There was little argument entering the draft that wide receiver and cornerback were the Bills’ two biggest needs. In No. 1 pick Leodis McKelvin, the Bills secured the draft’s top-rated cornerback who will bolster a defense that ranked 29th against the pass in 2007. He has the makings of the next great defender out of Troy, following in the footsteps of Pro Bowlers Osi Umenyiora and DeMarcus Ware. A surprisingly late run on receivers enabled the Bills to nab Indiana’s supersized James Hardy in Round Two. Although raw, Hardy’s blend of size and speed (6-5 3⁄8, 217 pounds, 4.54 in the 40) contributed to his catching a school-record 36 TD passes in just three seasons in Bloomington. Hardy provides the size complement to speed-merchant wideout Lee Evans that Buffalo has been sorely lacking. TE Derek Fine isn’t the stretch-the-seam athlete the Bills really want, but his fine blocking and reliable hands still will aid new coordinator Turk Schonert’s offense. Even with a dearth of offensive playmakers, WR Steve Johnson and RB Xavier Omon will struggle to find roles. OT Demetrius Bell, biological son of NBA great Karl Malone, doesn’t show the rugged toughness on the gridiron that his dad did on the hardwood. Chris Ellis has a chance to be the first defensive end off the bench, providing badly needed depth at a position that will be without top reserve Anthony Hargrove, who’s suspended for the season. Ironically, Ellis also comes with his share of character issues. Aptly named Reggie Corner lacks quality measurables but has the natural instincts to develop into a solid nickel back, while CB Kennard Cox’s makeup could lend itself better to safety. OLB Alvin Bowen’s best shot at making an impact — if not the roster — comes on special teams.
