Buffalo Bills: Worst first round picks and who they could have had

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: E.J. Manuel of the Florida State Seminoles holds up a jersey on stage after he was picked #16 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 25, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: E.J. Manuel of the Florida State Seminoles holds up a jersey on stage after he was picked #16 overall by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 25, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 24: Marcell Dareus #99 of the Buffalo Bills walks onto the field as he is announced before the game against the Miami Dolphins on December 24, 2016 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. Miami defeats Buffalo 34-31 in overtime. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 24: Marcell Dareus #99 of the Buffalo Bills walks onto the field as he is announced before the game against the Miami Dolphins on December 24, 2016 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. Miami defeats Buffalo 34-31 in overtime. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

2011 NFL Draft – Marcell Dareus (3rd overall)

The Buffalo Bills entered the 2011 NFL Draft with the third overall pick but had a number of holes they needed to address. The team elected to go with defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, who really didn’t have a bad career with the Buffalo Bills.

Dareus is the only player on this list who got a second contract from the Buffalo Bills once his rookie deal was up. He also was the only one to make it to a Pro Bowl (which he did twice) and was named a first-team All-Pro.

However, he struggled to replicate the similar performance he showed once on his new deal and the Bills elected to trade him to the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2017 season.

The reason that Dareus is on this list is more so due to the list of players the Bills could have had. This includes some of the best wide receivers in the game with A.J. Green and Julio Jones, one of the premier cornerbacks in Patrick Peterson and one of the best pass rushers when healthy in J.J. Watt.

All four players went in the next eight picks after the Bills selection of Marcell Dareus.

Players the Bills could have picked instead: A.J. Green (WR), Julio Jones (WR), Patrick Peterson (CB), J.J. Watt (DE)