I will breakdown some of the players that the Bills could take in the 1st round, 10th overall. The players I will profile who I've seen linked to the Bills are: wide receiver Michael Floyd, offensive tackle Riley Reiff, offensive tackle Cordy Glenn, offensive guard David DeCastro, and linebacker Luke Kuechly. I will tell you a little about each man and tell why and why not the Bills should draft him.
Michael Floyd - WR - Notre Dame
Michael Floyd is considered to be the 2nd best wide receiver prospect in the draft behind only Justin Blackmon, but not by much. He is a top-10 pick with great size (6'2-6'3 depending on who you ask 220 lbs.) and great hands and has pretty good speed and the ability to get open. He's also made numerous highlight catches in his career. Floyd set many single season (including 100 catches last year) and career receiving records at Notre Dame. In fact, many of the receiving records he broke were that of NFL great and former Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Brown.
Why the Bills should draft him: If he is available, he will almost undoubtedly be the pick. Floyd would be a very popular selection by many of the fans I have spoken to as it would help Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills to have a big time second option next to Steve Johnson. No offense to Donald Jones, he's no number two, nor is David Nelson or Brad Smith or Naaman Roosevelt. Marcus Easily could be but he has yet to get onto the football field for two years. At times last year, Fitz did not have anyone to throw to outside of Stevie and throw to a guy who can make big plays. Could you imagine the Bills having back-to-back 1,000 receiver Johnson and a guy with big play ability like Floyd along with a healthy Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller? For those who question Floyd's ability, you should not question it. Floyd put up record numbers at Notre Dame with really no great quarterback. He has also been in a pro-style offense
Why the Bills should not draft him: There's very few things that make the Bills should stay away from him. Character could be a concern as he was arrested for drunken driving and was initially indefinitely suspended from the team for his senior year, only to be allowed back for his senior year. I guess he was also busted for underage drinking but who really hasn't drank underage? Yes the drunk driving arrest is serious but hopefully he learned his lesson. But the character issues aren't too big of a concern for me. Also, he's had a couple of injuries, but he's bounced back from them to compete at a high level. My honest and humble opinion, he is the guy at #10 unless he is off the board. This is the guy Buddy Nix would like at 10. Look at two years ago when he took CJ Spiller, a running back at 9 because he believed he was great value and had the ability to be a big time play maker even though he wasn't much of a need then. Floyd is a position of need plus he brings a lot of play making ability. This is a passing league and you need to have great weapons at wide receiver. They gave Fitz a contract extension last year and Stevie a contract earlier this year so they need more weapons to make big plays. Like I said, the only way he's not our pick is if he's taken before us and there are some teams; Jacksonville, Miami, and Carolina, ahead of us who could take him and use him.
Riley Reiff - OT - Iowa
Riley Reiff comes from a long line of solid to great offensive linemen at the University of Iowa. He has been considered to be the 2nd best offensive tackle by many scouts, behind only USC's Matt Kalil, who will go top-5 in the draft. Reiff has been a three-year starter at Iowa and has missed only two games in his career. As a freshman, he played left and right tackle as well as left guard. He replaced Bryan Bulaga in his sophomore year and spent the last two years as the Hawkeyes' left tackle, never missing a start. He announced he was entering the NFL Draft after his junior year. Reiff has been projected as a top-15 pick.
Why the Bills should draft him: The Bills need a left tackle after not re-signing Demetress Bell (who spells his name differently since he signed with Philadelphia) to protect Ryan Fitzpatrick's blind side. Even though the Bills' offensive line allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL, a lot of it is because Fitzpatrick was quick with the release of the ball and Chan Gailey had an offensive system was that of quick throws and slants which don't require the QB to hold onto the ball very long. I think Gailey wants to have Fitz drop back more and hold onto the ball a couple of more seconds and go down the field. Bell was decent but injured a lot so he was not worth re-signing. Chris Hairston showed a lot of promise last year as a rookie, but was hurt too and the Bills aren't ready to make him the long-term answer at left tackle just yet. So left tackle is an important position and Gailey and Nix have not been secretive about taking a tackle at 10.
Why the Bills should not draft him: Reiff has showed some athletic ability, but his measurables aren't quite to the elite left tackle standards. His arms are too short to be a left tackle, although they are longer than perennial Pro Bowlers Joe Thomas and Jake Long, but both have incredible skill and intangibles to overcome that and are both the exception not the rule. Plus both Thomas and Long were just slam dunk picks that were able to start right away at left tackle and be able to start for well over a decade and everyone knew so. Arm length is very important in pass protection, especially when it comes to protecting the quarterback's blind side. There are scouts that have him rated as a right tackle or even a guard. Some believe he will need to start at right tackle for a couple of years before switching to left. If the Bills feel he can be a left tackle right away, they could take him. But I don't see Buddy Nix wasting the 10th pick of the draft on someone who can't come right in and start at left tackle.
Cordy Glenn - OT - Georgia
Cordy Glenn has lately become "the guy" the Bills might take 10th overall in the NFL Draft. I've seen WGR 550's Joe Buscaglia have the Bills taking him not once but twice in his mock drafts. Here's the latest mock draft from him (http://www.wgr550.com/pages/12796391.php?contentType=4&contentId=10371298). Glenn also was recently in town for a workout. Glenn spent his first three seasons at Georgia as an excellent guard, he was an All-American guard in his junior year. However, after a run of injuries to the Georgia offensive line, Glenn was moved over from his guard spot to the left tackle spot. Mark Richt wanted someone with experience to protect the blind side of Aaron Murray. So he plugged in Glenn and Glenn played well at left tackle, earning All-SEC 1st Team honors at tackle in his only year at tackle. He had a great game against LSU in the SEC Championship Game and was very good in the Senior Bowl as a tackle.
Why the Bills should draft him: It's as simple as the Bills need a left tackle. For those who are concerned because he was mostly a guard and is somewhat projected as a guard in some scouts' eyes, he had a really good year at left tackle his senior year. Plus he more than held his own in the SEC, which is the closest NFL competition he would face in college. Many of the top defensive players play in the SEC and Glenn more than held his own against them. He has tremendous size at 6'5 345 lbs and has great strength and arm length. His size is very prototypical for a tackle. He also has great footwork and awareness and a knowledge of the position. He gave his quarterback enough time to throw. Glenn is also a very good run blocker as both a tackle and guard. Did you know, the Bills have not drafted a tackle higher that the 4th round since 2002? It's about time they change that. Oh yea, he had a pre-draft visit with the Bills back in late March. I think he is someone Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey is eyeing up. It might be a little bit of a reach at #10, but he's a top-15 prospect and if he's in the top-15 and they like him, they'll take him at 10.
Why the Bills should not draft him: He is projected by many to be a guard and the #2 guard in the draft behind Stanford's David DeCastro. If he can't make it at tackle and is a guard at-worst, it would be a waste of the 10th overall pick. He needs to start at left tackle not right tackle or guard, look at Riley Reiff above.
David DeCastro - OG - Stanford
David DeCastro had a stellar three-year career as starting guard for Stanford, helping protect Andrew Luck and helping him have a stellar career as Stanford's quarterback and is the consensus number one pick in the draft. DeCastro is touted as the best guard prospect in the draft, going anywhere in the top-15. Now I know this seems weird for the Bills to be looking at a guard at number 10 when they need a left tackle more as well as a wide receiver. Plus the Bills have decent guards in Andy Levitre and Kraig Urbik. But follow with me as this could be a long shot but not as crazy as it appears. Just read what i have to write about him.
Why the Bills should draft him: I know, a guard at #10? who does that? We need a tackle. But follow me on this. At #10, the Bills need an impact player, who starts from day one and will start for over a decade. DeCastro is that guy. He is considered the best guard prospect since Steve Hutchinson in 2001. Hutchinson is a multi-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler. DeCastro has drawn comparisons to him. Now I ask you, what is better, the 2nd or 3rd best offensive tackle who either or both might not be a left tackle or an elite left tackle of the best guard in over a decade who can be an All-Pro and start for over a decade? Buddy Nix likes value over need and that's good. He wants elite players. It makes sense to get the best player available at #10. If DeCastro is, he will be the pick.
Why the Bills should not draft him: Given the examples I stated above, I really don't hate the move and actually am in favor of it. But it's crazy to take a guard that high at #10. It would be nice to see if he can play tackle, but he is considered a guard only and doesn't have the arm length to be a tackle. So tackle is out of the question. Also with him at guard, it moves Andy Levitre over to left tackle, which is something I want no part of.
Luke Kuechly - LB - Boston College
Luke Kuechly has climbed the charts over the last month and can be a top-10 pick. Kuechly is a tackling machine and has been in his stellar three-year career. In his three years at Boston College, Kuechly has amassed 532 tackles, 35.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and seven interceptions. Outside of maybe Michael Floyd, fans have wanted the Bills to draft Kuechly at #10.
Why the Bills should draft him: The Bills spent a ton of money on elite pass rushing defensive ends, but still have a need at cornerback. The Bills could use another linebacker. Kuechly is a tackling machine, who can make plays behind the line of scrimmage and play pass coverage well. That helps especially with the pass rush being addressed this off season. He also has incredible instincts and has a nose for the ball. If the Bills feel Kuechly is the best player available at 10, he will be the pick.
Why the Bills should not draft him: Linebackers aren't usually drafted in the top-10. In fact, only six linebackers have been drafted in the last decade. Only one of those, Jerod Mayo, had made it to the Pro Bowl and was an All-Pro. Linebackers aren't valued high anymore mainly because this is a passing league and there is an importance to getting after the quarterback and covering wide receivers. Kuechly is not a pass rusher despite playing pass coverage well. He seems like a guy who can get a lot of tackles, but he will probably make a bunch 5-10 yards down the field, which is important, but not superstar material. At #10, we need an elite play maker, not a solid player.
The pick I think right now is Michael Floyd as he looks to be the best at #10. I think Glenn is a big option over any other tackle and offensive lineman because of how Buddy Nix reportedly glows about him.
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