Between now and the 2007 NFL Draft, THN will be taking a look at all of the NFL teams’ offseason needs. Up next is the team with the twelfth overall pick in the draft, the Buffalo Bills.<\/p>\n
2006 Results:<\/b> 7-9, 3rd in AFC East
\n2007 Projected Cap Status:<\/b> $69,300,000<\/p>\n
2006 Season Recap:<\/b><\/p>\n
Considering their offense finished 30th and their defense finished 18th in the NFL, the Bills record of 7-9 (five of those losses coming by three points or less) can easily put them in the class of overachievers in 2006. Quarterback J.P. Losman and wide receiver Lee Evans built a promising rapport in 2006, both setting career highs in yardage passing and receiving, respectively. However, the team failed to generate a productive offense throughout their first season under Head Coach Dick Jauron. The team is likely to lose its leading tackler of the last five seasons in linebacker London Fletcher-Baker and cornerback Nate Clements in free agency.<\/p>\n
Team Needs:<\/b><\/p>\n
1. Offensive Guard \u2013 Losman was sacked 47 times in 2006. Only two other quarterbacks were sacked more. The Bills young offensive line only managed to help gain 1,552 yards on the ground offensively, finishing 27th in the league.<\/p>\n
2. Wide Receiver \u2013 Against the Houston Texans, Evans set a franchise record for receiving yardage in a game (265) to go along with Losman\u2019s career high 340 yards passing. Peerless Price and Josh Reed provide solid support for Evans but Buffalo needs an upgrade at receiver to take the pressure off of Evans in order to build on his connection with Losman.<\/p>\n
3. Tight End \u2013 Robert Royal was one of the team\u2019s premier additions in free agency prior to the season and led Buffalo\u2019s tight ends with 23 catches and tied for second on the team with three touchdown receptions. The team\u2019s three other tight ends combined for only 8 catches, just over one third of Royal\u2019s total. The Bills could use an upgrade to assist Royal and bolster a rather unimpressive group of tight ends.<\/p>\n
2007 Draft Picks:<\/b>
\n1st Round \u2013 12th Overall
\n2nd Round \u2013 43rd Overall
\n3rd Round \u2013 74th Overall
\n4th Round \u2013 107th Overall
\n6th Round \u2013 169th Overall
\n7th Round \u2013 203rd Overall<\/p>\n
Free agency status:<\/b><\/p>\n
Unrestricted: <\/i>
\nLB London Fletcher
\nCB Nate Clements
\nFB Damion Shelton
\nCB Kiwaukee Thomas
\nG Mike Gandy
\nRB Anthony Thomas
\nWR Andre Davis<\/p>\n
Restricetd:<\/i>
\nDL Anthony Hargrove
\nDT Tim Anderson<\/p>\n
Exclusive Rights: <\/i>
\nOL Duke Preston<\/p>\n
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Jake Russell<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"