Grading the Buffalo Bills 2011 draft

Steve
Marcell Dareus fills an obvious hole in the defense. He'll be able to hopefully play 3-4 DE and 4-3 DT when needed. The only real choice was between him and Von Miller and even that wasn't a choice. A cornerback or wide receiver at #3 would have been a grave error in judgment. Reaching for a mediocre QB who won't be able to play day one would have been a mistake as well. This team just has too many holes and building the defense is a faster way to get to 8-10 wins than rolling the dice for a player with a 50/50 to become a "franchise" QB, it just wasn't in the cards (whoa lotta gambling metaphors).

Seven of the nine selections were defense which is exactly what I would have wanted the Bills to do. Aaron Williams won't start right away and might be a peculiar selection but Nix and co may have made up for that selection by getting value in the 4th with a tackle that will push for playing time on the right side. Da'Norris Searcy might be a steal in the fourth also. Running back may have been questionable in the 5th although White sounds like a true football player, whatever that means. And finally, not drafting a potential future stud in Ryan Mallet in the 4th round hurts the score.
B-


SI's Kerry Byrne:

What I liked: A very good, aggressive draft aimed at fixing huge problems on defense. The Bills had the worst D-line last year and ranked 28th in scoring defense. Their first four picks all went to defense. Beefy offensive tackle Chris Hairston (fourth round) has the size and potential to develop into a legit NFL starter.

What I didn't like: If there's a nit to be picked, it's the Bills took Alabama's Marcell Dareus at DT ahead of Auburn's Nick Fairley. Dareus is much bigger, so size was the goal here. But Fairley was the more explosive and productive college player.

Nowhere to go but up for the team that ranked dead last across the board last year in our Quality Stats. Grade: B+

Rob Rang
B
Having surrendered the second most rushing yards in team history last season, the Bills needed to address their defense. General manager Buddy Nix and head coach Chan Gailey clearly understood that, using their first four picks on the defensive side the ball, most notably adding the draft's best run-stuffer in defensive lineman Marcell Dareus with the No. 3 overall pick and former LSU linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, who many viewed as the top 3-4 inside linebacker in the draft. Watch out for middle-round former Tar Heels Da'Norris Searcy and Johnny White to surprise, as well.

Pete Prisco

Best pick: It has to be their first. They landed a sure thing in tackle Marcell Dareus. He will be an immediate starter.

Questionable move: Passing up on a quarterback is a major risk. Do they really believe in Ryan Fitzpatrick that much?

Third-day gem: It might not be a position of need, but the Bills landed a good one in North Carolina running back Johnny White. He's a tough runner.

Analysis: I know they had big problems on defense, but they should have addressed the quarterback position. They passed on some good ones. Is Fitzpatrick the answer? I guess he has to be.

Grade: C+

Walterfootball:
Teams that draft well (i.e. Steelers, Packers, Colts) win Super Bowls. Teams that screw up in the NFL Draft every year never make the playoffs. Buffalo hasn't qualified for the postseason in more than a decade, and if you want to know why, all you have to do is look at how they draft.

The Bills screwed up yet again. How the hell did they come away from the 2011 NFL Draft without a quarterback? Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the answer. Every football person outside of Buffalo knows this, yet the Bills stubbornly continue to settle for mediocrity at the most important position in football.

Protecting the quarterback and getting to the other quarterback are two things that are also very important to every team in the league outside of Buffalo. No rush linebackers? No offensive lineman until the 122nd pick? And what's with all of these running backs and cornerbacks?

I really feel sorry for sensible Buffalo fans who know that their front office is clueless. The Bills are like the fantasy owner in your league who drafts a kicker in the eighth round every single summer. You quietly laugh at them during the draft, and smile when they hand in their league dues because you know they're going to finish 5-8 for the 10th year in a row.

Overall 2011 NFL Draft Grade given on 5/1/11: D

Todd McShay
Best move: Taking Marcell Dareus
Yes, the Bills were fortunate he was around at No. 3 because, in my opinion, he was the best player in the draft. Dareus is a centerpiece they can build their defense around. He gives defensive coordinator George Edwards a lot of flexibility. Edwards mixes it up with this fronts and Dareus has the ability to play just about every position along the front.
Most questionable move: Failing to address their quarterback need
The Bills had an opportunity to bring in someone -- Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick were still on the board when they selected CB Aaron Williams in the second round -- to fill the need. It would have been a great year to develop a player for 2012, when they hope to be competing for a playoff spot.


Mel Kiper
Buffalo drafted some really good football players and clearly put the emphasis on defense. Dareus is the ideal penetrating pass-rusher to convert into a 3-4 defensive end and allows the Bills to really stick with that scheme. The Bills also got a good value with Williams early in Round 2. Sheppard is a guy that while not very explosive, is instinctive and should be starting early in his career. Where I do have a question is why they again waited until Day 3 to get any help on the offensive line. They didn't take an offensive tackle until the fifth round last year, when that need seemed more glaring. One guy who should feel good about this draft is Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is clearly the preferred starter at quarterback. Bills fans just have to hope the blocking can hold up.
Grade B

Foxsports

Buffalo Bills: B+

Draft picks: DT Marcel Dareus (first round), CB Aaron Williams (second round), LB Kelvin Sheppard (third round), S Da’Norris Searcy (fourth round), OT Chris Hairston (fourth round), RB Johnny White (fifth round), LB Chris White (sixth round), CB Justin Rogers (seventh round), DT Michael Jasper (seventh round).

Analysis: For a change, the Bills actually drafted for value and don’t appear to have made any real reaches. In fact, the first five selections should contribute this season and a few of them might start.