Bills Draft Review

Buffalo Bills
Picks: LB Aaron Maybin, C Eric Wood, CB Jairus Byrd, OL Andy Levitre, TE Shawn Nelson, S Nic Harris, CB Cary Harris, DB Ellis Lankster

The Bills got off to a great start in 2008 with a 5-1 record but floundered after that and finished 7-9.  Head coach Dick Jauron kept his job but this a make or break season for him.  With their first pick the Bills took defensive end Aaron Maybin.  Maybin is a raw prospect and will take some time to develop likely only contributing as a nickel pass rusher this season.  Perhaps Brian Orakpo, who is more experienced and ready to play now, would have been a better pick.  With their other first round pick, which was acquired in the Jason Peters trade, the Bills took center Eric Wood.  Wood is a slight reach here but should be a starter on the Bills offensive line right away.  In the second round the Bills took Jarius Byrd.  Byrd is a playmaker intercepting 17 passes in three years at Oregon and will likely switch to free safety in Buffalo.  Andy Levitre was a good pick in the second round and should help improve the running game.  The Bills made a nice selection in the fourth round with Shawn Nelson.  Nelson was projected to go higher but fell to the Bills and is a great receiving tight end and can start right away.  Nick Harris was a good college safety but will likely move to outside linebacker in Buffalo and could be a nice backup if he can make the transition.  The Bills put together a nice class but they failed to take a left tackle to help replace Jason Peters and Maybin over Orakpo wasn’t the smartest move for a team and coaching staff that needs to win now.
Grade: B