Latest mock goes OT to Bills
One of the more recent mocks has Buffalo taking an offensive tackle 10th overall.
NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter went with Ohio St. OT Mike Adams. Here’s what he wrote.
10. Buffalo – OT Mike Adams
A strong Senior Bowl put the prototypically sized Adams on display. With free agent Demetrius Bell coming off injury, the Bills will be taking a hard look at offensive tackles in this draft. Adams could be on the top of their board if they think his inconsistent ways are behind him.
Prospects expected to test well
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, NFL Combine, Whitney Mercilus
Here’s a rundown of some NFL prospects expected to test well at the NFL Scouting Combine this week courtesy of National Football Post.
The list includes players at multiple positions. The one I find most interesting is Illinois pass rusher Whitney Mercilus. Known as a physical freak it’s not surprising to see him on this list. Knocked for being a one-year wonder it’ll be interesting to see what a strong workout at the Combine can do for his draft stock.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper believes it could solidify Mercilus as a late first-round pick knowing the DE class is not a deep one this year.
“If his workouts equate to what they need to be and what they think he is I think he goes between 22 and 32,” Kiper said of Mercilus.
Who’s going to test well in Indy?
There are a group of players that are expected to improve their draft stock with a strong showing at the NFL Combine this week. One such player happens to be at a position of need for the Buffalo Bills.
DE Nick Perry from USC is considered by most draftniks to be a late first to early second-round pick. The pass rusher however, could go a long way toward solidifying his first round status with a good showing in Indy. NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock is expecting Perry to succeed in doing that knowing that he’s gifted physically.
“I think he’s going to test extremely well,” said Mayock. ”I think he’s going to be one of those guys that the combine helps and his pro day helps because he’s a little bit of an athletic freak. There were games this year where I thought he could be a first-round pick and there were games where I thought he was a second or third-round pick. I think the lack of consistency (in his college career) will hurt him a little bit, but I think he’ll test extremely well. He looks good in a pair of shorts, he moves well and he’s got some natural pass rush ability.”
Stay tuned all week to our NFL Combine coverage on Buffalobills.com beginning Thursday from Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.
College pro day schedule
Though the NFL Combine will be step one this week in Indianapolis, the college pro days will soon follow in March and April. Here’s a rundown of the college pro day schedule.
Pro days by date:
March 1: Missouri
March 2: Cincinnati
March 5: Alabama-Birmingham, Hawaii, McNeese State
March 6: Alabama A&M, Arkansas, Auburn, California Lutheran, Clark, Georgia Tech, Rhode Island, Sacramento State, UCLA
March 7: Alabama, California, California-Davis, Colgate, Fordham, Fort Valley, Kent State, Louisville, Northern Colorado, Oklahoma State, Southern California, Texas A&M, UTEP, Wisconsin, Weber State
March 8: Buffalo, Clemson, Colorado, Miami (Fla.), Mississippi State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio, Syracuse, Tulsa, Utah State, Washington, West Texas, Western Kentucky
March 9: Florida International, Montana, Northern Illinois, Ohio State, Purdue, TCU, Troy
March 12: Air Force, Arkansas-Monticello, Central Michigan, Central Washington, Pittsburgh
March 13: Ball State, Florida, Kansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Marshall, Maryland, North Texas, Western Michigan
March 14: Bowling Green, Central Arkansas, Central Oklahoma, Florida State, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisiana-Monroe, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee Tech
March 15: Delaware State, Louisiana Tech, Michigan, UNLV, Nicholls State, Southern Illinois, Townson, Virginia, Virginia Tech, William & Mary
March 16: James Madison, Missouri State, Oregon State, Richmond, Temple, Tennessee, West Virginia
March 19: Arizona, Florida Atlantic, LSU, Southern, Wake Forest
March 20: Brown, Fresno State, Idaho, Iowa State, Louisiana-Lafayette, North Carolina, North Carolina A&T, South Florida, Texas, Tulane
March 21: Baylor, Boston College, Nevada, North Carolina State, North Dakota State, Rutgers, San Diego State, San Jose State
March 22: Boise State, East Carolina, Maine, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Stanford, Tennessee-Chattanooga
March 23: Jackson State, Missouri Western, N.C. Central, Southern Mississippi, Vanderbilt
March 24: Arizona State
March 27: Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Stephen F. Austin, Washburn
March 28: Central Florida, Connecticut, Northern Iowa, Pennsylvania, South Carolina
March 29: Brigham Young
April 4: SMU
April 6: McNeese State
Why guards, centers going earlier
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, Andy Levitre, Eric Wood, Offensive line
The last few years in the NFL draft there have been more and more interior linemen drafted sooner rather than later, when it used to always be the offensive tackles that came off the board first. While tackles still go high, prospects like Buffalo’s Eric Wood (1st round) and Andy Levitre (2nd round) have gone in the first two rounds, and this year’s class offers some similar type prospects.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper was recently asked why interior linemen are becoming more and more prevalent in the early rounds, and Kiper feels it’s not just based on talent alone.
“I think it’s because of the defensive tackles and the ability to get that push. This year the one player is (Stanford guard David) DeCastro. Fundamentally, technically, everything about him is top notch. Only knock is he’s a pure guard. You can’t hold that against him when you rate him though and he’s 12th on my board. Somewhere in that top 15.
“Cordy Glenn at Georgia is another kid that’s intriguing because he played left tackle this year and held up very well, played guard in the past and could be a right tackle in the NFL. Then of course Peter Konz, the junior center from Wisconsin, but his only issue is durability. Missed multiple games each of the last three seasons with injuries, but with his size and coming out of the Wisconsin program that’s developed a lot of good O-linemen you think of him early to mid-second round.”
Talent is still the top determining factor, but defensive play has probably played a role. Either way it again appears as though there are a healthy number of interior linemen that will be selected on the first two days of the draft.
Mayock’s updated prospect rankings
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock has updated his Top 5 position rankings in advance of the NFL Combine, which starts on Thursday. Here’s what he’s got.
Mayock also listed who fell out of his top 5 and who rose up his rankings position-wise.
Quarterback
1. Andrew Luck, Stanford
2. Robert Griffin III, Baylor
3. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
4. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
5. Nick Foles, Arizona
New entries: Weeden, Foles
Running Back
1. Trent Richardson, Alabama
2. David Wilson, Virginia Tech
3. Lamar Miller, Miami (Fla.)
4. Doug Martin, Boise State
5. LaMichael James, Oregon
Wide Receiver
1. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
2. Kendall Wright, Baylor
3. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
4. Rueben Randle, LSU
5. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
Rise: Wright
Fall: Floyd, Jeffery
New entry: Randle
Out: Wake Forest’s Chris Givens
Tight End
1. Orson Charles, Georgia
2. Coby Fleener, Stanford
3. Dwayne Allen, Clemson
4. Deangelo Peterson, LSU
5. Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette
Rise: Charles
Fall: Allen, Green
New entry: Peterson
Out: Missouri’s Michael Egnew
Tackle
1. Matt Kalil, USC
2. Riley Reiff, Iowa
3. Jonathan Martin, Stanford
4. Mike Adams, Ohio State
5. Cordy Glenn, Georgia
Rise: Kalil
Fall: Reiff
New entry: Glenn (switched groups from interior offensive lineman to tackle)
Out: Troy’s James Brown, Florida State’s Zebrie Sanders
Interior Offensive Lineman
1. David DeCastro, Stanford
2. Peter Konz, Wisconsin
3. Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin
4. Amini Silatolu, Midwestern State
5. Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State
Fall: Osemele
New entry: Silatolu
Out: Glenn (switched groups from interior offensive lineman to tackle)
Defensive End
1. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
2. Quinton Coples, North Carolina
3. Andre Branch, Clemson
4. Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
T-5. Vinny Curry, Marshall
T-5. Nick Perry, USC
Rise: Ingram, Branch
Fall: Coples, Mercilus, Perry
New entry: Curry
Out: Syracuse’s Chandler Jones
Defensive Tackle
1. Michael Brockers, LSU
2. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
3. Dontari Poe, Memphis
4. Devon Still, Penn State
T-5. Fletcher Cox, Mississippi St.
T-5. Kendall Reyes, UConn
T-5. Brandon Thompson, Clemson
Rise: Brockers, Poe
Fall: Still, Thompson
New entry: Reyes
Linebacker
1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
2. Luke Kuechly, Boston College
3. Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
4. Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma
5. Sean Spence, Miami (Fla.)
New entries: Lewis, Spence
Out: North Carolina’s Zach Brown, Arizona State’s Vontaze Burfict
Cornerback
1. Morris Claiborne, LSU
2. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
3. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
4. Trumaine Johnson, Montana
5. Leonard Johnson, Iowa State
Rise: Kirkpatrick
Fall: Jenkins, Leonard Johnson
New entry: Trumaine Johnson
Out: Nebraska’s Alfonzo Dennard
Safety
1. Mark Barron, Alabama
2. Harrison Smith, Notre Dame
3. George Iloka, Boise State
4. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State
5. Phillip Thomas, Syracuse
New entry: Phillip Thomas
Out: South Carolina’s Antonio Allen
Kiper keeps pick same for Bills
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper has released his update mock draft (Kiper 2.0), but he kept his pick for the Bills at 10th overall the same.
At 10 he’s still got Buffalo taking Alabama pass rusher Courtney Upshaw. Here’s what he wrote.
10. Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama – This is another pick that I’m staying with for now. The pass rush still needs a lot of help, and Upshaw is currently the best 3-4 outside linebacker in the draft. Even as Buffalo looks to shift that defense to a 4-3 (see Denver’s draft strategy at No. 2 last year) Upshaw can still easily fit. Don’t pass talent because of small scheme questions. He should be able to apply a lot of pressure to opposing quarterbacks from the edge for whoever gets him for 2012. Remember, nobody on the Bills managed more than 5.5 sacks in 2011, and as a team, they simply haven’t been able to get pressure unless they bring numbers. This is an energetic talent, an edge linebacker in the mold of a more athletic LaMarr Woodley, a guy who has been well-coached and can start early.
Most teams have been grading Upshaw as an outside linebacker because that’s where he played at Alabama in their 3-4 scheme, but he certainly has the build to handle the point of attack as a defensive end and appears to have enough natural pass rush ability to be a fit as a 4-3 end.
New pass rusher in Casserly mock
Pass rushers are a popular pick for the Bills with the 10th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, but NFL.com’s Charley Casserly has a new name for Buffalo.
Casserly has Illinois’ Whitney Mercilus going to the Bills at 10th overall. Here’s what he wrote.
Who will be fastest at Combine?
Hard core football fans are always enamored with pure speed. So which one of the 327 prospects will run the fastest 40 time at this year’s NFL Combine? NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock had a lead pipe lock candidate, but that prospect turned down the Combine invite.
“It would’ve been (Florida’s) Jeff Demps, but Demps declined an invitation because he’s trying out for the U.S. Olympic team and he’s going to get ready for that,” said Mayock. ”If it’s not Demps who might it be? You might not have to go any further than his college teammate Chris Rainey. Now urban legend has it that back in 2008 the two of them squared off behind their dorm building. Rainey won one and Demps won another. If that’s the case Chris Rainey may be the fastest player at this year’s Combine.”
Other players that Mayock mentioned were Baylor WR Kendall Wright, who reminds him a bit of Philadelphia WR DeSean Jackson, and North Carolina LB Zach Brown.
“I think (Wright is) going to run in that mid-4.3 range,” Mayock said. ”Just as impressive if not more so is Zach Brown the linebacker from North Carolina. Now at 237 pounds he holds the North Carolina 60-meter record, not for football players, but for the entire student body. So which would be more impressive? Zach Brown running a 4.35 at 237 pounds or Rainey running a 4.25. For me I’d take the linebacker.”
Wall to wall coverage of the NFL Combine will begin on Buffalobills.com next Thursday from Indianapolis with 1-on-1 interviews with Bills GM Buddy Nix, head coach Chan Gailey as well as coverage of all the top prospects in this year’s draft class.
Latest mock has DT for Bills
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, Michael Brockers, Nick Perry
Buffalo went DT last year with their third overall pick in the form of Marcell Dareus. One of the latest mock drafts out there has the Bills investing in their defensive line again, only it’s not a pass rusher, it’s another DT.
The National Football Post’s Wes Bunting has Buffalo taking LSU DT Michael Brockers. Here’s what he wrote about the pick.
10. Buffalo Bills: LSU DT Michael Brockers
Brockers is a talented defensive lineman capable of maturing into a real game changer up front. He’s got the ability to play all over the Bills D-line early and offers them a lot of 3-4 and 4-3 versatility.
As far as where Brockers is expected to come off the board this pick is in the right range for Brockers’ talent level. And he does offer 4-3, 3-4 defensive scheme versatility as Bunting says. I just think Buffalo has to go pure pass rusher with this pick and USC’s Nick Perry, who Bunting has going 12th to the Seahawks, might be the better fit in terms of the value he’s placed on both prospects.
Mock goes O-line for Bills
Most of the mock drafts of late have the Bills taking a pass rusher with the 10th overall pick, which is more than understandable knowing it’s one of Buffalo’s most pressing needs. This mock draft that we came across has the Bills taking aim at the other side of the ball.
FootballsFuture.com has Buffalo taking Stanford OT Jonathan Martin. Here’s what they wrote.
10. Buffalo – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Left tackle has been an issue for years for the Bills. Value has never fallen to their selection in the first round, but now it has. Martin has all the tools to be a standout on the left side of the line, and will be an immediate upgrade from day one.
For the record, Bills GM Buddy Nix did say at his close of the season press conference that they would like to get Demetrius Bell re-signed (he’s a free agent). He also said if the right one is there they’d draft a tackle as well.
Another mock goes DE for Bills
Buffalo’s need to improve their pass rush is obviously no secret as yet another draft prognosticator has the Bills landing a pass rusher with the 10th overall pick.
The Sporting News Russ Lande has Buffalo getting North Carolina DE Quinton Coples, which would be a huge boost to their pass rush. At 6’6″ 272 pounds Coples has prototype size and talent to match. Here’s what they wrote about the pick.
10. Buffalo Bills: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina. With the Bills moving back to a 4-3 base defense, they must find players who can play defensive end in that scheme. Coples is a perfect fit in a 4-3 and shined at the Senior Bowl, showing all the tools to make an immediate impact.
Coples gets to 10 for Bills?
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, Kyle Williams, Mike Mayock, Quinton Coples, Shawne Merriman
North Carolina pass rusher Quinton Coples looked like a man among boys at the Senior Bowl by most accounts. Many draft prognosticators have him off the board no later than the seventh pick (Jacksonville)… until now.
NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter has Coples making it all the way to the Bills with the 10th pick. Here’s what was written.
Draft board getting set
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, Buddy Nix, Chuck Cook, Doug Whaley, NFL Combine
The college scouting staff has arrived at One Bills Drive this week as they begin preparations for the NFL Combine at the end of the month as well as the 2012 NFL draft.
During this time, Bills GM Buddy Nix, Asst. GM/Director of Player Personnel Doug Whaley and Director of College Scouting Chuck Cook spearhead the process of setting up a preliminary draft board prior to the Combine. It will take up to two weeks to have it completed as the scouting staff pours through player reports and the other pertinent information gathered through the course of the past college season.
Each player will be assigned a grade and slotted accordingly on the draft board, horizontally by position and vertically by round.
Bills surrounded by coin flips
Tags: 2012 NFL draft
We’ve known for a long time that the Bills will pick 10th overall in the 2012 NFL draft. What is still unknown is who will pick right before and right after the Bills in round one.
A coin flip is still needed to determine if Carolina or Miami will pick eighth and then ninth respectively. Meanwhile behind the Bills at 11th and 12th overall are Kansas City and Seattle. A coin flip will also be needed to determine who will draft 11th right after Buffalo and who will draft 12th.
Those coin flips typically take place at the NFL Combine, which runs Feb. 22nd-28th.
There was a prevailing thought that the Bills would rotate between picking 8th, 9th or 10th in each round with Carolina and Miami, but Buffalo had a stronger strength of schedule than those two teams. Going on reverse strength of schedule Carolina and Miami will be slotted ahead of the Bills in every round with Buffalo picking 10th from start to finish in the draft.
Latest mock has new pass rusher
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, Courtney Upshaw, Melvin Ingram, mock draft
The lion’s share of the mock drafts thus far have the Bills taking Alabama DL/OLB Courtney Upshaw, but what if he’s off the board already? That’s what the latest Rotoworld draft has unfolding leaving the Bills with an interesting choice to make at 10th overall.
Rotoworld’s Evan Silva has Upshaw going to the Dolphins at ninth overall, a very realistic pick for Miami. So who do the Bills go with one pick later? South Carolina do-it-all defender Melvin Ingram. Here’s their commentary on the mock pick.
10. Bills — South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram
The Bills are implementing a base 4-3 up front, but plan to be “multiple” on defense in an effort to keep offenses off balance. With versatility as his calling card, Ingram is what the doctor ordered. Ingram was productive as a 4-3 defensive tackle, 4-3 end, and 3-4 outside ‘backer in the SEC, wreaking havoc with power, explosiveness, and closing speed that jumps off the page. Buffalo finished 30th in the league in sacks in 2011, and Ingram has a knack for quarterback disruption.
Used mainly as a pass rusher by the Gamecocks, Ingram logged 17 1/2 sacks his last two collegiate seasons.
Fan Friday 2-3
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, A-Turf, Buddy Nix, compensatory picks, Courtney Upshaw, Fan Friday, Luke Kuechly
Super Bowl XLVI is just a couple of days away, but Bills fans are focused on other things. Let’s get to your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net.
1 - Hey Chris,
Love your work. I was just wondering if you had insights about a player like Luke Kuechly? I have never seen a linebacker diagnose so many plays in such a big time conference. I imagine that when we pick @ 10 this kid might slip to us. I know Buddy mentioned a lot but what do you think?
CB: Thanks for the kind words. Kuechly is a heck of a linebacker no doubt about it and in terms of the overall player rankings he is largely considered a top 10-15 talent. Kelvin Sheppard is marked down as the starting MLB in Buffalo’s new 4-3 defense. I’d expect Nick Barnett to play on the open side (WLB) where his athleticism can be maximized. If the Bills believe Kuechly is capable of playing a strong side linebacker role in a 4-3 he could be a consideration. I’m not sure he is a consensus Top 10 talent in the eyes of NFL scouts however, due to his lack of elite athleticism.
There’s no denying Kuechly’s instincts and impressive productivity, but if his upside in the eyes of scouts is limited by his athleticism he might not be worthy of a top 10 pick for the teams that are picking in that area. We’ll see if we can get a gauge on what the Bills think of Kuechly’s upside in the coming weeks.
2 – Chris,
I read your Fan Friday blog today and with regards to your answer about the Bills seeking a proven play making receiver in FA instead of the draft I am curious if you believe that they will actually attempt to reel one in?
The Bills are not going to get into a bidding war and I completely understand why. The only 3 guys in free agency that fit the description given by Nix are Colston, Bowe, and Jackson. All others are NOT proven play makers and definitely do NOT match the open when covered analogy that Nix used.
I can see the team putting a big offer out to Bowe and Jackson and saying take it or leave it and whichever one signs the team takes or if they both say no thanks then looking to the draft to fill the need.
This brings me to my next point. Given the fact that the drop off between Blackmon and Floyd is not that great could you see the Bills drafting a receiver at 10 if a “big play making” receiver was there? I have no clue what the tape that coaches and scouts shows about the top pass rushers in this class but judging from my opinion from what I have researched there is not a clear pass rusher that belongs in the top 10, in fact I don’t see one that should be a top 15 pick. Thank you for taking the time.
Jim
CB: I think your free agent targets are on the money and I do believe if any of them make it to the free agent market March 13th (not sure any of them will) then the Bills will likely make their best offer and see if anyone is interested.
As for the pass rushers in the draft at the top of the board I think there’s a good chance that Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw would be there at 10 and I believe he’s worthy of that pick. There might be a couple of other considerations (Melvin Ingram), but the choices are admittedly limited.
That being said I’m not convinced Buffalo would take a receiver that high. Yes, Floyd is probably the second best WR in the class after Blackmon, but he does have somewhat of a diva label on him and has an injury history as well as a DUI charge from last March. There’s no denying he’s a playmaker, but those are a lot of issues for an NFL club to iron out and feel good about to make him a top 10 investment.
Chan Gailey always talks about adding players of high character to his team, and he’s a man of his word so I’m not sure Floyd is a fit.
3 – Chris,
Looking more into the injury situation and that the Bills led the league in I-R designations, has Buddy Nix looked into the A-Turf Titan playing surface that currently only the Bills have installed? It would seem that possibly a FieldTurf or Sportexe surface would be a better alternative as a lot of the teams that have been successful with less injuries such as New England, the Jets, or Baltimore have these surfaces installed. Up until last year Rogers Centre also had FieldTurf. Thanks for all the updates you provide Bills fans around the country.
Larry in Tucson AZ
CB: I don’t believe the turf is the culprit here. Terrence McGee, Donald Jones and Fred Jackson all went down in the span of a quarter and a half in Miami on grass. All three were lost for the season. Eric Wood tore an ACL on Field Turf in Dallas without any contact. So I don’t think you can make that connection. It’s the brutality of the game that led to most of Buffalo’s injuries in my opinion.
4 – Chris,
Since Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey arrived in Buffalo, they have been steering toward a 3-4 defense. Yes they play quite a bit of a 4-3 defense, but their draft picks have been geared toward the 3-4 defense. After two years of drafting players like: Torrell Troup, Kelvin Sheppard, Alex Carrington, Marcell Dareus and acquiring players like Shawne Merriman and Nick Barnett all for playing the 3-4 defense. If Dave Wannstedt goes back to the 4-3 defense, is that NOT going to set us back a few more years, until we start drafting and acquiring more 4-3 personnel??? And where does that put these players that I have mentioned???
Thanks
Devoted Bills FAN
Don,
Norwalk, CT
CB: Don, your question is very valid, but Buddy Nix already addressed this issue so I’ll let his comment handle your question.
“The guys we drafted this past year, Marcell Dareus can play in any defense,” said Nix. “Aaron Williams, he’s going to play no matter what you do. Kelvin Sheppard can play in either defense. Da’Norris Searcy he’s going to play in either. All of our defensive draft picks this past year would fit either defense. As an outside backer you want a guy 6’4” or 6’5” 255 or 260. In a 4-3 those guys are defensive ends. If he’s that size and he can rush the passer he can play in either one.”
Those are the exact measurables for Shawne Merriman so I would anticipate that he too would fit as a defensive end, and let me remind you that Merriman is very, very underrated as a run defender. Torell Troup played in a 4-3 at Central Florida and knows the scheme well. Carrington played in a 4-3 at Arkansas State at end. Nix and his personnel department knowing how much hybrid defense is played week to week in this league made a point of getting scheme versatile players. And because of that the defensive front should not suffer a setback.
5 – Hi Chris,
I enjoy your coverage of the team very much. My question for you is do the Bills still have a draft pick left this year from the Lynch trade and what did they get for Lee Evans? Also it seems like they should be in line for a compensatory pick of some kind this year for Poz. Ok, thanks again for all the info!!
Mike G.
Nunda, NY
CB: Thanks for the compliment. The Bills got a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft for Lee Evans from Baltimore. As for the Lynch trade it was a conditional sixth-round pick that could become a fifth-round pick. From what I understand the chances are good that it will be a fifth-round pick, but because it is a conditional agreement, those conditions agreed upon by the two clubs must be confirmed by the league as being satisfied. That has yet to happen.
With respect to a compensatory pick for the loss of Paul Posluszny that should happen. I would anticipate a fifth or sixth-round pick knowing the size of Poz’s contract has a lot to do with the unknown compensatory formula that the league employs. Buffalo did not have a free agent signee that came remotely close to Poz’s $45M deal with Jacksonville so I’d expect Buffalo to get one for losing him.
So breaking it all down the Bills will have nine picks and should get a 10th as a compensatory (round to be determined). Here are the rounds of the picks we know they have assuming the pick from the Lynch trade is a fifth, though the league has not confirmed it. (1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7).
McShay goes pass rusher for Bills
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, Courtney Upshaw, Melvin Ingram
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has put out his latest mock and his pick for the Bills is similar to that of a lot of other draftniks.
McShay has Buffalo taking Alabama DL/OLB Courtney Upshaw. In Buffalo’s new 4-3 defense he’d likely be an end.
What’s interesting are some of the prospects McShay has going ahead of Upshaw at 10. He’s got Iowa OT Riley Reiff going third to Minnesota and doesn’t have Oklahoma St. WR Justin Blackmon coming off the board until the sixth spot (Washington). He’s also got South Carolina’s DE/OLB Melvin Ingram, who I like just as much as Upshaw, going ninth to Miami.
2 more votes for Upshaw
As the mock drafts continue to pile up the case continues to build for Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw to join his former college teammate in Buffalo.
A year after Marcell Dareus went third overall to the Bills, most draftniks are picking Upshaw for the Buffalo to address their woeful pass rush. A pair of draft analysts at CBSSports.com (Rob Rang, Dane Brugler) both chose Upshaw for the Bills with the 10th overall pick in their latest mock drafts.
Another pass rush mock pick
One of the more recent mock drafts has Buffalo landing a pass rusher with a measure of versatility.
MockingTheDraft.com has the Bills taking Courtney Upshaw with the 10th overall pick. The Alabama product is becoming a pretty popular choice among draftniks for Buffalo with ESPN’s Mel Kiper also pointing him toward the Bills.
Upshaw played a weakside defensive end at Alabama and basically was told to rush the passer. He played defensive end in a three-point stance at the Senior Bowl last week. At just 6’1″ 273 pounds, some teams might be reluctant to line him up at end. Upshaw did say he wants to be down to 265 by the time the NFL Combine rolls around in late February presumably in an effort to show he’s capable of handling an OLB role in a 3-4 at the NFL level.
What impresses me most about Upshaw’s game is his pure power. The guy is thickly built and just pops people out of the way. That won’t happen as often at the NFL level, but with a limited supply of pass rushing talent, at 10 Upshaw could very well be the most NFL ready talent on the board. And what is clear is Buffalo needs pass rush improvements that can play effectively and have an impact right away.
