Commentary
Bills keep making wise choices in draft
MATT KRUEGER Sports Reporter
Buried underneath the mock drafts, the draft analysis, the mock draft analysis, the talking heads, the surprises, the steals and the stretches, the NFLdraft comes down to one thing: Which team has the more intelligent, football-savvy people running the organization?

It's easy to point a finger at Detroit and say the Lions have made the most draft blunders the past several years. It's simple to look at the team that drafts the "consensus top player" and say it made a good choice. But what's difficult is to admire a team that goes smart instead of flashy.

Sure, the Oakland Raiders have made headlines by selecting JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden in the past two drafts. Both were considered "must-have guys." But take a look at what the Buffalo Bills have done in recent years. They didn't turn any heads at Radio City Music Hall with their selections this past weekend, nor have they since taking Willis McGahee (remember when we thought that was a good move?) in 2003.

No, Buffalo has consistently made an effort to not necessarily take the "best" player but the right one. The Bills' brain trust of Chief Operating Officer Russ Brandon, Vice President of College Scouting Tom Modrak and Coach Dick Jauron didn't drop any bombs by selecting Leodis McKelvin and James Hardy on Saturday. But they addressed the highest priorities of the team.

McKelvin was the highest-rated cornerback in the draft, and the Bills were smart to snatch him before anyone else did. He should start opposite Terrence McGee and aid the Bills in stopping the pass better than they did in 2007. He isn't a big interception guy, but he's a great cover man.

Hardy wasn't considered the best receiver available, but he fits the Bills with his height and leaping ability. Do you know how much his vertical leap and long arms will help second year quarterback Trent Edwards develop next season? Edwards won't have to make the perfect pass to Hardy - he can just toss the ball in the air and let the 6-foot-6 former basketball player go get it.

Buffalo also added much-needed depth at defensive end with Chris Ellis and picked up a sure-handed tight end in Derek Fine. The rest of the picks may not challenge for starting roles, but they could fill in some of those holes on the all-important special teams.

All of this comes on the heels of smart moves the Bills have made the previous two years. The 2007 draft brought running back Marshawn Lynch, linebacker Paul Posluszny and Edwards to Buffalo. All of those picks gave the Bills exactly what they needed, a feature back, a run-stopping defensive leader and a QB who makes the right decisions. In 2006, Buffalo sealed up a gaping hole with solid safety in Donte Whitner. The Bills also took defensive tackle John McCargo, but the jury is still out on him. This will be a telling year for him.

The Bills could have made headlines last year by drafting quarterback Brady Quinn in the first round, but they chose to nab Lynch and wait to get Edwards in the third round. In 2006, highly touted quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler and running back Laurence Maroney were still on the board when Buffalo picked Whitner.

This is three years in a row the Bills have made good moves in the draft. These players have already started contributing on a large scale and played well. This can only mean many more wins in the near future.