The Wire

Round 1 (10):  CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina (6'0 190)
With Kuechly and Barron off the board, this pick came down to Michael Floyd or Gilmore.  While Floyd may have more upside, Gilmore was a safe selection and filled a need for the Bills' defense.  Gilmore has a good combination of size, speed, instincts, and leadership ability, and, based on his Scouting Combine performance, became a fast riser during the months preceding the draft.  He should pair with Aaron Williams next season to give the Bills a starting duo of big, young, aggressive cover corners.  With the recent release of Drayton Florence, Terrence McGee should assume nickel duty and can hopefully stay healthy with reduced reps. Grade:  B+


Round 2 (41):  OT Cordy Glenn, Georgia (6'5 345)
Many prognosticators had the Bills choosing between Jonathan Martin and Glenn with their first selection.  Conveniently enough for the Bills, they were faced with the same decision in the second round.  Glenn played OG, RT, and most recently LT during his college career.  Buddy Nix has been adamant that Glenn has the feet for LT and will compete with incumbent starter Chris Hairston to protect Ryan Fitzpatrick's blind side.  Glenn has great size and versatility and was graded as a top 5 offensive lineman in the draft.  This pick was great value for the Bills.
Grade:  A

Round 3 (69 from Redskins):  WR T.J. Graham, N.C. State (5'11 188) 
While more polished WRs may have remained on the board, the Bills moved up in the draft to select a relatively raw and inexperienced T.J. Graham in the third round.  (It is noted that dumping a 7th round pick in the deal may have been an attempt to consolidate picks more than anything else.)  The Bills opted for upside here as Graham, a former track star, clocked a better 40-yard dash time than Lee Evans (4.41).  Graham, who was graded as a 7th round prospect, can contribute immediately as a returner.  If he can improve his hands and route-running ability and add mass, Graham has the long-term potential to develop into a #2 deep threat to complement Stevie Johnson.  That being said, this pick was unquestionably the Bills' biggest reach in the draft. Grade:  C+ 

Round 4 (105):  OLB Nigel Bradham, Florida St. (6'2 241)
The Bills continued the trend of addressing need in the fourth round with the selection of Nigel Bradham. Bradham is powerful and tenacious, and was one of few prospects in the draft who projected to the position of 4-3 strong-side linebacker. He lead FSU in tackles for the past three seasons and can also run in coverage. Bradham is relatively raw as far as awareness, instincts and technique are concerned, but with advanced coaching, he has the natural talent and physicality to compete for starting time with incumbent starter Kirk Morrison.  As he develops, Bradham will have immediate impact on coverage units (Editor note in Borat voice: "I liiiike"). Grade: B+

Round 4 (124 from Ravens):  CB Ron Brooks, LSU (5'10 190) 
Brooks was an obscure prospect as his abilities at LSU were overshadowed by high profile players such as Patrick Peterson, Morris Claiborne, and Tyrann Mathieu.  He spent most of his college career as a special teams ace yet possesses the bulk, athleticism and natural instincts to develop as a cover corner as well as the speed to be an effective blitzer from the slot.  Brooks should contribute as a special teams gunner for the Bills during his rookie year. In fact, Bills coaches have commented that he may see time on all four special teams units.  This is a good value, diamond in the rough-type pick for the Bills. Grade:  A-
   

Round 5 (144):  OT Zebrie Sanders, Florida St. (6'5 320)
Another great value/need combo here.  While Sanders was inconsistent at Florida St. and struggled against speed rushers at the Senior Bowl, he has good technique and tremendous wingspan to develop into an NFL-caliber left tackle.  Bills coaches described Sanders as a developmental project, citing his strength and hand technique as areas for improvement.  Graded as a third round value, Sanders is not an elite prospect, but he offers natural size and ability which can be molded and refined with time.  As a rookie, Sanders will provide swing depth for the Bills at both right and left tackle. Grade:  B      

Round 5 (147 from Seahawks):  LB Tank Carder, TCU (6'2 236) 
Carder has been widely considered one of the top value picks in the draft.  He has good tackling ability, fluidity and short area burst and elite competitiveness, as well as instincts and awareness which are able to mask his relative lack of speed.  At 10 years old, Carder was a World BMX Champion. (Editor note: At 10 years old, the Scizz was still collecting G.I. Joes, Barrister was writing love letters to his teacher, Apologist was boring his friends with talk of existentialism in DC comics, and Yachtsman was learning what whiskey was)  At 13 years old, he suffered a punctured diaphragm, a collapsed lung, broken back, and needed two chest tubes after he was flung from a moving vehicle which ultimately rolled on top of him after striking a tree.  With an intriguing backstory in place, Carder excelled at TCU earning Defensive Player of the Game honors in the 2011 Rose Bowl.  Bills coaches project him as a weak-side linebacker, initially in a backup role to Nick Barnett.  As he adds bulk and strength at the point of attack, however, Carder projects long-term to the strong-side.  Grade:  A

Round 6 (178):  OG Mark Asper, Oregon (6'6 319) 
Asper is best known for performing the Heimlich maneuver on a man who was choking on a piece of meat at the 2012 Lawry's Beef Bowl (an annual event that precedes the Rose Bowl game).  (Editor note: I think the analysis should just end here, but that's my opinion) He is a high effort, blue collar player with average size, strength and speed. Despite his wide frame, he has very short arms which project him to OG.  Asper will compete with 2011 rookie Michael Jasper for a roster spot along the Bills' interior line. Grade:  C-

Round 7 (251 compensatory):  K John Potter, Western Michigan (6'1 219) Many fans including myself would prefer that the Bills opt for a sexier prospect, such as Vontaze Burfict or Kellen Moore (Editor note: Both are VERY sexy), with their compensatory selection.  No matter, this pick has sound logic. Potter was chosen simply because he has the ability to consistently send kickoffs out of the back of end zones.  If the Bills decide to keep two kickers, there is a niche to be had here. Grade:  C

The Buffalo Bills 2012 Overall Draft Grade: B+ (Editor note: The rest of the Deeg agrees, but would also like to see the war room apply themselves more, and have a brief meeting with their parents next week. Thanks.)

The Wire 

Considering value, need and availability, the following players are presented as the top 10 most likely selections for the Bills at #10 overall:

1.  WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame (6' 3", 220 Lbs.)
Floyd has prototypical size and strength for the WR position.  Statistically, he was one of the top WRs in college football.  At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Floyd demonstrated good hands, flexibility and sharp routes in open field drills.  Most importantly, he clocked at 4.42 in the 40-yard dash which was better than most scouts anticipated for his size.  His combine performance addressed concerns about a perceived lack of explosion, agility and straight line speed and vaulted him into the upper echelon of draft prospects.  His Notre Dame Pro Day provided the exclamation point.  Mike Mayock (NFL Network), who attended the workout, commented that Floyd had tremendous breaks in and out of his cuts and explosion off the line of scrimmage comparable to top WR prospect Justin Blackmon.  At this point, concerns about his several arrests in college on alcohol-related charges seem like an afterthought.  The Bills showed their hand in free agency by aggressively pursuing Robert Meachem who ultimately signed in San Diego.   GM Buddy Nix, who scouted a similar player - Vincent Jackson - during his time in San Diego, would clearly like to add a complement to newly re-signed WR Stevie Johnson and a big weapon for newly extended QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

2.  LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College (6' 3", 242 Lbs.)
Kuechly clocked in at 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine.  This was significant for a projected ILB prospect who now proved he could hold his own in pass coverage against increasingly athletic TEs and move from a 2-down LB prospect to a potential 3-down LB.  Kuechly also registered an impressive 38" vertical jump and 123" broad jump which further demonstrated his surprising athleticism.  Kuechly did not run at the Boston College Pro Day, but showed acceleration and burst in positional drills to prove that he is not limited to only zone drops in pass coverage.  Kuechly's strengths, however, remain his tackling and instincts.  He averaged eight solo tackles per game at Boston College and finished with 532 total tackles in only three seasons.  While he will not blitz often in the NFL, he should be a steady, sideline-to-sideline tackler a la Zach Thomas.  The biggest question regarding the Bills' potential interest in Kuechly is whether they project he has the size, strength, and block-shedding ability to play on the strong side of their 4-3 base.  Nix stated that second-year man Kelvin Sheppard is slotted for MLB and Nick Barnett at WSLB, so an upgrade over veteran Kirk Morrison is warranted.  Kuechly would provide an upgrade over Sheppard on passing downs in the middle, but that is not enough to justify investment of their top overall selection.  A projection to the strong side is key.

3.  OT Riley Reiff, Iowa (6' 6", 313 Lbs.)
Reiff has played DE, TE, and OG in his football career.  He looks the part of an athletic NFL LT with good footwork, lateral agility, and natural knee-bend.  He proved durable at Iowa in starting every game in his college career after replacing Bryan Bulaga.  While he uses his hands well and can anchor against bull rushes, he will be susceptible to fast NFL pass rushers such as hybrid 3-4 OLBs.  The biggest knock on Reiff is a 33 1/4" arm length measurement which is below average for NFL LTs and a concern for some scouts who now project him as RT or even OG.  It should be noted that Joe Thomas measured shorter arms than Reiff, so it is not a deal breaker.  This pick depends on whether Nix disqualifies Reiff as a LT based on the arm length issue.  If not, he is a very likely replacement for recently departed Demetress Bell.  In his post-season press conference, Nix described current LT Chris Hairston as "serviceable" and with potential to develop into an everyday starter, so the desire to solidify the left side of the offensive line is evident.          

4.  CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina (6' 0", 193 Lbs.)
As South Carolina's Mr. Football, Gilmore transitioned from high school QB at South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, SC, to three-year starter at CB for the Gamecocks.  He is a late rising CB prospect, pegged as a high effort team leader and student of the game with good awareness, natural ball skills, and an aggressive demeanor.  At the Scouting Combine, Gilmore posted a 4.40 in the 40 yard dash and a solid 10' 3 in the broad jump which led Sports Illustrated to label him one of their Scouting Combine winners.  He may be one of the most underrated prospects in the draft but is quietly moving into the #2 CB spot behind high profile Morris Claiborne.  Statistically, he was superior to Alabama prospect Dre Kirkpatrick.  Gilmore showed well on film against Julio Jones and A.J. Green and has all the physical attributes of a starting cover corner in the NFL.  He may be most effective in zone coverage schemes but has the abilities to develop into a man-to-man cover corner with further experience and coaching.  For the Bills, 2011 second round pick Aaron Williams looks to be a lock as one starting CB, but with Terrence McGee fading with age and injuries (and a contract recently restructured to that of a nickel corner), Drayton Florence struggling for long stretches last season, and Leodis McKelvin subject to the "bust" label, Nix will need to add an impact cover man at some point in the draft.  While Gilmore may not have tremendous upside, he would be a safe, prudent selection with quality intangibles.

5.  OT Cordy Glenn, Georgia (6' 5", 345 Lbs.)Glenn had 50 starts at Georgia, tying a team record, including 32 at OG and 18 at LT.  He played LT his senior season and also in Senior Bowl workouts.  At the Senior Bowl, he showed quick feet, agility and body control for a prospect his size, and his stock began to rise as a potential LT in the NFL.   He has ideal mass for a power rush blocker and a wide body and good base to seal off pass rushers.  If he is able to gain leverage, he has the size and strength to flat-out erase defenders.  Evidenced by a poor 23.5-inch vertical jump at the Scouting Combine, his overall explosion and athleticism is still in question and some scouts feel he's naturally suited to play on the interior in the NFL.  While his versatility should be a strength, it is also a detriment as he is being projected anywhere from the Bills at #10 overall to mid-2nd round depending on where scouts place him along the line.  Glenn visited the Bills in late March which should be no surprise as Nix is very fond of and familiar with Southeastern players.  The issue is whether Nix feels Glenn's potential as a LT is worth a top 10 pick.

6.  OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford (6' 5, 312 Lbs.)
Martin is a true left tackle prospect, but his stock has fallen due to concerns about his strength.  The most damning piece of evidence may be film from last season's USC game wherein he was dominated by Nick Perry.  These sentiments are echoed by ESPN's Mel Kiper who has dropped Martin from #13 overall to #21 overall over the course of his four mock drafts.  Martin does possess all the requisite measurables for the position, including 34" arm length, as well as high character and intelligence.  Having protected Andrew Luck's blind side for the past three years, he may have stationed the most critical position in all of college football.  His experience in a pro-style offense should benefit his transition to the NFL, and with professional coaching to develop the technical aspects of his game, he could develop into an impact starter.

7.  CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama (6' 1", 186 Lbs.)
Kirkpatrick is a confident, somewhat arrogant, athletic, tenacious CB prospect from the reigning national champions.  He only had three INTs during his three-year college career, but this is attributable to his physicality against the man at the expense of ball hawking prowess.  Kirkpatrick is physical off the line of scrimmage and denies WRs a clean release and separation with his strength and aggressiveness.  He hustles in run support which may be a detriment in the NFL if he leaves the sidelines open.  NFL coaches will have to rein in his tendency to over-pursue.  Those same coaches could be tempted to transition him to safety due to his length and slim frame.  At the Scouting Combine, scouts observed stiffness in his movements and some questions arose regarding his preparation for the event.  He posted a 4.51 40-yard dash, which was above average, and sat on that number for his Pro Day.  A possession of marijuana charge filed against Kirkpatrick after he declared for the draft was subsequently dropped.  While his stock has dipped slightly, Kirkpatrick remains a big game, tough, reliable, battle-tested CB prospect.   

8.  OG David DeCastro, Stanford (6' 5", 316 Lbs.)   
DeCastro is one of the top OG prospects in recent years with popular comparisons to Steve Hutchinson and more recently, Maurkice Pouncey.  He is almost flawless technically and can block in any power or zone scheme.  DeCastro gave up only one sack in college - "The Sack" - to Brian Price of UCLA as a redshirt freshman in 2009. (Ed. Note: I had to look this up because I figured it had to be a typo. Nope.).  He is agile, mean, and powerful, posting 34 reps of 225 lbs. at the Scouting Combine.  Son of a South African rugby star, DeCastro is a perfectionist at his craft and, pound for pound, one of the best players in the draft.  Offensive guard is not an explicit need for the Bills, but if they go this direction, it provides them the flexibility to kick Andy Levitre out to LT from his guard spot, or to provide an immediate upgrade over Kraig Urbik at right guard.  ESPN's Todd McShay has labeled DeCastro "a special talent" and suggested that any team may be hard pressed to pass on him no matter what their immediate needs may be.  If it were not for the generally low value of OGs, DeCastro would be a top 10 lock.

9.  OT Mike Adams, Ohio St. (6' 7", 323 Lbs.)  
Adams was one of five players suspended at Ohio St. last season due to NCAA rule violation of receiving improper benefits. He had shoulder and foot injuries in 2008, a knee injury in 2009, and was initially suspended by Ohio St. for two games in 2009 for violating team rules. In a separate incident in 2009, he was cited for possessing drug paraphernalia although the charges were eventually dropped. All this being said, Adams has exceptional height, length, quickness and agility for a LT prospect in the NFL. He had a strong showing at Senior Bowl practices which vaulted him into first round conversation. While he struggled in the weight room at the Scouting Combine, with only 19 reps at 225 lbs., he recovered with a better Pro Day, posting 21 reps on bench press, and reportedly enamoring the Steeler's front office with his entire workout. Looking at 2010 game film, Adams handled Houston's J.J Watt but struggled against Washington's Ryan Kerrigan. Overall, Adams is technically raw, generally inconsistent, but with big potential as an eventual starting LT in the NFL. In fact, Mike Mayock has him rated as the third best OT prospect behind Matt Kalil and Reiff, but one has to assume that is based on long-term upside not immediate reward.
      
10.  OT Matt Kalil, USC (6' 6", 307 Lbs.)
This is a wildcard pick. Adam Shefter recently tweeted that the Vikings are not as high on Matt Kalil as most prognosticators assume. Couple this with recent comments by Minnesota GM Rick Spielman that the Vikings will consider potential trade options, and the trade-down rumors are beginning to float. If the Bills are set on upgrading LT and are not satisfied with flawed prospects Reiff, Glenn, or Martin, it seems they may have the option to move up to #3. It would take their 2013 first round draft pick to do so of course, but acquiring their best offensive line prospect since Will Wolford may be worth it. Kalil has all the physical attributes to go with a nasty temperament and has been considered by some as the most complete OT prospect since Tony Boselli. To add further intrigue, Kalil's father was drafted by the Bills and played in the USFL. His mother was Miss California, so there's that too.



And that's it from The Wire. If you're in the New York City area for Draft Day and don't have tickets to Radio City, be sure to check out the NYC Buffalo Bills Backers Draft Party at McFaddens on 42nd St. and 2nd Ave. At least a couple members of the Deeg will be there, so you're guaranteed to see at least one or two guys audibly cursing Ralph Wilson, whether it's necessarily relevant or not.

The Wire

4 (122) - OT Chris Hairston, Clemson
With their second pick in the fourth round, the Bills selected arguably the last remaining higher-end prospect available in the draft.  Hairston is big, long, athletic, and most importantly has quick feet for an OT weighing in at 325+ lbs.  He also had a very impressive Wonderlic score.  Hairston played LT at Clemson, but will be part of the Bills' competition/revolving door at RT, which is apparently occupied by none other than Erik Pears (?).  If Hairston develops his technique and demonstrates better ability in space against edge rushers, he could see significant time as a rookie.  Dedication in the weight room is also of utmost importance to curtail his sloppy spare tire
Grade:  B    

5 (133) - RB Johnny White, North Carolina
North Carolina's Pro Day was a regular "Who's Who" of NFL general managers, scouts, and coaches.  Everyone was there including a few teams' entire coaching staffs.  The Bills were represented by GM Nix, the newly fired Tom Modrak, and two scouts.  In the end, the Bills evaluated 17 UNC prospects and in the fifth round of the draft, officially took their second.  White converted from WR to RB last season when UNC's starting RB Shaun Draughn was injured.  He finished with 800 yards rushing and would have surpassed the 1,000 yard mark if not for a minor injury.  It should come as a relief to Bills fans that White is a hard-nosed, down-the-hill, hit-the-hole type runner.  There is no hesitation in his game.  He plays bigger than his size and given his experience at wideout, can also catch passes out of the backfield.  Moreover, Bills scouts spoke extremely highly of his personality and character.  If White improves his blocking ability, he may see time as a third down specialist.  He will also contribute significantly on special teams, possibly as a gunner, which separates him from the ilk of Xavier Omon.  At this point in the draft, the Bills had bigger needs, i.e. LB, TE, but a couple of their picks each year are dedicated to special teams.  This may have been one of them. 
Grade:  C+  

6 (169) - ILB Chris White - Mississippi St.
White is another player that made an impression on Bills coaches at the Senior Bowl.  He was a JUCO transfer who progressed significantly during his senior season at MSU.  Bills scouts describe him as a tough, rugged ILB who has demonstrated the ability to run with TEs and thus allows them positional flexibility.  He is an instinctive player and excels at diagnosing run plays immediately upon the snap of the ball.  At 246 lbs, the Bills continue to add size to the middle of their defense.  However, White will always be a sub-par athlete and lacks the speed and closing burst to contribute on a consistent basis.  Nevertheless, the Bills added another special teams piece and needed depth at LB.
Grade:  C-

7 (206) - CB Justin Rogers, Richmond
Rogers was an undersized defensive back even at the FCS level.  He struggles to wrap up ball carriers to the point of whiffing on occasion.  He also lacks speed and explosion and thus will never match up in man coverage in the NFL.  The Bills were most likely enticed by his great leaping ability, short area quickness, and ability to jump routes underneath.  For these reasons, he has the potential to contribute in zone sub-packages.
Grade:  D

7 (245) - NT Michael Jasper, Bethel (TN)
Jasper has been a pet project for Bills scouts for almost a year now.  At his peak, Jasper weighed in at 448 lbs with an average playing weight of 435 lbs.  At the Bills request, Jasper trimmed down to a sleek 378 over the past four months.  As reward, Jasper received a draft flyer from the Bills with their final pick.  Jasper began his collegiate career as a NT in the 3-4 scheme but played OG the past two seasons at Bethel.  The Bills have indicated he will compete at NT for them.  Any in-depth analysis of Jasper's game is, in fact, over-analysis.  He's mammoth.  He takes on blockers.  Period.  Although fans should check out the YouTube video that documents Jasper's workout; he's impressively nimble on his feet.  The video could rival the hype of John Wendling's high jump clip, although hopefully Jasper sticks around longer to make it worth the entertainment.  With a late seventh round compensatory pick, the Bills might as well draft a freak.
Grade:  B+ 

How much does Jasper look like Sexual Chocolate Mark Henry of the WWE? Nutty!  Anyways, a huge thanks goes out to The Wire for this awesome analysis of the Buffalo Bills 2011 draft class.  Well done big guy.  Let's just hope this round of newbies doesn't end up in the Scizz's EPIC FAIL draft series.  

A Nate Dogg video? Don't mind if I do. REGULATOOOOOOOOOORS! MOUNT UP!

The Wire

1 (3) - DL Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Presuming Auburn QB Cam Newton would be off the board to Carolina, the Bills were set to pick whichever impact front-seven defender Denver passed on; Dareus or Texas A&M pass-rushing specialist Von Miller.  With Miller selected at #2 overall, Dareus was the logical, prudent choice and consistent with the philosophy touted by GM Buddy Nix that the Bills would select the best players available on their board at positions of need.  Dareus was a consensus top 3 prospect and NFLN's Mike Mayock's and ESPN's Todd McShay's top player overall.  Dareus is big, powerful, and surprisingly athletic; an ideal fit as a zero- or five-technique in the 3-4 scheme and also capable of playing on the guard or center in the 4-3.  He immediately legitimates the Bills' defensive line next to Kyle Williams and allows last year's draft picks Torrell Troup and Alex Carrington further time to develop.  Any concerns about Dareus' weight are off-set by his superior character and work ethic. 
Grade:  A

2 (34) - CB Aaron Williams, TexasIt seems the Bills can't help but select a defensive back (or two or three) in every draft year.  Whether that be due to the nature of the position or a crippling obsession with Tom Brady, is for another debate.  At 6'0" 205, Williams is a big, physical, aggressive CB also capable of playing free safety.  His most useful attribute is the ability to play on both the outside wideout as well as on the slot receiver.  As a rookie, depending on McGee's health and McKelvin's general incompetence, Williams could see time as either a starting CB or as an impact #3 in the Bills' nickel package.  In effect, with their top two draft picks, the Bills selected two players who can start at five different positions.  Williams' primary weakness is straight-line speed as he may not be able to keep up with faster wideouts 30 yards downfield.  No matter, his versatility and strength are key, and with the Bills possibly losing Donte Whitner, Drayton Florence, and Ashton Youboty in free agency, the secondary had become a major need mostly overlooked by fans.
Grade:  B+

3 (68) - ILB Kelvin Sheppard, LSU
The Bills' defensive coaches had the pleasure of working with Sheppard at the Senior Bowl, which was followed-up by a glowing visit to One Bills Drive.  From that point forward, many fans had this marriage pegged.  Sheppard is a big, strong, and cerebral inside LB who made all the defensive play calls at LSU.  He was considered their emotional leader.  Sheppard, who has been compared to former Bill London Fletcher, is a good insurance policy for pending free agent Paul Posluszny.  If Posluszny re-signs in Buffalo, which he has indicated he will, Sheppard should have little trouble beating out deteriorating Andra Davis for the other starting inside spot.  In pre-draft reviews, many analysts were concerned with Sheppard's speed from sideline to sideline.  However, Bills' coaches stated that Sheppard, at 250 lbs, performed better in this regard at the Senior Bowl than he had on previous game tape.  Considering value and need, this was the Bills' best pick of the draft.
Grade:  A

4 (100) - S Da'Norris Searcy, North Carolina
The Bills kept with the theme of defensive versatility with the selection of Searcy, who is capable of playing either strong or free safety.  At 5'11" 225, Searcy is a big safety with fluid hips who appears to play faster than his clocked dash times (4.5s).  Oddly, pre-draft reviews on Searcy were mixed; some labeling him as tough and physical against the run and others documenting an apparent reluctance to engage with ballcarriers.  Most significantly, Bills coaches and scouts have complimented his willingness to get in the box against the run, and his potential to contribute as an emergency kick returner.  Of all North Carolina players involved in last year's academic scandal, Searcy's role has been downplayed, suggesting that administration and bureaucracy, rather than anything substantive actually led to his brief suspension.         
Grade:  B-