Buffalo Bills 2010 NFL Draft Grade
BUFFALO
1.9 CJ Spiller, RB, Clemson
I find myself wanting to give the Bills a good grade considering I called the Spiller pick in my mock, but in reality it’s pretty strange to take a running back with these other needs. I thought Buddy Nix wanted to duplicate the Tomlinson/Brees draft from his San Diego Days with Spiller/Tebow, but he missed Tebow, and it left the Bills appearing foolish. Smarter mind will see that Spiller is an incredible player, and this backfield could give Buffalo a great identity as a brutal rushing team. Just bigger needs were left unattended. GRADE: B
2.41 Torrell Troup, NT, UCF
Troup was a reach that almost seemed rushed in the second. But at the same time, if Buffalo really wanted him, and they had the other rounds planned out, then why not take your guy? It’s not like Troup is some scrub, and he carried a 2-4 round grade. They really needed a nose, and they got one. GRADE: B
3.72 Alex Carrington, DE, Arkansas State
Carrington is an excellent pick in the third. He’ll be a sound 5-tech for this defense, they really don’t have anyone that could keep him from starting early. He’s a high-motor, cerebral player who has major upside. He’s a great pick this late. GRADE: A
3ROUND GRADE: C+
4.107 Marcus Easley, WR, UConn
I liked Easley all offseason. He worked hard to earn playing time at UConn as a walk-on, and with his physical tools and that ethic, he’ll be a solid player. GRADE: B
5.140 Ed Wang, OT, Virginia Tech
The Bills had to address the offensive tackle at some point. This is right in Wang’s draft range, so the value is right, and he fills a need as an athletic project who could grow into a left tackle. GRADE: B-
6.178 Arthur Moats, OLB, James Madison
Moats is a productive guy with good measurables who projects as an outside linebacker in this scheme. He’ll be a solid pass rusher if nothing else. Needed someone across from Aaron Maybin. GRADE: B-
6.192 Danny Batten, LB, South Dakota State
Batten was one of my favorite sleepers in the draft. A productive pass rusher in college, he has the skills and size to play inside or out in the 3-4. Good depth pick. GRADE: B
7.209 Levi Brown, QB, Troy
I was never on the Brown bandwagon. At least not unless I was out for Mexican the night before… Anyway, the Bills needed someone to toy with at QB, and a lot of people like Brown. I would have gone with Snead. GRADE: C
7.216 Kyle Calloway, OT, Iowa
Calloway was a guy I thought might go in the third. He’s a right tackle type, but he played very well in relief on the blindside in college. He could be an all-world steal. GRADE: B
Best Pick: Alex Carrington
Worst Pick: Levi Brown
Sleeper Pick: Kyle Calloway
FINAL ANALYSIS
The Bills went with unconventional wisdom and tried to duplicate the Chargers’ Tomlinson/Brees draft with Spiller and Tebow, but Denver ruined that. They scrambled to make up for it, and actually came out alright. Spiller is an excellent athlete who will make room in a crowded backfield. If having three talented backs on the roster is a bad thing, don’t tell the Jets or the old Giants. They seem pretty committed to it. Troup may have been taken early, but he fills a need and was part of a slim group of starting-caliber nose tackles. And Carrington is going to find a way to make plays for this team. He was a smart pick.
Batten, Easley, Wang, and Moats all have great potential, and all fill needs, but they are seriously risky prospects. Moats and Batten played below the FBS level, and Wang and Easley are raw. Levi Brown doesn’t seem like anything more than a backup to me, but he’s got some tools, and backup QB is a need. Calloway should have never lasted this long. He could end up playing this season, especially on this O line.
FINAL GRADE: B
|ARI|ATL|BAL|BUF|CAR|CHI|CIN|CLE|DAL|DEN|DET|GB|HOU|IND
|JAX|KC|MIA|MIN|NE|NO|NYG|NYJ|OAK|PHI|PIT|SD|SF|SEA|STL
|TB|TEN|WAS|
