Our Mock 3.3

In a vote that may be not surprising to some fans, we selected DE Vinny Curry in the second round with 28% of the vote. In second was LB Vontaze Burfict with 23% of the vote while DE Jared Crick had 10% of the vote. For those following the complete totals, over 40% went in support of a second defensive end. Here’s the mock so far.

1. DE Quinton Coples – North Carolina
2. DE Vinny Curry – Marshall

Given that the Bills have two starters at defensive end with personnel to fill at least three backup spots, I am going to take off the defensive end as an option until the sixth round. The Bills have other needs to address, and nailing two long term starters means if the Bills select a third pass rusher, it’ll be to develop from a later round. Other needs include (but are not limited to) SLB, MLB, CB, WR, TE, OT and potentially QB.

As a side note, I know there are some players that I include that either may go towards the end of a late-previous round, may not go until later, or that I have not included. The further we go along in this mock the more this will happen. To be frank I try to include a player or two that may fall into the Bills hand (as they do draft relatively high in the pecking order). We always see players that may fall or inexplicably rise the day of the draft as well. I do try to balance several draft sites in choosing players that may be available.

I specifically use CFB Stats for collegiate statistics, while I use CBSSports for player notes and measurements. As always leave comments for supporting the player/need of your choice, and let me know if there are any names you’d like to see in the next full mock draft. Let the third round voting begin!

OT Matt McCants – UAB [6-6, 309, 5.26]
McCants was a solid left tackle in the Conference USA division and has good size and mobility to help with that. McCants played well enough in the senior bowl and has been very durable. McCants punches well with pass protection and has good strength for run blocking.

OT Nate Potter – Boise State [6-6, 298, 5.18]
Potter has been the best left tackle in the Mountain West, a large reason why Kellen Moore has done so well in college. He’s more solid as a run blocker than a pass blocker due to stiffness, but reliable. Some analysts wonder if Potter would have the same success at the level thinking that guard may be a better fit. Given that Urbik and Rinehart are RFAs, the Bills could do with a lineman (like Levitre) that can play tackle and guard though.

TE Orson Charles – Georgia [6-3, 242, 4.64]
Charles has had great production as a tight end for the bulldogs having made 71 receptions, 996 yards and 7 touchdowns over the last two years. A fair blocker, Charles biggest concern is his smaller size (for a tight end), but has shown good agility.

WR Juron Criner – Arizona [6-2, 220, 4.62]
While there may be some personal concerns with Criner, teams would be foolish to overlook his production and build. A tall wide out Criner is fluid with great hands and good routes as seen in the senior bowl. Over the last the last two seasons Criner has made 158 receptions, 2,200 yards, 22 touchdowns while working with QB Nick Foles and could easily be a #2 WR for the Bills.

WR Stephen Hill – Georgia Tech [6-4, 206, 4.57]
Hill may not be the most productive receiver having only made 43 receptions in the last 2 years, but has done so for 1,111 yards and 8 touchdowns. A tall red zone threat that can make big catches, Hill’s performance is due to Georgia Tech’s lack of quarterback power.

WR Brian Quick – Appalachian State [6-4, 222, 4.63]
Quick is a small school prospect with great height and hands, but lacks speed. Quick had an overall good showing in the senior bowl and made 118 receptions for 1,940 yards and 20 touchdowns over the last two years.

WR Nick Toon – Wisconsin [6-2, 220, 4.52]
Toon is has been a steady starter for the Badgers with 64 receptions for 926 yards and 10 touchdowns in senior year. The son of the famous WR Al Toon, Nick is a physical player with good speed, but hasn’t seen great statistics between turf toe in his junior year and Wisconsin relying on the back of RB Montee Ball.

LB Nigel Bradham – Florida State [6-2, 237, 4.67]
Right now the Bills are hard pressed to find someone to man the strong-side linebacker position. Here, they need someone that’s a sound tackler, can blitz occasionally and drop into coverage. Bradham is one such player having made 7 sacks, 183 tackles (15 for loss), 10 passes broken up, and 2 picks in the last few seasons. A sound all-around run and pass defender, Bradham can struggle with blitzes and has only played WLB with the Seminoles, but is nonetheless a quick, reliable linebacker.

LB Josh Kaddu – Oregon [6-3, 235, 4.67]
If the Bills are looking for more of a pass rushing OLB in the draft, they would do well to pick up Kaddu. With 9 sacks, 82 tackles (16 for loss), 4 passes broken up in the last two seasons (and part of a very functional Ducks defense), Kaddu could also be asked to be a 3-4 OLB in some formations as he has some coverage ability as well. Kaddu played SAM with the Ducks and can bench 355 lbs.

LB Keenan Robinson – Texas [6-3, 240, 4.68]
A good tackler with an ability to defend the pass, Robinson is one of two Longhorn OLBs expected to go in the mid-rounds. Robinson has good agility to get to the ball with occasionally bloodiness. In the last two years he has recorded 3 sacks, 204 tackles (15 for loss) 8 passes defended, 4 hurries and 2 picks.

CB Brandon Boykin – Georgia [5-9, 183, 4.44]
One of the faster cornerbacks in the draft is Boykin. With 99 tackles (17.5 for loss), 12 passes defended and 6 picks over the last two seasons, Boykin has the aggressive but lacks the height Wannstedt would like to see in his defense.

CB Trumaine Johnson – Montana [6-2, 204, 4.52]
A big cornerback, Johnson has been a shutdown corner in division II between his size and ability to zero in on the ball. Over the last two seasons Johnson has made 88 tackles, 18 passes defended, and 6 picks.* (Note that because Johnson is from a small school, I am not able to confirm these stats as accurately as I'd like) Johnson has some behavior concerns and can be beat by a quick receiver, but plays zone and man against bigger targets fairly well.

Go Bills!!