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 …
Sunday, April 3 - Charles Davis, NFL Network
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Davis' take: An upgraded pass rush is a must for the Bills, and this Aggie is the best in the draft
Monday, April 4 - Chad Reuter, CBS Sports
#3 QB Blaine Gabbert - Missouri
Reuter's take: Gabbert has the athleticism, arm strength and football intelligence to succeed at the next level. The Bills hope he can be the face of the franchise as Matt Ryan became when the Falcons selected him with the third overall selection in 2008.
Monday, April 4 - Rob Rang, CBS Sports
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Rang's take: To have a chance in the highly competitive AFC East, the Bills must address their needs on defense. Buffalo was unable to consistently put pressure on the quarterback last season, finishing with only 27 sacks, tied for the third-worst total in the NFL. Of those 27 sacks, a scant six came from their outside linebackers. The Bills know Miller better than anyone, having coached him at the Senior Bowl, and would have to consider him at this spot.
Tuesday, April 5 - Doug Farrar, Yahoo Sports
#3 DL Marcell Dareus - Alabama
Farrar's take: If the Bills are taken out of the quarterback derby by the Panthers and Broncos, their next priority would most likely be to shore up their own atrocious front seven. Few (if any) players in this draft class could provide more value to a desperate defense than Dareus, who had the ability to play very well just about anywhere on the line.
Tuesday, April 5 - Russ Lande, Sporting News
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Lande's take: April is the month of misinformation in scouting circles, so we don't buy the talk of the Bills leaning toward a QB at No. 3. We think it's a smokescreen and the team's true intention is to select Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller to bolster its pass rush. The Bills also could consider Dareus or Fairley, moving him to end, and North Carolina outside linebacker Robert Quinn.
Tuesday, April 5 - Charles Davis, NFL Network
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Davis's take: I think they need to get that guy that can rush the passer.
Tuesday, April 5 - Cris Collinsworth, Football Pros
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Collinsworth's take: The Bills cannot find a pass rusher. They have missed in the past on guys like John McCargo and Aaron Maybin. Miller is a speed rusher who had 10.5 sacks and won the Butkis Award last year. Quarterback is not their greatest need, Ryan Fitzpatrick is as good as anybody in this draft. Miller at least gives them a chance to get to Tom Brady and Mark Sanchez.
Wednesday, April 6 - Mel Kiper, ESPN.com (Insider)
Special notes: Three-round mock draft
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Kiper's take: Few have seen their stock rise as much as Miller has since the season wrapped up. The pass-rush skills were there, as was a developed ability to drop and make reads. The tape shows a guy who can do anything on the football field, and do it explosively. Miller offers immediate help at one of the top two positions of need for the Bills. They simply can't get enough value here in drafting an offensive lineman, and Miller will impact games next year more than any rookie in the draft if you asked me today.
#34 LB Martez Wilson - Illinois
#68 TE Lance Kendricks - Wisconsin
Wednesday, April 6 - Todd McShay, ESPN.com (Insider)
Special notes: Three-round mock draft
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
McShay's take: The Bills' most significant need is at left offensive tackle but there is not one on the board worth this pick and, although Gabbert would eventually provide a major upgrade at quarterback, Miller would be an immediate boost for a 3-4 defense that is in dire need of pass rushers. Former first-round pick Aaron Maybin has not realized his enormous potential and Miller is a plug-and-play impact rusher who could help fill the void by quickly becoming a double-digit sack man.
#34 QB Christian Ponder - Florida State
#68 TE Lance Kendricks - Wisconsin
Wednesday, April 6 - Adam Caplan, FOX Sports
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Caplan's take: The Bills have a terrible pass rush, so selecting Miller with their first pick makes a whole lot of sense. They also could look at Cameron Jordan here to fill a need or Blaine Gabbert, who would fill the need for a developmental quarterback
Thursday, April 7 - Staff, National Football Post
#3 DL Marcell Dareus - Alabama
Staff's take: Dareus gives the Bills get the upgrade they need along the defensive front for a unit that ranked 32nd vs. the run in 2010
RESEARCH ROUND-UP
The Buffalo Bills media relations department has charted 107 mock drafts dating back to April 27, 2010. Below is a list of the players most selected for the Bills …
22 - Cam Newton
21 - Von Miller
20 - Marcell Dareus
15 - Blaine Gabbert
8 - Da'Quan Bowers
Over the past week, Von Miller selected in eight of 11 mock drafts.
