What the Bills should do with the 3rd over pick

by Steve

No one cares about the NFL and the players association court proceedings, the Sabres are a fringe sport and aren't daily fodder and there is almost no news about the NFL draft and free agency because of a lack of a CBA. The result is a dearth of posts lately. Well, lets explore what the Bills should do as of today with the third overall pick in the 2011 draft. (these things are very fluid and can change daily)

The obvious just to rehash quickly:

• Drafting a defensive back that high is out of the question (Peterson)
  
• Selecting a wide receiver right now at #3 is out of the question (Green)
  
• The Bills play a hybrid 3/4 4/3 so any DL probably would fit
• Every player (save for Da'Quan Bowers) is the best ever after their pro day so take most reports with a grain of salt.

Based on that criteria basically it is between Nick Fairley, Bowers, Marcell Darius, Von Miller, Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton. The best part about the third overall pick is four of those six will still be on the board. The worst part, two of those six will be gone when the Bills select.

Evidently Blaine Gabbert, a spread only QB in college "turned heads" at his pro day and Carolina may be targeting him. Or the Panthers are posturing or lying or they'll draft a freaking running back. They don't have a lot of money tied up in Jim Clausen and could conceivably take a QB #1. That would then mean the Bills are stuck with (possibly) the second best QB in the draft Meaning they would not have their pick of the litter so to speak and would be forced to take the other guy. Oh yea, the Vikings might be looking to move up to take a QB too.

The idea of taking a quarterback at #3 won't be the worst thing in the world. It wouldn't be the best either. Neither of the top two prospects are sure fire ballas, they almost certainly wouldn't play opening day and thus wouldn't help the Bills in 2011. Also FWIW Don Banks on Wednesday predicted the Bills would take a QB.

Out of the other four guys previously mentioned, Marcell Darius is my #1 pick if he is there at three. Nick Fairley was a 100% beast/monster during the National Championship game but he measured much smaller than originally reported and may be sliding. Von Miller is too small and not worthy of a pick that high. He is a middle linebacker at best in the NFL although he did have a sick senior bowl. The last guy, Bowers, seems to have injury questions surrounding him and may not be an ideal fit in a 3/4 (although yes it is a "hybrid").

Bottom line, Darius is the pick the pick. However if the QB OBD has rated higher than the other guy is available that would be acceptable too. If all else fails look to trade out and acquire additional picks. Boom outta here