Bills Select DE Ellis in Third Round of NFL Draft
by Brian Galliford
on Apr 27, 2008 10:29 AM EDT
in NFL Draft
With the seventy-second overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected Virginia tech defensive end Chris Ellis.
After spending the early part of their free agency period upgrading the interior of their defensive line with the additions of tackles Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson, the Bills have added another piece to their defensive line in the form of Ellis, whose strength is as a speed rusher. Ellis immediately becomes the #4 defensive end for the Bills, effectively replacing Anthony Hargrove, an unrestricted free agent who stood no chance of being re-signed by the Bills after failing a drug test, leading to another suspension.
Ellis measures up at 6'4" and 263 pounds, and ran a 4.71-second 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine. That 4.71 speed will serve him well as a rookie, and he has the frame to get bigger. That likely won't happen in Buffalo, where smaller ends are preferred, but his pass rush potential had some 3-4 defensive teams looking at him. Ellis is known to have a quick burst off of the line of scrimmage, helping him to amass 22 career sacks at Virginia Tech, including 8.5 his senior season for a high-quality defense.
There are documented downsides to Ellis as well. Like Buffalo's second-round pick, WR James Hardy, Ellis has some character concerns, as he was suspended in 2006 after being arrested and charged with obstructing justice and resisting arrest. Like Hardy, he's also matured since that incident, by all accounts. There are also questions about Ellis' instincts and ability to consistently shed blockers. He is certainly not an every-down player immediately as he enters the NFL, but he won't have to be in Buffalo.
I like this pick. Ellis figures to be a solid edge rusher on third downs, and coming from Virginia Tech - a school that is known for producing top-flight special teams players - Ellis figures to help out on the kicking units as well. It's not a flashy pick, but this year isn't about making flashy picks for the Bills. It's about finding guys who can contribute immediately, and in terms of being a third-down pass rusher and special teamer with room to grow into a starter, Ellis fits the bill.
Use this post as an open thread. Buffalo's next pick is at #114 overall in the fourth round. If any trades or picks happen as they pertain to the Bills, you know that Buffalo Rumblings has you covered.
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De from VT
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on
Apr 27, 2008 10:30 AM EDT
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I lke him
Still raw… But excellent potential… Been hopin’ we’d get a crack at him
by Cinga on
Apr 27, 2008 10:31 AM EDT
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Needs
work on technique, but yeah, quick off the ball!!!
by Cinga on
Apr 27, 2008 10:32 AM EDT
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The
last DE we got worked out real well for us.
Bills Fan in PA
by BILLS on Apr 27, 2008 10:31 AM EDT 0 recs
C.J. Ah You???
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on
Apr 27, 2008 10:32 AM EDT
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Odd choice
NFL network is slamming his work ethic… Doesn’t seem to be a Jauron guy…
by Ron From NM on Apr 27, 2008 10:32 AM EDT 0 recs
Yeah
well questions surrounded Bruce work ethic too….
by Cinga on
Apr 27, 2008 10:33 AM EDT
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Faulk
The Bills need to get a better left tackle.
by Fort Worth on
Apr 27, 2008 10:34 AM EDT
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Once again, a guy who had an issue in 2006 and has done nothing but stay clean and produce since. Like Hardy, I’ll stash his character issues in the back of my mind and give him the benefit of the doubt for now. He really solidifies our 8-man rotation along the defensive line… we’re real deep there now.
by Brian Galliford on
Apr 27, 2008 10:49 AM EDT
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Schobel and Kelsay are all effort guys
Ellis reportedly isn’t a consistent effort guy
by Ron From NM on Apr 27, 2008 10:33 AM EDT 0 recs
very confused,
why didnt we go tight end? Why didnt we pick up connor? DO we have the ammo to trade back into the third?
The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ
by NYTXFAN on Apr 27, 2008 10:34 AM EDT 0 recs
Went for need?
Did Buffalo go to fill a need instead of the best on the board? Connor is a high motor guy…
by Ron From NM on Apr 27, 2008 10:34 AM EDT 0 recs
I like the new format
They’re already 1/2 way through the 3rd round…
by Ron From NM on Apr 27, 2008 10:47 AM EDT 0 recs
Surprising
Mel didn’t tell Del Rio that he thought the Harvey pick was bad.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on Apr 27, 2008 10:48 AM EDT 0 recs
missing a large chunk on the right side
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on
Apr 27, 2008 11:14 AM EDT
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so what are the best WR and TE available???
Well Cottam is gone. what WR and TE are left?
Would you rather win one superbowl or Lose four in a row? Which defines your teams place in history more ... 1yr wonder or Perennially 2nd best?
by Rudy916 on Apr 27, 2008 10:51 AM EDT 0 recs
Just throwing this out there..
If they try and trade up now, they will have to use a pick from next year. They don’t have much left in this year’s tank to move around.
I don’t think I’d like them to do that though. Is there anyone out there one of you could see that would necessitate a trade up?
by krytime on Apr 27, 2008 10:52 AM EDT 0 recs
I’d like to see them make a run at Martin Rucker. But that’s probably just me.
by Brian Galliford on
Apr 27, 2008 10:53 AM EDT
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Not sure they have to trade up to get him
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on
Apr 27, 2008 10:54 AM EDT
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Nor am I. But he’d look real nice catching passes over the middle for Trent. We just need weapons for our QB…
by Brian Galliford on
Apr 27, 2008 10:56 AM EDT
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Monk Finley
I really like Marcus Monk and Jermicheal Finley. Another tall WR and a good pass catching tight end
Wood
by rwwrodeo on Apr 27, 2008 10:54 AM EDT 0 recs
Sorry for the double post, but..
If this option played out, think of how much bigger the receiving corps would be.
by krytime on
Apr 27, 2008 10:56 AM EDT
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K Davis TE, Marcus Smith WR
My alternative to Finley / Monk
Finley off the board now and IMHO that’s Ok – immature, and not ready for primetime – also too light.
by freddyjj on
Apr 27, 2008 11:49 AM EDT
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haha, anything is better than Royal, Anderson, and Johnson
by Fucilli5 on Apr 27, 2008 10:55 AM EDT 0 recs
TE opinion
I think we have TE that currently have thier strengths…..does this tip the play call when a certian one is on the field versus the others? I think it does. But we need to add someone with some upside.
Would you rather win one superbowl or Lose four in a row? Which defines your teams place in history more ... 1yr wonder or Perennially 2nd best?
by Rudy916 on Apr 27, 2008 10:59 AM EDT 0 recs
Had to do it
I was just wondering if he might still be around in round 6
Wood
by rwwrodeo on Apr 27, 2008 10:59 AM EDT 0 recs
Who were you wondering might still be around in round 6? Sorry… been shooting e-mails and writing Chris Ellis posts. Trying to catch back up. :)
by Brian Galliford on
Apr 27, 2008 11:05 AM EDT
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Tight End
Apparently the Bills are OK with the tight ends on the roster. They had a shot at another red zone weapon in Brad Cottam and went DE. Look for the Bills to snatch Jack Ikegwuonu in the 5th. Another late round selection could possibly be Mario Urrutia, 6’6” WR out of Louisville.
by the Skycap on Apr 27, 2008 11:05 AM EDT 0 recs
Red Bryant
Another big run stuffer from the same school as Pat Williams and Kevin Williams. He’s on my Bills wish list as well.
by the Skycap on Apr 27, 2008 11:09 AM EDT 0 recs
I think the bills are done with DL
We have plenty of depth, and lots of cap space in the DL. I dont see us drafting anymore DL today. I think there is many more pressing needs.
Would you rather win one superbowl or Lose four in a row? Which defines your teams place in history more ... 1yr wonder or Perennially 2nd best?
by Rudy916 on Apr 27, 2008 11:12 AM EDT 0 recs
Agree. We have 8 legitimate defensive linemen at this point (Schobel, Kelsay, Denney, Ellis, Stroud, McCargo, Johnson, Williams). Time to load up on weapons for Trent, get a linebacker and an offensive tackle. Should be interesting…
by Brian Galliford on
Apr 27, 2008 11:13 AM EDT
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Yeah
I went into this draft, hoping for offense with first 3 picks… Happy with McKelvin, Hardy and Ellis, but want more offense from here out….
by Cinga on
Apr 27, 2008 11:16 AM EDT
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To what end?
Anyone the Bills select today is unlikely to contribute significantly. I see it more as BPA at this point.
by Ron From NM on
Apr 27, 2008 11:19 AM EDT
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Your right
to a point… A TE and interior Oline for competition and depth could help alot… Wouldn’t mind another wide out either… As for D… Of course, if the right player is there…
by Cinga on
Apr 27, 2008 11:22 AM EDT
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should be all Offense from here on out
we need to get better on offense with marginal FA additions there, so Im surprised they used a 3rd on the defense, maybe they know they can get the Offensive value when they pick next rds.
Would you rather win one superbowl or Lose four in a row? Which defines your teams place in history more ... 1yr wonder or Perennially 2nd best?
by Rudy916 on
Apr 27, 2008 11:19 AM EDT
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Stroud
He is the only “run stuffer” on the roster out of the people you listed Galliford. Lord help us if he gets injured.
by the Skycap on Apr 27, 2008 11:19 AM EDT 0 recs
I can give you that, but it’s still valid that with 8 defensive linemen, we won’t go DL. There are bigger fish to fry, and I don’t think Bryant is lasting much longer as it is.
by Brian Galliford on
Apr 27, 2008 11:25 AM EDT
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Sobering up
I’m starting to sober up to the fact that the Bills don’t have as many picks as I’d really like. I would have liked to see more top 100 picks and it doesn’t look like that will happen. It reminds me of last year’s draft when by the 4th round I was saying 2 running backs and a QB? Now I ‘m saying oh where is the TE ??
by south123 on Apr 27, 2008 11:21 AM EDT 0 recs
Bryant and Finley are still on the board...
Welcome back to reality, south123
by Ron From NM on Apr 27, 2008 11:22 AM EDT 0 recs
FB-Auburn's Stewart
Auburn FB Carl Stewart would be a good pick-up. Watched him every week….blocked for some top-notched tailbacks at Auburn…and can also catch out of the backfield.
by funnangame on Apr 27, 2008 11:27 AM EDT 0 recs
In the fourth??
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on
Apr 27, 2008 11:28 AM EDT
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If we get Rucker and Schmidt/Justice in the 4th
This draft will be a thing of Beauty. We really need a TE and I’m starting to get nervous now that Finley is off the board. The Bills really exercised patience and top notch talent fell to them, hopefully the trend will continue for the 4th.
by grenoire on Apr 27, 2008 11:29 AM EDT 0 recs
I'll pass
on Justice… Better suited to zone blocking…
by Cinga on
Apr 27, 2008 11:30 AM EDT
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My wish list
Adarius Bowman
Red Bryant
Jamie Silva
Jack Ikegwounu
Jamey Richard
Owen Schmitt
Mario Urrutia
Trevor Scott-FA
Not in any particular
by the Skycap on Apr 27, 2008 11:29 AM EDT 0 recs
That he is. The Bills really liked him on tape though… can’t see them taking a waiver on him, though.
by Brian Galliford on
Apr 27, 2008 11:31 AM EDT
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Already taken some guys with concerns, what another.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on
Apr 27, 2008 11:32 AM EDT
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It’s not the concerns… just another one of my gut feelings. I don’t think they take him. (I have a lot of gut feelings.)
by Brian Galliford on
Apr 27, 2008 11:33 AM EDT
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My gut has plenty of room for feelings too.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on
Apr 27, 2008 11:34 AM EDT
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So is Aqib Talib
It’s herbal medicine to help prevent him from dropping balls
by the Skycap on
Apr 27, 2008 11:33 AM EDT
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Starters Buffalo can still get
The Bills can still get a starting FB and C in the 4th. I don’t see much point in picking a TE as Buffalo is unlikely to get a starter at that position. If Bryant is on the board he’d be tough to pass on at this point….
by Ron From NM on Apr 27, 2008 11:34 AM EDT 0 recs
What’s wrong with taking a developmental TE who can be a red zone threat early and possibly start next year? Martin Rucker is that player…
by Brian Galliford on
Apr 27, 2008 11:37 AM EDT
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Agree
with FB and center (at least for competition)... Disagree about TE… We still need a pass catcher, and Rucker could be that guy
by Cinga on
Apr 27, 2008 11:38 AM EDT
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That’s a bit of a reach, but if it pans out, Eli could have a pretty electric deep threat…
by Brian Galliford on
Apr 27, 2008 11:37 AM EDT
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He has potential.
Let the Giants deal with his baggage. He’s not in the easiest situation with his recent negative media attention, and now going to a high profile team. He’ll have to buckle down pretty quick. If he can, good for him…
by jj24 on
Apr 27, 2008 11:41 AM EDT
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In the spirit of Sunday
AMEN
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on
Apr 27, 2008 11:37 AM EDT
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Who went 99??
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on Apr 27, 2008 11:49 AM EDT 0 recs