Bills GM Buddy Nix Added 19 Rookies In Two Years

by Brian Galliford on Sep 7, 2011 11:30 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

From the day he was hired as General Manager of the Buffalo Bills, Buddy Nix has insisted that he'll build his team primarily through the draft. Two full off-seasons into his tenure, he has lived up to his own expectations, as the Bills have made 19 rookie acquisitions in that time frame that currently reside on the 53-man roster.

14 of those 19 rookies brought in over the past two years were draft picks - but "building through the draft" does not limit Nix to merely working with draft picks. Five more rookies have been acquired in other ways. Three were undrafted free agents (receivers Donald Jones and David Nelson, as well as rush linebacker Robert Eddins). One was a waiver-wire acquisition (tight end Lee Smith), and another was a late-season signing off of another team's practice squad (end Kellen Heard).

When, after two years, over a third of your opening day roster is comprised of rookie acquisitions, your GM is building through the draft. However, Nix has also been nearly as busy making veteran acquisitions, too.

Nix has imported 33 new players onto his current 53-man roster over the last two years, and 14 of those players were veteran acquisitions. A whopping three of those players were waiver claims, with Nix bringing in tackle Sam Young, guard Kraig Urbik and rush linebacker Shawne Merriman through that process. Two more (tight end Scott Chandler and guard Colin Brown) were signings off of another team's practice squad, leaving nine players acquired through normal free agency.

Here's a quick breakdown of the 33 players Nix has imported in two years as the Bills' GM.

Rookie Acquisitions (19)	Veteran Acquisitions (14)
RB C.J. Spiller	QB Tyler Thigpen
RB Johnny White	QB Brad Smith
WR Donald Jones	TE Scott Chandler
WR David Nelson	TE David Martin
WR Marcus Easley	OT Erik Pears
TE Lee Smith	OT Sam Young
OT Chris Hairston	OG Kraig Urbik
DE Marcell Dareus	OG Chad Rinehart
DE Kellen Heard	OG Colin Brown
NT Torell Troup	DE Dwan Edwards
OLB Alex Carrington	OLB Shawne Merriman
OLB Danny Batten	ILB Nick Barnett
OLB Robert Eddins	ILB Andra Davis
ILB Kelvin Sheppard	ILB Kirk Morrison
ILB Arthur Moats
ILB Chris White
CB Aaron Williams
CB Justin Rogers
S Da'Norris Searcy

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Comments

I like this roster.

Just gotta keep building off of this. Keep producing and youll stay here… if you dont fit the system and youre not producing… Cya, in comes the next dude.

Fitz = M(C)²
"Lets Go Buff! a! lo!"

by bflo on Sep 7, 2011 11:35 AM EDT reply actions

What a pain. Nice work.

I almost think of guys like Urbik and Young as “rookies” given their age and lack of experience when we acquired them (much like the way you characterized Lee Smith). They are vets I guess in name only.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Sep 7, 2011 11:40 AM EDT reply actions

Yes, it’s a team of rookies and young vets now.

by Macktruck on Sep 7, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

If nothing else "free" draft picks

That is how Buddy put it last year, I agree and like it. Look for more of that to go on this season. Then next draft won’t have so many holes to fill and we can develop talent, like real teams do.

by zoomer02 on Sep 8, 2011 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Great Look at the change

It has been awhile when I looked at the Bills roster and though " I think we have some real NFL talent" A bunch of young player mixed in with some impact veterans like Merriman, Morrison, Kyle Williams, and Nick Barnett. Its not a bad roster. It certainly looks heavy on defensive talent. I hope Fitzy can get the offensive rolling and score some points. This team might have something in the works.

by CarolinaBills21 on Sep 7, 2011 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

I could care less about the amount of external additions that Nix has made to the team; the bottom line is that they turn this losing culture around here in Buffalo. Personally, I’m skeptical at quite a few of the moves Nix has made (for example the lack of emphasis on the O-line and QB-position, i.e. I don’t believe in Fitz as a long-term solution at QB), but at the same time I really like the moves they’ve made defensively with the addition of Merriman, Troup, Carrington, Morrison, Barnett etc. Additionally, I just like the general football philosophy that Gailey and Nix seem to have: Build a big, strong and powerful football team that can run the ball and stop the run.

Time will tell if Nix’s plan succeeds, but if it does, I’ll be one of the first to give them full credit :-)

by BuffaloBeliever on Sep 7, 2011 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

I have seen a lot of comments on other threads dealing with this issue.

People are mad that we didn’t address the O-Line or get a QB. These guys have been on the job for just over a year and have made giant improvements on a terrible defense. I just don’t see how people think it is possible to overhaul and entire 53 man roster with talent in that amount of time.

The defense was the first priority since Gailey believes he can put an offense together that can win based on scheme. They will address the QB and line issues in the next draft.

It is a work in progress.

by Falls4Life on Sep 7, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I could care less about the amount of external additions that Nix has made to the team

Well it’s at least nice to know that you care a little.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Sep 7, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank you for that.

I don’t think people think about that statement at all when they say it that way.

by Falls4Life on Sep 7, 2011 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Kinda makes you wonder why he’s reading the article, doesn’t it?

We’ve waited this long whats another year? hahahaha
- PaullyPforPrez

by ChuckBuffInFlo on Sep 7, 2011 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Man we are getting alot of flack from the so called experts

I look at this roster and see a work in progress but by no means do i see a weak football team. The additions of Kirk Morrison Nick Barnett and Shawne Merriman give us 3 pro bowl LB’s. Couple that with Kyle, Dareus, Byrd and maybe McGee we have 7 pro bowlers on our starting 11. Thats impressive. i mean yeah Merriman has to get back to shape and Morrison had a down year last year yadda yadda yadda but it just seems like we are getting pissed on by everyone.

I can’t wait until we go into KC and beat them week 1. Like you look at the list Brian has above and there is really some talented football players on that list. It’s a shame that we get no love from anyone in the “national media”

"Big Gulps Eh, Well See ya later" - Lloyd Christmas
" You Gus ready To Let The Dogs Out" "What?" " you Know, Who Let the dogs out rough rough rogh rough" - Zack Galifinakis - The Hangover

by PaullyPforPrez on Sep 7, 2011 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

they are pro bowl players in the best case scenario

Realistically, Williams, Dareus are pro bowl players for sure. Barnett and Merriman if healthy. Byrd maybe. I don’t see McGee and Morrison as pro bowlers, but really good players. I’m very high on Shep, i think he will seat Morrison and Andra in his first opportunity with the ones.

by Fernando brazil on Sep 7, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we are on the right track

We really need our QB of the future in the 1st round next year with a 2nd round OT. In 2 years we will be in contention with Landry Jones or Matt Barkley or Robert Griffin III under center.

by Fernando brazil on Sep 7, 2011 12:23 PM EDT reply actions

Or Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M)

by Macktruck on Sep 8, 2011 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions

"Normal Free Agency"

Almost all of the 9 free agents were released outright by their former team before the Bills got them. That includes Nick Barnett who was released by the Packers. I consider “quality” free agents to be guys who left their team to seek greener pastures elsewhere. I believe the only one on your list is Brad Smith. Everyone else couldn’t make the roster on their former team or were cut for salary/injury considerations. I make the clarification because in my opinion we seem to be trying to build a team by complementing our draft picks with everyone else’s castoffs instead of bringing in meaningful free agent acquisitions.

by salty51 on Sep 7, 2011 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

well thats ur opinion. i, for one, believe that edwards, davis, morrison, and smith are all meaningful pick-ups. merriman, barnett, urbik, rinehart, pears, and chandler all look like they could become meaningful (in a good way) by seasons end.

when i read this post i thought it was clear that buddy is alot more active in FA than most give him credit for.

by boomsauce on Sep 7, 2011 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

@salty51

I disagree with your deffinition of a quality FA.
.

" I consider "quality" free agents to be guys who left their team to seek greener pastures elsewhere."

By this deffinition Whitner is a quality FA.

I get your point but there are good FA players out there that were not looking to leave there team, but did (POZ). Also teams cut good players for many reasons.

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Sep 7, 2011 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

in two years he certainly has a younger and more talented roster, but does he have a better team?
we’ll know if nix has put us on the path to success in a few short weeks, itll be obvious one way or the other. buckle up

by boomsauce on Sep 7, 2011 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

As they say

It doesn’t mean the new players are good. It only means the old players were bad. I do agree with Nix approach of bigger players.

Are there similar stats from the Donohoe or Levy days?

by Rick A on Sep 7, 2011 1:34 PM EDT reply actions

Good blend of vets and youngs

I like most of the moves Nix and co made. We will see where it gets us come week 8.

by Wien on Sep 7, 2011 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

Where's the approval poll?

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

by TheAfghanTwilight on Sep 7, 2011 2:26 PM EDT reply actions

20 of the 33 players on the list are starters or were picked up to be near future starters, or key situational depth.

of the others 9 were young guys that were not expected to become starters imediately or were anticipated depth and some flyers mixed in.
I think this is a great body of work for Mr Nix. I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this team!

We currently have 15 players on out roster with 7 or more years exp(two of them are the kickers). I was surpised it was that much. My prediction is that will be down to 13 next year. That includes keeping three players that will move into that catagory and cuting 5 that are already there.

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Sep 7, 2011 3:38 PM EDT reply actions

Rec'd Brian

Great interesting post. Different way of looking at things.

With all of these new players, a lot of the old Bills players are gone. The players who got beat down hard.

The new players don’t know any better. They don’t know they are supposed to suck (according to the national media), so I’m actually more excited about about our chances this year. Optimism in our locker room has to be rampant right now.