Buffalo Bills First Round Pick

Dec 29, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Buffalo Bills tackle Cordy Glenn (77) blocks New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones (95) during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bills come into the off-season and the draft with some obvious holes that need to be filled.  There are also some issues that need to be addressed and maturing that needs to be done.

There are definite holes in the offense and one or two that need to be addressed in the back 7 of the defense.

For the most part so far, mock drafts have shown that the Bills will be looking to the defensive side of the ball and moving t owards a linebacker or defensive end.  Both of these positions, I feel, are not the highest need at this point.

I have said in the past the the Bills need to look at a stud WR to take the place of Stevie Johnson and become the #1 option for Manuel.  While Manuel needs help there, he also needs help on the offensive line.  I like Mike Evans and in the past have said that this will be their choice.  I am adjusting my outlook and while it is the case for most of my colleagues to look at Mike Evans or even Khalil Mack, which is another Kiko who is not a strong run stopper and over pursues, I believe that the Bills will be looking offensive line in the first round.

There are three guys that catch my fancy when it comes to the O-line and they are all offensive tackles.  You say we have Glenn and Pears at tackle right now and need a guard and I would agree with you.  I would look to keep Pears where he is and move Glenn to guard as he is more versatile than Pears is.  Buffalo then drafts a OT and with one draft pick strengthens up their O-Line considerable.

Options at OT for the Bills are Jake Matthews, Greg Robinson, and Cedric Ogbuehi.  Of these, Matthews is the most intriguing but I don’t think that he will drop to 9th.  Right now mock drafts have him as far as 6th.  Robinson is bigger the Matthews is and is younger.  I see Robinson or Ogbuehi as a better option where the Bills sit at 9th than Matthews, but if Matthews drops to 9th, Buffalo needs to jump on him.

Adding a strong tackle to the bunch, with the younger guards that Marrone, says he likes and can see in the NFL, will only add depth to a struggling O-Line and will help to protect Manuel just a bit more to allow him to make the throws that he needs to make.