Rumblings Authors Mock, V2.1 - Galliford's Take, post-Peters

OT Andre Smith to top Bills' wish list? (photo source)

Jason Peters is now a Philadelphia Eagle.  The Buffalo Bills are beginning the process of replacing the two-time Pro Bowl left tackle.  I'd like to think I had a minuscule effect in making the trade happen.  (No, I'm really not that delusional.)

Early on Friday, I posted what I thought would be my final Bills-centric mock draft prior to next weekend's NFL Draft.  Then Peters was traded, and that went out the window.  Kind of.  I did project a Peters trade to Philadelphia in the mock, only slightly underestimating compensation (I traded Peters for Nos. 28 and 141; the Bills actually grabbed Nos. 28 and 121, plus another pick in 2010).

There isn't a lot of work to do to my mock, therefore, in re-adjusting.  Once again, this is my last installment in the Rumblings Authors Mock series, which the rest of our editors will join in on once they make necessary adjustments as well.  There are some tweaks from yesterday, however - and again, I'll put forth a mock without trades (directly below) and one with another, bolder projected trade (after the jump).

MOCK ONE: NO TRADES

To repeat yesterday's sentiment: this draft is not meant to read as "what Galliford would do," but instead as "what Galliford thinks the Bills could do."  (You're free to speculate on whether I'm just covering my butt.)  With two new picks, here's how I see it unfolding a week from today...

1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
I'll say it again: if Alabama OT Andre Smith is available, he's the pick.  If he somehow slips past pick six or seven, I think the Bills will seriously consider moving up a few spots to take him.  I don't think Smith lasts past the Bengals, however, so the Bills will move onto option B - Ayers, a player that I am guessing would hold priority over Michael Oher.  With Chris Kelsay reportedly on the trade block, I feel more confident than ever that Ayers is the draft prospect most likely to end up in a Bills uniform.

1-28: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
The Bills, with nine draft picks, have a bit more flexibility than they did this time yesterday - and if a prospect they like slides, I think they'll make themselves bendy.  If Smith is the pick at 11, they'll cross their fingers and rain dance to the football gods that Ayers, Pettigrew or USC's Clay Matthews falls to them.  If any of them slides into the mid-20 range - and clearly, I'm predicting Pettigrew to be that player - I think the Bills will move up to get him (but only if they haven't moved up for Smith).

2-42: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
I think it's fairly obvious that the Bills will take an OT on day one this year.  It's not a lock by any means, but it's a probability.  I don't think the team will mind waiting a bit to find a prospect, however, as the team does like its current tackle trio of Langston Walker, Kirk Chambers and Demetrius Bell.  Cadogan, however, is a solid athletic specimen that flashed dominance at Penn State.  He needs to get stronger and probably isn't an immediate starter, but his upside is fairly significant, and his intangibles are through the roof.

3-75: Jonathan Luigs, G/C, Arkansas
Still in need of an offensive guard, Luigs is another high-upside interior lineman with excellent athleticism and a nasty streak.  More importantly, he's got a ton of starting experience for a productive team in the SEC.  He might not be an immediate starter, either, but he's got the attitude and work ethic to eventually be a top-flight guard in this league.  That's tough to pass up in the third round.

4-110: Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss
It's always difficult to predict what type of linebacker the Bills will pursue - will they take the big-bodied, downhill run defenders or the light-footed, undersized pass defenders? In McRath, they get a little of both - he's a middle linebacker by trade with the athletic chops to man the weak side in a 4-3 scheme. He's been over-hyped a bit in terms of draft status, and it's not a lock that he would be available this late (though he certainly could be). I think he'd be a good fit as a SAM linebacker in Buffalo, though he's not by any means an immediate starter.

4-121: Lardarius Webb, CB, Nicholls State
I have and will continue to believe that the Bills will add a sixth corner in this draft.  Webb is a fast-rising prospect with good ball skills, an aggressive demeanor and some return ability.  He's good value here, and if Roscoe Parrish is traded (spoiler alert?), his value is even higher.

5-147: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
Buffalo had Irvin in for a pre-draft visit - which doesn't mean a lot, but it doesn't mean nothing, either. At this point in the draft, he would represent solid value - and the team would like to add some competition to kick John McCargo into gear (though that's clearly not a high priority). Irvin is an underrated athlete that's quick in the short area. He can cause some problems as a penetrator. The Bills should seriously consider investing in the long-term future of the DT position with Marcus Stroud on the wrong side of 30, but if they do, it likely won't be too early in the draft.

6-183: Roger Allen, OG, Missouri Western
Allen was a dominant force at a very small school.  The Bills have shown a willingness to invest in those types of prospects on draft day with the recent selections of RB Xavier Omon and OT Demetrius Bell.  Allen's potential is solid, and he plays the game the right way for a guard - mean.

7-220: Marcus McClinton, S, Kentucky
I'm not so certain the Bills will take two defensive backs this year, but it's not like they haven't in the past.  McClinton doesn't have a lot of experience and has some character concerns, but athletically he's very gifted.  At this point in the draft, things are a bit of a crapshoot - McClinton would be an interesting developmental option at a position in which all five players will be free agents within the next two years.

That does it for the no-trades mock.  I don't think, however, the Bills are done wheeling and dealing - and for the record, if this mock is a catalyst for another Buffalo trade, I'll happily tinker again!  Head on in past the jump for a trade scenario that would help the Bills add a veteran presence to their offensive line...

MOCK TWO: PARRISH TRADED

I still think that WR Roscoe Parrish will generate solid interest on the trade market - and armed with more draft picks, the Bills will have some flexibility to either maneuver on draft day or make a trade for a veteran of their own.  That's exactly what I'm doing here in a bolder trade prediction that I made yesterday.

I think the Bills send Parrish and their first fourth-round pick (No. 110 overall) to Kansas City for disgruntled OG Brian Waters.  No one is really sure if Waters is still available via trade, but Chiefs GM Scott Pioli isn't one to blatantly not listen to trade offers.  The Chiefs lack explosiveness offensively and on special teams, and we all saw how QB Matt Cassel fared with WR Wes Welker - a player similar to Parrish in many respects - in New England.  The Chiefs are in good position to help their line with the third overall pick, and with an extra pick (they're missing a second rounder after acquiring Cassel and Mike Vrabel), I think they'd happily take the fourth along with Parrish.  Waters would fortify the interior of the Bills' line, provide a bit of veteran leadership to a unit that could use it, and takes care of a need without spending an arm and a leg.

With Parrish and No. 110 gone and Brian Waters our new starting left guard, here's how the mock unfolds...

1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
No change from above - Ayers is Plan B to Alabama OT Andre Smith.  In this scenario, however, I don't think a move up for Smith is as serious a consideration as it was when they had nine picks.  Ayers is a fine consolation prize.

1-28: Louis Delmas, SS, Western Michigan
Again, now that they've traded a pick, a move up isn't as serious a consideration (though it's certainly a possibility).  If Pettigrew and Matthews are both gone by this point, I don't think the Bills will reach for an OT - I think they'll take the best defensive playmaker that they can find, regardless of position.  Delmas is that player - solid against both the run and the pass with top-flight intangibles, he'd be worked into the rotation as an eventual complement to FS Donte Whitner.

2-42: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
No change from above.

3-75: Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida
At this point, linebacker is still a need, and since OG has been taken care of, the Bills can take the best available linebacker.  I love this kid - he's active, athletic, and mature.  I think he's an instant starter.  I wouldn't be disappointed if the Bills considered him in the second round.  He's not ever going to be a dominant run defender, but he's good in coverage already, plays hard, and has some solid upside.

4-121: Richard Quinn, TE, North Carolina
I am certain that if the Bills drafted a tight end that had 12 receptions throughout his career in college, the fan base would collectively let out a short burst of sarcastic laughter.  Quinn has solid upside, though, and outside of Pettigrew might be the best blocker at tight end in the draft.  He's got the size to be a red zone threat as well.  Don't be surprised if Quinn sneaks into the third round or perhaps even the second.

5-147: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
No change from above.

6-183: Roger Allen, OG, Missouri Western
No change from above.

7-220: Greg Toler, CB, St. Paul's
The Bills like their "random DB" picks, and always have. No one had heard of Northwestern State's Terrence McGee in 2003. Nor had anyone a clue about Akron's Reggie Corner last year. Toler is a popular sleeper pick out of St. Paul's, a school that has never had a player drafted into the NFL. Sounds like a perfect opportunity for the Bills - but Toler's got some solid upside.

So, to recap...

MOCK ONE: NO TRADES
1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
1-28: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
2-42: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
3-75: Jonathan Luigs, G/C, Arkansas
4-110: Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss
4-121: Lardarius Webb, CB, Nicholls State
5-147: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
6-183: Roger Allen, OG, Missouri Western
7-220: Marcus McClinton, S, Kentucky

MOCK TWO: Parrish, No. 110 to KC for OG Waters
1-11: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee
1-28: Louis Delmas, SS, Western Michigan
2-42: Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn State
3-75: Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida
4-121: Richard Quinn, TE, North Carolina
5-147: Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia
6-183: Roger Allen, OG, Missouri Western
7-220: Greg Toler, CB, St. Paul's

Like yesterday, I imagine that the few of you that actually read every word of this are gnashing your teeth right now. I imagine that the majority of you that skimmed just to see what the trades were and who was picked are gnashing your teeth and think I'm insane (though the first group is entitled to that opinion as well). It's up to you to decide whether or not your teeth-gnashing makes my guesses more or less accurate. Fire away.