National Football League

Bills pass on big-name QB in draft

Published Apr. 24, 2010 11:29 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Buffalo Bills believe this draft class - even without a big-name quarterback - can help them end their decade-long playoff drought.

The Bills addressed several needs with their nine selections during the three-day draft that concluded Saturday. But the team passed on adding a high-profile quarterback to fill what many feel is a glaring hole behind center.

After skipping over Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy on Friday, the Bills also passed on top second-tier quarterbacks such as Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour, Cincinnati's Tony Pike and Tennessee's Jonathan Crompton.

``We did discuss one or two, but we just didn't think it was best for us at this time,'' rookie general manager Buddy Nix said. ``Never batted an eye ... just went right on.''

Instead, Nix waited until Saturday's seventh round to take Levi Brown, who played primarily from the shotgun formation at Troy University.

Brown joins veterans Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm in a quarterback competition that will begin in training camp. Edwards and Fitzpatrick split starts last season. Brohm is an untested third-stringer the Bills signed off Green Bay's practice squad two days after the team fired coach Dick Jauron last November.

``There are some good (quarterback) prospects next year, but that's not what made the decision for us,'' Nix said. ``Our goal is for a top guy to come out of this pack.''

Buffalo ranked 30th on offense last year and hasn't finished better than 25th in yards gained in each of the past seven seasons.

``I think I'm ready,'' said Brown, the 209th overall pick and 13th quarterback to be drafted. ``I know there's been a lot of concern about (playing in shotgun), but I think if you're a good quarterback, you're a good quarterback. It's not like I don't know how to read a defense.''

The Bills spent four of their nine picks on defensive players, as they transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense under new head coach Chan Gailey. After selecting Clemson running back C.J. Spiller with the ninth overall pick, Buffalo began beefing up a defense that ranked 30th against the run last season by taking defensive tackle Torell Troup in the second round and defensive end Alex Carrington in the third.

Buffalo used its fourth-round pick on Connecticut receiver Marcus Easley before selecting offensive tackle Ed Wang out of Virginia Tech in the next round.

The Bills then took defensive end/linebacker Arthur Moats of James Madison and defensive end/linebacker Danny Batten of South Dakota State with their two sixth-round picks.

Moats was the Colonial Athletic Association defensive player of the year in 2009 after recording 90 tackles and 11 sacks.

``I feel I'm going to bring a physical edge, and a lot of speed to that defense,'' he said. ``From high school to college, I've always been able to rush the passer.''

Buffalo capped its 2010 draft by picking Brown and Iowa offensive lineman Kyle Calloway in the seventh round.

Easley made just five catches in his first three years with the Huskies after walking on, but broke out with 44 catches and eight touchdowns this past season as a senior.

``I always feel like I had the ability, it was just the lack of opportunity,'' he said. ``I only really have one year of college football under my belt, which gives me a lot of upside. Hopefully, my best football is still yet to come.''

Nix believes that's true, too, of the Bills.

``We got better,'' he said. ``Things fell right for us. We like this.''