...some college player to be named later.As of this moment, the following players are being picked around the world in mock drafts (with a few selected comments, if comments were available):
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
- Sports Fantasy Guide: With WR’s Terrell Owens and Lee Evans on the outside he will work well in the middle of the defense. He also is a very good pass blocking TE which helps the Bills running attack.
Everette Brown, DE, Florida State
- WalterFootball: One team that was thrilled to see Aaron Maybin light it up at Penn State's Pro Day was Buffalo. With Maybin likely to enter the top 10, the likelihood of one of the top defensive ends dropping to No. 11 has risen tremendously.
Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
- FFToolBox: Defensive end is another need and while Maybin and Everette Brown are not ideal 4-3 types, Ayers is and part of the reason why he is flying up draft boards.
Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
- Sports Agent Blog: ...playing in Buffalo, New York requires the ability to play smash mouth football and no other guy will maul people quite like big Andre will.
Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
- FFToolbox (a different guy): Maybin constantly found himself in the backfield against some very tough offensive lines this season, because of his quick first step. He may also be able to play strong side linebacker with some work, which is another area of need for the Bills.
Evander Hood, DT, Missouri
- NFL Draft 101: Marcus Stroud made an impact on the D-Line but needs some support. Evander Hood will give both Stroud and Aaron Schobel more opportunities to make plays.
Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
- East Coast Sports: ...the knock on him is his motor...
Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
- Mock Draft Gurus: He's really a big presence on the corner and his size doesn't slow him down. He will bring another dimension to the Bills D-line and create mismatches that will open up some space for other defenders.
Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas
Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC
Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi
- These three were not lucky enough to receive comments any time anyone had the Bills picking them.
That's 6 DE's, 2 OT's, LB, DT, and TE, at least according to the 25 or so mock drafts I skimmed through.
The guy I'm personally most enamored with is Brian Orakpo, probably because of this profile done by ESPN. Whether it's Orakpo or someone else (probably someone else since Orakpo isn't going to fall to the 11th pick), the Bills should definitely be looking Defensive End in the first round of the draft three weeks from now. They took Chris Ellis in the third round last year, but I don't think he is ever expected to be a game changer. Put a guy out there that will put fear in the QB, and the whole defense improves. Aaron Schobel is fine, but I can't imagine Chris Kelsay or Ryan Denney is putting any fear in the hearts of quarterbacks/offensive coordinators/anyone in the world.
I suppose I could deal with tight end - Pettigrew is a popular pick for the Bills among mock drafters - given the recent history of Tight Ends with the hands of Arinze Onuaku running around out there. Seeing a tight end capable of coming down with a pass AND not fumbling upon making the catch would be a nice treat. However, I think with the Bills as they currently stand (deep at WR, backs who can catch the ball), a receiving tight end would just be a nice addition, while a stud defensive end could be a bigger difference maker early on.
Whatever direction the Bills go, I will most likely be on here talking myself into agreeing with the pick since I'm a total homer, so I guess worrying too much about it now is pretty pointless. It's still fun to see/guess/wonder who might be picked on April 25th anyway.
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