Inside The Bills

NFL draft to go 3 days next year?

If you thought the draft’s later start time (4pm) last Saturday was tough, you may not have seen anything yet. NFL public relations man Brian McCarthy just tweeted an idea to fans on twitter, where asked for thoughts on the following.

nflprguy: We’re thinking of taking #nfldraft primetime. 1st rd thurs, 2-3 rds Fri nite, 4-7 Sat. Good/bad idea? What do u think?

I’m not opposed to breaking it up, and not losing a whole weekend (this proposal removes Sunday) would be cool, but three days? That might be a little much. I love the draft, but that’s really dragging things out it seems. Go and tell him what you think.

Patriots wanted Wood?

According to SI.com’s Peter King the New England Patriots were hot on the trail of Eric Wood in the bottom half of round one. Here’s what King relays in his MMQB column.

I was told last night the Patriots loved Eric Wood, the Louisville center who projected to center or guard in the NFL, but if that’s the case, they could have had him at 26 instead of trading out of the round for yet more picks. So I remain mystified about the continued trading rather than picking.

New England was busy for most of the weekend trading back.

Dilfer tabs Bills as big draft winners

ESPN NFL analyst Trent Dilfer tipped his hat to the Bills saying they had the best draft of any team in the league. Here’s what he had to say at the draft’s conclusion.

“Winners to me are the teams that help themselves next year,” said Dilfer. “They get guys that will help them next year. I look at Philly, New England, Green Bay, San Francisco, Cleveland, but to me the big winner was the Buffalo Bills. You got guys that will contribute right away…I really think that the Buffalo Bills did a great job with helping them win football games next year.”

Maybin arrives in town with mentor

Bills top pick Aaron Maybin has arrived in town with one of his mentors. He’ll be accompanying Maybin out to One Bills Drive to meet the media this evening.

Maybin’s mentor is none other than former Penn State LB Lavar Arrington. Arrington was a former first-round pick himself and three-time Pro Bowl LB before a motorcycle accident all but ended his career.

Arrington now lives in Maryland, which is Maybin’s home state. We plan to ask him about his relationship with Arrington when Buffalobills.com speaks to him in an exclusive one-on-one interview set to air on Buffalobills.com this evening.

Sooners Harris to play LB for Bills

He played safety at Oklahoma, along with a host of other roles, but in the NFL for the Bills, Nic Harris will play linebacker.

Harris is not unlike Keith Ellison, in that he has a safety background in college. Ellison did play his last two collegiate seasons at LB, while Harris only played there on an emergency basis.

Typically though it’s easier to transition a player that’s further away from the ball closer to the line of scrimmage than taking a bigger player and transitioning them further from the line of scrimmage.

He simply doesn’t have the speed (4.7) to be a defensive back in the league. The Bills said they’ll have him bulk up his frame to around 240 pounds to handle linebacker better.

Gotta watch out for Baltimore

I’m a bit nervous about Baltimore attempting to leapfrog the Bills at pick 121. The Ravens are sitting at 123 and might want to jump Buffalo for a TE prospect. Hoping that doesn’t happen.

To me the better values right now in round 4 are at TE not LB.

The tight end run has begun

With So. Carolina TE Jared Cook coming off the board at the bottom half of round 3, the tight end run of pass catchers could be underway.

If the Bills want to be a part of it, they may have to trade up into the bottom of round 3. Whether they have the ammo to do it is a big question. They’d likely have to surrender picks in 2010 to do it. I’m not convinced they’re ready to do that.

Buffalo had the 10th pick in round 4, but traded it to Dallas so they could move back into round 2 to take Andy Levitre. But I’m not sure even that is early enough to get in on the TE pick party.

LBs that could be there in round 4

Linebacker is still a positional need for Buffalo. Here are some of the LB prospects that could still be on the board when the Bills are on the clock with the 121st pick in round 4.

South Florida’s Tyrone McKenzie who was a tackling machine and is a fit at strong side LB. Also a former teammate of Alvin Bowen before transferring from Iowa State to So. Florida.

Southern Miss’ Gerald McRath who was a playmaker in college, but is a bit undersized to play MLB as he did in college and is probably a weak side player.

TCU’s Jason Phillips, who is a bit undersized for some schemes, but could probably transition to SLB in Buffalo’s defense at 6’1″ and 239 pounds. A four-time All MWC selection.

USC’s Kaluka Maiava could be there and he’s been compared to Freddie Keiaho. He also offers good versatility at LB as he played all three positions in his time with the Trojans.

Georgia’s Dannell Ellerbe figures to be there too and is a hard hitter that also offers versatility having played all three LB positions in his college career.

TEs that should be there in round 4

With the Bills not picking until round 4 (unless they trade up again) here are some TE prospects that could still be on the board when Buffalo is on the clock with pick 121.

At TE Cal’s Cameron Morrah should be there. He’s got a decent mix of blocking and catching talent. He’s more athlete than grinder in the trenches, but has blocking ability.

Another possible option is NC State’s Anthony Hill, who some compare to Jason Peters. He’d really beef up Buffalo’s blocking in the run or pass game at TE, but some feel he could be transitioned to OT at 6’5″ and 262.

Also at TE should be WNY native Dan Gronkowski who played his college ball at Maryland. A blue collar player with good blocking skills, but limited in the passing game (short to intermediate target only).

UVA’s John Phillips is a good blocker, but a limited receiving target. He might even be there in round 5.

Bills likely to address LB, TE on day 2

It’ll be a late start for the Bills on day two of the draft now that they do not have a third round selection. Buffalo’s first pick is 121st overall and they’ve got to be looking at LB and TE as positions to address.

Guys that are still on the board include a lot of the pass catching TEs like Shawn Nelson and Jared Cook, but they figure to come off the board in round 3.

As for linebacker there is some middle round value. Western Illinois’ Jason Williams and South Florida’s Tyrone McKenzie were two guys I liked, but they too are projected as third round selections.

We’ll see who is left come round 4.

Day one review

The Bills did a good job of addressing some of their primary needs with their first two picks getting Maybin and Wood. I think Wood is the odds on favorite to step right in at left guard as a rookie.

Maybin I think at the very least will be a situational pass rusher that will deliver sacks.

As for round two, I was surprised to see defensive back targeted, but Buffalo does need more takeaways and Byrd had 17 in college. I think he’s a safety, nickel corner prospect.

Trading up for Levitre was also a surprise. The Bills say they’re open to trying him at tackle since that’s where he played the past two seasons, but at 6’2″ and with 32 3/4 inch arms it’ll be interesting to see how he handles himself at this level.

Bills gave up 3rd & 1st 4th rounder

Buffalo gave up their 75th pick and their 110th pick overall to move up to get Levitre in round two. Bills still have their 4th rounder from Philadelphia 121st overall.

Barwin or TE here?

I wouldn’t mind Connor Barwin here and lining him up at OLB. Or you could grab one of the pass catching TEs like Shawn Nelson or Jared Cook. Good dilemma to have.

Wood is a finisher

Eric Wood was a late riser up the draft. With Mack off the board the run on centers was on. The Bills see Wood as a guard for them, though he offers them depth at center behind Hangartner. What I like about him is he’s got some nasty to his game. He likes finishing people on blocks.

The guy had over 180 knockdowns his last two seasons. Buffalo had their eye on him early and had a personal interview with him at the combine.

“I was really impressed with them and I left the meeting feeling really good,” said Wood. “When I saw them at 28 and I got the call there was no better feeling than that.”

Maybin had no clue Bills liked him

Talking to Aaron Maybin on the conference call he had no clue that the Bills were very interested in him.

“I had no idea until the pick came,” said Maybin. ”I was just as surprised as anyone else, but I will say I was very happy to get that phone call and hear that it was Buffalo on the other end of the line.”

Maybin really seems to have a lot of respect for the franchise and he’s going to be in a good situation with a guy like Poz that can take him under his wing a bit.

Bills best options as I see it

Brown, Maybin, Cushing are best options at 11. I’d be good with any of those three.

Bills on the clock

Crabtree to San Fran

A lot of pass rushers sitting there

Orakpo, Brown, Maybin are all sitting there with the Bills on double deck.

Cushing is still a viable possibility as I see it, especially if Buffalo doesn’t like any of the warts on the pass rushers. We’ll see.

Don’t know how many of you saw my NFL Network on the beat mock draft picks, but we had to choose who we thought the Bills would take at 11 and 28. I picked Cushing at 11, and then based on the picks of all the other beat writers for the other NFL teams, Brown was still on the board at 28 and I took him there for Buffalo with their second pick.

Be funny if that actually happens.

Raji slipping

Still not convinced he’ll make it to Buffalo, but if B.J. Raji falls to 11, Bills have to take him as I see it.

Heyward-Bey over Crabtree?!!

Only Al Davis would value speed over playmaking ability. What a terrible pick. Heyward-Bey is a one trick pony. I would have taken Crabtree or Maclin over this guy.