Team Needs: Buffalo Bills
By Jake Russell | March 2nd, 2007
Between now and the 2007 NFL Draft, THN will be taking a look at all of the NFL teams’ offseason needs. Up next is the team with the twelfth overall pick in the draft, the Buffalo Bills.
2006 Results: 7-9, 3rd in AFC East
2007 Projected Cap Status: $69,300,000
2006 Season Recap:
Considering their offense finished 30th and their defense finished 18th in the NFL, the Bills record of 7-9 (five of those losses coming by three points or less) can easily put them in the class of overachievers in 2006. Quarterback J.P. Losman and wide receiver Lee Evans built a promising rapport in 2006, both setting career highs in yardage passing and receiving, respectively. However, the team failed to generate a productive offense throughout their first season under Head Coach Dick Jauron. The team is likely to lose its leading tackler of the last five seasons in linebacker London Fletcher-Baker and cornerback Nate Clements in free agency.
Team Needs:
1. Offensive Guard – Losman was sacked 47 times in 2006. Only two other quarterbacks were sacked more. The Bills young offensive line only managed to help gain 1,552 yards on the ground offensively, finishing 27th in the league.
2. Wide Receiver – Against the Houston Texans, Evans set a franchise record for receiving yardage in a game (265) to go along with Losman’s career high 340 yards passing. Peerless Price and Josh Reed provide solid support for Evans but Buffalo needs an upgrade at receiver to take the pressure off of Evans in order to build on his connection with Losman.
3. Tight End – Robert Royal was one of the team’s premier additions in free agency prior to the season and led Buffalo’s tight ends with 23 catches and tied for second on the team with three touchdown receptions. The team’s three other tight ends combined for only 8 catches, just over one third of Royal’s total. The Bills could use an upgrade to assist Royal and bolster a rather unimpressive group of tight ends.
2007 Draft Picks:
1st Round – 12th Overall
2nd Round – 43rd Overall
3rd Round – 74th Overall
4th Round – 107th Overall
6th Round – 169th Overall
7th Round – 203rd Overall
Free agency status:
Unrestricted:
LB London Fletcher
CB Nate Clements
FB Damion Shelton
CB Kiwaukee Thomas
G Mike Gandy
RB Anthony Thomas
WR Andre Davis
Restricetd:
DL Anthony Hargrove
DT Tim Anderson
Exclusive Rights:
OL Duke Preston
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Jake Russell