The Buffalo Bills have released cornerback Drayton Florence, a source with knowledge of the situation said Friday.

Florence started at right cornerback for the Bills the past three seasons, including every game in the 2010 and 2011 campaigns. He had a combined six interceptions and two touchdowns the past two seasons.

The Bills later confirmed the move, via a team statement.

The Bills drafted South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore with their first-round draft pick (No. 10 overall) last week, creating a crowded defensive backfield. Florence had two more years left on his contract with the Bills and was slated to make $4 million this season and $5 million in 2013.

Follow Jason La Canfora on Twitter @JasonLaCanfora.

When it came to adding depth to their revamped defense on the final day of the NFL draft, the Buffalo Bills couldn’t pass up the opportunity to pick a Tank.
That’s exactly what they did with their second of two fifth-round picks on Saturday, by selecting Tank Carder, a highly decorated play-making linebacker out of TCU.
Though undersized by NFL linebacker standards at 6-foot-3 and 237 pounds, Carder is coming off an accomplished college career in which he was a two-time Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year. He also earned defensive MVP honors in the 2011 Rose Bowl.
Carder helped key a 21-19 win over Wisconsin by breaking up a potential game-tying two-point conversion with 2 minutes left.
“I’m just excited to be at the point I’m at right now and just make the best of out of every opportunity,” said Carder, a former world and national BMX champion, referring to a past that’s as colorful as his first name. “I kind of live life in the moment. I don’t dwell on the past.”
Bills scout Shawn Heinlen smiled when asked about Carder’s background.
“Yeah, you’re not going to find many like that,” Heinlen said. “He is a competitor in everything he does.”
Selected 147th overall, Carder was the second of two linebackers the Bills drafted on Saturday after opening the day taking Florida State’s Nigel Bradham with the 105th pick.
Buffalo also drafted LSU cornerback Ron Brooks (124th), and added a pair of offensive linemen: FSU tackle Zebrie Sanders (144th) and Oregon guard/center Mark Asper (178th). The Bills closed the draft taking Western Michigan kicker John Potter with the 251st pick.
The players the Bills selected over the final four rounds are expected to compete for backup spots, adding necessary depth to a team that’s raised expectations this offseason after signing defensive end Mario Williams to a six-year $100 million contract in free agency.
They’re coming off a 6-10 season in which a rash of injuries and lack of depth were blamed on the team losing eight of its final nine games to miss the playoffs for a 12th straight year.
The latest additions come after the Bills filled key needs in the first three rounds by selecting South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore with the 10th pick, Georgia tackle Cordy Glenn (41st) and North Carolina State receiver T.J. Graham (69th).
“We were able to fill everyone (spot) that we set out to fill,” general manager Buddy Nix said in assessing the draft. “We wanted two corners, two tackles, we wanted a wide receiver. We wanted two linebackers, and we were able to get those guys. We got bigger. And we got faster. I just hope it was in the right spots.”
Of the six players Buffalo picked Saturday, Carder’s selection raised the most interest.
There was his success in BMX racing before he gave up the sport because he wanted to try something new. Then, as a 13-year-old, Carder overcame serious injuries sustained in a car crash, in which there were questions of whether he would ever walk again.
Formally named Ricky Carder Jr., he picked up “Tank” at 18 months, when a family friend started calling him that because of Carder’s hefty 33-pound frame.
And he played like a tank at TCU, where he started his final 39 games despite having several operations to repair shoulder injuries, and breaking a finger last season.
“He’s a tough guy,” Nix said. “He brings that kind of temperament to us, and you like to add those kind of guys.”
Though Carder needs to build strength to play at the NFL level, he’s regarded to have good instincts in reading plays, and is fast on his feet.
Bradham, the FSU linebacker, is a three-year starter and became the first Seminoles player to lead the team in tackles for three straight seasons since Marvin Jones did that from 1990-92. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, he’s a solid hitter and has shown a capability of dropping back into coverage.
Brooks adds depth to the Bills defensive backfield after being overshadowed at LSU, where he was part of a star-studded defensive secondary that featured Morris Claiborne, who was selected by Dallas with the sixth pick of the draft, and junior Tyrann Mathieu.
“My focus wasn’t being one of the guys to get all the publicity and get all the shine,” Brooks said. “It’s not about me being in the limelight. I’m just one of those guys. I’m all about winning for my team.”
Brooks did make the most out of his limited playing time, showing he was capable of covering receivers, defending against the run and pressuring quarterbacks. He had 5 1/2 sacks, 12 1/2 tackles for losses, three interceptions and five forced fumbles in 53 games, including three starts.
Sanders, the Florida State offensive lineman, is listed at 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds. He started 50 of 53 games, and has experience playing both tackle positions.
Asper, listed at 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, was a three-year starter at Oregon, splitting time at guard and tackle. He was part of an offense that ranked third in the nation in scoring and fifth in rushing last year.
Potter completed his four-year career with 333 points, to set a school record among kickers. The Bills already have a veteran kicker in Rian Lindell, but Nix said the team would consider using Potter on kickoffs because of his strong leg. Potter had 36 touchbacks alone last season. He becomes the first kicker the Bills have selected in the draft since picking John Nies in 1990.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – When it came to adding depth to their revamped defence on the final day of the NFL draft, the Buffalo Bills couldn’t pass up the opportunity to pick a Tank.

That’s exactly what they did with their second of two fifth-round picks on Saturday, by selecting Tank Carder, a highly decorated play-making linebacker out of TCU.

Though undersized by NFL linebacker standards at 6-foot-3 and 237 pounds, Carder is coming off an accomplished college career in which he was a two-time Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year. He also earned defensive MVP honours in the 2011 Rose Bowl.

Carder helped key a 21-19 win over Wisconsin by breaking up a potential game-tying two-point conversion with 2 minutes left.

“I’m just excited to be at the point I’m at right now and just make the best of out of every opportunity,” said Carder, a former world and national BMX champion, referring to a past that’s as colorful as his first name. “I kind of live life in the moment. I don’t dwell on the past.”

Bills scout Shawn Heinlen smiled when asked about Carder’s background.

“Yeah, you’re not going to find many like that,” Heinlen said. “He is a competitor in everything he does.”

Selected 147th overall, Carder was the second of two linebackers the Bills drafted on Saturday after opening the day taking Florida State’s Nigel Bradham with the 105th pick.

Buffalo also drafted LSU cornerback Ron Brooks (124th), and added a pair of offensive linemen: FSU tackle Zebrie Sanders (144th) and Oregon guard/centre Mark Asper (178th). The Bills closed the draft taking Western Michigan kicker John Potter with the 251st pick.

The players the Bills selected over the final four rounds are expected to compete for backup spots, adding necessary depth to a team that’s raised expectations this off-season after signing defensive end Mario Williams to a six-year $100 million contract in free agency.

They’re coming off a 6-10 season in which a rash of injuries and lack of depth were blamed on the team losing eight of its final nine games to miss the playoffs for a 12th straight year.

The latest additions come after the Bills filled key needs in the first three rounds by selecting South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore with the 10th pick, Georgia tackle Cordy Glenn (41st) and North Carolina State receiver T.J. Graham (69th).

“We were able to fill everyone (spot) that we set out to fill,” general manager Buddy Nix said in assessing the draft. “We wanted two corners, two tackles, we wanted a wide receiver. We wanted two linebackers, and we were able to get those guys. We got bigger. And we got faster. I just hope it was in the right spots.”

Of the six players Buffalo picked Saturday, Carder’s selection raised the most interest.

There was his success in BMX racing before he gave up the sport because he wanted to try something new. Then, as a 13-year-old, Carder overcame serious injuries sustained in a car crash, in which there were questions of whether he would ever walk again.

Formally named Ricky Carder Jr., he picked up “Tank” at 18 months, when a family friend started calling him that because of Carder’s hefty 33-pound frame.

And he played like a tank at TCU, where he started his final 39 games despite having several operations to repair shoulder injuries, and breaking a finger last season.

“He’s a tough guy,” Nix said. “He brings that kind of temperament to us, and you like to add those kind of guys.”

Though Carder needs to build strength to play at the NFL level, he’s regarded to have good instincts in reading plays, and is fast on his feet.

Bradham, the FSU linebacker, is a three-year starter and became the first Seminoles player to lead the team in tackles for three straight seasons since Marvin Jones did that from 1990-92. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 241 pounds, he’s a solid hitter and has shown a capability of dropping back into coverage.

Brooks adds depth to the Bills defensive backfield after being overshadowed at LSU, where he was part of a star-studded defensive secondary that featured Morris Claiborne, who was selected by Dallas with the sixth pick of the draft, and junior Tyrann Mathieu.

“My focus wasn’t being one of the guys to get all the publicity and get all the shine,” Brooks said. “It’s not about me being in the limelight. I’m just one of those guys. I’m all about winning for my team.”

Brooks did make the most out of his limited playing time, showing he was capable of covering receivers, defending against the run and pressuring quarterbacks. He had 5 1/2 sacks, 12 1/2 tackles for losses, three interceptions and five forced fumbles in 53 games, including three starts.

Sanders, the Florida State offensive lineman, is listed at 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds. He started 50 of 53 games, and has experience playing both tackle positions.

Asper, listed at 6-foot-7 and 325 pounds, was a three-year starter at Oregon, splitting time at guard and tackle. He was part of an offence that ranked third in the nation in scoring and fifth in rushing last year.

Potter completed his four-year career with 333 points, to set a school record among kickers. The Bills already have a veteran kicker in Rian Lindell, but Nix said the team would consider using Potter on kickoffs because of his strong leg. Potter had 36 touchbacks alone last season. He becomes the first kicker the Bills have selected in the draft since picking John Nies in 1990.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Snubbed in the first-round of the NFL draft, Cordy Glenn went home to Georgia rather than stick around another day in New York City waiting to be selected.

Turns out, the hulking Georgia offensive lineman will be heading back to New York State in the very near future. And Glenn couldn’t be happier after being picked in the second round, 41st overall, by the Buffalo Bills on Friday.

He was hoping the Bills would select him because he was impressed with his pre-draft visit to Buffalo. Best off all, the Bills also provide Glenn a chance to play left tackle — the position he favours.

“I am happy,” Glenn said by phone. “One, I get to play left tackle. And two, Buffalo is one of my favourite teams. … I know where I’m playing now. It is a big relief.”

The Bills are counting on the 6-foot-5, 348-pound Glenn spelling relief at a position where they had an immediate need after losing former starter Demetress Bell to free agency this off-season.

In four seasons, Glenn had 50 starts, including 18 at left tackle, in 53 career games.

After targeting size in the second round, the Bills then focused on speed in addressing yet another need by selecting North Carolina State receiver T.J. Graham with the 69th pick. Buffalo was so interested in Graham’s raw potential that they swung a deal with Washington to move up two spots in the third round.

In exchange, Buffalo gave up 71st pick and 217th — the first of its two seventh-round selections — to the Redskins.

“Well, the worry was, he wouldn’t be there,” general manager Buddy Nix said of why he made the trade. “You just don’t want to get that close and not get him.”

The 6-foot and 180-pound Graham, who also doubles as a track and field sprinter, has the potential to provide a speed element to the Bills passing that it lacked for much of last season.

A starter in only his senior season at South Carolina, Graham finished with 99 catches for 1,606 yards and 12 touchdowns in 46 career games. He also played a key role as a return threat for the Wolfpack.

The Bills finally turned their attention to offence on Friday after spending much of the off-season addressing defensive needs. Aside from signing defensive ends Mario Williams and Mark Anderson in free agency last month, Buffalo opened the draft selecting South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore with the 10th pick.

The Bills now have six picks left through the final four rounds on Saturday. And Nix is pleased with how he was able to address the team’s most immediate needs with his first three selections.

“I’ll sleep better tonight than I did last night,” Nix said. “I think we all feel better about it. … We’ve got a chance for these guys to really help us.”

Nix is particularly pleased with landing Glenn, a player he had considered targeting in the first round.

Though some scouts project Glenn to be best suited to play guard at the NFL level, he worked at left tackle at this past year’s Senior Bowl. There’s no doubt among the Bills that Glenn can excel at tackle.

“He’s not a guard,” Nix said, noting how Glenn showed progress in starting the past 16 games at left tackle. “The Senior Bowl really capped it off for us. … He was able to hold his own against the best at the Senior Bowl at left tackle. It convinced us.”

Nix also believes Glenn will be additionally motivated by how he slid out of the first round of the draft.

“He was embarrassed by it,” Nix said.

Glenn was part of a Bulldogs offence that averaged 244.5 yards passing and 408.5 yards offence last season. For his career, he was credited with registering 63 blocks that resulted in touchdowns.

“I still do not think I have played my best game out there,” Glenn said.

Despite his big size, Glenn is both quick and agile. He also has a long reach, which is something the Bills front office previously said it prefers in left tackles because of their ability to push pass rushers further outside and away from the pocket.

“We think he can go a long way at left tackle,” coach Chan Gailey said. “His wingspan is so huge, and the guy has very good feet for a guy his size. I think he’s just tapped the potential at left tackle.”

The Bills were among the least-sacked teams in allowing just 22 last season. But they entered this draft with only three tackles on their roster. That included Chris Hairston, a fourth-round pick last year, who had seven starts at left tackle last season.

Graham will be a project, but the Bills see plenty of potential.

“He can run by most everybody, the guy can fly,” Gailey said.

Graham was also a return threat at NC State. He finished with a 3,153 career yards in kickoff returns to set an ACC record. He also returned two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns.

Is the value right for Michael Floyd at No. 10?

Talent is often only half of the equation in the draft, especially in the first round. Value is the other half, and for the Bills this year with their 10th overall pick, their evaluation of a players’ value will likely be the far greater factor that determines the name Roger Goodell calls.

When we speak of value either during the draft or throughout the build-up that feels like it begins the moment the Super Bowl confetti has settled, we’re referring to a players’ talent in relation to both the slot at which he’s about to be drafted, and in comparison to his position peers. If the difference between a player in a high spot early in the draft and another player who’s projected to come off the board considerably lower isn’t significant, then the value is poor, and the pick can and should be used to address needs elsewhere.

I just used exactly 94 words to explain a mundane draft evaluation concept that should be common knowledge. Sure, go ahead and laugh, or become angry because I just wasted your time. But if you ask Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix to assess Michael Floyd’s value, he’d need a hell of a lot more than 94 words.

Floyd’s value will likely be the major question and challenge facing the Bills. To get some more insight on the decisions Nix is juggling, we talked to Brian Galliford, the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Rumblings.

1. The Bills need a wide receiver to complement Stevie Johnson, and they’ll likely have a shot at the draft’s best wideout who isn’t named Justin Blackmon. The projections for Floyd have been widespread, so do you think taking him with the 10^th overall pick is a little too early, or is the value right?

That’s a great question, and one that’s difficult to answer. Nix has made it very well-known that he likes the talent the team has at receiver, that he likes the depth of this year’s receiver class, and that he believes it’s easier to find help at the position because there are more of those types of players readily available throughout the year.

My guess is that the Bills will only take a receiver with their first-round pick if they think the player has a chance to not only make an immediate impact, but to become one of the stars at his position. I like Floyd, and think he has some of that play-making ability the team needs. I don’t think he’s an elite receiving prospect, and coupled with his off-field issues, I can’t say for certain that the Bills will see enough to take him when they think they can get help later on.

2. What’s the greater need between WR and the offensive line? And if the decision is made to address the O-line, does Riley Reiff get the call?

Nix has said that the team needs a receiver, and he’s also said that the team is going to draft a tackle if one is available, and that the team can never have enough tackles. Based solely on that, I’d say the team views tackle as the bigger of the two needs.

They’ve only got three on the roster at the moment, after all, so not only do they need a guy that – at minimum – can push 2011 fourth-round pick Chris Hairston to start at left tackle, but they need depth as well. As far as Reiff goes, the team passed on Bryan Bulaga to take C.J. Spiller when they already had Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson in 2010, and Reiff is similar to Bulaga in many ways. The Bills haven’t typically made high-round investments in tackles; Hairston was their highest-drafted tackle since 2002 mega-bust Mike Williams. They also seem to prefer massive players at the position; their three tackles are, on average, 6’7″ and 321 pounds. It’s therefore extremely difficult to pick who the team would prefer amongst the top tackles this year, but Reiff, I don’t believe, would be the first choice.

3. If Floyd is either passed on or isn’t available, are there any receivers in the second round and beyond that you like?

I like Rueben Randle from LSU, and Nix has admitted that he likes Randle too.

A lot of people like Randle. Greg Cosell has compared him to Hakeem Nicks, and there’s been a lot of buzz about Randle from the beginning. I’m not sure he’ll be there when the Bills pick in the second round, but he would be the prototypical Nix pick – a very good athlete from college football’s best conference at a position of need. Randle could conceivably compete with the other receivers the Bills like for that aforementioned No. 2 job. Another guy I like is Marvin Jones from Cal.

4. Despite the additions of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, could the move to a 4-3 combined with Chris Kelsay’s age lead to a pass rusher who can be groomed and developed being drafted in the middle rounds?

Most definitely. But Kelsay will be part of the picture. Williams is 27, so he’s in his prime, but Anderson will be 29 in May and Kelsay will be 33 in September.

The guy that really needs to be replaced, however, is Shawne Merriman; the team simply can’t rely on him as their situational pass rusher at this point, and there’s not much behind him, with Kyle Moore (formerly of Tampa Bay) being the biggest name there. A developmental pass rusher that can play special teams and grow into a situational role as a rookie would make a lot of sense for the team.

5. Any other needs you’d like to see addressed?

The team needs depth at cornerback, and Nix has said he’d like to add two. They also need more speed at linebacker. There really isn’t any position that doesn’t need to be touched, save for running back, but one position I wish the team were more interested in addressing is tight end. Scott Chandler is a nice player and a good starter, but the team doesn’t seem interested in capitalizing on the emerging trend of having a receiving tight end featured in their passing attack.