That a combination of Merriman and whatever rookie RDE prospect the Bills draft at #10 (i.e., Coples; Ingram; Perry; Mercilus) can platoon and the result will be improved RDE play and edge pass rushing pressure.

I also think the combination of a pass rushing SLB prospect along with more pressure from that RDE combination will add to the Bills' improved pass rushing abilities. This means I don't see the Bills making any significant FA signings at RDE - no Mario Williams and maybe not even an Anthony Spencer, either. If not, they'll have to hope Merriman is healthy enough to contribute significant productive reps at RDE and that they can platoon him with a good rookie who will also learn quickly and produce. Lots of hoping there but I don't see the Bills successfully luring or paying for Mario Williams and the more I look at the UFA market for RDE the less I believe the Bills will find success there in 2012.

With their own FAs to re-sign, starting with Stevie but adding guys like Demetrius Bell and Scott Chandler, too, I can see the Bills getting their own FAs re-signed and signing one significant WR FA but that might be about all in FA. The rest will come from the draft. And, as unlikely as it seems, from Shawne Merriman playing out the last year of that contract he signed in a platoon situation, sharing RDE with a top rookie pass rusher.

It could actually work out pretty well for the Bills in 2012. But Merriman would have to be a whole lot more dependable and productive than he's managed to be so far. We'll see...

My 2012 Bills mock draft:

Round 1: RDE Melvin Ingram
Round 2: QB Brock Osweiler
Round 3: OLB Shea McClellin
Round 4: WR Ryan Broyles
Round 4: CB Coryell Judie
Round 5: OT Nate Potter
Round 5: TE Kevin Koger
Round 6: C Garth Gerhart
Round 7: WLB Sammy Brown