2011 Buffalo Bills Draft Needs
Written by Steve Janus
The Buffalo Bills got off to a horrific 0-8 start to the 2010 season, but were able to show some signs of life with a 4-4 finish. The Bills 4-12 record put them last in the AFC East for a third consecutive season. Buffalo has finished above .500 just once since 1999, going 9-7 in 2004.
The Bills 2010 draft class didn’t exactly provide the punch everyone was expecting. Buffalo took running back C.J. Spiller with their first round pick, but he managed just 283 yards and didn’t have a single rushing touchdown. Their second and third round picks of defensive tackle Torell Troup and defensive end Alex Carrington showed some promise, but still have a ways to go. Wide Receiver Marcus Easley and right tackle Ed Wang both had their 2010 seasons cut short due to injury.
The Bills head into the 2011 draft with the No. 3 pick in the draft, and five picks total in the first four rounds, so they should be able to continue to add young talent and build this team for the future. Here is a look at the five positions I feel the Bills need to address in the draft this year. Find out who we have the Bills taking in the first round in our 2011 NFL Mock draft.
Defensive End: The Bills were absolutely horrid against the run in 2010, and need to add some help up front if they want to improve this season. Troup should continue to get better as he develops at the nose tackle position, but the Bills need a big defensive end that can eat up double teams in the 3-4 system. With the third overall pick, Buffalo will have a shot at going after Alabama’s Marcell Dareus. He has experience playing in a 3-4 system and would be the perfect addition up front. If Dareus goes to Carolina or Denver with the first two picks look for Buffalo to take a shot on someone like Allen Bailey of Miami in the second or Jarvis Jenkins of Clemson in the third.
Tight End: Buffalo lacks any sort of threat at the tight end position, and adding a potential starter at this position is a must in the 2011 draft. David Martin led the Bills’ tight ends with nine catches for 111 yards in 2010. Buffalo won’t take a tight end with their first two picks unless Kyle Rudolph of Notre Dame slips to them in the second round. Still they can get some good value with a third round pick on someone like Lance Kendricks of Wisconsin or Luke Stocker of Tennessee.
Cornerback: Buffalo has two solid corners in Terrence McGee and Drayton Florence, but neither is a shutdown corner. The Bills could solve this problem right away if Patrick Peterson of LSU falls to them at No. 3. Peterson would give the Bills an elite corner for the next 10 years.
Linebacker: The Bills had hoped former first round pick Aaron Maybin would become a force at putting pressure on the quarterback, but he started just one game and didn’t record a single sack in 2010. Adding either a pure pass rusher on the outside or a strong inside backer who can help against the run would really help this team in the long run. If the Bills decide to go here with their first pick, look for them to take Von Miller of Texas A&M.
Wide Receiver: While some might argue that quarterback is a bigger need for the Bills, I think Ryan Fitzpatrick is underrated and likely better than most of the prospects in this draft class. With that I think Buffalo needs to entertain the idea of adding A.J. Green with the No. 3 pick. Green would give the Bills a top notch receiving corps, and you just don’t get the opportunity to take a player like this that often.
Individual NFL Team Mock Drafts
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