2014 NFL Draft results: Buffalo Bills pick, trades recap

The 2014 NFL Draft is in the books, and it ended up being one of the busiest weekends for the Buffalo Bills in recent memory. Orchestrated by GM Doug Whaley, the Bills flew up and down the draft board as they've never done before, and also executed two other trades that shipped away a popular veteran and brought in a young prospect with upside.

This post is a poll and discussion thread meant to let Bills fans grade the team's efforts over the last three days, and discuss the snap-judgment merits of the big-picture implications of the direction that Whaley and the Bills charted. The poll is at the bottom of the post and the comments section is open for business; first, let's review everything that transpired. Buckle up.

Trade No. 1

For over a month, the Bills were rumored to be interested in trading up into the Top 5, and that's exactly what happened. Here's what it cost to make the move up:

Browns get:

• 2014 Round 1, No. 9 (traded to Minnesota)
• 2015 Round 1 pick
• 2015 Round 4 pick

Bills get:

• 2014 Round 1, No. 4 (WR Sammy Watkins)

Round 1, Pick 4: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

Considered the most explosive receiver in the draft and, by many, the best receiver prospect to come into the league since the 2011 duo of A.J. Green and Julio Jones, Watkins walks into Buffalo as the team's No. 1 receiving target.

Trade No. 2

With Watkins on board, one of the Bills' most popular and marketable players over the last four years suddenly became expendable.

49ers get:

• WR Stevie Johnson

Bills get:

• 2015 Round 4 pick (Round 3 conditional)

Trade No. 3

The Bills and the Rams executed a trade in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, then did some more business in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. In both instances, the Rams moved up, while the Bills moved down.

Rams get:

• 2014 Round 2, No. 41 (CB Lamarcus Joyner)

Bills get:

• 2014 Round 2, No. 44 (OT Cyrus Kouandjio)
• 2014 Round 5, No. 153 (OG Cyril Richardson)

Round 2, Pick 44: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama

A top recruit whose draft stock faltered a bit, Kouandjio received a first-round grade from the Bills, and will almost certainly become the team's starting right tackle in 2014.

Round 3, Pick 73: Preston Brown, LB, Louisville

Limited athletically, Brown nonetheless has plug-and-play ability as a two-down middle linebacker at the NFL level, which may not be relevant in 2014 as he's slotted to back up Brandon Spikes.

Round 4, Pick 109: Ross Cockrell, CB, Duke

Cornerbacks with size, ball skills and some positional versatility are not easy to come by in the middle rounds; Cockrell gives the Bills much-needed depth at corner.

Trade No. 3

After eight running backs were selected on the second day of the draft, the Bills finally pulled the trigger on a trade they'd been working on for months, giving themselves some upside and a 2015 Plan B with their top two running backs heading toward free agency.

Eagles get:

• 2015 Round 4 pick (conditional)
• 2014 Round 7, No. 224 (DT Beau Allen)

Bills get:

• RB Bryce Brown
• 2014 Round 7, No. 337 (OT Seantrel Henderson)

Trade No. 4

For the second time in the draft, the Bills executed a trade down - but this time, their return yielded a future draft pick instead of one in the same round this year.

Buccaneers get:

• 2014 Round 5, No. 149 (OT Kevin Pamphile)

Bills get:

• 2014 Round 7, No. 221 (LB Randell Johnson)
• 2015 Round 5 pick

Round 5, Pick 153: Cyril Richardson, OG, Baylor

A two-time Big 12 award winner for offensive line play, Richardson slid a bit due to some technical issues in need of refinement and a bad Senior Bowl week. The massive, powerful run blocker has a shot to compete for a starting job, perhaps even as a rookie.

Round 7, Pick 221: Randell Johnson, LB, Florida Atlantic

The seventh round is all about athletic projects, and Johnson (6'3", 242, 4.6 speed, 38.5-inch vertical) certainly qualifies as athletic. He projects as a strong-side linebacker in the Bills' defense.

Round 7, Pick 237: Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami (FL)

Again, the seventh round is all about athletic projects; Henderson, a former No. 1 recruit, has prototypical size and talents for the tackle position, but must overcome concerns about his motivation and, more importantly, a very long line of off-field concerns.

Rd	#	Team	Player	Pos.	College	Ht	Wt	40	Coverage
1	4	Bills (f/CLE)	Sammy Watkins	WR	Clemson	6006	211	4.43	link
2	44	Bills (f/STL)	Cyrus Kouandjio	OT	Alabama	6066	322	5.59	link
3	73	Bills	Preston Brown	LB	Louisville	6012	251	4.86	link
4	109	Bills	Ross Cockrell	CB	Duke	5110	194	4.56	link
5	153	Bills (f/STL)	Cyril Richardson	OG	Baylor	6046	329	5.31	link
7	221	Bills (f/TB)	Randell Johnson	LB	Florida Atlantic	6032	242	4.60	link
7	237	Bills (f/PHI)	Seantrel Henderson	OT	Miami (FL)	6071	331	5.04	link