Each week leading up to the draft the Buffalobills.com will share mock drafts from local and national NFL reporters in this feature - Mock Draft Watch.
However, media are not the only ones who can predict the Bills pick in this year's draft. We encourage you, the fans, to participate in the M&T Bank Draft Day Challenge where you can predict who the Bills will pick with their first selection in the 2011 NFL Draft. Fans who correctly guess which player the Bills select first will win an exclusive game day experience for two at Ralph Wilson Stadium. - Click here to participate in the challenge.
Here's a rundown of this week's mock drafts …
Monday, March 28 - Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Special notes - one of the few two-round mock drafts out there
#3 CB Patrick Paterson - LSU
Kirwan's take: Patrick has Charles Woodson-like qualities as well as terrific return skills. With Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, the Bills can afford to wait until the second round for a quarterback. With Tom Brady in the division, the Bills need a shutdown cornerback.
#34 QB Ryan Mallet - Arkansas
Monday, March 28 - Wes Bunting, National Football Post
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Bunting's take: I'm actually a Ryan Fitzpatrick fan and he may not be the long-term answer, but if I want to go QB in Buffalo, I'm waiting for the senior QB crop to come along. I considered Green here because in my mind he's the best prospect on the board. However, Buffalo has some young talent at receiver and when looking over the depth chart there simply aren't many pass rushers who can make a difference off the edge.
Monday, March 28 - Chris Brown, Buffalobills.com
Special notes - Brown made the Bills selection in the NFL.com writers and broadcasters mock draft. Cam Newton went first to the Carolina Panthers and Marcell Dareus was picked second for the Denver Broncos.
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Brown's take: The Bills are looking for help on the defensive side of the ball - both in the pass rush and in run defense. With 28 sacks the past two years, you can line him up at outside linebacker in the 3-4 or 4-3 front.
Tuesday, March 29 - Steve Wyche, NFL.com
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Wyche's take: Buffalo needs a defensive playmaker. Gabbert could get some consideration, but the Bills could get a QB in the second round or trade up from the second to get into the late first round.
Tuesday, March 29 - Doug Farrar, Yahoo Sports
#3 QB Cam Newton - Auburn
Farrar's take: Newton's raw athleticism may be the most impressive of anyone ever to play the quarterback position - when you're dealing with a guy with Calvin Johnson's(notes) approximate measurables who can also throw the ball 50 yards on a rope, things could get pretty scary if Newton was in the right scheme. That right scheme has been run by Bills head coach Chan Gailey since Gailey was developing Kordell Stewart into the Pro Bowl quarterback he was for a small time. With his command of Pistol, Wildcat and read option offenses, Newton would be the perfect foil for the ideal Gailey offense.
Wednesday, March 30 - Don Banks, SI.com
#3 QB Cam Newton - Auburn
Banks' take: Chan Gailey couldn't have been any clearer in his answer to my question last week at the coaches' media breakfast in New Orleans: He believes both Gabbert and Newton are ready to play now in the NFL, and they have the skill sets of franchise-level quarterbacks. I don't think Gailey and Bills general manager Buddy Nix are doing much bluffing these days, because they're pretty sure at least one of the draft's top two passers will be waiting for them at No. 3.
Thursday, March 31 - Sean Tomlinson, The Score (Toronto)
#3 DT Marcell Dareus - Alabama
Tomlinson's take: A front seven that gave up a league worst of nearly 170 yards per game on the ground needs a large plug to fill a large gap.
Thursday, March 31 - Brad Gagnon, The Score (Toronto)
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Gagnon's take: My gut tells me they'll take Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert. I'm hoping they … take the safer route.
Friday, April 1 - Charley Casserly, NFL Network
#3 CB Patrick Peterson - LSU
Casserly's take: Peterson - good corner, he can press. This guy has a lot of talent. They're going to keep with the philosophy of taking the best player available.
Monday, April 4 - Todd McShay
#34 QB Andy Dalton - TCU
McShay's take: Andy Dalton, to me, early in the second round would be a good fit for Buffalo.
Monday, April 4 - USA Today writers
Jarrett Bell: Von Miller - Texas A&M
Jim Corbett: Cam Newton - Auburn
Nate Davis: Cam Newton - Auburn
Sean Leahy: Cam Newton - Auburn
