Bills an Enigma Entering Draft Weekend

by Brian Galliford on Apr 21, 2008 12:59 PM EDT in 2008 NFL Draft

Jauron, Bills have plenty of options this weekend (BuffaloBills.com)

With the 2008 NFL Draft a mere 122(ish) hours from commencing, NFL experts and draft gurus everywhere are beginning to ramp up predictions and step out on limbs everywhere. Perhaps the most irritating and difficult slot for those experts to predict lies right after the top ten - right where the Buffalo Bills select.

Let's face it - the Bills have the look of the wildest of wild cards as draft day approaches. With only one clearly-defined need (wide receiver) and the potential to select a player at one of a half-dozen positions in the first-round - and we haven't even mentioned a trade down yet - the Bills are almost assuredly going to leave at least one fan puzzled with their draft-weekend dealings.

We can see it in media coverage
Take, for example, a selection of articles that have floated around Buffalo's corner of the Internet over the last two days. This isn't a month-long sample of varying opinions; we're talking 48 hours here. Connor Byrne of RealFootball365.com has an excellent piece up about one of the more underrated receivers in this year's draft crop, Indiana's James Hardy. The debate between Bills fans as to who the top receiver is (Hardy? Malcolm Kelly? Limas Sweed? Devin Thomas?) has been legendary this off-season.

Larry Felser of The Buffalo News talks about the Bills' cornerback prospects heading into Saturday. Cornerback is another highly debated position amongst Bills fans, with several players (Rodgers-Cromartie, McKelvin, Talib, Cason, Flowers and others) becoming favorites among the Buffalo fan base. Even offensive linemen (Branden Albert?), linebackers (Keith Rivers? Jerod Mayo?) and defensive ends (Derrick Harvey? Phillip Merling?) have supporters. This pick is so up in the air that some are giving up and just listing all of the possibilities, while others still are talking crazy-unlikely trades (Chad Johnson in Buffalo? About as likely as Willis McGahee in Buffalo, Bob Matthews).

The 2006 Parallel
This year's draft weekend is shaping up to be as unpredictable as the Bills' weekend was in 2006. Heading into that year's draft, the big names were OT Winston Justice and DT Haloti Ngata, though like this year, many others were floated around as well. The team shocked their fan base (and may have even caused Mel Kiper's hair to shift slightly) when they selected SS Donte Whitner, DT John McCargo, CB Ashton Youboty and FS Ko Simpson with their first four picks. Very few people saw that coming.

So hold onto your butts. If you're entering draft weekend with expectations for the Buffalo Bills, realize one thing: the only thing you should expect is the unexpected. It's going to be one crazy ride this weekend.

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Comments

Totally agree

From all that I know and the great deal more that I do not--Brian is 100% right. How the Bills will play this one is, as of the moment, an enigma. And extraordinarily interesting.

I do hope to get some informed information before Saturday--and will post if I do.

Geronimo

by Geronimo on Apr 21, 2008 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

Playing the field

The Bills are doing the greatest thing they can. Everyone knows the Bills greatest need (WR by far), but somehow they have played the field to where nobody has a clue on who they want to pick.

I guess those Ivy league type educations are paying off for the Bills. The fact that people are talking about the Bills taking a WR, CB, DE and even DT or OL will make other teams interested in switching out with the Bills to make sure they get the player they want. Especially with other positions outside of WR, not being so deep; this makes for a very interesting Draft Day.

Too bad I have to go to a wedding (Catholic... nothing against catholics, it is just a longer wedding) with my girlfriend at 2pm. I hope the reception has TVs and I can make it by the time the Bills pick. I am guessing they will pick around 4:40 pm (10 minutes per team).

by hilliarddavid on Apr 21, 2008 3:28 PM EDT reply actions

FYI - More on Malcolm Kelly

No argument from me, just FYI.

From BuffaloBills.com (http://www.buffalobills.com/blog/index.jsp?post_id=3308):

BILLS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT WR KELLY OUTBURST: Much has been made of Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly's criticism of his own school after he ran some disappointing times at his pro day earlier this month, even here in this space. He criticized Oklahoma for switching the venue of his pro day from an astroturf surface to field turf. It wasn't a good way to handle adversity, though one could understand with his NFL future on the line why he was upset after the workout. Bills scouts Joe Haering and Shawn Heinlen tried to set the record straight on Kelly.

"No one thought he was an elite speed athlete, but the combination of his size to go with the speed he has is good enough for him to be a very productive receiver," said Heinlen who was in attendance at Kelly's pro day. "There is a laundry list of guys that have played receiver in the NFL that have not been 4.4 guys and been very productive. Granted, he was probably just very frustrated at the workout. He was a young guy that came out early and he's not been put in that kind of situation before."

"He probably thought he was that fast and the time didn't come out and he got a little upset and vented," said Heinlen. "His interview was literally right after he finished working out. He didn't have time to talk to anyone. He just got a little upset I think. I don't think it's an issue talking to the coaches. They all love the kid and speak very highly of him from a work ethic standpoint and his character. There's no issue there. He was just upset he didn't run as well as he hoped to run."

Scout Joe Haering who evaluated Kelly on tape believes Kelly he's fast enough along with his size to be a "good player in our league." Haering also cleared up the misperception that timed speed is end all be all factor.

"The most important thing is how the guy plays which is called playing speed because the guy has pads on," said Haering. "Then there are the guys that run fast when they're on the track with shorts. Sometimes the guy runs real fast in shorts and not with his pads on. I thought he ran fast enough. When you're playing the game especially at receiver and he comes across the middle and gets punched in the mouth and his nose is bleeding maybe some guy running 4.4 is running a 4.8 the next time. My point is when I saw him he is fast enough to play. He has good playing speed."

So although the draft gurus interpreted Kelly's disappointing pro day as a significant blow to his draft stock, in all likelihood most NFL teams haven't dropped his grade all that much. I had less of an issue with his timed speed than I did how he handled adversity. Knowing that interview came right as his workout concluded eases my concern about it a bit. Where does that put him in the draft? I'm guessing but probably the lower third of round one.

Workout (April 16, 2008):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyGnt_RecDs

How good do you want the Bills to be?

by Fort Worth on Apr 21, 2008 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

Let us assume

that all they said is true, which of course would make them the dumbest people in football. Nobody would tip their hand this close to the draft. Kelly is still not worth picking at #11. He is not that much better than many of the other receivers we have talked about.

by Joe P. on Apr 21, 2008 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions

April Fools

San Diego GM mentioned the other day that no NFL GM speaks the truth in the month of April. So don't believe that article for a moment.

I have Kelly rated as my #1 WR in the draft too, but he is now not first round value. So I pick Devin Thomas (my #2 WR in the draft) first and Kelly 2nd. To some, this sounds silly, but I think the Bills will play the board smartly and play it to how the market dictates where they can get the most out of their picks.

Bills fan half way around the world

by moncheri on Apr 22, 2008 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Just a guess

but after digesting all the talk about this draft, I can see the following scenario.

Kelly is still the Bills no1 man. They also think they can get him lower than 11. Ideally, Harvey is still available at 11. He becomes trade bait for another team wanting him. If Harvey is available, they trade down to no lower than 20, get Kelly and another good pick. Great strategy. Get Martellus in the 2nd. Then play the field. The only caveat here is if one of their chosen CB's is available at 11. I like Kelly's ability to move the chains and as a red zone target.

by keuka121 on Apr 21, 2008 6:18 PM EDT reply actions

RE:

I have enjoyed speculating all of this for 2+ months, but I think or hope we could all agree I'm darn glad the draft is only 5 days away. I need reality and answers to all of these questions.

Not to mention that fact that no one will ever be able to grade this draft class for 3-6 years to come. But that's what blogs like this are for I know.

I think we all need to make our final predictions at some point this week.

Look no further than, NOSTRA-MARVELOUS to make my predictions later this week in a diary.

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Apr 21, 2008 6:31 PM EDT reply actions

Gonna be Fun!!!

Good article Brian!!! Should be a fun draft for some, and definitely gonna be a disappointment for others... I've followed the Bills draft for years, and for the first time, have no clue as to what position we'll pick, let alone the player... Heck, even the Whitner pick didn't surprise me since I knew we'd go safety...
I'm skeptical of Harvey... Being a big UGA and SEC fan, I should know more about him than all the hype going on now.. Tools? Yes, but I know Ga planned for people like Groves, but can't remember any metion of planning for Harvey... I love McKelvin, best pure corner in a while... Watched him backpedal, covering a receiver for 15 yds once, before turning to run straight up... Just so tired of investing 1st picks in corners, to have them leave for inflated salaries elsewhere...OL and Albert fans??? fugetaboutit... Won't happen...
The somewhat offensive person I am, still thinks WR... Which one??? I dunno.... Suffice to say though, love the Bills approach to this draft!!! Keeping all of us, and other teams guessing, only enhances our chance to trade up, down, or all around....LOL!!!!
Just remember.. The Bills draft board, is based on their scheme and what players will fit, and some of it, is based on need... In other words, Bet that McFadden, is not even in the top 100 on our board...
Gonna be fun, interesting, exciting, and disappointing, all at the same time.....
Go Bills!!!

by Cinga on Apr 21, 2008 6:34 PM EDT reply actions

Drafting a QB

It seems that if JP is gone, then drafting a QB is gonna be a priority. We might as well go after the best available with pick #2. Brian Brohm, John David Booty, Colt Brennan could all be had with #2 and possibly #3 for some. Getting a name guy would help marketing and could become the next Brady Quinn. Star-power on the bench.

by JTM1023 on Apr 22, 2008 2:21 AM EDT reply actions

That is a terrible idea!

I'm sorry but even if we trade JP i'de be much happier with some street veteran as our backup than wasting a second rounder on QB. the last thing we need is a big time rookie "name" quarterback on the bench.

by Lance in Germany on Apr 22, 2008 6:47 AM EDT up reply actions