The Buffalo Bills have 6 draft picks in the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft. They have one pick in Rounds 1-5 & one in Round 7. The Bills traded their 6th round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for WR - Mike Williams. I wanted to put together a master list of prospects that I personally like in their respective projected rounds that I hope the Bills will look to draft. The list omits many prospects. The reason I left off prospects is because with only 6 draft picks and 14 positions, excluding special teams, some positions are of greater need than others so they were given less attention. For instance, I don't think the QB, DT or C position will be targeted so I added a minimal amount of prospects, if any at all.
Some positions have more prospects than others for two reasons. One reason is that the position may be a greater need for the Buffalo Bills heading into the draft (OT) and another reason is that the position is deep with quality prospects (CB).
I expect players like Jadeveon Clowney & Khalil Mack to be off the board by the time the Bills pick at 9th so they weren't added despite the fact that I would accept them with open arms if they fell into our lap. I left Sammy Watkins on the list because if they do trade up, I believe he'll be the target. I also left off many prospects 1st round prospects that I expect to be drafted after the Bills 1st round pick and before their 2nd round pick. I just felt no need to add them, despite liking them as prospects, if they wouldn't be realistic targets such as some of the CB's in the 1st round. While I like them, the Bills aren't going CB in the 1st and they'll be gone by the 2nd so they were left off.
Quarterbacks
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: None
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: No
Breakdown: I don't think the Bills will spend a draft pick on this position. They seem happy with EJ Manuel and Thad Lewis at 1 & 2 on the depth chart. If they do want to spend a 7th round pick on a QB and San Jose State QB David Fales is available, I wouldn't mind bringing him into camp to supplant Jeff Tuel for clipboard holding duties. One polarizing prospect that fans may want to take a chance on late is Logan Thomas and I say, absolutely not.
Running Backs
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: Terrance Cobb, Jeremy Hill, Carlos Hyde, Jerick McKinnon, Lache Seastrunk, Terrance West.
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: Possibly
Breakdown: I think the Bills have bigger needs than the RB position but they may want to draft a RB to take over if CJ Spiller decides to walk when he becomes a FA. I think RB's are dime-a-dozen if you are seeking a starter, so spending a backup on a 3rd stringer at the position just doesn't make sense to me. The Bills used 6 of their 30 pre-draft visits on RB's so they are clearly interested in strengthening the position. If one of the prospects they like happens to fall to them and they feel the value is too good to pass up, you may see them pull the trigger.
Wide Receivers
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: Odell Beckham Jr, Mike Evans, Cody Latimer, Sammy Watkins
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: Possibly
Breakdown: The Bills brought in a few WR prospects. I don't think it's a huge need but the class is deep and there is some serious talent at the position. If the Bills want Watkins, they'll have to trade up. If they stay put at #9, Mike Evans is a serious candidate to become a Buffalo Bill. I added a minimal amount of WR prospects on to my list despite the class being deep. I think if the Bills do get a WR, I think he's going to be a big boy. Outside of Watkins, all of the WR's on my list are 6'3 or taller. Moncrief, Robinson and Latimer are quality prospects in Rounds 2-3 but after that, the prospects remaining would be guys I just don't see the Bills adding due to them already having similar prospects currently on the roster.
Tight Ends
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: Eric Ebron, Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, Troy Niklas
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: Possibly
Breakdown: Eric Ebron is a serious candidate to be taken at 9th overall by the Bills. If a quality RT falls to them in the 1st, they have a trio of TE's that could be available in the 2nd round in Amaro, Sefarian-Jenkins and Niklas that they could add. These are all quality prospects. If Round 3 rolls around and the Bills have missed out on these prospects, I don't see them drafting a TE at all. While they have a need, they aren't exactly desperate. They have 3-4 current TE's that can get them through a season but none currently that would keep them from adding one of the top 3-4 prospects in the first 2 rounds. I love Jace Amaro & ASF but I think the Bills may entertain Troy Niklas in the 2nd and would definitely take him in the 3rd if he happens to fall.
Offensive Tackles
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: Jake Matthews, Zack Martin, Cyrus Kouandjio, Charles Siddoway, Lauren Duvernay-Tardif.
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: Yes
Breakdown: The Bills need a RT pretty bad. I actually think that they take a OT with their 1st round pick. There is a trio of OT's in Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews and Taylor Lewan that are instant starters and potential future pro-bowlers. This is a stacked position at the top and the prospects have a lot more boom than they do bust attached to their short term and long term potential. If the Bills pass on this position, there are a couple solid prospects in Morgan Moses and JaWuan James that could fall to them in the 2nd ala Cordy Glenn a few years ago. I just don't see the Bills coming out of this draft without a prospect at the very least, pushing Erik Pears for playing time. Keep an eye on James Hurst an Cornelius Lucas, a couple of prospects who fell due to injury, not a lack of talent. Give me Jake Matthews in the 1st if he's there.
Offensive Guards
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: None
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: No
Breakdown: I like the depth at this position, especially in the 2nd round but it's not a position of need. It is by no means a position they are settled in at but there's a higher chance that the Bills can find someone internally, through FA or even UDFA that can come in and secure the depth at this position. There are some late round fliers in Jon Halapio and John Urschel to keep an eye on. Halapio is an extremely nasty prospect and Urschell is an extremely intelligent prospect.
Centers
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: Marcus Martin
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: No
Breakdown: The Bills brought in Marcus Martin. I'm not sure why but I don't see the Bills using one of their valuable six draft picks on this position that's already manned by Eric Wood who's coming off a healthy season.
Defensive Ends
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: Scott Crichton
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: Possibly
Breakdown: The Bills have capable starters in Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes who were very successful in the 3-4 last year. The switch to the 4-3 will raise some questions as the depth is fairly thin behind the starters. Manny Lawson will be in the mix although he fits better into the 3-4 and Jairus Wynn, a career journeyman, was signed but the Bills may look to add depth to the position that has been the key to take down Tom Brady and the Patriots in the past; see the New York Giants. I don't think the need is high enough to spend a 2nd round pick on the position and target guys like DeMarcus Lawrence from Boise State or Scott Crichton from Oregon State but guys like Kareem Martin (UNC) & Jackson Jeffcoat (Texas) in the 3rd may be strong possibilities.
Defensive Tackles
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: None
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: No
Breakdown: I added some value picks on my chart but I don't see the Bills using one of their six draft picks on one of their stronger positions. If the Bills really felt like they needed depth, they would have retained Alex Carrington since he signed for an extremely reason contract. The Bills seem to really like Stefan Charles who is backing up Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus. I don't see the position garnering any interest in this years draft.
Outside Linebackers
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: CJ Mosley (OLB/ILB), Ryan Shazier
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: Possibly
Breakdown: The Bills shook up the LB position this off-season. Kiko Alonso was moved from ILB to OLB, Keith Rivers was signed to play one OLB position and Brandon Spikes was signed to play the MLB position. Last years OLB's Jerry Hughes and Manny Lawson were moved to DE so there is some uncertainty at the overall depth at this position. The Bills have Rivers & Alonso starting at LB so they seem to be set. Mosley, a 1st round prospect, and Shazier, a late 1st to early 2nd round prospect, were brought in for visits but I just don't see this position being 'upgraded' in the first two rounds. Mosley is a great prospect and a versatile one so if the Bills have the luxury of moving back in the 1st, he may be a prime target as he can play both LB spots. A personal man crush of mine is Kyle Van Noy from BYU. That guy can play! Whoever gets him will get a 10 year starter in the NFL and future pro-bowler, mark it down.
Inside Linebackers
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: CJ Mosley (OLB/ILB), Preston Brown
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: Possibly
Breakdown: The Bills shook up the LB position this off-season. Kiko Alonso was moved from ILB to OLB, Keith Rivers was signed to play one OLB position and Brandon Spikes was signed to play the MLB position. This isn't much of a need. The Bills have a clear starter at MLB and the ability to plug in Alonso if Spikes were to go down but Spikes is only on a one year deal and the Bills may want to focus on keeping Alonso on the outside so drafting Spikes' understudy and future starter at the position may be a possibility if the Bills find value in a prospect that falls into their lap. For me, keep an eye on Shayne Skov who may fall due to speed concerns and prospects Lamin Barrow from LSU and Yawin Smallwood from Connecticut.
Cornerbacks
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: Walt Aikens, Bashaud Breeland, Ross Cockrell, Kyle Fuller, Phillip Gaines, Bradley Roby
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: Yes
Breakdown: You can never have too many CB's. When you rely on guys like Justin Rogers, you're going to have a bad time. You don't want to rely on guys like Justin Rogers! The Bills seemed set at the position with the solid year from Leodis McKelvin, the healthy second half from Stephon Gilmore, the emergence of UDFA stud Nickell Robey and the signing of local boy Corey Graham. Graham may move to S so there may be a depth need at CB which wouldn't be a bad idea with how stacked this class is at the CB position and how players of this position tend to be solid special teams contributors. Other than Fuller and Roby, the Bills brought in some mid-round prospects that I see them pulling the trigger on in the 4th-5h rounds. I like Phillip Gaines and any of the three Florida CB's, especially Loucheiz Purifoy who is a special teams maven. Some sleepers late are Aaron Colvin who you can stash on IR this year and reap the rewards in 2015 and Bene Benwikere who impressed me at San Jose State.
Safeties
Bills Pre-Draft Visitors: None
Will the Bills spend 1 of their 6 picks on this position: Possibly
Breakdown: The Bills lost Jairus Byrd in Free Agency to the New Orleans Saints yet don't have as big of a hole at the position as you would think. They plan on moving Aaron Williams into the FS spot and have a player-by-committee manning the SS position if no one fails to win it outright. They have some viable candidates in Da'Norris Searcy and Duke Williams. Both come with their question marks but you throw in the possibility of a CB to S switch that worked out quite nicely for Aaron Williams with newly signed Corey Graham and the Bills may be fine at the backend on defense after all. There are definitely some intriguing S prospects such as Kenny Ladler, Craig Loston and Ahmad Dixon who could be drafted and ultimately keep Corey Graham at the all-of-a-sudden deep CB position. This is definitely a position to keep an eye on next week.
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