The NFL Draft features the exciting 2008 NFL season and as soon as the picks are made official, fans start talking. Going into the new season, the team’s most crucial picks were at wide receiver, cornerback and tight end. The other wide receivers on the team were less than the standard five feet eleven inches, so finding a bigger man for the wide receiver position was important to the Bills. When the draft began, the Bills had a number of draft picks and made their first pick on Troy’s Leodis McKelvin, who some believe was the best cornerback in the draft. They also flirted with Indiana’s James Hardy in round 2, who is 6’5 and one of the top ranked players. It wasn’t until the fourth round that he took over at tight end, with Derek Fine of Kansas.
Some of the other picks were Chris Ellis from Virginia Tech, who was chosen to play defensive end or cornerback, cornerback Reggie Corner from Akron, outside linebacker Alvin Bowen from Iowa State, running back Xavier Omon from Northwest Missouri State University, offensive tackle Demetrius Bell of Northwestern State University, wide receiver Steve Johnson of Kentucky and defensive back Kennard Cox of Pittsburgh.
What was the reaction of the professionals and the amateurs? ESPN analysts called the draft picks fair and praised the team’s acquisition of Leodis McKelvin and James Hardy. However, the selections of Reggie Corner and Derek Fine were considered a bit of a stretch. Fan reaction was also mixed. While some believe the team enjoyed some incredible picks early on, other fans were surprised there were no trades. Instead, the Bills settled on five new offensive players and five new defensive players for a presumably ready team.
Obviously, the accolades were heavy for cornerback Leodis McKelvin, who is considered by many to be the best cornerback in the draft. While some have acknowledged his lack of “hands,” most agree that he will learn over time, as the rest of his body is built for professional football. James Hardy has been a popular choice for most fans, as he’s obviously an asset to the team at six-foot-six. Some have speculated that he is exactly what the Bills need to fix their “Red Zone drought.”
Chris Ellis was less favorably received as he was not the number one pick and was not an impressive weight at just 220 pounds. However, some observers still appreciate him for his running, passing, and of course his natural ability to avoid being blocked. The fact that Reggie Corner was selected implied to some that the team was focusing on the cornerback position for this draft. It’s easy to see why the Bills were impressed with Corner; he was the talk of the town in Akron and the team hopes he will carry that stardom and high performance to the big leagues.
With ten exciting new players, the Buffalo Bills hope to improve on their 2007 season record of 7-9 (the same final score they received in 2006) and make some noise in the AFC East once again.
