Buffalo Bills 2008 Draft Review and Grade
The 2008 NFL Draft is finally done with. If you’ve been online this weekend following my blogs and posts or commenting on them, thanks!
So here is a summary of the Bills 2008 draft. Click the links to read the full post about each player. Some have videos too.
The Picks
First Round - No. 11: CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy University - With every cornerback and wide receiver available, the Bills went with the top-ranked corner in the draft. McKelvin can fly with a 4.38 40-yard dash time. The question is with his hands, as he only picked off four passes in college. Additionally, he is a dangerous return man. The team could’ve gambled with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but McKelvin is more polished and should make an immediate impact for Buffalo. Link to post and video.
Second Round - No. 10 (41 overall): WR James Hardy, Indiana University - The decision to go with a corner in the first worked out, as the Bills had their choice of Hardy, Limas Sweed and Malcolm Kelly in the second. Hardy measures up at 6-5 and 3/8, making him the tallest Bills receiver by a wide margin. He also runs a 4.47 40. In three years with Indiana, Hardy recorded 191 receptions, 2,740 yards and 36 touchdowns. Also, will contribute this year. Link to post and video.
Third Round - No. 9 (72 overall): DE Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech - He is one of the faster defensive ends in the draft with a 4.71 40 time and is a skilled pass rusher. The last Bills defensive end to come out of VT was the great Bruce Smith in 1985. Ellis recorded 22 sacks in his career and 82 QB pressures. Could be a situational pass rusher immediately. Link to post and video.
Fourth Round - No. 15 (114 overall): CB Reggie Corner, Akron University - I think the Bills reached here and I was a bit surprised they took another corner so early. While McKelvin has questionable hands, that’s not the story with Corner (it’s confusing with the last name also being his position). The Akron product recorded 15 interceptions over his career. Buffalo feels that if he weren’t 5-10, he would’ve gone much higher. Link to post.
Fourth Round - No. 33 (132 overall): TE Derek Fine, Kansas - I’m upset the Bills didn’t come out of the draft with a good receiving tight end. At 6-3, 245, Fine is undersized for a tight end and runs just a 4.84 40. He is a good blocker and special teamer. I would’ve preferred Kellen Davis from Michigan State. Trent Edwards needs a tight end that can stretch the field and Fine is not able to do that. Link to post.
Fifth Round - No. 12 (147 overall): OLB Alvin Bowen, Iowa State - I think this is another reach by Buffalo. Bowen projects as a special teams player and a potential starter at weak side linebacker down the line. Why didn’t they grab a center like Steve Justice or John Sullivan here? On the other hand, Bowen led the country in 2006 in tackles per game. He will dominate on special teams and boasts one of the most amusing videos I’ve seen of an NFL player. Link to Post and video.
Sixth Round - No. 13 (179 overall): RB Xavier Omon, NW Missouri State - This could’ve been a reach as well. Additionally, I didn’t see running back as a big need. Omon comes from a DII program, but put up insane stats there. Despite a 5-10, 228 frame and 4.52 40 time, he amassed 7,073 rushing yards (5.6 avg.) and 92 touchdowns over his college career. Could be a No. 2 back down the line. Link to post and video.
Seventh Round - No. 12 (219 overall): Tackle Demetrius Bell, Northwestern State - He is a bit of a project for the Bills. He’s undersized at 6-3, 303 pounds and has only played football for two years. He’s a basketball guy, being the son of Karl Malone and has great footwork, making him a strong pass blocker. Sounds like a Jason Peters type of guy. Link to post and video.
Seventh Round - No. 17 (224 overall): WR Steve Johnson, Kentucky - The Bills continued to add height and depth at wide receiver late in the draft. Johnson struggled in his junior year at Kentucky, but exploded as a senior with 60 reception, 1,041 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s 6-2 and doesn’t run too fast, but he could be a good possession receiver down the line. I liked this pick. Link to post and video.
Seventh Round - No. 44 (251 overall): CB Kennard Cox, Pittsburgh - This pick surprised me, but in the seventh round it doesn’t matter much. Cox is the team’s third corner of the draft, giving them eight on the roster. Cox is a good tackler, but has questionable speed and ball skills. Link to post and video.
What we learned
Grading the Bills draft
I gave the first day alone an A, but the second day didn’t do as much in my opinion. The only guy I really liked was Ellis. I thought there were a few reaches and I wish the team got a better tight end and a center. A lot of the second day players won’t have a chance to start this year. Bowen and Oman are interesting players that I look forward to seeing on the field. Then there is Johnson and Bell, who could become solid players in the future. Overall, I give it a B+.
Thanks for checking in with Circling The Wagons for your Buffalo Bills draft coverage. Come back soon, as I’ll look at how soon the picks will make an impact and other pressing issues.
How do you rank the Buffalo Bills 2008 draft class? Post a comment and vote in the poll to the right.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 6:59 pm and is filed under Xavier Omon, Reggie Corner, Derek Fine, Kennard Cox, Alvin Bowen, Demetrius Bell, Leodis McKelvin, James Hardy, Chris Ellis, Steve Johnson, NFL Draft.
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15 Responses to “Buffalo Bills 2008 Draft Review and Grade”
April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! GOOOOOOOO BILLLLLLLLLSSS!!!!
April 27th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
The Bills draft has too much “potential” and not enough production! Demetrius Bell is at least two or three years down the road, and special teams was selected for way too much on day 2. I still feel that work needs to be done in order to make the 2008 playoffs. The dynamic TE wasn’t picked, and that dismayed me. Hopefully, Courtney Anderson and/or Teyo Johnson become the answers at that vital red zone position. Sadly, I don’t think so….
April 28th, 2008 at 6:57 am
This has to be one of the best teams in the draft this year. Even if half the guys produce and turn into starters or special teams players - they should be in the league for a while. Great job for the Bills!
April 28th, 2008 at 7:46 am
I hear your concerns John. When it comes down to it, the team chose a pass rusher over a tight end. Since they did that, they either know that DE is a bigger need or that Ellis is better than any of the TE’s available.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Brent: That’s very positive.
I only see Hardy, McKelvin and Bowen being real starters at the NFL level.
I see fine as a No. 2 TE, Corner as a No. 3 corner, Ellis being a career defensive end and Omon turning out to be a No. 2 at best.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:04 am
You read my mind Dan. Your forgetting about WR Steve Johnson though! He was projected as a high 5th round pick on most people’s boards. He has a chance to become our #3 on the roster. Reed may play in front of him this year, but if he gets hurt-Johnson comes in, not Parrish. I’m telling you man between Johnson and Bowen, I think we got 2 REAL draft day steals.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Carlos, I really do like the potential of Johnson. Those were some gaudy numbers last year. However, his route running is going to be raw…the good thing is he has the size to overcome that in year one.
I could see the Bills trying him out in the slot over Parrish in certain situations. If he performs, I’d take him as a third receiver.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:48 am
YAHHHHHHHH! They gave me off of work today BABY! WHOO-HOOOO, Buffalo Talk ALL DAY!
April 28th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Haha nice. I’ll get some posts going in the afternoon. I wrote a ton this weekend so I’m giving my fingers a break.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I guess I’m so so with the draft, I thought Sweed or Kelly would come off before Hardy, but I’m not mad about it. I would have loved for us to have grabbed a dominant TE though.
With that said I think the Bills did enough good things to get some air time with the so-called experts. I mean I’m racing through the tivo trying to find somone to comment on our draft. I just hope we win a lot of games so that we don’t have to be the #252 pick. “Team Irrelevant”
April 28th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I didn’t feel like seeing those old, rich seductive women anyway. I was talking with my brother, and he actually thinks Josh Reed may end up #5 on the roster by mid to end season, and limited to posssion situations where we know we need sure hands out there! I pretty much agreed with him. We’ve both been Buffalo fans since the 89/90 Superbowl because we loved the way Thurman Thomas was playing in that game. We knew we didn’t want to be Packers fans, so at the time we kind of were being BanWagon Jumpers, but hey we were kids. We stood strong though and loved our Bills EVER SINCE. In any case, I respect my brothers opinion greatly and he respects mine very much as well. Believe it or not, with all the rumors spreading he would go to the Bears, I was predicting it immediately that Drew Bledsoe would go to the Bills that year, because we needed a QB, and it gave him a chance to stay in the division and try to beat the Patriots(the team that gave up on him)! Everyone was saying I was crazy, and he was going to go to the Bears(including my brother)! He then predicted we would trade Willis McGahee long before anything was being considered or talked about to that regard, although he felt we would get at least a 2nd round pick out of him at the time-but good instinct nonetheless. I told him Lee Evans would become an immediate starter and stud-he did(didn’t take him 2-3 seasons to get going, did it Dan), and he predicted Aaron Schobel was going to be a sack master(which I didn’t buy at all at the time)! We’ve made a few not so good predictions though, he thought Kevin Everett would emerge as a stud(many thought he would though, NOT ME though), but I thought J.P. was going to be a superb QB(that may still happen though)! For sleepers, I KNEW we had a starter when we got Ko Simpson in the 4th round(I told everyone he’d start his rookie year), and was laughing at all the teams that passed on him. My brother, even though he’s a first rounder(not many thought he should get picked there), felt that McCargo was one of the best DTs he’s ever seen potential wise, and said he might be our #DT by his 2nd year. An injury prevented that progression from happening so quick, but he played really well last year, and he might have just been a year off in prediction. We have Stroud now, but don’t be surprised to see McCargo at least on 40-45% of downs this year!
April 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Ken, I had the same issue last night. I was watching NFL Net and ESPN and I couldn’t find much praise for the Bills.
Carlos, where do you work? Desperate Housewives? I hope your brother is right about Reed, in that would mean Johnson is the real deal. I would not be surprised to see McCargo play more than 45 percent of the downs. He was probably the best DT on the roster last year and showed flashes of being a dominant penetrating tackle.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Yeah, he looked real impressive at times. Losman reminded me of Steve Young coming in. I guess he doesn’t have that potential anymore in anyone’s eyes, do you? I just thought- he moves real well in the pocket and he’s got a cannon arm, and he’s got that kind of a chip on his shoulder, but it just hasn’t worked out I guess! I wouldn’t mind seeing him play this year for us though with the addition of Hardy and Johnson, and seeing what happens.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:44 am
hey, carlos cruz no one cares about what you called in the previous years i once called that the bills would run the ball on the first play agianst the jets in 1999 it was crazy idk how i did it… see know one cares that was a dumb post and you should just delete it so we can accually talk about the draft that just took place but way to go you are the man!
May 21st, 2008 at 8:17 am
Hey have you guys seen Alvin Bowen’s compliance linebacker spots… check em out here! Hilarious!
http://www.wusa9.com/news/columnist/blogs/angiegoff.aspx
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