The Buffalo Bills signed three players who tried out for them this past weekend, but Nick Clark was not one of them.
The former Alfred University linebacker and Canisteo-Greenwood graduate was one of 21 players who was invited to the Bills’ rookie mini-camp this past weekend at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Clark was a longshot to receive a contract and may have to look elsewhere to continue his NFL dream.
The Bills did sign fullback Dorin Dickerson who split time on New England and Pittsburgh’s practice squads last season. Selected in the seventh round of the 2010 draft by Houston, Dickerson appeared in seven games for the Texans before being released by the team.
Buffalo also signed former Mississippi State offensive tackle James Carmon and former University of Houston safety Nick Saenz.
To make room on their roster, the Bills released undrafted rookie free agents, quarterback Aaron Corp and safety Ian Wild.

Polian to be placed on Wall of Fame
ORCHARD PARK (AP) — Former Buffalo Bills general manager Bill Polian has been selected to become the latest member of the team’s Wall of Fame.
Polian will become the 28th member placed on the wall that rings Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills have not yet selected when Polian will be honored.
Before helping transform the Indianapolis Colts into perennial contenders over the past decade, Polian was the Bills’ GM from 1986-1993. During that time, he was a two-time NFL executive of the year and credited for building the Jim Kelly-led and Marv Levy-coached teams that won four consecutive AFC championships from 1991-94.
Polian has turned to broadcasting since he was fired as the Colts president after Indianapolis’ 2-14 finish last season.

Longtime NFL executive Bill Polian will be inducted into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame, the team said Sunday.

Polian served as the team’s general manager from 1986 to 1993, turning a losing franchise into a perennial Super Bowl contender, winning NFL Executive of the Year award twice in that time.

“Bill was the architect of our Super Bowl teams which made four consecutive appearances, a feat that may never be duplicated,” Bills owner Ralph Wilson said in a statement.

The Bills fired Polian after the team lost its third consecutive Super Bowl. The team, largely intact from the year before, made it back to the Super Bowl the following year, as well.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am,” said Polian said in a statement. “I told Mr. Wilson I really couldn’t find words adequate to express my gratitude and happiness.”

Polian was instrumental in signing Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and drafting Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith. He also drafted running back Thurman Thomas and wide receiver Andre Reed.

Polian went on to serve as the general manager of the expansion Carolina Panthers (1994 to 1997) and president and general manager of the Indianapolis Colts (1997 to 2011). While in Indianapolis he drafted Peyton Manning and finally won a Super Bowl in 2006.

Alex Tanney wants to be an NFL quarterback and there are no tricks up his sleeve to make that happen.
Tanney, a YouTube sensation for being the “Trick Shot Quarterback,” is taking his NFL tryout with the Buffalo Bills very seriously and knows it will take more than being able to throw footballs into moving vehicles or hitting a crossbar from 50 yards out from his knee to make the roster.
“I’m here to play football and not throw trick shots,” said Tanney, one of 21 players trying out for the Bills this weekend during the team’s rookie mini-camp.
Tanney holds the NCAA record with 157 touchdowns passes in five seasons at Monmouth College and completed nearly 69 percent of his passes with only 30 interceptions. However, Tanney is known most for his YouTube video in which he throws footballs through basketball hoops from across the court and once through a hallway from the floor of a gymnasium and into a trash can sitting on a track — without looking at the can.
“Everybody gives me grief about the video, but I just accept it,” said Tanney. “I posted the video and it went viral and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Tanney’s video has more than 1.1 million hits in the 16 months it has been online and turned him into a national celebrity. In fact, Tanney even appeared in an episode of “Stan Lee’s Superhumans” on the History Channel to show off his incredible accuracy.
Still, Tanney is thinking only about football and how he can make a career as an NFL quarterback.
“I’m trying to pick up as much as I can and learn the offense as best as I can,” said Tanney. “There are other guys who have had success lately from smaller schools. Teams are starting to look at the lower-level guys now and all I’ve ever wanted is an opportunity to come to camp and compete.”
Tanney, a 6-foot-4, 220-pounder from Normal, Ill., also holds the Division III record with 14,249 career passing yards.
While he’s not yet known for what he did on the football field, Tanney is hoping that changes someday very soon.
“We didn’t expect it to blow up the way it did,” Tanney said. “It was just me and my buddies fooling around after working out.
“I grew up around the game and I’ve played quarterback since I was a kid. I just started doing it, spur of the moment, and it took off.”
Tanney actually agreed to attend rookie camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers at first, but when the Bills came calling he changed his mind. Tanney said the Bills were one of the first teams to contact him before the draft with interest and is even familiar with Buffalo’s quarterback coach, David Lee.
Tanney actually had a chance to show off his incredible accuracy live for the team and the media during Friday’s opening day of camp. Running a normal throwing drill, Tanney had two big nets 20 yards down the field with little pouches cut out.
Tanney dropped balls right into the pouch dead center over and over, showing his video is no trick.
Now, he hopes his chance to play at the highest level is all genuine.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – The Buffalo Bills have agreed to a one-year contract to sign free agent quarterback Vince Young, providing them an established backup and a bona fide threat in their wildcat formations.

The Bills announced the deal on Friday, a little over a week after 2006 NFL offensive rookie of the year worked out for the team at its facility.

A person familiar with the contract provided the length of the deal, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the Bills do not release those figures. Citing a league source, ESPN.com reported the contract is worth $2 million with another $1 million available in playing-time bonuses.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 232 pounds, Young has a strong arm and is also presents dual threat as a runner, a combination that has the potential of complementing head coach Chan Gailey’s offensive attack.

General manager Buddy Nix said the addition of Young will create more competition at the backup spot behind starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. Young will compete with returning backup Tyler Thigpen for the No. 2 position.

“He brings with him some unique physical abilities that most are aware of, and that will make the competition interesting,” Nix said. “It’s all about improving our team.”

The move created a buzz in town, overshadowing the start of the team’s three-day rookie minicamp.

Young’s publicist, Denise White, said the player is scheduled to arrive in Buffalo either Sunday evening or Monday morning.

She also released a statement from Young, who said: “Thanks to Buddy Nix and Coach Gailey for giving me the opportunity to come in and play and compete. I am looking forward to playing with the guys and helping where I am needed.”

Young, who turns 29 next week, has been biding his time to determine the next step of his career after he completed his one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. He struggled as Michael Vick’s backup last season, finishing with four touchdowns and nine interceptions in six games, and was sacked eight times in six games, including three starts.

He’s had an up-and-down career since being selected third overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2006 NFL draft. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Titans, but eventually lost his starting job on several occasions in Tennessee before the team ran out of patience with him.

Overall, he has a 31-19 record in 50 career starts, with 8,964 yards passing and 1,459 yards rushing. He’s thrown for 46 touchdowns while throwing 51 interceptions. He also has 12 touchdowns rushing.

For Buffalo, it’s the latest off-season splash made by a team attempting to make a serious bid at becoming competitive and ending a 12-year playoff drought — the NFL’s longest active streak.

The traditionally cost-conscious Bills have been free-spenders this off-season after signing free agent defensive end Mario Williams to a six-year, $100 million contract, the most expensive contract awarded an NFL defensive player. They were also able to re-sign starting receiver Stevie Johnson before he became a free agent. Last week, they also awarded starting running back Fred Jackson a two-year contract extension.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Bills have agreed to a one-year contract to sign free agent quarterback Vince Young, providing them an established backup and a bona fide threat in their wildcat formations.

The Bills announced the deal on Friday, a little over a week after 2006 NFL offensive rookie of the year worked out for the team at its facility.

A person familiar with the contract provided the length of the deal, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the Bills do not release those figures. Citing a league source, ESPN.com reported the contract is worth $2 million with another $1 million available in playing-time bonuses.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 232 pounds, Young has a strong arm and is also presents dual threat as a runner, a combination that has the potential of complementing head coach Chan Gailey’s offensive attack.

General manager Buddy Nix said the addition of Young will create more competition at the backup spot behind starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. Young will compete with returning backup Tyler Thigpen for the No. 2 position.

”He brings with him some unique physical abilities that most are aware of, and that will make the competition interesting,” Nix said. ”It’s all about improving our team.”

The move created a buzz in town, overshadowing the start of the team’s three-day rookie minicamp.

Young’s publicist, Denise White, said the player is scheduled to arrive in Buffalo either Sunday evening or Monday morning.

She also released a statement from Young, who said: ”Thanks to Buddy Nix and Coach Gailey for giving me the opportunity to come in and play and compete. I am looking forward to playing with the guys and helping where I am needed.”

Young, who turns 29 next week, has been biding his time to determine the next step of his career after he completed his one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. He struggled as Michael Vick’s backup last season, finishing with four touchdowns and nine interceptions in six games, and was sacked eight times in six games, including three starts.

He’s had an up-and-down career since being selected third overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2006 NFL draft. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Titans, but eventually lost his starting job on several occasions in Tennessee before the team ran out of patience with him.

Overall, he has a 31-19 record in 50 career starts, with 8,964 yards passing and 1,459 yards rushing. He’s thrown for 46 touchdowns while throwing 51 interceptions. He also has 12 touchdowns rushing.

For Buffalo, it’s the latest offseason splash made by a team attempting to make a serious bid at becoming competitive and ending a 12-year playoff drought – the NFL’s longest active streak.

The traditionally cost-conscious Bills have been free-spenders this offseason after signing free agent defensive end Mario Williams to a six-year, $100 million contract, the most expensive contract awarded an NFL defensive player. They were also able to re-sign starting receiver Stevie Johnson before he became a free agent. Last week, they also awarded starting running back Fred Jackson a two-year contract extension.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BUFFALO, N.Y. — An influx of youth in the NFL draft and an expensive contract combined to make veteran cornerback Drayton Florence the odd man out with the Buffalo Bills.

Florence was released by the team on Friday in what was regarded as a mild surprise after Buffalo spent much of the off-season improving what has been a porous defence. Florence is a nine-year NFL veteran, who had 45 starts in 46 games during a three-year stint with the Bills.

He had two years left on his contract and was scheduled to make a base salary of $4 million this season.

Florence took the news in stride in a message posted on his Twitter account. He wrote “Business is business,” adding that he’s moving on and thanked his fans for their support.

The move came a week after the Bills opened the draft by selecting South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore with the 10th pick. Gilmore is expected to step in and immediately compete for a starting job.

Buffalo already has plenty of experience in its defensive secondary with returning veterans Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin, as well as Aaron Williams, a former second-round pick, who had six starts in nine games as a rookie last season.

The Bills also drafted LSU cornerback Ron Brooks in the fourth round last weekend.

General manager Buddy Nix said the decision to release Florence was made to allow other players to develop.

“Our defence has gone through a number of changes since the end of the season, and we feel that it’s necessary to give these young corners an opportunity to be in the lineup,” Nix said in a statement issued by the team.

The Bills gave up a franchise worst 5,938 yards offence and ranked 30th in the NFL in allowing 434 points. Aside from drafting Gilmore, the Bills made a big splash in shoring up their defence by signing free agent defensive end Mario Williams to a six-year, $100 million contract in March.

Florence had seven of his 17 career interceptions with Buffalo. He spent his first five NFL seasons with San Diego, followed by a year in Jacksonville before signing with the Bills in 2009.

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.

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.