Below is the sixth edition of Mock Draft Watch – a rundown of the latest mock drafts compiled by Buffalobills.com via local and national NFL reporters.
RELATED: Mock Draft Watch 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0
March 24 – Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk**No. 8 – QB Matt Barkley, USC
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March 25 – Jay Skurski, Buffalo NewsNo. 8 – WR Cordarrelle Patterson, TennesseeAnalysis: This team needs playmakers – desperately. Patterson is one of the best available in this draft. He's got some concerns with only one year of major-college experience, but would provide a much-needed second option to pair with Stevie Johnson. It's a must for NFL teams to have two dependable receiving options.
March 25 – Evan Silva, RotoworldNo. 8 – TE Tyler Eifert, Notre DameAnalysis: Eighth overall may seem early for a tight end, but not if you've paid attention to GM Buddy Nix's offseason plan. "We want a guy who can go up and snatch the ball, that he's open when he's covered," Nix stated after the season. "Go up and high point the ball and get it." High-pointing passes is Eifert's bread and butter, and Buffalo is needy at tight end, evidenced by the club's flirtations with Fred Davis. Unlike Davis, Eifert would be a long-term solution at the position.
March 25 – Charley Casserly, NFL.comNo. 8 – QB Geno Smith, West VirginiaAnalysis: Will the Bills take a quarterback in the opening round or wait until Round 2?
March 26 – Peter Schrager, FOX SportsNo. 8 – QB Geno Smith, West VirginiaAnalysis: I'm hearing a lot of good things from a lot of different trusted sources on Matt Barkley and E.J. Manuel this week, but I still think Geno's the guy in Western New York. Buffalo has needs all over and though there seems to be a lot of positivity around Tarvaris Jackson, I think Smith's the guy if he slips to the 8 spot. There's a misconception that he is a running quarterback. He's not. He's a big pocket passer who played in cold weather in his first three years at WVU.
March 26 – Nate Davis, USA TodayNo. 8 – G Chance Warmack, AlabamaAnalysis: The man many rate as the draft's best player would instantly negate the free agent loss of Andy Levitre while becoming a fast friend of RB C.J. Spiller's. Buffalo clearly needs a quarterback, too, but would be wise to trade back into the latter part of the first round if not wait until Round 2.
March 27 – Russ Lande, National Football Post**No. 8 – QB Ryan Nassib, Syracuse
**Analysis: While the Bills have done everything in their power to convince the public and other teams that they are not interested in Nassib, I do not buy it. Whether he is the best QB in this class, he is one of the best, the Bills desperately need one and know everything about him; especially what incredible intangibles he has.
March 27 – Don Banks, SI.comNo. 8 – QB Matt Barkley, USCAnalysis: It didn't take listening in on Buddy Nix's phone calls or sitting with Doug Marrone at breakfast last week in Phoenix to figure out the Bills are the most quarterback-desperate team in the NFL. Just check the depth chart: Tarvaris Jackson and Aaron Corp. Barkley will be on the rise if he turns in an impressive Pro Day showing Wednesday at USC, with the priority being he flashes the necessary arm strength scouts need to see. The Bills might wish they could wait until the second round to find their quarterback, and Syracuse's Ryan Nassib would be their hoped-for target in that case, but I just don't believe Buffalo has that luxury.
March 27 – Eric Galko, Sporting News (Optimum Scouting)No. 8 – QB Ryan Nassib, SyracuseAnalysis: Nassib seems to be getting more and more attention as a prospect worthy of a first-round pick. I view him as superior to Matt Barkely on film, and the Bills may feel the same way.
March 28 – Todd McShay, ESPN.com (Insider)No. 8 – G Chance Warmack, Alabama; No. 41 – QB Ryan Nassib, SyracuseAnalysis: I feel like I should apologize to Bills fans for this pick given the team's quarterback situation, but there are reasons this makes sense. First, they must be able to run the ball effectively and protect the quarterback well, no matter who he is. Whether Buffalo brings in a veteran or drafts a second-tier prospect like Syracuse QB Ryan Nassib -- who played for new Bills head coach Doug Marrone in college -- that player will need all the help he can get. Warmack is one of the most complete guards I've ever evaluated. He is big, strong and nasty, and is an easy mover in pass protection. He's the rare guard worthy of a top-10 pick, especially in this scenario with no worthy options available to fill needs at receiver and tight end.
