SI's Lombardi on Bills

Sports Illustrated is paying former NFL personnel chief Mike Lombardi, who has been with the Raiders, Broncos, Browns, Eagles and 49ers, to do some analysis. His columns have been revealing. In today's installment, he says Buffalo is a team to watch in 2008. Here's the link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/michael_lombardi/04/27/five.things/index.html

And here's Lombardi's item on the Bills:

Buffalo has been quiet but productive in the offseason. It made a trade adding Marcus Stroud to the defensive front, providing some much needed size. The Bills signed a versatile linebacker in Kawika Mitchell from the Giants. And in the draft they added top cornerback Leodis McKelvin, who will also help out in the return game, and big wide receiver James Hardy, who will complement speedsters Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish.

But what really makes the Bills' potential off the charts is the return of linebacker Paul Posluszny, among others, to the 53-man roster. Posluszny, a second-round pick in 2007, joined 11 other Bills last year on injured reserve. The Bills weren't all that far off last season, finishing 7-9 but playing hard in every game.

You better believe the Patriots are paying attention. The Bills are healthy, they have added size to their defense and they keep adding players who impact the kicking game. With all the attention being paid to the Miami Dolphins' new regime and the Jets' spending in free agency, I think the Bills have flown under the hype radar in the AFC East and are in position to challenge for a playoff spot in 2008.

---Mark Gaughan

Comments

[Larry Bordonaro]

Bills Go South On Day 2

After the McKelvin and Hardy picks, Bills fans fell asleep feelin' good. They woke to a decent Chris Ellis pick in rd. 3 even though the 6' 7" Brad Cottam was available. However the speedy undersized Ellis provides a need as a outside pass rusher.

In Rd. 4 they pick a corner that they could have had in free agency. Reggie Corner from Akron was not on anyone's radar. After drafting McKelvin and picking up Will James from Philly in free agency, cornerback was satisfied. And who is Derek Fine TE? Kellen Davis TE, was still available and a perfect pick here. I am not Fine with this pick!!!

Rd. 5 had our heroes taking OLB Alvin Bowen (223 lb's.). An undersized OLB from Iowa St. with speed. Owen Schmitt should have been the pick. A battering ram that enjoys contact and would lead the way for Lynch. A need position that had the #1 guy still on the board.

In Rd. 6 The Bills’ selection of Xavier Omon, a division II RB, was a big mistake. John Sullivan and Steve Justice, both centers and a need position, were available and a great value at this point in the draft. Where do we fit Omon on this team?

Dick Jauron said after the “Day 1” picks that he now relax. I believe he did.

The Bills start Rd. 7 by selecting Demetrius Bell OT. USC guard, Drew Radovich, is still on the board. Maybe a toss up, however guard is more a need position then tackle on The Bills. With their 2nd pick of the 7th, they choose Steve Johnson, WR Kentucky. A nice value pick here. The one that blows my mind is bypassing on Adarius Bowman WR, with the second last pick of the draft and taking another corner, Kennard Cox from Pittsburgh.. Bowman would have been one pick away from "Mr. Irrelevant". I don't care what issues you have with Bowman, the second last pick in draft is a pick that probably won't make anyone's roster. Bowman, before his troubles was slated to go on most boards by the 3rd round. The Jackson pick, before this pick, was a nice insurance for a Bowman shot.

MURPH

[matt]

The Bills had a solid draft. Anything after the third round is a crapshoot. All the media fools who grade the drafts should wait 2 years. Mike Florio from profootballtalk.com gets it right. He grades every team incomplete. His football website is great!

[Horace P Manure]

###

It's McLovin people, not McKelvin.

As in, Buffalo will be McLovin this kid.

He's like a sexy hamburger.

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[eric]

Why doesn't the blog have any info on rookie free agent signings by the Bills?

[Football bat]

tom, I haven't seen ANYONE grade the Bills draft that low, so I guess you are the only one who "knows anything about football". Way to go! How did you become so smart?

Clearly, the first two picks in a draft are the most important part of a draft, and the Bills addressed their two biggest needs with the best corner in the draft and the tallest receiver out there who is a top 5 receiver by anyone's standard and probably number 2 on the Bill's board. Then they grabbed the best DE available, a top 10 guy on most boards.

you would of preferred they spent these picks on a fullback and a backup QB?

[Don H]

Mel Kiper gives the Bills a C+. Our local paper, the Orlando Sentinel gives them a C. It's fun to grade drafts, but I don't think Kiper or any reporter is more knowledgable than professional scouting staffs.

[tom]

Anyone who knows anything about football will tell you Buffalo's draft, at best deserves a C-. The only thing keeping it from a D- is our first 2 picks. We still have no tight end, back-up QB, defensive end, or fullback help. We need a football mind in our front office before the Bills go anywhere in the post season.

[Ricky]

Yeah, the Patriots are brillant! They took a player 10th picked to be picked about 30th by every mock draft. Put Brady on any other team and they too are Super Bowl contenders.

[Jason Cole]

David, Don't pay any attention to my column on yahoo!sports. I am a total moran and I love to slurp Bill Belicheck's butt. I can't believe people actually listen to me when I write such stupid things, like that nobody works the draft like the patriots because they traded down from 7 to 10...Big f'n deal.

[David, Amherst]

Theory of Relativity: Outsider views of the draft give the Bills good marks overall, but all things are relative. Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports marked the Bills draft as B+. And the Patriots as A-.