BILLS MOCK DRAFT 1.0

In the first installment of a weekly seven-round, all-Bills mock draft, Malcolm Kelly is the choice at the 11th overall pick. Included inside is an interview video of Kelly at the NFL Scouting Combine. Read on premium members...

1st round (11th overall) – Malcolm Kelly-WR(Oklahoma)

’07 Stats: 49 rec. 821 yards, 9 TD

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Buffalo may pick up free agent wideout Bryant Johnson within the next couple days, but the first-round mindset shouldn’t change. Rookie wide receivers typically take 2-3 years to blossom, so draft Kelly and put him in the slot inside of Lee Evans and Johnson. Sure, taking a wide receiver this high could spark financial domino disaster at wide receiver, with potentially three mega contracts (if Johnson signs and Evans gets an extension). But it’s smart spending. Like Limas Sweed, Kelly is a thick 6-4, 220 lb. that uses his body well. What separates him from the Texas receiver? Kelly is the prototypical “Z” receiver, which is what he’d most likely be in Buffalo. He attacks the ball across the middle of the field, rather than shying from contact and curling up. Kelly was a red zone target at Oklahoma (21 touchdowns in three seasons), and he is almost automatic in traffic, where his aggression usually overpowers defenders. Buffalo doesn’t have a receiver like Kelly on its roster. Trent Edwards will love him.

The impulse may be to trade down, pick up an extra second-round pick, and take tight end Fred Davis later in the first. In a dream scenario, Davis would fall into Buffalo’s lap at pick No. 41, but that is dicey (He’s ranked 19th in Scout.com’s overall rankings). Kelly, Sweed, DeSean Jackson and Mario Manningham are too good to pass up though. At No. 11, the Bills guaranteed one of the four. The Bills must capitalize on a big time weapon.

2nd round (41st) – Martellus Bennett-TE (Texas A&M)

’07 Stats: 46 rec. 538 yards, 3 TD

It’s a small world. When Martellus Bennett was mulling over colleges during his senior year in high school, the Miami Hurricanes were high on his list and it was a future Bills tight end that hosted him on his visit – Kevin Everett. With the 41st overall pick, Buffalo can replenish a position that took a major blow when Everett dislocated his cervical spine against Denver…with someone who wore No. 85 in Everett’s honor during two games last season.

Bennett (6-6, 259 lb.) runs a 4.65 and is unusually athletic. At Texas A&M, he played basketball (cough, Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez), where he applied for the NBA Draft and was given a second round grade. But the guy can catch too. With the Aggies, natural hand-catching (away from his body) complemented natural athleticism – a Gates-like mix, cultivated from a basketball background. As he said, “football is my wife and basketball is my mistress.” Bennett may be a two-year project. His route running is raw and some scouts have slapped the “immature” label on him. But Bennett’s high ceiling is a must. He has 1,000-yard potential written all over him.

3rd round (71st) – Jack Williams-CB (Kent State)

’07 Stats: 93 tackles, 3 int., 11 PD

Unless Buffalo signs a veteran in free agency, such as Williams James (formerly “Will Peterson”), they’ll probably snare a cornerback in one of the first three rounds. Terrence McGee is an above-average starter, but there isn’t much else. Jabari Greer and Ashton Youboty struggled on-and-off throughout last season. Williams would be a steal in the third round. Ankle and shoulder injuries during his senior season will probably skew his value in the film evaluations teams have made on Williams. He wasn’t at 100 percent, but sucked up the pain. Williams was a four-year starter and a high-character leader at Kent State. At 5-8, 181 lb., Williams plays much bigger than his size. His hits pack punch in run support, and he has rare long arms to combat taller wide receivers. Williams had as many pass breakups (11) as top-rated corner, Troy’s Leodis McKelvin.

4th round – Josh Johnson-QB (San Diego)

’07 Stats: 2,988 pass yards, 68.4 completion percentage, 43 TD, 1 Int.

Your eyes are okay. Don’t dial 1-800-CONTACTS just yet. That 43:1 ratio is no typo. Former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh groomed Josh Johnson in a pro-style offense and he turned a Division I-AA opposition into his personal playground. He’s a winner and an improviser. Johnson’s team captured two mid-major championships and Johnson showed superb accuracy from every possible passing angle – inside the pocket, rolling out, with pass rushers in his face, etc.

It will be interesting to see when someone gambles on Johnson. The only knock on him is the inferior competition he faced. How much will that play into it? For Buffalo, drafting a quarterback here is beneficial on multiple levels. Johnson could back up and push Edwards at the same time. It’s important for the Bills starter to avoid the complacency that seemed to doom J.P. Losman.

5th round – Marcus Howard-DE (Georgia)

’07 Stats: 41 tackles, 12 TFL, 10.5 sacks

Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay are both playing under huge contracts, but they haven’t returned the favor. Buffalo’s starting defensive ends combined for only nine sacks last season. The Bills need a specialized, third-down pass rusher to collapse the pocket. Howard looks like he could play safety. At 5-11, 225 lb., he’s lacks defensive end build. But his 4.5 speed off the edge, and success in the brutal SEC merits a fifth round investment. Howard could be a core special teams contributor from Day One.

6th round – Ryan Grice-Mullen-WR (Hawaii)

’07 Stats: 106 rec. 1372 yards, 13 TD

He’s dangerous after the catch – a (very) poor man’s Wes Welker. Buffalo should draft at least two wide receivers.

7th round – Derrick Doggett-S (Oregon St.) ’07 Stats: 93 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 Int.

An undersized college linebacker (6-3, 200 lb.) that could be a darkhorse contributor at safety.

7th round – Breno Giacomini- OT (Louisville)

Converted tight end that started all 11 games last year. The athletic Giacomini is a very green project, but after Jason Peters’ successful transition, the Bills may look for another TE-to-OT transition.

Here's a video of Malcolm Kelly during his presser at the NFL Scouting Combine:

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