TKO
04-14-2004, 12:17 PM
Buffalo Bills
Day 1 Picks: 13th overall (first round); 43rd overall (second round); 74th overall (third round).
First Round Priorities:
# N.C. State QB Philip Rivers
# USC WR Mike Williams
# USC DE Kenechi Udeze
# Ohio State DE Will Smith
First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios:
There hasn't been much talk about the Bills moving up or down in the upcoming draft, mostly because general manager Tom Donahoe likes it that way. The Bills could very easily draft a quarterback, wide receiver or defensive lineman with this pick and their decision will be made for them.
If Rivers is available, we'd be shocked if the Bills passed up on him. If Rivers is gone -- along with Manning and Roethlisberger -- the focus will shift to wide receiver where the Bills will be looking for a perimeter starter that can take some attention away from Eric Moulds and allow Josh Reed to move back to the No. 3 slot receiver role that he was so comfortable and productive in as a rookie. Larry Fitzgerald and Roy Williams are likely to be off the board, but there's an outside shot that Mike Williams will still be available.
If the top three quarterbacks and top three receivers are taken, the Bills will have a tough decision to make between drafting Reggie Williams or their highest rated defensive end available -- either Udeze or Smith. If there's one position that the Bills continue to miss on when it comes to the draft it is defensive end. Aaron Schobel is a relentless pass rusher that explodes off the snap but he isn't a dominant playmaker capable of consistently beating double teams.
Opponents can roll their protection to his side because the Bills, despite using a second-round pick on Ryan Denney in '02 and on Chris Kelsay in '03, have failed to add a productive edge rusher to take advantage of the attention Schobel draws. The team clearly needs a receiver more, but drafting Udeze or Smith could put an end to what has become a re-occurring problem at the position for the past few seasons.
After Round 1:
The Bills have their original second- and third-round picks still and much of what they do with those picks will be a trickle down affect following their first-round selection. If they draft Drew Bledsoe's replacement in the first round, the Bills will need to take advantage of the depth of this year's wide receiver class in the second round by drafting a potential impact player such as LSU's Devery Henderson. After that, the Bills will still be looking for a quarterback and a pass catching tight end.
If the Bills draft a top receiver with their first pick, they'll likely use their second-round selection on either a tight end -- if a guy like Georgia's Ben Watson falls -- or a quarterback -- if a guy like Tulane's J.P. Losman falls. If there is no value at either the quarterback or tight end positions when they pick in the second round, which very well could be the case, the Bills will probably draft the best available offensive lineman or cornerback.
If the Bills do wind up drafting a defensive end in the first round, they will most likely be looking for a wide receiver, quarterback and tight end in the next few rounds.
Source: Breaking down draft-day game plans (http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/story?id=1781153)
Day 1 Picks: 13th overall (first round); 43rd overall (second round); 74th overall (third round).
First Round Priorities:
# N.C. State QB Philip Rivers
# USC WR Mike Williams
# USC DE Kenechi Udeze
# Ohio State DE Will Smith
First Round Outlook/Trade Scenarios:
There hasn't been much talk about the Bills moving up or down in the upcoming draft, mostly because general manager Tom Donahoe likes it that way. The Bills could very easily draft a quarterback, wide receiver or defensive lineman with this pick and their decision will be made for them.
If Rivers is available, we'd be shocked if the Bills passed up on him. If Rivers is gone -- along with Manning and Roethlisberger -- the focus will shift to wide receiver where the Bills will be looking for a perimeter starter that can take some attention away from Eric Moulds and allow Josh Reed to move back to the No. 3 slot receiver role that he was so comfortable and productive in as a rookie. Larry Fitzgerald and Roy Williams are likely to be off the board, but there's an outside shot that Mike Williams will still be available.
If the top three quarterbacks and top three receivers are taken, the Bills will have a tough decision to make between drafting Reggie Williams or their highest rated defensive end available -- either Udeze or Smith. If there's one position that the Bills continue to miss on when it comes to the draft it is defensive end. Aaron Schobel is a relentless pass rusher that explodes off the snap but he isn't a dominant playmaker capable of consistently beating double teams.
Opponents can roll their protection to his side because the Bills, despite using a second-round pick on Ryan Denney in '02 and on Chris Kelsay in '03, have failed to add a productive edge rusher to take advantage of the attention Schobel draws. The team clearly needs a receiver more, but drafting Udeze or Smith could put an end to what has become a re-occurring problem at the position for the past few seasons.
After Round 1:
The Bills have their original second- and third-round picks still and much of what they do with those picks will be a trickle down affect following their first-round selection. If they draft Drew Bledsoe's replacement in the first round, the Bills will need to take advantage of the depth of this year's wide receiver class in the second round by drafting a potential impact player such as LSU's Devery Henderson. After that, the Bills will still be looking for a quarterback and a pass catching tight end.
If the Bills draft a top receiver with their first pick, they'll likely use their second-round selection on either a tight end -- if a guy like Georgia's Ben Watson falls -- or a quarterback -- if a guy like Tulane's J.P. Losman falls. If there is no value at either the quarterback or tight end positions when they pick in the second round, which very well could be the case, the Bills will probably draft the best available offensive lineman or cornerback.
If the Bills do wind up drafting a defensive end in the first round, they will most likely be looking for a wide receiver, quarterback and tight end in the next few rounds.
Source: Breaking down draft-day game plans (http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/story?id=1781153)