1) S Donte Whitner Ohio St. 5-10, 203, 4.53 - Whitner is a very good athlete with great footwork, speed, and explosiveness. He is physical enough to be very good in run support and fast enough to cover the slot on passing situations including covering wide receivers. His biggest weakness is lack of ideal size but the NFL is going towards smaller safeties. It could hurt him at the point of attack however but he overcomes it with solid tackling skills. He was third in tackles on a very talented Ohio St. defense last year. He is very smart and is a film and gym rat. Whitner was a reach with the 8th overall pick in the draft but if you look past that the Bills may have a solid safety for years to come. He should start as a rookie in Lawyer Milloy's strong safety spot.
1) DT John McCargo NC State 6-3, 301, 5.20 - McCargo is a smaller tackle that's main asset is his explosiveness and quickness off the ball. Has good power for his size to disrupt the line of scrimmage. He is trying to come back from a foot injury last year. He's a smart player who needs to play with better concentration. He's exactly what Dick Jauron is looking for in the new defensive scheme. He projects more as a three technique guy which would put him at the same position as recently signed Larry Tripplett. The Bills envision using him in pass rushing situations alongside Tripplett and he can spell him in the rotation on the line. The Bills feel he can learn how to play nose tackle in the NFL.
3) CB Ashton Youboty Ohio St. 5-11¾, 189, 4.43 - Youboty is a quick corner who has good size and has room to get bigger. Had good leaping ability and is intelligent to learn quickly. He has been a bit inconsistent and gambles too often which leads to him getting burned. He was projected as a late first or early 2nd round pick so the Bills may have got a break getting him so late. He will challenge for the nickel spot on the defense as a rookie and can be a long term replacement for fellow Buckeye Nate Clements who's future with the club after this year is in doubt.
4) S Ko Simpson South Carolina 6-1, 209, 4.47 - Simpson has tremendous upside. He's a big safety with the potential to get bigger. He is a solid open field tackler and is a ball hawk which is perfect for the free safety spot where he looks to play with the Bills. He is still unpolished but will be able to learn from cagey veteran Troy Vincent and not be asked to start as a rookie. He needs to play with more discipline but could end up being a steal.
5) DT Kyle Williams LSU 6-1, 298, 5.18 - Like McCargo picked before him, he lacks ideal size but his very quick and plays the ball very well. He projects more for the nose tackle spot the team needs help with. He's highly competitive and a hard nosed player with great instincts. His lack of size is a weakness but it isn't that huge a deal at this position. Needs to learn to move better in practice. He should challenge for playing time in his rookie year behind Tim Anderson.
5) OT Brad Butler Virginia 6-7, 309, 5.30 - Butler is a tower of a man who projects as strictly a right tackle in the NFL. His long arms make him an effective pass protector but his height hurts his run blocking. Has quickness for pulling out but is a limited athlete. Will backup Jason Peters as a rookie.
6) OLB Keith Ellison Oregon St. 6-1, 229, 4.83 - Ellison is versatile enough to play all three linebacker positions. He has quick feet, agility, and flexibility but wasn't consistent enough at the college level. He is undersized but has a high motor like the other defensive picks. Will get a chance to learn behind solid depth at the linebacker positions.
7) OT Terrence Pennington New Mexico 6-7¼, 325, 5.33 - Pennington can play both sides of the line at tackle. He's another extremely tall player who moves well for his size and is very strong. His technique doesn't allow him to dominate many players. Had a weight issue early in his college career but seems to have that under control. If he and Butler can develop they could become two very large bookends for the line. This year Pennington will get a chance to learn as a backup.
7) C/G Aaron Merz California 6-3½, 346, 5.40 - Merz is a monster of a guy that has played all the line positions. The Bills project him inside at guard or even center although guard is his natural spot. He's a competitive player with limited athletic ability. May be too big and lacks quickness. He will add depth to the line and not be looked on to contribute much this year.
