April 20, 1996 - Buffalo Bills Select Eric Moulds No. 24 Overall

by MattRichWarren on Apr 20, 2011 9:00 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills History

In 1996, the Buffalo Bills selected 24th thanks to a playoff run in 1995. The team added Mississippi State wideout Eric Moulds on this date 15 years ago.

Current Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix was an area scout for the team, scouring the southeast United States for talent. With Moulds, Nix and then-GM John Butler found a solid contributor in the year of the wide receiver. Keyshawn Johnson went first overall, followed by Terry Glenn (seventh), Eddie Kennison (18th), Marvin Harrison (19th), and Moulds (24th).

Moulds' first two seasons were pedestrian, but in 1998 the mantle was passed from Andre Reed to Moulds as the top receiver in the Bills' arsenal. Partnering with quarterback Doug Flutie, Moulds caught 67 balls for 1,368 yards, which still stands as the team record. Moulds and Flutie went to the Pro Bowl, and the Bills went to the playoffs.

Moulds holds three of the top five receiving seasons in team history in yards, three of the top six in terms of receptions including the only 100-catch season in team annals, and is second in team history in games played, receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns.

Ten years later on April 6th, 2006, Moulds was traded to the Houston Texans for a fifth-round draft choice. He ended his career in Buffalo with three Pro Bowls.

Other notable selections in 1996 include OLB Gabe Northern, OL Dusty Zeigler, and TE Jay Riemersma. Second-rounder Northern started 35 games for the Bills adding 10.5 sacks to 83 tackles in four seasons. Sixth-round selection Dusty Zeigler started 44 games on Buffalo's offensive line before going to a Super Bowl with the Giants. Seventh-round pick Riemersma played six seasons in Buffalo putting up the second-best numbers in team history at the position. We interviewed him a year ago during his failed Congressional run.

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Eric Moulds.

My favorite Bill (outside of Jim Kelly)

I loved the way he played. His speed, size, hands. He was the prototypical WR.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Apr 20, 2011 9:18 AM EDT reply actions

This is why I was surprised when I found out he didn’t make Brian’s cut as a top 10 draft gem from 1985-present.

“Moulds holds three of the top five receiving seasons in team history in yards, three of the top six in terms of receptions including the only 100-catch season in team annals, and is second in team history in games played, receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns.”

There are other choices to be sure, and everybody is high on Kyle Williams right now (for good reason), but Moulds is an all time Bills reciever. The only one better was Andre Reed.

by The Adam Bomb on Apr 20, 2011 9:28 AM EDT reply actions

Moulds is the perfect example

Of a player developing in the 3rd year. I remember the Bills being disappointed in his play (except for his return ability) and there were hints that he might be cut then the light went on and he had an outstanding career. He did have some personal off field problems that might have held him back and of course he took a lot of guff for having pizza’s delivered to practice.

I always felt Moulds would have been a HOFer if he had played with Kelly his whole career.

"I’m a firm believer that all sports will eventually be global. Someday, we may have a quarterback from China named Yao Fling."

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by Goose22 on Apr 20, 2011 9:33 AM EDT reply actions

"I always felt Moulds would have been a HOFer if he had played with Kelly his whole career"

I always felt the same thing about Andre Reed, but that hasn’t happened yet. What a crime!

by The Adam Bomb on Apr 20, 2011 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

It's too bad Moulds never got to play with a really good QB for his entire career

He’s have put up consistent Pro Bowl numbers and may have been a HOF type player. He was always so close to getting there, but never had any sort of consistency from year to year.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Apr 20, 2011 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

Between QB changes & coaching changes it is remarkable on the numbers he did put up. The playoff game against the Phins he was superman with 9 catches for 240 yards…

You drank beer, you played golf, you watched football - WE EVOLVED!

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by Goose22 on Apr 20, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

5 yards from 10,000 career yards too.

I hate looking at that 9,995.

Lets Go Buff a lo!!!

by bflo on Apr 20, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Nix

Matt – I apologize in advance because this is somewhat derailing your post, but you made clear reference to Nix having something to do with Moulds:

Current Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix was an area scout for the team, scouring the southeast United States for talent. With Moulds, Nix and then-GM John Butler found a solid contributor…

To really provide any credit to Nix for the drafting of Moulds is purely significant speculation. This is one significant step away from Modrak’s position at OBD and correct me if I am wrong, but aren’t you in the camp of Modrak having limited liability when it comes to the draft classes during his tenure here?

"...You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win, and I don't care if you don't have any wins. You go play to win. When you start tellin' me it doesn't matter, then retire. Get out! 'Cause it matters." ~ Herm Edwards

"Talk's cheap. We all know that. It's like I've always said: 'Don't tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby.' " ~ Buddy Nix

by Jason from OH-IO on Apr 20, 2011 1:03 PM EDT reply actions

To really provide any credit to Nix for the drafting of Moulds is purely significant speculation.

The guy who got paid to scout the South where Moulds was playing obviously put eyes on Moulds and likely prepared the initial scouting report if not every other report that the brass saw until the Combine. He most certainly had a hand in the pre-draft process regarding Moulds.

Nix had nothing to do with selecting Moulds but his name should certainly be attached to him. That’s why I worded it the way I did.

Just like Modrak has a say in the draft board but doesn’t ultimately make the pick. I think it’s a fairly reasonable conclusion to make. Again, I’m not defending Modrak just saying he doesn’t deserve all the blame for the Bills first-round flops.

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by MattRichWarren on Apr 20, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

OK

But then by default you have to state that Modrak’s tenure has been a COMPLETE disaster with the Bills, right?

And Nix was the regional scouting director and had people presumably under him. I don’t think we can give Nix much credit without knowing the circumstances. I never give credit to Modrak or bash him for any specific pick. My loathing of Modrak is based on a 10-year span of AWFUL drafts. Linking one scout up with one specific player is purely speculation.

"Talk's cheap. We all know that. It's like I've always said: 'Don't tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby.' " ~ Buddy Nix

by Jason from OH-IO on Apr 20, 2011 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

But then by default you have to state that Modrak’s tenure has been a COMPLETE disaster with the Bills, right?

There have been good draft and bad drafts. 2001 was great, for instance. But when you consistently whiff at the top it’s hard to say he’s been great.

If, and you know how I feel on this, Modrak is an evaluator and not a selector you can’t hold him accountable for every bad pick the Bills have made. Obviously Ralph finds value in his opinion. That’s really all that matters.

And Nix was the regional scouting director and had people presumably under him. I don’t think we can give Nix much credit without knowing the circumstances.

So we know for a fact that Buddy Nix scouted him but can’t give him any credit when we can give Tom Modrak a ton of grief despite not knowing how involved he was? Seems like you get to pick and choose.

You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Apr 21, 2011 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions