Charting Bills GM Buddy Nix's Veteran Player Acquisitions

by Brian Galliford on Jan 17, 2012 1:15 PM EST in Buffalo Bills News

Whatever your opinion is regarding Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix (right now, things are fairly lukewarm), one belief seems to be universally held amongst Bills fans: Nix has done a nice job of acquiring players from the proverbial bargain bin.

In two full off-seasons running the Bills' football operation, Nix has scraped the bottom of the barrel to find plenty of contributors and even a few starters (albeit on teams that finished a combined 10-22, mind you). In doing so, he's even occasionally been quick to point out where that player was drafted, with 2009 Pittsburgh third-round pick Kraig Urbik being the first. (Nix said that in 2009, when he was a national scout with the Bills, the team had Eric Wood, Andy Levitre and Urbik rated as the three highest interior linemen on their draft board.)

That got us thinking: out of all of the players Nix has acquired, where were they drafted? After the jump, you can find that list. Players that Nix inherited from previous regimes were not counted, nor were players that Nix has drafted or signed as undrafted free agents.

Round 1 Picks: OLB Shawne Merriman, ILB Nick Barnett
Round 2 Picks: DE Dwan Edwards
Round 3 Picks: WR Derek Hagan, OG Kraig Urbik, OG Chad Rinehart, DE Jarron Gilbert, ILB Kirk Morrison
Round 4 Picks: RB Tashard Choice, WR Brad Smith, TE Scott Chandler, DE Kyle Moore, ILB Reggie Torbor
Round 5 Picks: WR David Clowney, TE Lee Smith, OG Colin Brown, ILB Andra Davis, ILB Scott McKillop
Round 6 Picks: TE Fendi Onobun, OT Sam Young, OG Keith Williams, K Dave Rayner
Round 7 Picks: QB Tyler Thigpen, DT Lionel Dotson, K Brandon Coutu
Undrafted Free Agents: WR Ruvell Martin, OT Erik Pears, DT Kellen Heard, DT Jay Ross

All told, that list includes 29 veteran acquisitions over two years. That number will soon be dwindling - players like Morrison, Choice, Torbor, Davis and the two kickers may not be back - but it sure still seems like the Bills rely heavily on their own scouting reports when looking for new player acquisitions, whether via free agency, the waiver wire or practice squad additions.

In short: Nix's reputation is well-earned, but it's probably not completely unique, either. (The Jets, for example, could list Aaron Maybin on a chart like this; every team is constantly looking for talent.) As long as Nix is around, this will be a staple of his player-acquisition philosophy - and that's not a bad thing at all.

Tweet Comment 31 comments | 2 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Nix said that in 2009, when he was a national scout with the Bills, the team had Eric Wood, Andy Levitre and Urbik rated as the three highest interior linemen on their draft board.

This comment always surprised me. Was Nix not that high on Alex Mack?

As of 1/17/2012
No longer feeding the Buffalo Rumblings resident troll.
No longer responding to said trolls passive aggressive posts.
Not even if he baits by replying to a comment of my own.
Not even if his reply is devoid of all logic and assumes opinion as fact.

by NordicBillsfan on Jan 17, 2012 1:21 PM EST reply actions

He hates that show because it took “Clarissa Explains It All” off of the TGIF lineup :)

Ron Paul 2012

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Jan 17, 2012 1:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 3 recs

He hates that show because it took "Clarissa Explains It All" off of the TGIF lineup :)

The war’s long over. We’re all just folk now.

by NordicBillsfan on Jan 17, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

i'm not certain what trolls prefer to eat

but, I believe your signature may prove to be a tasty lliittle morsel.

"We're lost, but we're making good time"--Yogi Berra

by bschrief27 on Jan 17, 2012 2:26 PM EST up reply actions

that gets a rec just because of the reference. assuming u know where that line came from..

Its fun to think quarterback, but i think the odds of nix taking one in the first are close to 0%.

by boomsauce on Jan 17, 2012 4:10 PM EST up reply actions

Oh it would be quite a coincidence to say that exact phrase without knowing its origin.

by NordicBillsfan on Jan 17, 2012 6:52 PM EST up reply actions

not to mention

max unger who was mike mayock’s top linemen even above alex mack

by statcruncher on Jan 17, 2012 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

Where is the turnstyle?

With the first pick in the 2012 draft the Indianapolis Colts select Robert Griffen III

by Gpluehri on Jan 17, 2012 1:24 PM EST via mobile reply actions

but it sure still seems like the Bills rely heavily on their own scouting reports when looking for new player acquisitions

what do you mean by this Brian?

Isnt this a disturbing thing… that they still judge players based on their scouting reports from when they were rookies…. dont they consider player development? do they update players scouting reports as the players career’ rolls along?

by statcruncher on Jan 17, 2012 1:40 PM EST reply actions

Doug Whaley ran the pro scouting operation (before his promotion; now Tom Gibbons does), which scouts NFL players. Some of these guys – like Chandler and Urbik – had so little game film on them as pros that, if the Bills didn’t go back to their college evaluations, there’d be nothing to go on.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
Follow @BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jan 17, 2012 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

(albeit on teams that finished a combined 10-22, mind you)

This statement speaks volumes to me. As for our Buffalo Bills, the net result of Nix’s philosophy is a 6-10 season including a 7 game loosing streak when the injury bug bit us so many times.

"Sit down and watch my Buffalo Bills destroy your Kingdome" - Abayarde

Chris Kelsay is a good football player.

by nickdaniels on Jan 17, 2012 2:43 PM EST reply actions

Great article

Its why it is so important for the Bills to scout hard on everyone talented player out there. Im sure they do that, I just hope that in years past they still scouted all the players even if there was not a glaring need. For example, it is very important they scout the RB’s this year even without the need. You never know when a player is going to pop free 2-3 years from now. AND especially QB’s. That is where you’re scouting is really important. There is very little game tape on Brady Quinn, Matt Flynn, Claussen type players. Most of their eval will be from college days. (I’m not suggesting we go after any of these players, just that back up QB’s can sometimes be had for little compensation 2-3 years after the draft).

by J09 on Jan 17, 2012 2:43 PM EST reply actions

Nix staring in “Raider of the Stashed Player”… Love how Nix started scouring other teams practice squads a year or so ago. I can’t remember exactly but Isn’t that how he signed Chandler, Heard and Rinehart?

How come I always get blamed for everything I do ?

Dennis the Menace

by Goose22 on Jan 17, 2012 2:52 PM EST reply actions

he has a nose for other people's also rans

there are few true greats, most are average or above average….

most need the right situation to succeed.

alex smith being prime example this season.

freddie jackson being our example the past few….

pick em up, bring em in, see where they fit….

the first season nix had first dibs, which i thought
seemed a reason to be lousy with edwards et al…

they brought in some talent last yr they could not
this yr cause they were 3-0 and 5-2……low on the
totem pole…..

by simonpure on Jan 17, 2012 3:17 PM EST up reply actions

Been a strong point

add in what looks like a good, followed by very good draft.

Pivotal off season to retain the quality players above then have a top shelf draft.

"Will&Work2Win"coach Karma420

by Blood, sweat & Win on Jan 17, 2012 3:09 PM EST reply actions

Speaking of scouting

How in the world can all of these team miss out on a talent like Arian Foster??? Unbelieveable size and speed, with great hands!! Some scout, some where should’ve been all over this guy…Oh welll….I guess we got our own A. Foster on our team, a slightly older version with a little more tread on his tires but all the same….

by doctork44 on Jan 17, 2012 3:12 PM EST reply actions

Apparently Foster didn’t even know that players can be called up from the practice squad to the active roster. Once he found that out he was much more motivated and obviously landed a spot on the roster. I don’t know how teams missed on him but if I had to guess I bet he simply didn’t put it together until with the Texans.

by Renegade23 on Jan 17, 2012 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

Hindsight is 20/20

Dude is absolutely a stud but I don’t think many people thought it that way when he came out in 2009. His 40 time was quite slow (4.6-4.7).

For the most part, I think RB’s are easily substitutable and I’d never spend a high draft pick on a RB.

by paythemannow on Jan 17, 2012 4:38 PM EST up reply actions

I think GM's pay for RB's with speed and size...

It is those intangibles that make a RB a highround draft pick.

by dabillsr1 on Jan 17, 2012 5:32 PM EST up reply actions

Still believe it has a lot to do with the coach or GM's "connection" to the player as to whether they are signed or not

While scouting and talent evaluation happen every week with every team and often Mondays are days when guys are trying out or being evaluated to be signed somewhere… I think a lot of the success factors for signing a guy come down to:

1) Does the coach (any of them) or front office evaluators have a personal connection or understanding of the player that they believe they can “coach them up” to be players/starters for the Bills.

2) Does the player have a connection with any of the coaches or other players on the team to help them make the transition during the year to be more successful in a much quicker time frame. Sometimes players take opportunities because of another guy on the roster or a situation in which they believe they could see play-time because of system or coaching styles (i.e. Thigpen to Gailey).

by dabillsr1 on Jan 17, 2012 4:06 PM EST reply actions

Nice tactic

to limp through the first two years. Now he has to prove he can retain the existing talent and have back to back good to excellent drafts. Unless that happens we’ll never be able to run with the big boys so to speak.

Harooo

by Robot Nixon on Jan 17, 2012 5:31 PM EST reply actions

Anyone

think Jarron Gilbert is on the Bills next year?

flayed ones stealth mode

"Fleshling! Do not shoot! For I am one of you fleshy things. It is I. Your Uncle Stan. Can't you tell by the long strips of fleshy substances covered in bodily fluids? Trust me! I have fleeeeeeeeesh."

by mob16151 on Jan 17, 2012 5:56 PM EST reply actions

i would think his road to the roster is either bumping on of s. johnson or edwards off, or troups lingering back issue. its not impossible.

Its fun to think quarterback, but i think the odds of nix taking one in the first are close to 0%.

by boomsauce on Jan 17, 2012 6:50 PM EST up reply actions

So are we only counting guys who are currently on the roster? Because Nix has brought in plenty of other vets before

Why aren’t Cornell Green and Mansfield Wrotto on this list? Green was a vet from several teams (undrafted in 99) and Wrotto we signed after his 3 year stint in Seattle (2007 4th round, pick 124), not to mention J.P. Foschi (undrafted 2004), Quinton Ganther (2007 6th round, 246), David Martin (2001 / Round: 6 / Pick: 198), Akin Ayodele (2002 / Round: 3 / Pick: 89), Pierre Woods (Undrafted 2006).

by Wien on Jan 17, 2012 6:56 PM EST reply actions

(not that I would blame you for wanting to forget about a lot of those names, especially cornell green)

by Wien on Jan 17, 2012 6:58 PM EST up reply actions

He was atrocious, most probably drank his memory away.

GET TO THE CHOPPA!!!

by hoosier3 on Jan 17, 2012 7:45 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I don't understand.....

Where the 10 & 22 comes from?

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Jan 18, 2012 10:56 AM EST reply actions

They went 4-12, then they went 6-10. 4+6=10. 12+10=22. 10-22. That’s their record in two years.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
Follow @BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jan 18, 2012 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

Oh.....

Our record…. Thanks.

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Jan 18, 2012 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

Struck gold....

On Pears, Urbik, Rinehardt, Scott Chandler and Barnett. All excellent signings with respect to investment. All five should be major players next year. One of the things the Bills will need to make the playoffs next year is getting another “class” of these players.
I like Lee Smith, Sam Young, B. smith and Colin Brown already for next year and I’m sure there are other real possibilities as well……
Now, if we can score a probowl free agent, nail the draft, get Kyle Williams and Eric Wood back 100%, sign our own free agents and get a way-more consistent season from Fitzpatrick….. (whew! WhadImiss?)
We’ll make the playoffs!

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Jan 18, 2012 11:34 AM EST reply actions

More on Nix's finds....

I think it is a slam dunk to say that finding good players in the scrap-heap has been Chixy’s greatest accomplishment so far……
I hate to say this but I think that not until the end of the 2013 season, will we’ll be able to judge Chixy’s success or lack thereof.
This upcoming draft will be Chixy’s first draft with all his staff firmly in place, so I think it’ only fair to wait until the conclusion of this draft’s second year.
This fact also gives me hope that this could be their best draft to date.
Go bills!

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Jan 18, 2012 12:40 PM EST reply actions