Lombardi on SI.com sees the Bills as flying under the radar, challenging for a playoff spot. (See #4.) If the Bills can stay healthy, I totally agree. Biggest danger? Injuries along an O-line that lacks depth.

Oh, and Mel Kiper gave the Bills a C+ for their draft. I find Kiper's analysis to be borderline irrelevant. The only team to get an A or A- was the Chiefs and Kiper seems far more concerned with the Bills' Day 2 drafting than their haul on Day 1. Two thoughts. 1) This looks like the curve at law schools. 2) Maybe I should change my subscription from ESPN to SI.

You know as much as I do, but that they didn't grab Avril was a bit of a shock. The guy strikes me as a boom or bust player. He needs to bulk up, dump some character issues, and stop getting injured. He does that, and he's a beast. Check out his college tape. The main problem as I see is that he plays light. Rushes more like a strong side linebacker than defensive end. Also, I'm concerned with his high tackles and some personal fouls he's picked up in games. The Bills have drafted two guys with character flags. Could be fine, but character and leadership are intimately tied. Negatives aside, one thing to really like about the guy is that he'll probably contribute as a rookie in passing situations. The Bills are taking a win-now approach taking guys who are ready to play and keeping Losman on the roster. I dig that.

I also think this really solidifies what Bennett was saying earlier. The Bills truly and honestly believe that they have the answer at TE. I totally disagree, but there you have it.

Hardy: "I told [Jauron] I was the right guy for that spot. But he told me he really didn't feel I was going to be available in the second round." So, basically, the Bills were going CB or at least not WR in the first round. Bravo! They totally snowed the national media. Love it!

Jerry Sullivan: "Heck, I probably couldn’t pick either of the new players out of a lineup." Jerry, please talk about picking two black football players out of a lineup, especially when one has had legal trouble. It's not offensive, just weird.

Everyone is penciling in McKelvin opposite McGee. I'm not convinced that the answer isn't Greer and McKelvin. Whatever the solution, I think McGee is either going to return kicks or play CB. Not both.

I'm happy someone finally called the Patriots on a bad draft called the Patriots on a bad draft. Kiper was beside himself with the Mayo pick, one they could have had 5 slots later, at least. On the other hand, it seems like Clayton thought that a good draft meant having either two first round picks or the first pick overall. I think the Bills deserve some recognition for getting the top CB and arguably the best WR in the draft while hitting their two biggest need areas. If not the best WR, they certainly had their choice with Sweed and Kelly still on the board. And while the run on WRs lasted until late into the second round, the run on CBs did not. The well was dry before the Bills picked at the tenth slot in the second frame. Good thing they went CB and then WR, not the reverse.

So, what's to be expected in the next five rounds today? I think ESPN's on the money with TE Brad Cottam in Round 3. If that's the case, it kills me that they didn't go up and get Martellus Bennett before the Cowboys did. But it's best player available for the Bills from here on out. I'd love it if OLB Dan Connor fell to the Bills. Picking up another big WR like LSU's Early Doucet would be fun. The Bills might be looking for a replacement for Fowler and thus go for Steven Justice. But here's my pick: DE Cliff Avril. They need help with Hargrove gone and player rotation is what won the NY Giants the Super Bowl.

Check out the catch at 20 seconds: Beastly!

Post-Draft Report from ESPN


Pre-Draft Report from ESPN


YouTube Clips

Bennett: they wanted the biggest receiver. they got the biggest one.

Riley: this was unbelievable. they had Malcolm Kelly, Limas Sweed, and James Hardy all there in Round 2. They got the player they wanted, though I'm not sure why Sweed and Kelly weren't the answer.

Bennett: effort problems sometimes. that has to be a concern. but dude, he's enormous. you have to wonder why, if this was the guy the bills wanted, they didn't go up and get him. did they really want devin thomas and just settle? or did they want one of the other wrs who went earlier? they clearly weren't interested in a te. they think royal's the answer.

Riley: I'm concerned with his character issues.

Bennett: that's great. i can't wait for him to do blow before the game.

Bennett: my wife doesn't want to reveal her sources...but she says that baltimore won't take a qb at #8, even though atlanta took ryan at #3. we'll see how it plays out. (3:21 EST)

Bennett: stop texting me, bitch. that costs like 15 cents a minute! (3:31)

Riley: ESPN sort of agrees with your wife. It's either OL or CB for the Ravens at #8. Problem for the Bills is that either one sucks. If the Bills want to trade back, having a top OL there is more appealing that a CB. But if you want the top CB... (3:33)

Bennett: i'm in the rite-aid and my son just crapped his pants. we don't have any wipes. (3:40)

Riley: Great. Thanks for sharing. Jets take Gholston at #6. As a Bills fan, I like this pick. I think Gholston is overrated and his work-ethic will really cost him in the NFL. Plus, I wasn't looking forward to facing McFadden twice a year. (3:46)

Riley: If they pick Devin Thomas, I'm going to be sick. (4:17)

Bennett: bills got the #1 cb in the draft. i like it. and remember that you're on a team that has to face randy moss twice a year. (4:19)

Riley: Sigh of relief. I wish they'd traded back, but I love the pick. I think it gives them instant help, suddenly turns their defensive backfield into a strenght. The key now is to find a WR and a TE with only two picks left in the first day. Do you go WR or TE in Round 2? (4:19)

Bennett: i'm going to go tell my neighbor that the raiders drafted some guy they shouldn't have drafted in the first round. let's see if he freaks out. ... dude just dropped his groceries and warded off al davis for the next six months. (4:35)

Riley: Guys on the NFL Network are calling him, "McLovin." Let it be known that we have YaBooty and McLovin in the backfield. Nothing to be done about McGee, Whitner, Simpson, Greer, and James. (4:51)

Riley: Bills really need to try to move up a few picks in the second round to grab one of those top WRs. Also, if it makes y'all feel better, here's an article saying that CBs grabbed at the 11th spot are safe picks. (4:54)

Bennett: need to change diarrhea diaper. oh. it's horrible. might have gone through the outfit. might be a six wiper. let's see if i can do it in three... (5:14)

Riley: That was just nasty. Totally unnecessary. Sort of like the Lions taking some dude I've never heard of. (5:15)

Riley: Brothers are going crazy. No WRs taken after Dallas and Tennessee have made their picks. But when there's a run, there will probably be a run. Fingers crossed, people. (6:01)

Bennett: cowboys traded 6th round and 7th round to move up three slots in the first round. so, if the bills can find a willing partner we can cash in those three seventh rounders and some of those sixth rounder to move up five or six slots in the second round. (6:03)

Riley: Brothers are off on a tangent. They are now discussing Entenmann's. I'm pounding back some cookies. Childhood memories of dad bringing home raspberry danish after soccer. Good shit. And Kosher too. This run on non-WRs is simply amazing. Amazing. Has this ever happened before? Could there be no WRs in the first round? (6:11)

Bennett: thinking about wr here. clearly there will be one of the top 5 wrs available. bills better pick one. and it better not be deshaun jackson, aka roscoe parrish. (6:36)

Riley: Incredible. Not a single WR in 31 picks. And the fastest first round since 1990. I wouldn't be shocked if Miami started with grabbing with a WR here. But they also have needs at OT and QB. So, let's hope that WRs keep falling. Keep in mind they could also grab a good TE at this slot. And the Bills could trade up. Amazingly, the Bills are in an incredible slot. If things go south, they have no one to blame but themselves. (6:39)

A harsh critique of past Bills' drafts by Mark Sando on ESPN misses the point. Three of the Bills' past four picks have started over 80% of their games. And there's strong arguments that all three are Pro Bowl material.

The critique also fails as (and I really hate the dude) McGahee has gone on to become a very capable starting RB. So the only clear flop on the list is Losman. I fail to see the difference between this and the much praised Jets drafting other than the lineman v. skill position.

And this isn't even getting into the arbitrary 5-year distinction and the fact that there are three different drafting regimes at play.

Report coming from ESPN has the Eagles looking to move from 19 to the 10-15 range in the first round of the draft. Ummm, yes please.

Bills swap with Eagles. Get Sheppard. Then draft a wide receiver. That's probably a fantasy as the Bills a) would have to throw in a second rounder at least and b) pay Sheppard more money than they want to.

Nevertheless. It's out there.

NFL Roundtable pegs Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly as busts:

Draft Day is finally here. Bennett and Riley will be discussing the Bills side of the draft throughout the day, so check back in throughout the day for instant-commentary.

Just to get things rolling, I'm totally shocked that Mel Kiper has Derrick Harvey going to Kansas City at #5. I think this is further proof that this draft is totally wack. No one has any idea what's going on. Devin Thomas is the #1 WR, but he was labeled the most likely bust in the draft by an ESPN roundtable. Who was the #2 most likely bust? Malcolm Kelly, the #2 WR. Derrick Harvey, the top DE in the drop, has climbed all the way from a late first rounder to a #5 pick in the last couple weeks. And just try asking who the #1 CB in the draft is.

What does this all mean? I think the Bills should trade out of the first round completely. Pick up a next year first rounder and an early second rounder. Plenty of terrific CBs and WRs to be had in the second rounder, plus the Bills will find their all-around TE.

The Brothers weigh in on who they think the Bills will draft.

Bennett
1st Round: CB Rodgers-Cromartie, 6'10", 184 lbs., Tennessee State
2nd Round: WR Jordy Nelson, 6'2" 217 lbs., Kansas State

Riley
1st Round: WR Devin Thomas, 6'1", 216 lbs., Michigan State
2nd Round: CB Antoine Cason, 6'0", 191 lbs., Arizona
3rd Round: TE Martellus Bennett, 6'6", 259 lbs., Texas A&M

Riley's Commentary: The Bills should go with Rodgers-Cromartie in the first round and hope Malcolm Kelly or another big WR falls into the early second round. A good TE will be there in the third round. Rumors that they'll grab an OT in the second round scares me. Imagine the Bills going DE, OT, TE on the first day. Makes me sick just to think about it. Also, watch out for draft day trades. Between Chad Johnson, Lito Shepperd, and JP Losman, there are some deals to be done. I think Shepperd for a 2nd Rounder and a 5th Rounder (same as DeAngelo Hall) is the most likely of the bunch.

A quick e-mail exchange between the brothers:

Riley: Trade JP for a pack of bacon. Sign Culpepper to a 1 yr. 1-2 million dollar deal.

Bennett: don't think it'll happen...culpepper still wants to be a starter...

Riley: But if you're Culpepper, nobody's going to hand you the starting job outright...might not even get the chance to compete for it. Best chance is to line up behind a young guy and hope he a) gets injured or b) falters.

But I hear what you're saying. I think we're going to have real problems getting Evans open this year. But I just don't seen spending a #1 as a response to that. Should have signed Jerry Porter.

Bennett: can't stand jerry porter...but that's probably because he single-handedly ruined a couple of my fantasy teams over the years...

no way culpepper's going to sign behind a young guy like edwards...and no way the bills would look to sign a dude like that who still desperately wants to start...they'll sign someone who's cool being a backup...like a gus ferrotte or something...and culpepper will head somewhere where they at least publicly claim the qb competition is "open"...

if they don't go wr or te in round one or two, i will be shocked...you need to give evans SOME help...