No. 11

Pick by Buffalo Rumblings Malcolm Kelly Wide Receiver Oklahoma

Picking eleventh overall in the 2008 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly.  Brian Galliford, head blogger over at Buffalo Rumblings, explains taking the first wide receiver in this draft:

  Let's get one thing out there right away: the Buffalo Bills have no bigger need than they do at the wide receiver position.  Sure, they need help elsewhere, but the Bills have to come out of this draft with a starter at wideout.  They can't go into 2008 with Josh Reed as a starter, and they probably won't be able to find a starting-caliber receiver in the second round.  Cornerback might be a darkhorse option, but the Bills have four players with starting experience at the position.

This pick, by and large, came down to Kelly and Devin Thomas.  The Bills are transitioning to a form of the West Coast offense, and none of their top three wide receivers - not even Lee Evans - are anything special after the catch.  Buffalo will target a receiver with size (6'1" or above) and ability once the ball is in their hands.  Thomas is, in my opinion, the best player after the catch by leaps and bounds, but questions about his hands and his only having one (ultra) productive college year put him a half a hair behind Kelly.  This pick might be more of a slam dunk if Kelly has a solid workout on April 9; for now, I like the fact that he's a good YAC receiver as well as a deep threat.  I also really like the fact that he's about as sound a run blocker as you can find in a receiver prospect - that will make Marshawn Lynch happy when he hits the second level.  Kelly is high on Buffalo's draft board, and his medical concerns got a passing grade from our training and coaching staffs when he made a pre-draft visit.

I'm ready for the "wow, this was a reach" reaction.  I'm quite aware that this is a risky pick, and in all likelihood, the Bills will explore a trade down before they take the plunge on whichever receiver tops their board.  But ultimately, the draft is about finding impact, and Kelly, by far, will have the biggest impact as a rookie Bill.  Around half of the Buffalo Rumblings audience agrees.

Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:

  I apologize for the delayed analysis. The Bills have two easily identifiable needs in the 2008 NFL Draft: Wide Receiver and Tight End. Second-year players Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch are the building blocks to the Bills offense, with receiver Lee Evans and offensive tackle Jason Peters forming a great young nucleus. Adding the talented Kelly only helps. Malcolm has had a great career in Norman, and if he can prove healthy, will make a fine starting receiver for the Bills. The only concerns here are if Kelly can stay healthy and if he has the deep speed to separate from coverage.

Grade: B  ::  Malcolm Kelly Scouting Report - New Era Scouting :: Matt Miller's Top Five Prospects Remaining - 1.  OT Ryan Clady, 2.  CB Mike Jenkins, 3.  RB Rashard Mendenhall, 4.  RB Jonathan Stewart, 5.  WR Limas Sweed

We're all done with selections for today, but we'll be right back tomorrow morning with the Denver Broncos' pick, being made by Mile High Report.  Those Broncos are now on the clock!