*Below is the latest edition of our Mock Draft Watch – a rundown of the latest mock drafts compiled by Buffalobills.com via local and national NFL reporters … *
Monday, February 20 – Pete Prisco, CBS Sports#10 LB Courtney Upshaw, AlabamaPrisco's take: At some point, they have to find an outside rusher. Upshaw has the body to make the move to down end.
Monday, February 20 – Pat Kirwan, CBS Sports#10 LB Courtney Upshaw, AlabamaKirwan's take: Upshaw is a very versatile player who can play the run as well as rush the passer.
Wednesday, February 22 – Don Banks, SI.com#10 DE Quinton Coples, UNCBanks' take: Again, the knock on Coples is that his dominant week at the Senior Bowl didn't match what scouts saw from him all season long on tape. But he has supreme athletic skills and the potential to develop into the best pure pass rusher in this year's draft, and that means someone is going to talk themselves into selecting him in the top 10. The Bills are one of several teams in this neck of the first round desperate for more pass pressure, so Coples and Buffalo seem like a marriage that's just waiting to happen
Wednesday, February 29 – Peter Schrager, FOX Sports#10 LB Courtney Upshaw, AlabamaSchrager's take: Though he was considered a first rounder beforehand, Upshaw played himself into the top 20 with his dominant performances in January's BCS National Championship Game and his impressive week of Senior Bowl practices. Upshaw is "scheme versatile" (Now, drink!) and fits the Bills' new 4-3 defense well. Buffalo desperately need a pass-rushing threat, finishing with just 29 on the year in 2011, good for 27th in the league. Adding Upshaw to a front seven that already includes his college teammate Marcell Dareus would be wise.
Wednesday, February 29 – Albert Breer, NFL.com#10 LB Courtney Upshaw, AlabamaBreer's take: The Bills could use a more explosive pass rusher, but Upshaw does too many things well for Buddy Nix and Co. to pass on him.
Wednesday, February 29 – Chad Reuter, NFL.com#10 DE Nick Perry, USCReuter's take: Bills fans have been begging for their team to get pass-rush help, and Perry could be the guy to give it to them. He impressed NFL teams with his 4.64 40 at 271 pounds, 35 bench reps, and agility in drills -- to the point that he will be coveted as a pass rusher by teams using three- or four-man fronts.
Wednesday, February 29 – Bucky Brooks, NFL.com#10 OT Jonathan Martin, StanfordBrooks' take: The Bills strongly will consider adding a pass rusher at this pick, but the opportunity to land an athletic edge blocker to shore up the left side could lead to Martin's selection. He possesses the agility and movement skills to shadow the division's top edge rushers, creating more opportunities for Ryan Fitzpatrick in the passing game
Thursday, March 1 – Russ Lande, Sporting News#10 DE Melvin Ingram, South CarolinaLande's take: With the Bills switching back to a 4-3 defense, they need to find players who can play end and Ingram has the pass-rush skills to be a good one.
