Free Agency Shaping the Draft
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

AP Photo/Alonzo Adams
8. Buffalo UPDATED DRAFT NEEDS – QB, WR, OT

Add– Kevin Kolb QB, Manny Lawson LB, Jairus Byrd S (franchised), Bryan Scott LB, Leodis McKelvin CB

Loss- Nick Barnett LB, Andy Levitre OG, George Wilson S, David Nelson WR, Ryan Fitzpatrick WR, Donald Jones WR

Change: Fitzpatrick is out. Kevin Kolb is in. Peepee arm for Peepee arm. The club still needs a franchise QB but it’s not the need it was.

Notes:

Doug Marrone would rather roll the dice and see if he can snag Ryan Nassib in the 2nd or 3rd round to compete with Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson. Buddy Nix may want to make amends for past transgressions and select Geno smith. The problem is, he may be off of the board. That means the receiver-starved Bills could draft Cordarrelle Patterson. Or, the safest plan is the best offensive tackle available, which would be Lane Johnson. He and Cordy Glenn can both play LT or RT. Glenn can also kick inside as a nasty OG if necessary.

The Pick:

The very persuasive new head coach convinces the bumbling GM to avoid crowning a new QB in the first round. Rather, to cultivate the answer through competition. Receiver is an important position, but not the most important. The NFL is won in the trenches. The defensive front seven is set. After losing the best guard in free agency, the Bills sew up the trenches on the offensive side of the ball and select uber-athletic OT prospect Lane Johnson.