2008 NFL Draft Review

'08 Draft Review: 2008 Buffalo Bills Draft Review

Round 1, Pick 11: In past drafts the Bills were the consensus "reachers" of the early first round. Not so in 2008. CB Leodis McKelvin of Troy was the consensus #1 DB on nearly everyone's draft board (though some would say that Tennessee State's Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has better hands, measurables and upside) and he was certainly equal value at this slot in the draft. McKelvin has hands of stone and is not a ball hawk, but what he does have is very good footwork, decent size and speed, good tackling ability, and a knack for batting away balls. He is not a game changer, but he is the best guy to throw out there as a rookie and say, "Go shut down Number __." Bills fans should be happy with this pick. Grade: A

Round 2, Pick 41: Indiana's James Hardy has the best chance of any WR in this draft to become a reasonable facsimile of Randy Moss some day IF everything comes together just right for him. He is a monster receiver with speed. The Bills desperately needed a big wideout to team with Lee Evans, and getting this guy at #41 is outstanding value. Best measurables of any WR in the draft, but still raw and developing. He will need work on the "tricks of the trade" to get off the line and to get open in zones, but he should be a terror in the red zone from day one. Is he clever enough to beat the jam? Grade: A

Round 3, Pick 72: Chris Ellis of Virginia Tech looked better in some games this year than the #2 pick in the draft from nearby Virginia University. He is not a "can't miss" guy, and doesn't have elite measrables, but he is a relentless DE prospect who will work and who will give effort. With Schobel and Kelsay just managing 9 sacks between them, you can throw Ellis right into the DE rotation and get perhaps another half dozen sacks out of the DEs with the others fresher, and with Ellis getting his share of those 6. Still, Ellis qualifies as a very mild reach based on most draft boards' placement of him. Grade: B

Round 4, Pick 114: Reggie Corner is well named. He is a decent prospect from the MAC, but he is smallish and was rated about the 50th-60th best corner on many draft boards. There were far better CB prospects on the board when the Bills took him, and the Bills probably kept him from becoming a UDFA. They did have the right idea drafting for this position, at least. Grade: D

Round 4, Pick 132: Derek Fine is a Bills-type of TE if there ever was one. No "shock and awe" here, but the kid will make the team and because he is such a good blocker, will likely even see the field in year one a few times, at a bare minimum. Oh yea, and he can catch a little too! Considered a 150-range player among all available draftees, however... so he has to be considered a slight reach. Still he is a workman-like kid who will not hurt you in any phase of TE play. Grade: B-

Round 5, Pick 147: Alvin Bowen is a mighty mite OLB who was VERY productive in college and generally knows how to get the job done. He could have probably been had even later, however. He is not a very reliable tackler, nor is he a guy who can help you much in pass defense. He is simply too small and too slow and too weak to make the team-- unless everything falls exactly right. Grade: C-

Round 6, Pick 179: The Bills seemed to be on a "college productivity" kick in the middle stages of the draft. No one was more productive as a DII "big back" than Xavier Omon this year, and he is probably a better pro prospect than even Germaine Race of Pittsburg State was last year. However, he simply lacks the second gear to get much done at this level, and is not going to be a reliable short-yardage guy either, because he is not all that big and powerful. Still at pick 179, these are the kind of guys you draft. Tough, coachable, productive, and with all the desire in the world. Grade: B

Round 7, Pick 219: Demetrius Bell is a small-school stud who really gets after it. Not a giant, but he competes and is a very fine athlete who could surprise. Let him sit on the practice squad for a couple years, feed him, and watch him grow. The guy could start in 2-3 years...no kidding. But, he isn't going to help you any time soon, unless a rash of injuries intervenes. Grade: B

Round 7, Pick 223: Steve Johnson is a shifty, tough and solid WR who can do damage after the catch. Many people like him better than Keenan Burton--the other WR from Kentucky who went higher. Steve is not fast (4.60 range) and he is going to have to be worked with, but he has some intangibles there that you rarely find in the 7th round. Grade: A

Round 7, Pick 251: Kennard Cox is a guy who never got it going at Pitt. He is a safety who lacks size and production at the college level, but could be one of those late round gems who turns out to be a better pro than college player. Solid flyer for the 2nd-to-last pick of the draft. Grade: B-

The Bills didn't get any instant game-changers, but they probably got 2 starters (McKelvin, Hardy) and 4-5 guys who will stick and make contributions. Corner and Bowen were quite possibly over-drafted, and I don't see them making the cut at this level, but you never know, and that's what makes the draft so intriguing. Unfortunately, only the Patriots had a poorer draft in their division, and that may not even matter. It would appear that the Dolphins have caught and passed the Bills with what they did in free agency and the draft, and the boys from the Lake may be scrambling with the Jets to avoid the basement of the AFC East in 2008.

Overall Grade: B

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