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Martez Wilson, Illinois (ILB)
One of the nation’s top football recruits out of a Chicago-area high school, Wilson spurned offers from powerhouses such as Miami (Fl.), USC, and Notre Dame to play for his local Illini. The 22-year-old’s calling cards are his physicality and knack for disrupting plays in the backfield. With 112 tackles (11.5 behind the line of scrimmage) and four sacks last season, the 6-foot-4, 250 pounder flashed the play-making ability to be a tempting option to many NFL teams come April.
After missing virtually all of the 2009 season with a herniated disc, Wilson returned to anchor Illinois’ front seven in his final campaign. Primarily used as an inside linebacker, he also found success towards the end of the 2010 season in rushing off the edge.
While many NFL scouts believe he is a more natural fit in the 4-3 scheme, Wilson possesses the versatility to play inside linebacker in a 3-4 as well. An aggressive attacker in the gaps, he uses his upper body strength to deliver the hit and bring down the ball carrier. In coverage, he is effective at disrupting receivers crossing the middle of the field and has the speed to stay with them through the play. His 4.49 time in the 40-yard dash was the best out of all linebackers in the recent combine.
Buffalo has taken only one second-round linebacker since the turn of the century. Coincidentally, that pick was also #34 overall, a 2007 selection that yielded fan-favorite Paul Posluszny. One has to imagine Buffalo would be happy to land a player of at least similar caliber at pick #34 in 2011.
Why He’s A Fit For The Bills: Anyone who witnessed Buffalo’s painfully sub-par linebacking corps last season would agree that this a clear position of need for the team. Veterans Akin Ayodele, Reggie Torbor, and Chris Kelsay struggled mightily to stop the run and threaten the opposing quarterback. The unit desperately needs to get younger and more talented in a hurry if the Bills want to be taken seriously on the defensive side of the ball.
Wilson’s ability to play in both a 3-4 and a 4-3 makes him an ideal candidate to step in and bolster this part of the squad. Having drawn comparisons to Miami’s Karlos Dansby, Wilson seems like a logical fit on paper to fight for a starting spot right away.
Much of the Bills success next season will ride on whether or not they can put any kind of regular pressure on the opposing team’s quarterback. Adding a force like Wilson in the middle, who has good closing speed to the backfield would figure to pay early dividends in that department. If Posluszny is eventually re-signed and Shawn Merriman starts the year healthy, an addition of Wilson to the interior would be a great improvement on a group that lacked any kind of intensity in 2010.
Why He’s Not a Fit:
Some of the knocks on Wilson include questions about his instincts, as he did show tendencies to over-pursue the ball and end up several yards behind the action. Buffalo’s linebackers suffered mightily from misreading plays in 2010, and if the team is concerned that Wilson will take time to develop in that area, they could choose to go another direction. Scouts also question Wilson’s lower body strength, as his legs lack the proportionate bulk of his sturdy upper half. Although not a major concern, he will need to focus on that area to consistently shed blocks at the NFL level.
Also worth considering is the fact that Wilson missed all but one game in 2009 with the neck problem. Already equipped with injury risks in Merriman, Andra Davis, and Posluszny, the Bills may shy away from a player who has a history there. Additionally, Wilson was mixed up in a bar-fight in 2008, resulting in his suffering a knife wound. Running a team that has historically appreciated high-character prospects, Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey will have to do their homework to ensure they like their targets’ intangibles.
Chance He’s Available At Pick 34: Fairly good. Wilson does have strong competition in his class, which many analysts feel will ultimately push him into the second round. Highly heralded Von Miller will likely be the first linebacker off the board, and other distinguished candidates like Robert Quinn, Justin Kerrigan, and Akeem Ayers are also expected to precede the Illinois product. Keep an eye on the Patriots, Jets, Steelers, and Packers, all of whom pick at the end of the first round and could be looking to fill holes at the position. If a run on linebackers starts to take place by that time, Wilson could sneak into the first round, but the majority of experts are confident he’ll be a day two pick.
Chances He Gets Drafted By Buffalo: It’s tough to see the Bills passing on a talent like Wilson, but stranger things have happened. Most mock drafts did not see Buffalo nabbing Jairus Byrd in the second round in 2009 or Torrell Troup in 2010. The front office will stick to their board, and that list could be quite different than anything the mock drafts are currently churning out.
Obviously, much of this discussion hinges on what the Bills do in the first round. If they spring for Miller at number three overall, they will almost certainly go another direction with their next pick. But one thing is apparent – if Nix and Gailey linger long in picking up a new linebacker, it means they are putting a lot of trust in their veterans to stay healthy and their younger guys to develop. If they feel that Arthur Moats, Danny Batten, and possibly even Aaron Maybin are enough depth to surround the starters, they will address other areas of the team that they think need a boost.
No matter who the Bills decide on in the second round, it is imperative that he is able to contribute sooner rather than later. Wilson looks like he could provide an instant spark to a team that badly needs it. If Nix has a guy in mind who may not be there by round three, he will pull the trigger without much hesitation.
Whether or not that player is a household name remains to be seen.
Previously: Kyle Rudolph
One of the nation’s top football recruits out of a Chicago-area high school, Wilson spurned offers from powerhouses such as Miami (Fl.), USC, and Notre Dame to play for his local Illini. The 22-year-old’s calling cards are his physicality and knack for disrupting plays in the backfield. With 112 tackles (11.5 behind the line of scrimmage) and four sacks last season, the 6-foot-4, 250 pounder flashed the play-making ability to be a tempting option to many NFL teams come April.
After missing virtually all of the 2009 season with a herniated disc, Wilson returned to anchor Illinois’ front seven in his final campaign. Primarily used as an inside linebacker, he also found success towards the end of the 2010 season in rushing off the edge.
While many NFL scouts believe he is a more natural fit in the 4-3 scheme, Wilson possesses the versatility to play inside linebacker in a 3-4 as well. An aggressive attacker in the gaps, he uses his upper body strength to deliver the hit and bring down the ball carrier. In coverage, he is effective at disrupting receivers crossing the middle of the field and has the speed to stay with them through the play. His 4.49 time in the 40-yard dash was the best out of all linebackers in the recent combine.
Buffalo has taken only one second-round linebacker since the turn of the century. Coincidentally, that pick was also #34 overall, a 2007 selection that yielded fan-favorite Paul Posluszny. One has to imagine Buffalo would be happy to land a player of at least similar caliber at pick #34 in 2011.
Why He’s A Fit For The Bills: Anyone who witnessed Buffalo’s painfully sub-par linebacking corps last season would agree that this a clear position of need for the team. Veterans Akin Ayodele, Reggie Torbor, and Chris Kelsay struggled mightily to stop the run and threaten the opposing quarterback. The unit desperately needs to get younger and more talented in a hurry if the Bills want to be taken seriously on the defensive side of the ball.
Wilson’s ability to play in both a 3-4 and a 4-3 makes him an ideal candidate to step in and bolster this part of the squad. Having drawn comparisons to Miami’s Karlos Dansby, Wilson seems like a logical fit on paper to fight for a starting spot right away.
Much of the Bills success next season will ride on whether or not they can put any kind of regular pressure on the opposing team’s quarterback. Adding a force like Wilson in the middle, who has good closing speed to the backfield would figure to pay early dividends in that department. If Posluszny is eventually re-signed and Shawn Merriman starts the year healthy, an addition of Wilson to the interior would be a great improvement on a group that lacked any kind of intensity in 2010.
Why He’s Not a Fit:
Some of the knocks on Wilson include questions about his instincts, as he did show tendencies to over-pursue the ball and end up several yards behind the action. Buffalo’s linebackers suffered mightily from misreading plays in 2010, and if the team is concerned that Wilson will take time to develop in that area, they could choose to go another direction. Scouts also question Wilson’s lower body strength, as his legs lack the proportionate bulk of his sturdy upper half. Although not a major concern, he will need to focus on that area to consistently shed blocks at the NFL level.
Also worth considering is the fact that Wilson missed all but one game in 2009 with the neck problem. Already equipped with injury risks in Merriman, Andra Davis, and Posluszny, the Bills may shy away from a player who has a history there. Additionally, Wilson was mixed up in a bar-fight in 2008, resulting in his suffering a knife wound. Running a team that has historically appreciated high-character prospects, Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey will have to do their homework to ensure they like their targets’ intangibles.
Chance He’s Available At Pick 34: Fairly good. Wilson does have strong competition in his class, which many analysts feel will ultimately push him into the second round. Highly heralded Von Miller will likely be the first linebacker off the board, and other distinguished candidates like Robert Quinn, Justin Kerrigan, and Akeem Ayers are also expected to precede the Illinois product. Keep an eye on the Patriots, Jets, Steelers, and Packers, all of whom pick at the end of the first round and could be looking to fill holes at the position. If a run on linebackers starts to take place by that time, Wilson could sneak into the first round, but the majority of experts are confident he’ll be a day two pick.
Chances He Gets Drafted By Buffalo: It’s tough to see the Bills passing on a talent like Wilson, but stranger things have happened. Most mock drafts did not see Buffalo nabbing Jairus Byrd in the second round in 2009 or Torrell Troup in 2010. The front office will stick to their board, and that list could be quite different than anything the mock drafts are currently churning out.
Obviously, much of this discussion hinges on what the Bills do in the first round. If they spring for Miller at number three overall, they will almost certainly go another direction with their next pick. But one thing is apparent – if Nix and Gailey linger long in picking up a new linebacker, it means they are putting a lot of trust in their veterans to stay healthy and their younger guys to develop. If they feel that Arthur Moats, Danny Batten, and possibly even Aaron Maybin are enough depth to surround the starters, they will address other areas of the team that they think need a boost.
No matter who the Bills decide on in the second round, it is imperative that he is able to contribute sooner rather than later. Wilson looks like he could provide an instant spark to a team that badly needs it. If Nix has a guy in mind who may not be there by round three, he will pull the trigger without much hesitation.
Whether or not that player is a household name remains to be seen.
Previously: Kyle Rudolph
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