We're going to post this now, before Round 2 of the 2012 NFL Draft - and the Buffalo Bills' likely route of pursuing options at wide receiver and left tackle - has a chance to kill the stat. Now into his third draft as Buffalo's general manager, Buddy Nix has now drafted 11 defenders (out of a possible 19 picks), including six-of-seven picks made in the first three rounds. There's been no question that his emphasis in the draft has been stockpiling his defense with talent.
The fruits of his labor so far are below. Of the 11 defenders Nix has picked so far, every single one of them remains under the age of 25. Nearly all of them have prototypical size, and the emphasis has been on big, strong, athletic prospects. At least two of these picks are expected to be 2011 starters, a minimum of two more (but perhaps as many as five more) could lock down significant roles, and it wouldn't be a surprise if every last one of them made the team this fall.
| YR | RD | # | PLAYER | POS | COLLEGE | AGE | HT | WT |
| 2011 | 1 | 3 | Marcell Dareus | DT | Alabama | 22 | 6'3" | 331 |
| 2012 | 1 | 10 | Stephon Gilmore | CB | South Carolina | 21 | 6'0" | 190 |
| 2011 | 2 | 34 | Aaron Williams | CB | Texas | 22 | 6'0" | 199 |
| 2010 | 2 | 41 | Torell Troup | DT | Central Florida | 23 | 6'3" | 327 |
| 2011 | 3 | 68 | Kelvin Sheppard | LB | LSU | 24 | 6'2" | 244 |
| 2010 | 3 | 72 | Alex Carrington | DT | Arkansas State | 24 | 6'5" | 301 |
| 2011 | 4 | 100 | Da'Norris Searcy | SS | North Carolina | 23 | 5'11" | 216 |
| 2011 | 6 | 169 | Chris White | LB | Mississippi State | 23 | 6'3" | 238 |
| 2010 | 6 | 178 | Arthur Moats | LB | James Madison | 24 | 6'2" | 250 |
| 2010 | 6 | 192 | Danny Batten | DE | South Dakota State | 24 | 6'4" | 250 |
| 2011 | 7 | 206 | Justin Rogers | CB | Richmond | 24 | 5'11" | 181 |