Grading the Buffalo Bills 2012 draft

by Steve

Before I provide you with all the "experts" grades of the Bills 2012 draft I'll give you mine since you all asked.

The cons: no quarterback, traded a 7th rounder to move up two spots for someone no one else was targeting, took a cornerback yet again in the first round and drafted a freakin' kicker.

The pros: got good value with a OT in the second round some projected to be in the first round, didn't draft Weeden, drafted 6 players from the south, drafted someone named Tank, largely avoided "non D-1" players and didn't draft a running back.

B+


SI - B+

Buffalo Bills: For the first five rounds, the Bills turned in a relatively strong draft, with the lone head-scratcher being WR T.J. Graham (69). Staying put and nabbing CB Stephon Gilmore at No. 10 could pay off big time, as could jumping on G/T Cordy Glenn at 41. Grade: B-plus

 
Aol - C
Gilmore and Glenn are good picks; there just was nothing overwhelming about their draft as a whole.

Walterfootball

10. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina: C+
Stephon Gilmore didn't play very well this past year, but he was pushed up because of his height-weight-speed. Players like this usually don't succeed in the NFL, though Gilmore's upside can't be ignored. The Bills needed a cornerback, so this made sense from a positional standpoint. Still though, I have to wonder how they're going to protect Ryan Fitzpatrick. I guess we'll see what happens in the next two days.

41. Cordy Glenn, G/OT, Georgia: A+
Wow, this is amazing value. The Cardinals were interested in Cordy Glenn and even considered him at No. 13. The Bengals were linked to him at No. 21. I don't know how he fell to No. 41. Glenn has positional versatility and should be able to really bolster a very weak offensive front that lost Demetress Bell. Perhaps Ryan Fitzpatrick won't have to release the ball after taking three-step drops all the time going forward.

69. T.J. Graham, WR, N.C. State: Matt Millen First Kielbasa Kiss Grade
In back-to-back picks, we've had a first kielbasa date and a first kielbasa kiss grade. T.J. Graham was No. 185 on the consensus board. Todd McShay, who praised the pick, had Graham in the 130s. This is a major reach.

105. Nigel Bradham, OLB, Florida State: A Grade
Nigel Bradham could have easily been drafted in Round 3, so this is nice value for him. The Bills needed a third linebacker - they were considering Luke Kuechly before he was chosen a pick earlier in Round 1 - so Bradham fills a need.

124. Ron Brooks, CB, LSU: A+ Grade
The Bills would have selected Ron Brooks in the second round (why I mocked him there) if they hadn't obtained Stephon Gilmore in Round 1. They have to be shocked that he lasted this long. I am too. He was ranked in the 80s on most big boards. This is a steal.

144. Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State: A+ Grade
The Bills are killing it on Day 3. Zebrie Sanders was No. 84 on the consensus big board, so he provides tremendous value. Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey talked about bringing in multiple tackles this weekend, so Sanders makes sense in that regard. Let's just hope he doesn't fall asleep on the football field again.

147. Tank Carder, LB, TCU: A+ Grade
Wow. Buffalo has really improved its roster this weekend. Tank Carder would have been a second-round pick if he hadn't played hurt this past season. He's a really talented linebacker with a great work ethic. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he made it into the starting lineup in a year or two.

178. Mark Asper, G, Oregon: C- Grade
Blegh, finally a Bills' pick that I dislike. Mark Asper wasn't expected to even be a priority UDFA, so I'm shocked he was drafted. He doesn't fill a need either.

251. John Potter, K, Western Michigan: C Grade
I don't think John Potter will be able to beat out Rian Lindell. This pick was probably made just in case Lindell can't come back from his shoulder injury. You wouldn't think a shoulder would affect a kicker, but whatever.

 Mel Kiper - B-

Summary: I had the Bills selecting Stephon Gilmore in my final mock draft, and they ended up taking him. I didn’t see CB as the top need, but it’s a solid pick. Gilmore is ready to start immediately for a secondary that allowed 7.3 yards per pass attempt in 2011. The Bills pass defense should be better in 2012 when you put together an improved pass rush and the draft help in the secondary. Ron Brooks, a burner out of LSU, could stick as a slot cornerback. He lacks size, but can fly. I don’t share the opinion that Cordy Glenn can be a left tackle, but he was a total steal at No. 41. He was on my final Big Board at No. 14. If the Bills move him inside (or to right tackle), he’ll succeed. Zebrie Sanders was a steal in the sixth round. They got a wideout with T.J. Graham, as well as a pair of linebackers to bring in and battle for a spot. Pretty good weekend for Buddy Nix and the Bills.

 

Michael Lombardi - A

“I like their top pick of Gilmore,” said Lombardi. “I also liked the pick of Tank Carder a lot, and they got him in the fifth round. They haven’t closed the gap all the way on New England, but they got a lot closer with this draft class.”

Pete Prisco - B

Best pick: I really liked the Bills getting Cordy Glenn in the second round. He had first-round ability and should be an immediate starter at left tackle.
Questionable move: They took North Carolina State receiver T.J. Graham in the third round in large part because he can fly. But he dropped a lot of passes in college and that might have been too high.
Third-day gem: Florida State tackle Zebrie Sanders was a nice value pick in the fifth round. He was a quality starter for the Seminoles.
Analysis: The Bills landed a top cover player in the first round in Stephon Gilmore and then waited to take a tackle in Glenn in the second. It proved to be a good strategy. Both players should start. They added some other nice players in the later rounds. The one concern is Graham.