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 …
Friday, April 8 - Nolan Nawrocki, Pro Football Weekly
#3 QB Cam Newton - Auburn
Nawrocki's take: Newton showed he could carry a team on his back and won championships at Blinn College and Auburn, enough for Bills GM Buddy Nix to overlook concerns about the Heisman Trophy winner's character. Although Newton might not provide a long-term solution, he is the one quarterback in this year's draft who can change the complexion of the Bills' franchise immediately and give the 71-year-old Nix and 92-year-old owner Ralph Wilson the best chance to win now.
Wednesday, April 13 - Adam Caplan, FOXSports.com
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Caplan's take: He would start right away in their 3-4 defensive scheme. Peterson, if selected, eventually would replace starting veteran cornerback Terrence McGee, who turns 31 in October.
Wednesday, April 13 - Wes Bunting, National Football Post
Special notes: Two-round mock draft
#3 QB Blaine Gabbert - Missouri
Bunting's take: The Bills can be patient with Gabbert, as the future signal caller has the skill set to be effective in the nasty Buffalo weather.
#34 Brooks Reed - Arizona
Wednesday, April 13 - Don Banks, SI.com
#3 QB Blaine Gabbert - Missouri
Banks' take: Texas A&M outside linebacker Von Miller seems to have emerged as the consensus choice for the Bills in NFL mockdom, but I still see Buffalo reasoning that it's the right year and the right draft slot to take a franchise quarterback. You could take Gabbert and still play Ryan Fitzpatrick most of this season, following the Jon Kitna/Carson Palmer model in Cincinnati, circa 2003.
Wednesday, April 13 - Pat Kirwan, NFL.com
Special notes: Two-round mock draft. Predicts Buffalo will trade back into the first round for QB Jake Locker.
#3 LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Kirwan's take: Miller is an outstanding pass rusher and gives the Bills a hybrid player to go in and out of the 3-4/4-3 looks most teams use these days. Look at what Buffalo might do with its next pick for a surprise.
#24 QB Jake Locker - Washington
Kirwan's take: Buffalo now owns the pick after trading with New Orleans. The Bills give up picks 100, 122 and 133, which equal 190 points on the trade chart, and the Saints also receive the 34th overall pick. With the 24th pick, the Bills take Locker
Thursday, April 14 - Russ Lande, Sporting News
Special notes: Offers a seven round mock draft
#3 DL Marcell Dareus - Alabama
Thursday, April 14 - Sean Tomlinson, Goal-line Stand (The Score)&utm_content=FeedBurner)
#3 Von Miller - Texas A&M
Tomlinson's take: A team that rarely sacked the quarterback (27 sacks), and had the league's worst run defence needs a versatile outside presence who performs well in both areas.
Thursday, April 14 - Brad Gagnon, Goal-line Stand (The Score)&utm_content=FeedBurner)
#3 Von Miller - Texas A&M
Gagnon's take: Add Miller to that young Buffalo defense and the future will be bright for the Bills. They can address their quarterback need through free agency or next year's draft.
Thursday, April 14 - Dan Bilicki, Toronto Sun
#3 Cam Newton - Auburn
Bilicki's take: Bills fans get their wish by grabbing a franchise QB.
Friday, April 15 - USA Today writers)
Jarrett Bell: DT Marcell Dareus - Alabama
Jim Corbett: QB Blaine Gabbert - Missouri
Nate Davis: LB Von Miller - Texas A&M
Sean Leahy: QB Blaine Gabbert - Missouri
RESEARCH ROUND-UP
The Buffalo Bills media relations department has charted 120 mock drafts dating back to April 27, 2010. Below is a list of the players most selected for the Bills …
26 - Von Miller
24 - Cam Newton
22 - Marcell Dareus
19 - Blaine Gabbert
8 - Da'Quan Bowers
7 - Patrick Peterson
4 - Nick Fairley
4 - Other
2 - Cameron Jordan
2 - Ryan Mallett
1 - A.J. Green
1 - Robert Quinn
Von Miller led the week by being selected in five of 13 mock drafts.
