornerback candidates still available to be drafted in Day 3.

Other cornerbacks to consider: Joshua Thomas (University of Buffalo), Brandon Hogan (West Virginia), Kenrick Burney (North Carolina), Chykie Brown (Texas), Davon House (New Mexico St.), Buster Skrine (Tennessee Chattanooga), Jalil Brown (Colorado) and Chris Rucker (Michigan State).

Just like Naaman Roosevelt from UB was able to ultimately stick with the Bills in 2010, local product Joshua Thomas would like to follow in his footsteps and make the team. You may recall that Thomas held his Pro Day at the Bills' facilities. Buster Skrine was the speed freak at the draft, running the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds.

Buddy Nix said yesterday that he is still looking to add at least one more cornerback, which could easily come out of the group above.

Safeties

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

DALLAS - OCTOBER 17: Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin #84 of the Texas Longhorns runs for a touchdown against Quinton Carter #20 of the Oklahoma Sooners at Cotton Bowl on October 17, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Quinton Carter (pictured) from the University of Oklahoma is one safety who has played in some huge national games and is still on the big board.

Other safety candidates worthy of consideration are: C.J. Spiller's Clemson teammate DeAndre McDaniel, Da'Norris Searcy (North Carolina), Deunta Williams (North Carolina), Tyler Sash (Iowa), Ahmad Black (Florida), Robert Sands (West Virginia), Joe Lefeged (Rutgers), Jaiquawn Jarrett (Temple) and we conclude with one of NFL Network Draft Analyst Mike Mayock's favorite players in the draft, Shiloh Keo from Idaho.

Keo is the type of player who will volunteer to do anything. Play safety, be a gunner on special teams, return punts or kicks. He will run through a brick wall for you. He just wants to play and has a huge heart with a very positive attitude.

So, there you have it Bills fans. Expect to see the Bills draft some of their six players from these slides. There are other small college gems who they will no doubt reveal in rounds six or seven, which is part of the Bills draft history. Expect to see at least one, if not two more, players drafted from the South team at the Senior Bowl.

If you have a favorite player you would like the Bills add today, go ahead and drop their name in the comments.