FSH: ON THE TICKER

April 18th, 2009 11:07pm PST

15 DAYS TO THE NFL DRAFT

NFL Draft Preview:
On The Ticker

On the Board: Buffalo Bills....
With the recent trading of offensive tackle Jason Peters, the Bills clearly have a decisive need to fill in this year’s draft and with two picks in the first round it’s certain they will.

With the eleventh pick in the draft the Bills may have to settle with the fourth or even fifth best tackle available in the draft. It’s not likely they’ll see Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe, or even Andre Smith make it this far, but Michael Oher (University of Mississippi) should still on the board. With a late first round pick still available, it makes sense for the Bills to grab one of this year’s best offensive lineman prospects.

(AP Photo)

Oher is an ideal 6’6” and 325-lbs at left tackle and with 34 consecutive starts in the SEC, he is more than ready to make the transition to the NFL. Oher could have made the move a year ago and was set to enter the 2008 draft as a top 20 pick, but a change of mind kept him at Ole Miss for his senior season.

The Bills recently signed free agent running back Dominic Rhodes to add some temporary help in the backfield. This will be one need they can address later in the draft, but defense will still remain a concern. There are some people pegging the Bills to target a top defensive prospect like Aaron Maybin (Penn State) or Everette Brown (Florida State).

With an added pick (number 28 overall) in the draft, it makes sense for head coach Dick Jauron to invest in his newly revamped offense (with T.O.). In 2009, this is the side of the ball where the Bills figure to make the most impact. The loss of Peters hurts, but at number 11 on April 25, the team can fill that void immediately.


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FSH: ON THE TICKER

April 6th, 2009 9:07pm PST

19 DAYS TO THE NFL DRAFT

NFL Draft Preview:
On The Ticker

On the Board: Oakland Raiders....
Holding the number seven pick in this year's NFL draft, would it really surprise anyone if the Raiders did something out of the ordinary, took a huge leap, or risked their pick on a potential flyer? If I'm a betting man, I say yes and "bet the farm." The recent reports circulating are the team is enamored with and could be targeting one of this year's fastest wide receiver prospects, Darrius Heyward-Bey (University of Maryland).

The Raiders team owner Al Davis has always been a proponent of the vertical game and with quarterback JaMarcus Russell's canon arm, the team needs playmakers he can throw to. Last season the offense ranked dead last in passing averaging a paltry 148-yards per game and had only five pass plays of more than 40-yards in 2008, among the lowest totals in the league.

Wide receiver Javon Walker has been a bust since his arrival to Oakland and Ronald Curry (released in the offseason) fell off the map in 2008 with just 19 receptions. Drafting Heyward-Bey at the number seven spot could help revamp a receiving corp that lacks any real playmaking skill and depth. Currently Walker and Johnnie Lee Higgins would be the teams projected starters. Heyward-Bey has great size at 6'3" and blistering speed (4.30 at the combine). If he lands in Oakland he'll have a legitimate shot at starting for the Raiders.

(Photo By Greg Fiume / Terps Sports Photography)

If the Raiders can control their emotions, this would be a great spot to land one of the top offensive linemen in the draft. Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe are projected to be gone before the draft gets to the Raiders pick, but they'll still have some choices to consider with Alabama's Andre Smith and Michael Oher. Either of these could be safe picks, but then is that the Raider way?

There's no question that Heyward-Bey would be a work in progress, but the old saying is "Speed kills" and you know that is something Mr. Davis loves. It could be a stretch for the Raiders to make this pick considering how much re-work this team really needs in many other areas, but don't put it past Mr. Davis to reach into his bag of tricks on draft day.


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