Buffalo Bills 2007 NFL Draft Review
Bills Go for Pure Potential
RD #
1 12 MARSHAWN LYNCH RB CAL
2 34 PAUL POSLUSZNY LB NOTRE DAME
3 92 TRENT EDWARDS QB STANFORD
4 111 DWAYNE WRIGHT RB FRESNO St
6 184 JOHN WENDLING SS WYOMING
7 222 DEREK SHOUMAN FB BOISE St
7 239 C J AH YOU DE OKLAHOMA
F/A's
LARRY EDWARDS OLB North Carolina
JAMALLE CORNELIUS WR FLA
THADDAEUS WASHINGTON MLB Colorado
PICKS
RB MARSHAWN LYNCH went a bit earlier than expected. There is a spot waiting for him but he has yet to prove he can carry a full load. He catches the ball very well out of the backfield and is a hard runner. Should be able to produce, but don't expect 300 carries a season. Will backup Anthony Thomas to begin his career.
RB DWAYNE WRIGHT could be a very good complimentary back who can provide power to Lynch's pizzazz. Both running backs were taken a little earlier than expected. But together they can go a long way toward replacing Willis McGahee.
LB PAUL POSLUSZNY could be a boom or bust. A tackling machine, or a highlight queen who can't battle his way through trash to get to the ball. Definitely a player who makes his presence felt in the locker room and on the field. Had a tough senior year playing with a knee brace and moving inside in new 3-4 scheme. The fear is that he could be the Andy Katzenmoyer of the decade. Regardless, I think he was a steal in the 2nd round.
QB TRENT EDWARDS could be a steal is he can stay healthy. Smart and looks the part. Needs work or lacks ability to effectively go deep.
SS JOHN WENDLING is a stone 6th round steal. He needs to play with more grit, but he gets the job done. Another high-caliber individual. Won't be a star anytime soon, yet he has the ability and intelligence to be an asset in the secondary.
FB DEREK SHOUMAN is 7th round fodder. No there, there.
DE CJ AH YOU {Who Me?} is a questionable character with little to get excited about. 25 year old rookie. Will be a 25 year old free agent.
PRIORITY COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
WR Jamalle Cornelius is deep on the depth chart, but is a solid player who does the little things to earn his salt. A good bet for the practice squad.
MLB Thaddaeus Washington lacks size and speed. Solid versus the run. Will have to earn a spot with special teams play.
OLB Larry Edwards was a late signing who isn't on the depth chart but has strong side potential. Lack of size hurts. Special teams possibility.
SUMMARY
Trading a later 2nd and a 3rd pick in order to move up for Posluszny may be the defining moment for this Buffalo draft. Overall, this group is built on potential. Not an immediate starter in the bunch. I really like Wendling in the 6th round. Buffalo has a fine history of plucking quality undrafted free agents. Look no further than Jason Peters for a undrafted star. Yet, on paper, this year's group of free agents looks very weak.
FINAL GRADE
C
Published by Gary Malmberg
Retired cop, living on the coast of Chile View profile
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- nfl.com, Pro Football Weekly, buffalobills.com
- RB's Marshawn Lynch and Dwayne Wright could combine to successfully replace Willis McGahee
- Barring injuries, not one of the drafted players will be starting in September
- Buffalo is building for the future
4 Comments
Post a CommentHi Doc, check your g-mail inbox. Thanks.
Easy, Matt. I think Poz is a steal. I wrote as much. What I missed was putting a question mark after the "tackling machine or highlight queen" sentence. Every player has deficiencies. Poz could be bigger and stronger to break off his blockers.
I think of him as more of a tackling machine, but the question is out there.
OT: Isn't about time you sent me a recent pic of those adorable twins of yours?
Whoa, whoa, whoa- get Poz's name away from the words "Notre Dame" and "Katzenmoyer!" If there's one thing you should know, it's this- you will not find a more instinctive LB in this class than Poz. Also, I'd love to know where you're getting "highlight queen who couldn't battle his way through trash" from. Clearly, you and I were watching different games for the last few years.