Bills Fill Needs in 2012 Draft

Gilmore's play in SEC should prepare him for NFL game

The Buffalo Bills had nine picks entering the 2012 NFL draft.  They used eight of them (trading one away) and selected many quality players to fill their most desperate needs.

Stephon Gilmore, the speedy corner out of South Carolina became a Buffalo Bill when the organization drafted him with the tenth overall pick.  I had Gilmore as the second best corner in the draft behind Morris Claiborne and just ahead of Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama.  Gilmore gives the Bills an instant starter in the secondary that can add cover skills both in man coverage and zone.  He will have to continue to work on his overall technique and adjusting to the NFL game but the Bills finally realized that the SEC produces the best "ready to play" athletes so Gilmore should have no problem catching on.

The Bills then addressed another major need in the offensive line.  OG Cordy Glenn from Georgia (SEC) fell all the way to 41st.  Glenn, projected by some to be a target of the Bills in the first round was certain to go in the first round, or at least before 41st.  The Bills didn't trade up and didn't panic like in past years.  They stayed the course and waited until the 6-6, 345 pound guard fell to them.  The Bills plan is to use Glenn as the solution to their mediocre left tackle play but his original position at Georgia was guard.  He will be best suited at the guard position.  Trying his skill set at tackle isn't a poor idea, but it may not the best way to get the fullest out of Glenn.

The Bills followed up their first two selections by filling the last of their three main needs.  T.J. Graham became a Bill when he was drafted 69th overall.  Graham, mainly a slot receiver at North Carolina State stands just under six feet tall.  He will come in and try and provide the Bills with that number two receiver they have been missing for many years now.  They do not have many weapons for Fitzpatrick after Stevie Johnson.  Johnson will see many double teams this year especially if the Bills didn't add any weapons but Graham should be able to provide an impact in the middle of the field which will open up the big play for Johnson.

Tank Carder will add explosiveness

Nigel Bradham, outside linebacker from Florida State was the team's next selection to go along with another linebacker Tank Carder they picked up in the fifth round.  The additions of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson will help the pass rush immensely but the linebacking core was still weak.  The Bills hope that both Bradham's and Carder's college careers can translate into success at the NFL level.  Carder has an interesting story.  A former BMX world champion at age nine suddenly had his life flash in front of him when he was involved in a car accident in seventh grade.  "The only thing I remember was looking down the road and passing out... then I was in the hospital" Carder told ESPN back in 2009.  The vehicle hit a pole and he was flung from the car which caused the car to actually roll on top of him causing a punctured diaphragm, collapsed lung, broken back in two places, 5 or 6 broken ribs, and two chest tubes.  Miraculously, almost ten years later, the former TCU standout has achieved the unthinkable of dream of making it to the National Football League.

The Bills draft in it's entirety is listed below.  There were two themes of the teams' draft this year which has the team headed in the right direction.  They took the approach of defense defense defense and said through their picks "you're not scoring on us this year."  They also realized that the SEC Conference traditionally produces the best pro prospects.  Buffalo spend 3 of their first 5 picks on SEC players, Gilmore, Glenn, and LSU cornerback Ron Brooks.

1st round (10th): CB Stephon Gilmore [South Carolina]
2nd round (41st): OG Cordy Glenn [Georgia]
3rd round (69th): WR T.J. Graham [North Carolina St]
4th round (105th): OLB Nigel Bradham [Florida St]
4th round (124th): CB Ron Brooks [LSU]
5th round (144th): OT Zebrie Sanders [Florida St]
5th round (147th): OLB Tank Carder [TCU]
6th round (178th): OG Mark Asper [Oregon]
7th round (251st): K John Potter [Western Michigan]

My grade: B+
Mel Kiper's grade: B-

Many of these players the Bills drafted have the ability and potential to be contributors very early in their pro careers which makes this class even the more intriguing.  Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey have this team headed in the right direction which is what all fans expect having not made the playoffs in over a decade.  The schedule sets up favorable for the franchise this year but one thing that has been proven over the years in the NFL is you cannot win without the quarterback.  The X-factor for this team is Ryan Fitzpatrick.  In a passing league, Bills fans will need to see the Fitzpatrick that beat the Patriots and Eagles and not the one who threw a league leading 23 interceptions last year.  Injured or not, the performance of Fitzpatrick in the last two thirds of the season was J.P. Losman and Trent Edwards "esque."  Well, not that bad but he struggled enough to turn a promising start into a disappointment once again.  He will have to put his gun-slinging mentality away and focus on getting the balls to his receivers in spots they can catch it and methodically moving his drives down field.  When he gets anxious, he gun-slings, and what he does that, he overthrows... by a lot.  Overthrows lead to interceptions or drive killers.  The Bills, and Fitzpatrick can't have any of those if they expect to end this overdue drought.