With the 2010 Combine in the books, NFL fans collectively look ahead to free agency, and the granddaddy of the off-season, the Draft in late April. For the Bills, this year's Combine carried more importance than in recent years. With glaring needs at QB, OT, LB, NT, and WR, analyzing the top college prospects has never been more critical to this organization, especially with its recent draft failures. There were some player performances worth noting at this year's NFL "job fair" in Indianapolis. Let's examine how some players fared that have a realistic shot at landing in Buffalo.
Quarterback - The most impressive quarterback to participate in the full line of workouts to me, was West Virginia's Jarrett Brown. He ran a sub 4.6 time in the ever-popular, yet mostly unimportant 40-yard dash, and his throws had the most zip of anyone. This is not to say that Brown is the best quarterback in this year's draft, as the elite guys -- Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen, and Colt McCoy were non-participants. Brown greatly boosted his stock in Indy, and he is flying under the radar as a mid-round, developmental pick for the Bills. Outside of Tim Tebow as a later round choice, I like Brown's potential.
Offensive Tackle - Bryan Bulaga was a player that reportedly interviewed well, displayed his "Big Ten" strength, and was big enough with long enough arms to keep his stock in the middle of the first round. He's drawing similar comparisons to Robert Gallery, also a former Iowa Hawkeye, who wound up being a bit of a bust, but I view Bulaga's value better as he could be the ninth selection to the Bills. Oklahoma State's Russell Okung was the best overall offensive tackle, but there's no way he'll slide to the nine spot.
LB/DE - With the 3-4 system being implemented in Buffalo, there's a need for trendy OLB/DE hybrid. This class is extremely deep with that type of player, but Texas's Sergio Kindle is a mysterious prospect that I'd love to see as a Bill. Some believe he'll be a second-round selection, while others have him slated in the Top-15. At 6-foot-3, 250 lbs., Kindle is close the size you'd like to have in an rushing outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme. He flashed his quickness and athleticism in Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend - his 4.71 in the 40 is quick enough to attack from the edge. What remains to be seen is his coverage capabilities, but now, he's a dark horse to slide into the top of the first round, and would be welcomed by Bills defensive coordinator George Edwards. South Florida's Jason Pierre-Paul, who is a bigger version of last year's combine warrior, Michael Johnson, was impressive. Also, don't forget about USC's Eversen Griffen, not surprisingly another freakishly athletic Trojan -- he ran a 4.66 in the 40 at 6-foot-3, 273 lbs. Wow.
Nose Tackle - This position has created the biggest buzz this off-season, because of how vital it is to running a successful 3-4 alignment. Guys like Vince Wilfork, Kris Jenkins, and Aubrayo Franklin demonstrate how a bulky nose tackle makes the aggression system work. Buffalo won't get a shot at Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, who. to many, are the best overall players in the 2010 class. UCLA's Bryan Price apparently has the biggest upside for any defensive lineman in the draft and could slip to the later parts of the first round or into the second. I'd love to see him in a Bills uniform next season. He works hard on every play and is a disrupts in the backfield. Instant depth at the NT spot. Terrence Cody from Alabama weighed in at 354 lbs., but I'm still wondering about his conditioning and weight issues.
Wide Receiver - Dez Bryant is the only wide receiver I see worth an early first-round pick, although it's not at the top of Buffalo's priority list. I like how the Syracuse receiver and Buffalo native moved -- 4.49 in the 40 at 6-2, 220 lbs, but there's no one I'm really enamored with. A late-round choice is what we'll most likely see out of the new selection committee in Buffalo.
CHRIS TRAPASSO