2012 NFL Mock Draft Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills were big winners in free agency because they were able to get the best defensive player to come on the market in years. Mario Williams doesn’t have the production of a 100 million dollar man, but his impact will be felt on the field this year immediately. His impact off the field is already palpable. The Bills still have a few needs, but really the starting 22 players on the Bills are pretty good, they lack the depth to sustain injuries, that’s why this draft is so important for the Bills.
Here’s a possible course of action the Bills could take in the 2012 NFL Draft.
1st round 10th pick overall: Riley Reiff, T, Iowa
The Buffalo Bills addressed their biggest need–DE in a big way with the additions of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson and now need to fix their offensive line. Reiff is a top 10 player on our big board and has the athletic ability to play LT, especially in Chan Gailey’s quick passing scheme. The Bills haven’t had a franchise LT in a long time.
2nd round 41st overall- Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson
The Bills offense last year went through long periods of stagnation last year because they did not have enough depth to withstand injuries. The Bills have a decent Tight End in Scott Chandler, but it’s possible that the success of the Patriots two tight end set will lead teams to explore their own two tight end sets as well. Allen is a guy who can play a H-back role as well as a more traditional TE role. Allen has terrific body control and is the best available pass catcher that I think could be available at this point in the draft.
3rd round 71st overall-Audie Cole, LB, North Carolina State
The Bills biggest need outside of offensive line is Strongside linebacker. The Bills believe that Kelvin Sheppard can play an effective Middle linebacker and have given glowing reviews of Nick Barnett. The issue though is the strong side linebacker. Audie Cole played a SAM role in 2010, but was forced inside in 2011 where he looked really out of place. Cole is right about my 70th best player on my board and fills a need. A need filled with a solid value is always a decent idea.
4th round 105th overall-Joe Adams, WR, Arkansas
The Bills continue to add weapons to the offense after spending the last two years fixing their defense. Adams gives the Bills a deep threat to complement David Nelson and Stevie Johnson. Adams didn’t run as fast as he had hoped and could still be available in the early fourth round. I’m not sure which WR the Bills will target, but I’d be shocked if they didn’t come away with at least one Wide Receiver in the first round rounds.
4th round 124th overall-Terrell Manning, LB, North Carolina State
Manning is a NFLmocks favorite and while he plays Weakside linebacker and is not likely to start. He can be a special teams ace this year and provide much needed depth. The Bills depth at linebacker is really suspect–an injury to Barnett could really hurt, but Manning’s presence would ease that potential loss.
5th round 144th overall-Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa
The Bills have some talent at the cornerback position already. They brought back Terrence Mcgee, they drafted Aaron Williams in the second round last year and towards the end of the season Justin Rogers really progressed. The Bills could look at cornerback depth int he later part of the draft, but I don’t think it’s a position they will address early unless they really fall in love with someone.
5th round 147th: Tyrone Crawford, DE, Boise State
The Bills don’t have a particular need at Defensive end with the signings of Mark Anderson and Mario Williams, but with 10 total picks the Bills can afford to draft a player with Crawford’s skill set to compete with Danny Batten and Spencer Johnson at the end of the roster.
6th round 178th overall-B.J. Coleman, QB, Tennessee Chattanooga
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bills took a developmental quarterback even earlier than this, but here is decent value for B.J. Coleman. B.J. Coleman has drawn comparisons to Peyton Manning in his mannerisms and poise on the field. He’s clearly not the talent that Manning is, but is an intriguing quarterbacking prospect.
7th round 217th overall-Jermaine Kearse, WR, Washington
Kearse is a late round guy who hasn’t put it all together, but has all the physical abilities to play on the outside at the NFL level. The Bills last year gave their vote of confidence to their WR corps (Gailey even said the best wide receivers he’s ever worked with), but I think that was just lip-service. The Bills have a pretty good starting 22, the problem with the team is the overall talent and depth of the roster.
7th round 251st overall (comp pick)-Chad Dahl, FB, Clemson
I took a fullback here because I was unsure of which direction to go. Corey McIntyre is in his mid thirties and could be replaced. The Bills re-signed Tashard Choice and also plan on extending Fred Jackson with the drafting of Johnny White last year I don’t think Running back is a position they are looking to address.
What do you think Bills fans? Just a different take. I think its’ very possible that the Bills address the OL with two or three picks as opposed to the one pick I went here in the first round. I think the Bills are on the way up this year and should compete for a playoff spot with a good draft and a season of relative health.