Gil Brandt, Best Players Available

[Lexwhat]

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d817b78c8&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true


Tier One

Jimmy Clausen (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/jimmy-clausen?id=497108), QB, Notre Dame
6-2 5/8, 222
A very accurate passer. He threw only four interceptions in 2009 -- and one of those was a fluke that bounced off a player's back. He can work under center or in the shotgun. Well coached by Charlie Weis.
Tier Two

Sergio Kindle (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/sergio-kindle?id=496804), DE/OLB, Texas
6-2 7/8, 250
Outstanding athlete who was named high school player of the year for both offense (as a running back) and defense, something that had never been done in modern history. He can rush the passer or drop into space. Was outstanding vs. Alabama in the BCS title game.
Tier Three

Carlos Dunlap (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/carlos-dunlap?id=496780), DE, Florida
6-5 ¾, 277
Very athletic to go with good quickness. Plays well vs. the run, but needs to mature and learn better pass rush moves.
Colt McCoy (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/colt%20-mccoy?id=497123), QB, Texas
6-1 1/8, 216
The winningest quarterback in college history. Moves well and has a high release point. He is very accurate and can throw on the move. Had a great pro day.
Rodger Saffold (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/rodger-saffold?id=497048), LT, Indiana
6-4 5/8, 315
Has started four years at left tackle for Indiana, a good pass protector and a big effort player on a mediocre team. Needs to add strength.
Tier Four

Charles Brown (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/charles-brown?id=496986), OT, USC
6-5 3/8, 303
Has very good athletic ability. Former tight end who has been coached well by Pat Ruel. Needs to add strength. Plays like Duane Brown (http://www.nfl.com/players/duanebrown/profile?id=BRO408217) of the Texans.
Everson Griffen (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/everson-griffen?id=496790), DE, USC
6-3 5/8, 303
Outstanding pass rusher. Great first-step quickness. Needs to be better versus the run. Has unlimited potential.
Linval Joseph (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/linval-joseph?id=496802), DT, East Carolina
6-4 ½, 328
Has really come on as the draft approaches. Has strength, size, speed and power. His best days are ahead.
Taylor Mays (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/taylor%20-mays?id=494283), S, USC
6-3 1/8, 230
Four-year starter at USC with great speed and athletic ability. Might be a better linebacker than safety at the pro level. His father, Stafford, played nine years in the NFL.
Brian Price (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/brian-price?id=496845), DT, UCLA
6-1 1/8, 303
Not as tall as you would like, but he makes up for it with quickness and explosiveness. Good athletic ability. Was the Pac-10 player of the year in 2009. Competes hard every play.
Golden Tate (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/golden-tate?id=497326), WR, Notre Dame
5-10 ¼, 199
Former running back is still learning the position. Lined up all over the place for Notre Dame. Has return ability and catlike quickness.
Tier Five

Nate Allen (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/nathaniel-allen?id=494243), S, South Florida
Outstanding athlete who can also play corner because he has very good man coverage skills.
Navorro Bowman (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/navorro-bowman?id=496901), LB, Penn State
6-0 1/2, 242
Smart player who has very good instincts. Can play in space.
Terrence Cody (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/terrence-cody?id=496768), DT, Alabama
6-3 5/8, 354
Wide-bodied player, most likely a two-down player. Has worked hard to lose weight -- going from 370 at the end of the '09 season to 346. Will be a very good run stopper.
Vlad Ducasse (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/vlad-ducasse?id=497006), OT, Massachusetts
6-4 5/8, 332
Moved from Haiti at age 14. Did just average at the Senior Bowl and needs to work on his technique, but he has lots of upside and is a hard worker.
Rob Gronkowski (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/rob-gronkowski?id=497240), TE, Arizona
6-6, 264
Lots of upside; good blocker and receiver. Look at tape of 2008 game vs. Oregon and you will become a big fan.
Lamarr Houston (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/lamarr-houston?id=496794), DL, Texas
6-2 3/4, 305
Has showed great improvement. He's a former running back with good quickness and strength. Made a lot of money for himself by staying in school an extra year.
Koa Misi (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/koa-misi?id=496820), DE, Utah
6-2 5/8, 251
College defensive end that will be a very good 3-4 linebacker. Has top talent, just lacks linebacker experience.
Daryl Washington (http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/profiles/daryl-washington?id=496959), LB, TCU
6-1 3/4, 230
Can play inside or outside. Has speed and is aggressive. Will bulk up to 250 pounds. Lacks good hands.

[Johnny Bugmenot]

It's enough to make me hurl. Not a franchise LT in the bunch.

[BillsWin]

Hello Colt McCoy.

[Commissioner]

I like Linval Joseph.... time to bring in some big bodies tomorrow.

[SeatownBillsFan21]

Wow a lot of good names on this list i hope we can trade back into the 2nd round.Work a deal buddy

[billz83]

i have a feeling the bills are going to go after Mccoy or Clausen..

[Dr. Lecter]

It's enough to make me hurl. Not a franchise LT in the bunch.

FWIW, there was not one when the Bills drafted at #9 either.

[YardRat]

FWIW, there was not one when the Bills drafted at #9 either.

What happened to all of the love for Bulaga?

[Mr. Miyagi]

Saffold or McCoy I'll be happy.

[Dr. Lecter]

What happened to all of the love for Bulaga?

Watching him drop opened my eyes up and the more I thought of Spiller...................

[YardRat]

Props for admitting it.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Bruce Campbell didn't make the list.

[mysticsoto]

What happened to all of the love for Bulaga?

I was just about to say the same thing. The short arm thing is really killing this guy. He's not that bad to not even get mentioned here. He should be gone in the early 2nd rds...though even if he was available to us, I would not take him. I might try and target Ducasse in the 3rd and go NT or OLB here - mainly b'cse he's a road grater and I'd like to get some on the team. I like Kindle if he's available to us...otherwise, I like Linval though he seems very suited for a DE in a 3-4. Cody worries me in terms of bust potential.

[Dr. Lecter]

I was just about to say the same thing. The short arm thing is really killing this guy. He's not that bad to not even get mentioned here. He should be gone in the early 2nd rds...though even if he was available to us, I would not take him. I might try and target Ducasse in the 3rd and go NT or OLB here - mainly b'cse he's a road grater and I'd like to get some on the team. I like Kindle if he's available to us...otherwise, I like Linval though he seems very suited for a DE in a 3-4. Cody worries me in terms of bust potential.

Since Green Bay took him in the 1st, I agree that he should be gone by the early 2nd.

[TigerJ]

There were no perfect left tackles in the entire draft. Trent Williams, whom I liked the best in the draft had a mere 23 reps at the combine. Saffold and Brown both have the potential to start in the NFL. Maybe Ducasse, Veldheer, and Tony Washington do too. The need for left tackle must be met in this draft, but it's not necessarily a disaster that the Bills didn't do it in the first round.

[tampabay25690]

It's enough to make me hurl. Not a franchise LT in the bunch.

How do u know?

[THATHURMANATOR]

It's enough to make me hurl. Not a franchise LT in the bunch.
IMO I don't think Saffold or Brown are far off Baluga or Davis...

[mysticsoto]

Since Green Bay took him in the 1st, I agree that he should be gone by the early 2nd.

Sorry, I missed that. I was sporadically watching the draft and didn't catch it...

[elltrain22]

1. Jimmy Clausen
2. Rodger Saffold
3. Terrence Cody
4. Colt McCoy

[Nighthawk]

I was just about to say the same thing. The short arm thing is really killing this guy. He's not that bad to not even get mentioned here. He should be gone in the early 2nd rds...though even if he was available to us, I would not take him. I might try and target Ducasse in the 3rd and go NT or OLB here - mainly b'cse he's a road grater and I'd like to get some on the team. I like Kindle if he's available to us...otherwise, I like Linval though he seems very suited for a DE in a 3-4. Cody worries me in terms of bust potential.

It wasn't all about that. There was thought that he was coached up really well at Iowa and really didn't have any room to improve. From what I read, some teams had a 3rd round grade on him. I think he'll still be a good tackle in the NFL, but maybe not a Pro-Bowler.

[Mahdi]

It's enough to make me hurl. Not a franchise LT in the bunch.
Vladimir Ducasse is there. So is Saffold but I don't like him for our offense.

[Michael82]

This is the list we need. As Buddy proved in round 1, he doesn't give a **** whether the player fills a major need or not. He's sticking with him board and going with the BPA. The big question is...who will still be there at 41 and be a Best Available Player on our big board? I'm thinking it will be one of the Tackles or a LB.

[Mahdi]

This is the list we need. As Buddy proved in round 1, he doesn't give a **** whether the player fills a major need or not. He's sticking with him board and going with the BPA. The big question is...who will still be there at 41 and be a Best Available Player on our big board? I'm thinking it will be one of the Tackles or a LB.
I think need will creep into the picture now. Our first pick was the BPA but also filled a need, our second pick will lean a little more towards need with the idea of selecting the BPA in a need position.

I think he will take the highest rated player from among DL, OT and QB.

i.e. if Ducasse is rated ahead of McCoy he'll go Ducasse and if Cody is rated ahead of Ducasse he'll go Cody.

[Michael82]

I think need will creep into the picture now. Our first pick was the BPA but also filled a need, our second pick will lean a little more towards need with the idea of selecting the BPA in a need position.

I think he will take the highest rated player from among DL, OT and QB.

i.e. if Ducasse is rated ahead of McCoy he'll go Ducasse and if Cody is rated ahead of Ducasse he'll go Cody.
Yeah I guess I can see that.

[psubills62]

Honestly, I don't know that RB could be labeled "not a need."

Remember, Fred Jackson is good, but he's not outstanding and what loyalties does this regime have to Jackson, anyway? He's under contract and currently the starter - that's about it. Lynch is obviously on his way out, if not this year then definitely next year.

I believe that need played a part in the Spiller pick - if not the need for a RB, the need for a playmaker on offense, and the need for a guy who can keep this offense on the field.