NFL Draft: Consider All Options

~Anthony Constantino

Last season ended with disappointment for the Buffalo Bills. They lost 7 straight games en route to a 6-10 finish, which landed the Bills the 10th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. 2011 marked the 7th straight losing season for the Bills, which would be a tough pill for any NFL fan to swallow.  Superbowl winning Head Coach Bill Parcells once said, "You are what your record says you are." This is certainly true of the 6-10 Buffalo Bills team in 2011. The Bills and their fans experienced tremendous highs and agonizing lows throughout this past season. The Bills look to turn it all around in 2012.  Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey made noise early on in free agency in March. The Bills' brass flew down to North Carolina to pay a visit to the top defensive free agent of the 2012 offseason. The plane came back to Buffalo with defensive end/linebacker Mario Williams, former 1st overall pick of the Houston Texans. Williams had visits scheduled  with other teams, but skipped out on those visits to negotiate with Buffalo. Williams stayed in Buffalo and inked a 6 year, 96 million dollar contract. The Bills followed up the Williams signing with another splash. Defensive end Mark Anderson, who had 10 sacks with the Patriots last season, signed a 4 year 19.5 million dollar deal days later.

The Bills had the 14th offense (351.5 yards/game) and 26th defense (371.1 yards/game) in the NFL last season. With the 15th passing offense (231.4 yards/game) and the 13th rushing offense (120.1 yards/game), the offense was the strength of the team. The Bills defense struggled mightily last season, giving up 232.1 yards per game in the air (19th in the NFL) and 139 yards on the ground (28th in the NFL).

By now the front office should know those numbers forwards and backwards. Statistics should not dictate what a team does, but rather provide a guideline that can help to generate a focal point prior to entering the draft. The defense had 29 sacks last season, which tied for 27th in the NFL. Couple that with a rush defense that showed little resistance, and that explains the flight to North Carolina . The Bills have already turned their biggest weakness into a potential strength.

So the Buffalo Bills bigwigs will sit in the "war room" on draft day, draft boards in hand, with the 10th overall pick. At least two quarterbacks will be gone (Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III). The Colts have reportedly informed Andrew Luck that he will be their 1st overall pick in the draft. The Washington Redskins traded their future away to have the second pick in the draft. It is safe to assume they did so to acquire what they perceive to be a franchise quarterback. That means Robert Griffin III should be preparing to work with Mike Shanahan this summer. That would leave 7 other players to be chosen before the Bills are on the clock.

The popular belief is that offensive tackle Matt Kalil will be the third pick to the Minnesota Vikings, so there is a slim chance that he lasts until the 10th pick. Trent Richardson has been looked at by nearly every team in the top 10 and it is safe to say he will be gone before the Bills pick. Richardson could be drafted by Cleveland to replace Peyton Hillis or by Tampa Bay to split time with Legarrette Blount in the backfield. 5 more picks...

Morris Claiborne looks to be the best prospect at cornerback in the draft this year. In the pass-happy league that the NFL has become, a player like Claiborne is a sure fire top 10 pick and should also be gone before the Bills have a chance to draft him. The same goes for Justin Blackmon, as he is an exceptionally talented wide receiver that has the look of a superstar in the NFL. He will not make it past the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have the 7th overall pick. Somewhere in between picks 4 and 7 will likely be a defensive end. Both Quinton Coples and Melvin Ingram are highly rated and proven talents. Expect to see Jacksonville draft one of them if they miss out on Justin Blackmon. 3 picks to go...

With no starting quarterback to speak of, it is hard to believe that the Miami Dolphins would want to have Matt Moore start even one more game for the Fins, barring injury. Although Ryan Tannehill is the third best quarterback in the 2012 Draft, it needs to be very clear that the gap between Tannehill and Robert Griffin III is enormous. Out of sheer need the Dolphins will likely overdraft Tannehill with the 8th pick, hoping he can channel his inner Tom Brady and prove the world wrong. The Bills are on deck...

It is hard to decipher what the Panthers will do with the 9th overall selection. Most experts have them selecting a defensive lineman, which would be good for them. They recently re-signed linebacker Jordan Senn, which locks in their three starting linebackers. The Panthers could look to draft a second receiver to give Cam Newton more weapons on the outside, which they lacked last season. Outside of Steve Smith Cam Newton was throwing to Brandon LaFell and Legedu Naanee. Defensive line is always a good place to build through the draft, but if I was selecting 9th, wide receiver Michael Floyd is the selection 100 out of 100 times.

The wait is over! The Bills are now on the clock and have a chance to add a big time playmaker to their roster. What to do? So many great players have been taken and the clock is ticking. Assuming they don't let the clock run out like the Vikings did in 2003, the Bills will have to choose someone. Some have suggested an offensive tackle. To that I say why try to change an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL last season (23)? In reviewing the 2011 season, I noticed one glaring weakness above them all; the back 7 on defense. The Bills linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks did make some plays on the ball last year. However, they gave up more than their share of big plays and this is unacceptable. The Patriots, Packers, and Saints proved last season that offense cannot win a championship by itself. The defense plays a significant role. Ask the New York Giants.

The Bills need to take a long look at five guys at the 10th pick. Linebackers Luke Kuechly and Dont'a Hightower, cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Dre Kirkpatrick, and safety Mark Barron. Any of these five players would help to improve an abysmal back 7 on defense. With the additions of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, a third defensive starter from the draft might give the Bills defense a chance at being a top 10 defense. That would surely help their chances at making the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

With the 10th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select ___________.