2011 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 3

Our annual 2011 NFL Mock Draft, with picks made by each of SB Nation’s NFL team bloggers, is in full swing. The latest pick in to the podium: the Buffalo Bills, at No. 3 overall.

Brian Galliford of BuffaloRumblings.com explains the choice, and our own Dan Kadar reacts to it, after the jump. Make sure you’re grading this pick for the Bills, and checking out Buffalo Rumblings for all of your Bills needs.

Brian Galliford explains: I suppose I should start by explaining why this pick isn’t Cam Newton. Quarterback is Buffalo’s biggest need; this is undeniable. The Bills have a quarterback they’re comfortable with in Ryan Fitzpatrick. That means it’ll take consensus between GM Buddy Nix and head coach Chan Gailey to take a quarterback this early. I get the sense that Nix - who has deep ties to Auburn - will be keener on Newton than Gailey, despite the general opinion being the opposite. Newton’s lack of polish as a thrower, I’m guessing, will prevent Gailey from getting too high on him - and those character concerns are a problem, obviously. Without consensus, I think the Bills pass - and the fact that I’m not completely sold on Newton is just the icing on the cake.

Beyond quarterback, a front seven defender is the biggest need. With Von Miller off the board (and perhaps even with him on it), Da’Quan Bowers was the clear front-runner in that area - and very nearly the pick. Buffalo will be using one-gap 3-4 and 4-3 looks in addition to their base 3-4, and it’d be nice if they could add a defensive lineman (one that would play on the line in both fronts) that could pressure the passer and complement stud nose tackle Kyle Williams. At this point in time, however, Bowers’ knee injury is sufficiently scary enough to at least consider other options. The other option here, Cameron Jordan, simply isn’t dynamic enough a talent to take this early.

I have absolutely no qualms about the idea of the Bills drafting Peterson. Cornerback is a need: Terrence McGee is injury-prone and aging, Drayton Florence is a free agent, and Leodis McKelvin has been a disappointment. Peterson is a clean prospect, a unique athletic talent, and the type of playmaker that any team can use. He was also the top player on my board from the word ‘go.’ For a team as starved for talent as Buffalo is, taking the safe route might just be the best idea they’ve had in years - even if they’re not filling a more pressing need.

Dan Kadar reacts: The 2011 NFL Draft is going to be a crazy one. Just about every player projected to go early has a considerable amount of questions. While it can be said every year, it seems like this draft has players who could bust at a much higher rate than usual.

Patrick Peterson does not fit the mold of a player with high bust potential. Of the top players this year, he’s both one of the safest and the best. When your team is not all that great (sorry Bills fans), it might be wiser to go with a sure thing instead of a chance. In Peterson, Buffalo could add a sensational piece to their secondary. It doesn’t matter if it’s at cornerback or safety, Peterson would immediately be Buffalo’s second-best player on defense after Kyle Williams.

This pick, should it happen, would represent an equal amount of value, need and safety. [Patrick Peterson Scouting Report]