SB Nation - Shawn Nelson

2009 NFL Draft Grades: Buffalo Bills Edition

Brian Galliford — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:30:10 -0000

8 months ago: Russ Brandon, center, Buffalo Bills chief operating officer/general manager, stands with the team's first-round NFL draft picks, Aaron Maybin, left, and Eric Wood at the Ralph Wilson Stadium complex in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Maybin, 11th-overall pick, is a defensive end from Penn State and Wood is a center from Louisville. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

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The 2009 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Buffalo Rumblings community - at least to the point that this is published - has given the Buffalo Bills' efforts over the weekend an overwhelming 78% approval rating (while 9% of voters disapprove and 12% are undecided).

I have long believed that handing out grades after a draft is an exercise in futility, because ultimately, we have no idea how each pick is going to pan out. Ellis Lankster may end up being the best draft pick out of this class; we just don't know yet. But we do a reasonable amount of research, and far more prudently, we can grade the picks on a philosophical level - so grades aren't completely irrelevant. Here's how we grade the Buffalo Bills' 2009 NFL Draft efforts - factoring in player, philosophy and using those to form an ultimate grade.

1-11: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
Entering draft weekend - and throughout the entire pre-draft process, really - I worried that the Bills would pass on a speed rusher for a more well-rounded, every-down defensive end. That's the type of athlete they've targeted in the past, and I didn't expect it to change. I'm happy to report I was wrong. On paper, Buffalo has its most explosive pass rusher since Bryce Paup.

What makes this pick better is the fact that they took the right player. No DE displayed a quicker first step in college or at the Combine than Maybin. I had him rated as the top DE on the board the moment he declared for the draft, and the Bills clearly followed suit, if only at the most critical juncture. I think he's the best pass rusher in the draft. The Bills, too, think he's the best pass rusher in the draft, and his upside is tremendous. There is risk here, and he won't play every down, but this is still a perfect fit. Philosophy grade: A; Player grade: A-

1-28: Eric Wood, OG, Louisville
Considering the fact that Buffalo went into the draft with only three set starters on the offensive line, this pick made a ton of sense both philosophically and player-wise. Wood was Buffalo's top-rated interior lineman, and he was close to the top on my board as well. He was one of four or five guys that I viewed as immediate starters at this level, and it was plainly obvious that the Bills needed one of those. They may have had to reach a touch to get him, but blame the Cleveland Browns for that - they took California C Alex Mack at No. 21 overall. Buffalo couldn't wait on Wood once that happened, so they're not docked as many points overall. Philosophy grade: A-; Player grade: B+

2-42: Jairus Byrd, FS, Oregon
My eyebrows raised a bit on this one, as I'm certain yours did as well. It was pretty apparent, however, that the Bills were going to add a DB early on in the draft process, and it was nice to see them target a safety prospect with ball skills. Byrd's ball-hawking tendencies alone make him a smart investment, but like Maybin, he's probably not an immediate starter. I like the fact that they targeted a playmaker here; I do believe there were some better safety prospects available, but I'm not complaining about the Byrd selection in the least. Philosophy grade: B; Player grade: B-

2-51: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State
Remember when I said that I thought four to five interior linemen in this draft class could start right away? Levitre was one of them. He was also the third-rated interior line prospect on Buffalo's board (behind Wood and Seahawks C Max Unger), and at this point in the draft, he was another supremely intelligent investment. Don't be concerned with the college tackle's position switch - Levitre was born to play guard. He's a Wood clone. With this pick and the subsequent shift of Brad Butler to RT, Buffalo had quickly re-assembled its offensive line after the trade of OT Jason Peters a week prior to the draft. Philosophy grade: A; Player grade: B

4-121: Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss
I'll say it now, folks - Shawn Nelson is the steal of the 2009 Draft. Name any other pick by any other team that you think is a steal, and I'll tell you why Nelson is a better pick. At one point in time, Nelson was considered a fringe first-round pick. A day before the draft, most experts would have told you he'd be a second-round pick; third at the worst. This kid is tall, super fast and athletic, and outside of Bengals TE Chase Coffman has the best set of hands on any receiving prospect in this draft class. Buffalo actually considered trading up on day two for this guy. His athleticism, ability to stretch the field, and run-after-catch abilities are going to be an excellent help for QB Trent Edwards - who got a lot of help in this year's draft, by the way. Philosophy grade: A-; Player grade: A-

5-147: Nic Harris, OLB, Oklahoma
I have no issues with Buffalo taking a productive, athletic collegian and asking him to make a position switch. Harris will be able to handle it. We've crossed the threshold from instant impact to depth here, though; Harris will make the team and contribute as a special teams player (where he actually has a good deal of potential), but he's not an answer to the team's question at starting SAM linebacker. Philosophy grade: B; Player grade: C+

6-183: Cary Harris, DB, USC
You knew that Buffalo would take a pure corner at some point, and Harris was actually one of the late-round sleepers I'd circled because of his physicality and zone-based skill set. He has the potential to start in this league, folks. He'll never be a spectacular player or a Pro Bowl performer, nor will he make many big plays, but he's smart, tough, defends the run well, and will hold his own. He can also play some safety if need be, and of course, he'll play special teams. Philosophy grade: B-; Player grade: C+

7-220: Ellis Lankster, DB, West Virginia
Was I surprised that the Bills ended the draft by taking two defensive backs? Not really. Lankster is a fringe prospect, but he has a bit of playmaking potential and, like Harris, has a zone-based skill set. I'll defer to the Bills on this one - they've drafted relatively well in the late rounds over the past three years. It would have been nice if they'd had a player at a different position graded out as highly as another DB, however. Philosophy grade: C+; Player grade: D

Total (weighted) philosophical grade: B+
Total (weighted) player grade: B
Overall 2009 Buffalo Bills Draft Grade: B+

2009 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills Pick Recap

Brian Galliford — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:33:19 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Neibergall - AP

Buffalo Bills DE Aaron Maybin, the team's first first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

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The 2009 NFL Draft is officially in the books!

Entering the weekend, the Buffalo Bills had three areas that needed immediate attention: their woeful pass rush; their porous offensive line; and a defensive playmaker. The Bills addressed those needs on day one, and coupled with one tremendous value selection on day two, the Bills made out like bandits this draft weekend - whether you're a fan of their late-round picks or not.

Without further ado, here are your eight newest Buffalo Bills...

1-11: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State (Coverage)
We asked for a speed rusher and the Bills obliged. Maybin, by a country mile, is Buffalo's most athletic pass rushing threat since the days of Bryce Paup. He is undoubtedly a gamble, and won't be an every-down player right out of the gate. But with quarterbacks Tom Brady, Chad Pennington and now Mark Sanchez in the division, the Bills needed a guy to put heat on those signal-callers. This is a smart risk for the Bills to take - and Maybin's potential is elite.

1-28: Eric Wood, OG, Louisville (Coverage)
They tried to move up for TE Brandon Pettigrew but weren't prepared to pay out the nose to do it. Instead, they stay put and take a smart, athletic, tough-nosed kid who steps in and immediately fills the right guard position vacated by Brad Butler, who will move to right tackle.

2-42: Jairus Byrd, FS, Oregon (Coverage)
Buffalo went into the draft keenly aware that they needed a playmaker defensively, and particularly at the safety position. This is a risky pick in that they're asking Byrd to make a position switch, but he enters Buffalo as the best DB on the team in terms of pure ball skills. Ko Simpson, beware: you are officially on the roster bubble.

2-51: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State (Coverage)
Buffalo traded third- and fourth-round picks to move back into the second round and draft another instant starter in the versatile Levitre. He is a Wood clone - tough, smart, and durable. He has the inside track at starting immediately at left guard; the Bills will move Brad Butler to right tackle and flip Langston Walker to left tackle to replace the departed Jason Peters. And just like that, Buffalo's in-flux offensive line is once again settled - and perhaps better.

4-121: Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss (Coverage)
This was by leaps and bounds Buffalo's best selection, if you're asking me. Nelson is one of the finer athletes available at any position in this draft class, and he's also got an incredibly soft pair of hands. He's an immediate upgrade at the tight end position and complements Derek Fine and Derek Schouman perfectly. Even better - unlike some of his "receiving TE" counterparts, he's got upside as a blocker. Buffalo now has themselves a legitimate tight end threat for the first time since Jay Riemersma ran routes at The Ralph, though whether or not he'll contribute as a rookie is another question.

5-147: Nic Harris, OLB, Oklahoma (Coverage)
He played safety in college, but the Bills will move the 230-pound athlete to outside linebacker. This is where Buffalo's draft class crossed the realm from "contributor" to "depth", but Harris was very productive at a high-quality program. He's worth a shot, and he'll compete directly with Keith Ellison for a future roster spot.

6-183: Cary Harris, CB, USC (Coverage)
Zone-based, physical cornerback that provides depth and special teams potential. May have a tough time making the roster considering Buffalo's envious depth in the defensive backfield, particularly at cornerback.

7-220: Ellis Lankster, CB, West Virginia (Coverage)
... Zone-based, physical cornerback that provides depth and special teams potential. May have a tough time making the roster considering Buffalo's envious depth in the defensive backfield, particularly at cornerback.

That's it, folks. Draft weekend at Buffalo Rumblings has officially concluded. Thanks for dropping by this weekend; I know that personally, I had a blast hanging with y'all. Cheers!

Poll

Do you approve of the Buffalo Bills' efforts in drafting eight players in the 2009 NFL Draft?

Yes

1064 votes

No

131 votes

Undecided

159 votes

1354 votes | Poll has closed

Bills select Southern Miss TE Shawn Nelson at No. 121

sireric — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:24:06 -0000

New Buffalo Bills TE Shawn Nelson (photo source)

With pick number 121 in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected Shawn Nelson, a versatile, athletic TE from Southern Miss.

The No. 121 overall pick is one of the selections obtained by the Bills in the Jason Peters trade. The first was used on OG Eric Wood yesterday in the first round.

Nelson was a favorite of many folks here and should go a long way towards appeasing the masses, as well as being a pretty good TE. Nelson has good blocking skills and is considered a pretty solid receiver at the position. The 6'5", 240-pound Nelson runs the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds, scored 16 career touchdowns and averaged 13.1 yards per reception in his career as Southern Miss' go-to target. Once considered a darkhorse contender for first-round consideration, Nelson represents tremendous value in the fourth round.

Buffalo has three more selections on the day. This is your open thread until the Bills' next pick, No. 147 overall in the fifth round. Stay tuned!

Poll

Are you pleased with the pick of Southern Miss TE Shawn Nelson?

Yes

1251 votes

No

15 votes

1266 votes | Poll has closed

Rumblings Authors Mock, V2.0 - Kurupt's Take

Kurupt — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:15:08 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

8 months ago: in this Feb. 21, 2009 file photo, former Mississippi offensive lineman Michael Oher runs a drill at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

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With so much Buffalo Bills news being thrown at us the past few weeks, we finally will get the chance to enjoy the NFL Draft in just a few days. The newest Bills will likely end up being a group that we did not expect, and in some cases, may never have even heard of. But that's what is so great about the event - even the unknowns have the potential to be great players if drafted into the right situation. Hopefully, we'll find a great group of future stars this weekend. We sure need it! I'm getting mocked out, so this better be my final version(s). The first version involves what I think the Bills should do based on the giant void at LT. The second version is my attempt to avoid drafting an OT in Round 1. (For comparison's sake and a good laugh, my first two mock drafts can be found here and here.)

Following the Jason Peters trade to Philadelphia, there's really only one other trade worth considering to acquire more draft picks at this point. I would like to trade Roscoe Parrish, but I don't want to - nor do I think the team needs to - trade him just to get rid of him and get something in return. He still can be quite valuable to our special teams, so I'm not settling for anything less than a fourth.

Trade: Roscoe Parrish to the Dallas Cowboys for a Round 4 pick, No. 117 overall
The Cowboys have a lot of mediocre receiving options as it is with Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd and Miles Austin already in place, but they need more experienced depth, and more importantly need to improve one of the worst return games in the league from a season ago. Having finished a dreadful No. 30 in average per punt return, I'm guessing they'd be more than willing to explore a trade for the best punt return man in the NFL. Armed with ten Day 2 picks, I'm guessing that sending this fourth rounder to the Bills for Parrish will be as good as any move they make on Sunday.

Therefore, when Saturday afternoon at 4PM hits, we'll have pick Nos. 11, 28, 42, 75, 110, 117, 121, 147, 183, and 220 to play with. Let's have some fun... after the jump.

1-11: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi: We need to get Jason Peters' replacement as soon as possible. It came down to Oher and Andre Smith, and I think both are pretty even, all things considered. I made the choice of Oher because I'm too worried about Andre Smith's immaturity, motivation, and weight struggles. Despite having his own flaws (technique, inconsistency, intelligence), I think Oher is a bit safer than Smith, though I can see both becoming Pro Bowl tackles (or out of the league in three years). It's also looking very likely that Smith will come off the board somewhere in the Top 10. Therefore, I'm taking Oher to protect Trent's Blind Side - get it?!

1-28: Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech: I've grown to like Johnson over the past couple of weeks. He's definitely not at the top of my DE wish list, but he's not as far down as others are. I think his upside and potential are so much greater than many of the other DE prospects, especially those to be had at this point in the draft (I'm guessing Orakpo, Brown, Maybin, Ayers and Barwin will be gone). Johnson brings elite physical tools, having great size and athleticism. His knock has always been a lack of intensity and only average production. For some reason, I think he'll be one of those guys that puts it all together in the pros after having struggles with it in college. He's too talented not too. If there is ever a role for Chris Kelsay on this team, it's to get a guy like Johnson to follow his work ethic. This is assuming Kelsay gets to keep his job... I'll take Johnson's potential here, and I really believe he can be a good edge rusher as a rookie. Larry English was my other consideration here, but I think his upside is limited and he may be better suited in the 3-4.

2-42: Eric Wood, G/C, Louisville: Eric Wood seems to be a guy that's gotten lost in the shuffle with all the hoopla lately. The Unger, Mack, and Robinson (nice law firm, eh?) discussions have remained pretty consistent, but Wood's buzz has seemingly died down. Good. I hope the teams picking ahead of the Bills "forget" about him as well. He's got the demeanor, experience, intelligence and frame to be a very good NFL player, even if he doesn't become elite. I have no problem taking Wood to play RG for us this year and think he'll be a good starter for us for years to come. I like Max Unger here as well, but I have a gut feeling that Wood will be a better pro.

3-75: Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Mississippi: I think Nelson offers the best combination of size, athleticism, receiving skills and blocking upside of any TE prospect that will be selected in Round 2 or later. There is a good chance that Nelson will be gone, but I've seen plenty of scouts ranking him as a third rounder, so I'm sticking with those folks. Nelson can come in and help our passing game right away while he continues improving his blocking. He is a willing blocker who is reliable in space, but needs to improve his in-line blocking. I'll take that. If Nelson is gone, simply give me James Casey, another athletic receiving threat who also has experience blocking.

4-110: Michael Hamlin, SS, Clemson: With the extra picks, I believe we are more than able to add a safety in the middle rounds. I'm still not 100% convinced that we need a SS more than a FS, but I will concede that an upgrade at either would be beneficial. It came down to Chip Vaughn vs Michael Hamlin here, but I think there's a chance Vaughn will go a bit earlier because he's a better athlete. I like Hamlin's production and intangibles more than Vaughn's production. To me, Vaughn is very similar to what we have, a decent/good safety that doesn't make a whole lot of game changing plays. I think Hamlin's production speaks for itself (14 INT, 300+ tackles), and he's exactly the type of SS we need here in Buffalo. He's also a great leader and instinctive, which doesn't hurt. If we add a FS, I'd be taking Darcel McBath from Texas Tech here.

4-117: Zack Follett, OLB, California: I'm not enamored with Follett, but I love his game. Simply put, he's a quality player. I'm worried about his athleticism and quickness, but he's a hard-nosed player that knows how to get the job done. I'm a fan of linebackers that know how to get to the QB and have that added versatility. I think he can come in and push Ellison right away, and likely overtake him if he shows he's ready. I wish we had Ellison's upgrade already in place, but we don't. I don't like many of the OLB prospects from Rounds 2-4, and feel Follett will be as good as any of them. For a fourth round pick that may be able to start and be productive right away, this would be a good pick. I like Tyrone McKenzie more than Follett if he's available, but I don't think he will be.

4-121: Anthony Hill, TE, North Carolina State: You know what? I had to get crazy at some point; it's who I am. We've discussed ad nauseam the type of TE we believe the Bills will be looking for: a down the field receiving threat or a very good blocker who can catch passes if necessary. Well, why not bring in both? I don't know about any of you, but Derek Schoman isn't exactly a guy I want up near the top of the depth chart, nor do I worry about having to release him. Bringing in two guys like Nelson and Hill, coupled with Derek Fine, would really solidify this position for years. Hill is a guy I like that falls in the "blocking" TE mold, and I tend to think of him as a comparable player to Brandon Pettigrew. Similar size, athleticism, experience and production as Pettigrew, only not quite as good. I like the idea of making this a strong position, both in terms of blocking and receiving skills. Adding Nelson and then Hill will also help our young LT Oher in the run game.

5-147: Joe Burnett, CB, Central Florida: I know some of you may be wondering why I'd add another CB this year, and I can see where you're coming from. This pick isn't being spent on a guy I'd expect to see the field defensively any time soon. Rather it's a pick to protect the position for the future, while filling Roscoe's punt return spot. Burnett is a quality player that was very productive at both CB and punt returner. He had 16 career INT and averaged over 13 yards per punt return on 96 returns with 3 TD. He's nowhere near as explosive as Roscoe, but he's an experienced and talented return man in his own right. With McGee and Youboty in the last year of their deals and Florence having just a two-year deal, adding a potential depth CB may be of some importance this year. Getting a punt returner after trading Roscoe is of much greater importance.

6-183: Nick Reed, DE, Oregon: I really, really like this guy. So do Colts fans, apparently. After not receiving an invite to the Combine, Reed went out and put up some very eye-opening workout numbers during his Pro Day. With a nice 40 time and great 3-cone and 10-yard split times, Reed's stock is on the rise. He was an extremely productive pass rusher in the Pac-10, compiling 25 sacks and 42.5 TFL the past two seasons. He's undersized, but a hard worker that can contribute as a pass rush specialist, and at the very least become a solid special teamer. Sign me up.

7-220: Dallas Reynolds, G/C, BYU: The re-building of the OL continues. Reynolds adds good size, experience and versatility to the OL depth. For a late round flier, this guy has the ability to become a dependable backup in the NFL, and maybe even start at some point.

*****************

I don't believe a word Chris Brown speculates on the situation, but since you never know, I will assume the Bills plan to go with Walker and Bell as their starting tackles. Therefore, my mock with no OT selected in the first round:

1-11: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State: No need to change from my original choice even though it's looking unlikely that the Bills would actually consider him even if he's available. Oh well. I still love his potential and absolutely love what he could provide our desperate DL. I wish we could have him and one of the top 4 OT prospects.

1-28: Alex Mack, G/C, California: Since we aren't drafting a tackle to start right away, let's at least bring in the best interior line prospect in this class. I like Mack a lot - not as much as some of you - but I'd be perfectly content getting him at the end of the first and plugging him in at guard.

2-42: William Beatty, OT, Connecticut: Well, I still don't trust Brownie, and I have no confidence in Demetrius Bell until he actually gets some snaps in the NFL. Beatty is an athletic tackle that needs to get stronger and improve his run blocking. He will be a starting LT in this league.

3-75: Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss: See Above

4-110: Michael Hamlin, SS, Clemson: See Above

4-117: Zack Follett, OLB, California: See Above

4-121: Anthony Hill, TE, North Carolina State: See Above

5-147: Joe Burnett, CB, Central Florida: See Above

6-183: Nick Reed, DE, Oregon: See Above

7-220: Dallas Reynolds, OG/C, BYU: See Above

TE, Shawn Nelson, Southern Mississippi

Jeremy Bolander — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:15:25 -0000

TE, Shawn Nelson, Southern Mississippi

At A Glance
Position 1: Tight End	Height: 6-5
Position 2:	Weight: 240
Class: Senior	Age:
Projected Round: 3rd	40time: 4.52

Combine/Proday Results
Bench Reps: 19	Vertical: 33
20yd Split: 2.60	Broad Jump: 9'7"
10yd Split: 1.50	20yd Shuttle: X
3 Cone Drill: 6.96

Pros:
Positives: Long, lean, athletic frame capable of handling additional mass without a significant loss of quickness. Good initial quickness off the snap. Good body control and lateral agility to dip and avoid the jam at the line of scrimmage to gain a quick release into his route. At least adequate straight-line speed to challenge the seam. Can sink his hips and shows some burst out of his breaks to gain separation. Flashes the ability to snatch the ball out of the air and contort his body to make the difficult reception. Versatile athlete who lines up out of the three-point stance and in the slot. Good effort as an in-line blocker, though he needs to add strength in this area.

Cons: Lacks the bulk at this time to compete as an in-line blocker. Struggles as a drive blocker and laterally due to a lack of upper body strength. Inconsistent burst out of his breaks as a route-runner. Prone to concentration lapses and will drop easy passes. Lacks the agility in the open field to consistently make defenders miss. Marginal ability to track the ball over his shoulder. In many ways, seems to be the same player as a senior he was a freshman, leading scouts to question if he is either maxed out or lacks the drive to improve.

Around MHR:

Around SBNation:

From Scouting Report at Mocking the Draft:

Possesses very good hands to make tough catches. Good height and has long limbs. Will test well, which will deceive some teams. Likes to split out and line up at wide receiver. Likes to run vertical routes. Nicely uses his height against safeties to make catches high. Good agility. A four-year starter at Southern Miss.

From "Ranking the NFL Draft 2009 TEs" at Buffalo Rumblings:

Again, this is a prospect where "blocking" only comes with the word "potential" attached. Still, Nelson is a great receiving prospect, and unlike some other folks at the position, he actually tries to block. He's got the chops to eventually be a more well-rounded tight end than most of his peers here.

Highlights:

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

Likely the main reason for the crowd of 20 NFL scouts was the presence of a pair of Golden Eagles: tight end Shawn Nelson and linebacker Gerald McRath. ESPN's NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper has Nelson rated as the No. 2 tight end entering the draft, while he projects McRath as the fourth-best inside linebacker.

Nelson has gradually gained more and more notoriety following the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. He features good speed and soft hands to go with his 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame, but improvement in his blocking has only made him a better prospect in scouts' eyes. [see more...]
Nelson is another big TE from a small school. For such a big athlete, he does move very fluid. He is fast (4.60) and explosive off the line; he will reach the second level with ease. While he could break long runs, he seldom does at Southern Miss (which is a concern). His route running is average at best, and his blocking skills (specially the bending of knees) need refinement. It would also do him good to visit the weight room more often. [see more...]
Cousin of former L.S.U. and current Kansas City Chiefs DT Glenn Dorsey...A four-year starter...Finished his college career ranked in the Golden Eagles Top 5 in career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns...Saved the best for last and had a terrific senior campaign...Somewhat of a one-dimensional pass catcher who in many ways is a wide receiver in a tight ends body...Awfully similar to Martin Rucker of the Cleveland Browns (4th Round Pick in '08) , only better. [see more...]

Ranking the NFL Draft's tight end prospects

Brian Galliford — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:00:29 -0000

TE Pettigrew the lone first-day prospect (buffalobills.com)

As the 2009 NFL Draft approaches, we here at Buffalo Rumblings will continue interviewing bloggers and consulting outside sources in putting together detailed scouting reports on some of the Draft's most noteworthy prospects - concentrating, of course, on prospects that could pique the interest of the Buffalo Bills. This is the start of a new series in which I'll rank prospects at each position; ultimately, this project will roll itself into the "Buffalo Rumblings Big Board", which is exactly what it sounds like - the same type of big board NFL teams keep handy on draft day.

While speculation continues to run rampant as to the trade availability of OT Jason Peters, the potential of drafting a tackle in the first round, and the continued need for an infusion of talent in the pass rushing department, one position has steadfastly remained a need area throughout the entire off-season: tight end. What follows is a ranking of the draft's starting-caliber tight end prospects; this is the second post of this type, as earlier in March we ranked the outside linebackers as well.

FIRST ROUND PROSPECTS
1. Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State: Pettigrew is, by light-years, the most complete tight end prospect available this year, and perhaps in recent memory. Question his receiving numbers all you want, but the undeniable truth is that if the Bills are ever going to think that a tight end is perfect for their offense, this guy is it. He's ready to contribute to a winning organization right away, and he's still got solid upside as well.

THIRD ROUND PROSPECTS
2. Chase Coffman, Missouri: They say this year's tight end class is deep. I disagree. There are a lot of players available; very few of them fit what the Bills traditionally look for at the position. One one-dimensional guy with room to grow is Chase Coffman, owner of the best set of hands in the draft. His hands make him coveted; his size and blocking potential put him second on my list, but only as a third-round prospect.

3. Shawn Nelson, Southern Mississippi: Again, this is a prospect where "blocking" only comes with the word "potential" attached. Still, Nelson is a great receiving prospect, and unlike some other folks at the position, he actually tries to block. He's got the chops to eventually be a more well-rounded tight end than most of his peers here.

Seven more names for you after the jump.

FOURTH ROUND PROSPECTS
4. Travis Beckum, Wisconsin: He's small, athletic and yet another catching-before-blocking prospect, but at least he comes from a pro-style offense that focuses on running the ball. That will help, as he comes with the right mentality. Beckum is one of the better all-around athletes available this year, but he's got some injury concerns to deal with.

5. Jared Cook, South Carolina: Possibly the single best athlete available this year at any position, but he's highly unpolished - even as a receiver - and has serious questions surrounding his desire and work ethic. Were he to be available in the fourth round, the team might have a hard time passing on his raw potential. But the guy simply doesn't fit the Bills' profile, and is lacking in several key categories.

6. Cornelius Ingram, Florida: See Beckum, raise injury concerns, and subtract the pro-style offense bit. Ingram isn't going to be a great fit in most NFL cities right out of the gate. His potential, like many of the names on the list, is through the roof, but there's a rather large gap to cross between rookie and productive professional.

FIFTH ROUND PROSPECTS
7. Jared Bronson, Central Washington: Underrated athletically, few talk about this guy because of the "big" names at the position. He's got a higher ceiling than most as a blocker (his frame is better suited for it), but he's much more in the area of the rest of his peers. Still, he seems like a smarter investment as a potential fifth-round pick as opposed to the fourth-round prospects listed above.

8. James Casey, Rice: Most see this guy as a tight end, but he's being looked at as a running back and a quarterback as well. The guy has, quite literally, zero experience as a blocker. I think he's one of the better receiving prospects in the entire draft, but he'll need more work than most before he's ready to contribute at the NFL level.

9. Anthony Hill, North Carolina State: He's the type of tight end that most Bills fans loathe - a good blocker that is severely untested as a receiver. In short, he's a much better fit for the Bills than some of his big-name peers. He's got solid potential as a receiver, but he'll never be a game-changing threat.

10. Dan Gronkowski, Maryland: Another block-first tight end with underrated athletic skills, Gronkowski is a name to keep an eye on. I have him graded as a fifth-rounder, but he might be available lower. If the Bills choose to put off tight end for the first four or five rounds, Gronkowski very well could be a Bill.

***

This is just my opinion, folks. These are the ten rookie tight ends I think the Bills could get away with plugging into the lineup in some capacity next season. If you think I've made a grievous error in these rankings, let me know. If you think I've got some sort of hidden agenda, I'd love to hear about it. If you're itching to re-shuffle my rankings, let it rip. Consider this an open forum on 2009 NFL Draft tight end prospects. Go.

NFL Combine Coverage Day 1: Open Thread

jri111 — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:00:37 -0000

NFL Network coverage of the NFL Combine starts this morning at 11:00 AM with OL, TE and K. For those who are fortune enough to have the NFLN (like yours truly), it should be a fun time watching and evaluating potential new Buffalo Bills. For those who are not so lucky, check right here for updates throughout the day.

Personally, this is one of my favorite times during the off-season. I love watching, evaluating and comparing the players' skills as they go through all the drills. From the workout wonders to the high profile athletes, the scouting combine always delivers some surprises.

On today's menu (after all, it's not known as a "meat market" for no reason) are kickers, O-Linemen and tight ends. Arguably, two of Buffalo's biggest needs (TE and C) could be filled in April by guys who are working out today. We'll keep a close eye on all players at those positions. Here are some specific names of guys we'll be watching closely:

Max Unger (C - Oregon)
Eric Wood (C - Louisville)
Jonathan Luigs (C - Arkansas)
Antoine Caldwell (C - Alabama)
A.Q. Shipley (C - Penn State)
Brandon Pettigrew (TE - Oklahoma St)
Jared Cook (TE - South Carolina)
Shawn Nelson (TE - Southern Miss)
Travis Beckum (TE - Wisconsin)
James Casey (TE - Rice)

Finally, everyone should take a look at Gil Brandt's article over at NFL.com about what NFL teams look for in combine drills. He provides some great insight about what to look for and what not to look for. He also provides this super-helpful chart:

**Target test results**
Drill	Significance	QB	RB	FB	WR	TE	OT	G/C	DT	DE	ILB	OLB	CB	S
40-yard dssh	Speed over distance	4.90	4.55	4.85	4.55	4.85	5.30	5.30	5.15	4.85	4.80	4.70	4.55	4.60
10-yard split (40	Initial quickness	1.70	1.60	.170	.160	1.70	1.80	1.85	1.80	1.70	1.70	1.65	1.60	1.65
20-yard split (40	Maintain burst	2.85	2.60	2.80	2.65	2.80	3.00	3.05	3.00	2.80	2.75	2.70	2.65	2.60
225-pound bench reps	Upper body strength	N/A	20	22	12	22	24	26	26	24	24	23	15	18
Broad jump	Explosiveness, leg strength	9-0	9-9	9-3	10'	9-6	8-6	8-6	8-9	9-9	9-6	9-9	10'	10'
Vertical jump	Explosiveness, leg strength	30"	36	30	36	32	30	30	30	33	33	36	36	36
20-yard shuttle	Flexibility, burst, balance	4.30	4.20	4.25	4.15	4.20	4.65	4.55	4.55	4.30	4.20	4.10	4.00	4.05
60-yard shuttle	Flexibility, balance, endurance	N/A	11.7	11.8	11.4	11.8	N/A	N/A	N/A	11.8	11.7	11.4	11.2	11.2
3-cone drill	Agility, change of direction	7.25	7.25	7.40	7.00	7.30	7.85	7.85	7.75	7.35	7.20	7.10	7.00	7.10

UPDATE: Pat Kirwin has a great "Viewer's Guide" to the NFL Combine