Bye week analysis of the Bills’ draft (Day One)

By Connor Byrne  |   Friday, October 27, 2006  |  Comments( 18 )

Buffalo Bills
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
Through their first seven regular-season games of 2006, the Buffalo Bills' record is a horrendous 2-5, and the team is sitting in second-last place in the mediocre AFC East. Naturally, that's nowhere near where Buffalo wanted to be on its bye week, especially considering the team was impressive through its first four games.

One of the staples of the Bills' season thus far has been their youth. General manager Marv Levy and the remainder of his staff caught a great deal of grief from various media members and fans for their selections in April's NFL draft. Although it's still quite early in the rookies' careers, now's a good time to examine just how the Bills' youngsters have been faring this year.

This is the first of a two-part series analyzing the successes and failures of the Bills' first-year players. Today's edition will focus on Buffalo's Day One picks.

First round (eighth overall) - Donte Whitner, S, Ohio State. Projected by many as the most baffling pick of Round One, Whitner has, perhaps, been Buffalo's best defensive player this year. He was expected to be a reserve behind Matt Bowen for much of the season, but the veteran has been inactive all year thanks to injury. That's been a blessing for the Bills, though, because Whitner's been able to develop even more expeditiously than they'd originally hoped.

The 21-year-old Whitner, who was the league's Defensive Rookie of the Month in September, has racked up 45 tackles, an interception and two passes defensed so far. To think, he's only going to continue getting better. Early verdict: An excellent pick by the Bills, even if it meant not taking quarterback Matt Leinart. Whitner will be a top-notch DB for a long time.

First round (26th overall) - John McCargo, DT, North Carolina State. If Whitner was called the most baffling pick of the first round, defensive tackle John McCargo was the second-biggest head-scratcher. Buffalo actually sent a second- and third-round pick to the Chicago Bears to move up into Round One for a second time on that fateful late April afternoon.

The 295-pound McCargo, a former standout for the Wolfpack's acclaimed defense, was touted as a perfect fit for the Bills' Tampa 2 defense, which requires small, fast, penetrating D-linemen. McCargo got off to a slow start back in July training camp, however, dealing with early dehydration and being admitted to a Rochester, N.Y.-area hospital.

Thereafter, the tackle appeared in five games, made virtually no impact, then broke his ankle and was placed on injured reserve. Early verdict: McCargo's out for the year, so his inaugural NFL season was a complete train wreck. This selection hasn't panned out at all for Buffalo yet, but it's still quite early.

Third round (70th overall) - Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio State. To close out the draft's Day One festivities, Buffalo landed itself one of the best college cornerbacks of the weekend, selecting former Ohio State star Ashton Youboty, a defensive backfield mate of Whitner's. Youboty was an excellent player with the Buckeyes, but his Bills career, like McCargo's, hasn't yet taken off.

Youboty, who appeared early on in training camp, was sidelined due to the death of his mother, which put a major damper on his development. By the time the 6-0, 178-pounder was emotionally ready to return, he was already out of the loop of the Bills' defensive scheme.

Buffalo's coaching staff has tried to incorporate Youboty, but he's still a long way off. Early verdict: Youboty, projected by many as a first-round pick entering the draft, has been inactive all regular season. However, if the Bills develop the raw 22-year-old properly, they could very well have a No. 1-caliber corner on their hands capable of replacing soon-to-be free agent Nate Clements.

After seven games, the Bills have seen mixed results from their top three choices. While Whitner has vastly exceeded early expectations, the team's other two selections have been much too quiet. Granted, there have been extenuating circumstances for both, but that doesn't mean they haven't been nonexistent.

--To enter next Thursday's article, send e-mails titled "Mailbag" to cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

Get more on the Buffalo Bills at RealFootball365.com.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (18)

About Connor Byrne

Sorry, Connor Byrne's bio is currently not available. Please check back soon!
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report
CommentsComments: 18  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Alan Jones		10:23 AM
10/27/2006
This is a fair enough take on the first day of the Bills draft. Actually, John McCargo had started to catch the attention of...
No.2
Mike Kimmel		10:31 AM
10/27/2006
Good Analysis! The Bills hit big on Whitner and I think time will tell they also scored with the pick of Youboty. I also think...
No.3
brendan		10:33 AM
10/27/2006
the writer's remarks are accurate descriptions of who they bills selected. perhaps we can also examine the "opportunity costs" of...
Team News  |  View All Bills Content
Bills Feasted Well in Draft...
Ask former Bear's GM Jerry Angelo why he was fired in the off season a...
2 weeks, 2 days ago   |   Bills Feasted Well in Draft Party, Need a QB for Dessert ( 254 )
The Draft The Draft The Draf...
First I want to say I lost a dear friend “Big Mike” Patanella last Aug...
3 weeks ago   |   The Draft The Draft The Draft is on Fire… ( 143 )
Buddy Nix, the straight shoo...
Most NFL GM's and coaches like to use smokescreens on who their teams...
4 weeks, 1 day ago   |   Buddy Nix, the straight shootshooter ( 168 )
What the Super Mario signing...
Not only does it provide the Bills with a legitimate superstar at a po...
1 month, 4 weeks ago   |   What the Super Mario signing means ( 588 )
Did Ralph Wilson choose CJ S...
In 2010, almost everyone scratched their heads when the Bills picked C...
2 months, 4 weeks ago   |   Did Ralph Wilson choose CJ Spiller in the 2010 draft? ( 549 )