What is the Buffalo Bills’ biggest draft mistake ever?

What’s your biggest regret for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL Draft?

Over at SB Nation this week, several writers listed out the biggest regrets for their team in the history of the NFL Draft. Of course I wrote up a blurb about the Buffalo Bills, and I went with a story I covered from soup to nuts here at Buffalo Rumblings.

Below, you can read my blurb along with some other options I considered. Then share your thoughts in the comments. If you need to sign up for an account to comment, you can do that right here and welcome!

Buffalo Bills select Torrell Troup one pick before Rob Gronkowski

Heading into the 2010 NFL Draft, the Bills had a big need at tight end. Arizona State’s Rob Gronkowski fell into the second round with injury concerns, but he was literally from Western New York and somewhat of a hometown hero.

The Bills instead picked Torell Troup, a defensive tackle from the University of Central Florida, one spot ahead of Gronkowski. Troup started just two games for Buffalo — both in his rookie season — before a debilitating back injury cost him the rest of his career. He ended up with 21 NFL games, 31 tackles, one QB hit, and two TFLs.

Gronk on the other hand became a Hall of Famer with the New England Patriots and later the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Facing him twice a season while he was with Tom Brady continued to rub salt into the wounds of Bills fans who wanted to add the explosive tight end back in 2010. Gronkowski played in 16 games against Buffalo catching 74 passes for 1132 yards, 57 first downs, and 12 touchdowns at a clip of 9.4 yards per target. They held him without a catch just once. Gronk’s record in those games? 14-2.

Buffalo Bills trade away the pick the Chiefs used on Patrick Mahomes

The Bills traded away the pick that eventually became Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. That’s not a regret for me. The Bills’ offensive coordinator at the time under first-year coach Sean McDermott was Rick Dennison. That man would have ruined Mahomes and Buffalo wouldn’t have picked Josh Allen the next year. The Bills also got All-Pro CB Tre’Davious White out of the move, so it was a win for both sides though obviously a roadblock for the current iteration of the Bills.

But I can understand why folks would list this one.

QB-needy Bills bypass Russell Wilson for T.J. Graham

In 2012, the Bills added Mario Williams in a big free agency swing to try and put the Ryan Fitzpatrick-led team over the hump and into the playoffs. Fitz had his best season in 2012, throwing for 3832 yards and 24 touchdowns but alongside 23 interceptions. The Bills went 6-10.

Instead of drafting Wilson in the third round, Buffalo opted for speedy T.J. Graham. He played just two seasons in Buffalo before being part of the final roster cut in 2014. His Bills career was awful — 31 games, 54 catches, 683 yards, and three touchdowns on a dismal 34.5% success rate.

Fitzpatrick was cut after the season. Meanwhile, Russ led the Seahawks to two Super Bowls, winning one, and he’s been to the Pro Bowl 10 times.

Marcell Dareus chosen over Julio Jones and J.J. Watt

The 2011 NFL Draft was an all-timer at the top, with multiple Hall of Famers. The Bills were finally picking in the top three after multiple seasons picking between eight and 13. Finally a chance to get elite talent. Apparently they were enamored with Cam Newton and Von Miller, but those guys went 1 & 2.

With the third pick, Buffalo selected Marcell Dareus and he had a solid career for the Bills, even earning a massive second contract. But he was never quite a superstar for Buffalo.

Meanwhile, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, and Julio Jones were the next three picks. J.J. Watt went 11th to the Texans. Cameron Jordan and Cam Heyward went later in the first round.

Trading up for Sammy Watkins

In a wide receiver-rich draft in 2014, the Bills couldn’t help themselves chasing their EJ Manuel pick with a trade up for the best receiver in the class. Sammy Watkins was talented, sure, but a bunch of WRs that year were talented. Just wait and not use a future first-round pick to do it.

Mike Evans went a few picks later. Odell Beckham and Brandin Cooks were also first-rounders. Davante Adams, Allen Robinson, and Jarvis Landry were second-rounders.

That’s not even to mention Khalil Mack went the pick after Watkins.

Donte Whitner and John McCargo in 2006

The Bills took a safety with a top-10 pick, but that wasn’t the worst part. Haloti Ngata was on the board along with QBs Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler.

Then the Bills traded up to take the third NC State defensive lineman of the draft, for some reason, costing them their second-round and third-round picks. DeAngelo Williams, Marcedes Lewis, Nick Mangold, Josepha Addai, and DeMeco Ryans went over the next handful of picks. Marcus McNeil, Greg Jennings, Andrew Whitworth, and Maurice Jones-Drew were second-rounders. Jahri Evans was picked in the early fourth as was Brandon Marshall.

Luckily they landed Kyle Williams later.

James Hardy washes out in two seasons

I had high hopes for James Hardy when they drafted him in 2008 because he had the physical tools and the opportunity. He finished his career after two seasons with 10 receptions for 96 yards. What a second-round bust.

Matt Forte, DeSean Jackson, Calais Campbell, Ray Rice, and Martellus Bennett were taken later in the second round along with Eddie Royal, Jerome Simpson, and the aforementioned Jackson.

Aaron Maybin is sackless

The Bills took Maybin to bolster their pass rush in 2009 but he finished his Bills career after two seasons with zero sacks. Brian Orakpo two picks later eventually made a Pro Bowl at the same position and finished his career with 66 sacks. Robert Ayers had 34.5 career sacks. Clay Matthews had 91.5 sacks.

Why take C.J. Spiller?

We talked about the 2010 NFL Draft already with Troup/Gronkowski, but the first-round pick is often overlooked because C.J. Spiller eventually made a Pro Bowl. But... The Bills already had Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, two bone fide NFL running backs. Chan Gailey wanted a “water bug” scampering running back, but he didn’t need it.

Tyson Alualu has played 193 NFL games and was drafted immediately after. Brandon Graham and Jason Pierre-Paul, Earl Thomas, Mike Iupati, Maurkice Pouncey, DeMaryius Thomas, and Dez Bryant were all drafted later in the first along with Jerry Hughes.

It was a weird pick at the time and remains a lame selection.

The older Bills’ draft mistakes

In 1978, the Bills picked Terry Miller fifth overall and James Lofton went with the next selection. Ozzie Newsome was later in the first round.

The Bills selected Tom Cousineau with the first overall pick in 1979 but he never played for Buffalo. His eventual trade did net the pick Buffalo used on Jim Kelly, so not a total waste. HOFers Dan Hampton and Kellen Winslow were picked later in the first round as was Phil Simms.

Let’s just write the entire 2000 NFL Draft. Erik Flowers, Travares Tillman, Corey Moore, Avion Black, Sammy Morris, Leif Larsen, Drew Hadded, and DaShon Polk combined for five total seasons as starters for the Bills (Morris had three of them). Most of them were drafted ahead of Tom Brady, but even without that nugget it was a bad class. Flowers played two years in Buffalo and had just four sacks.

Mike Williams was picked fourth overall in 2002 and yeah he was not good. HOFers Dwight Freeney and Ed Reed were first-rounders that year after Williams was picked. John Henderon, Jeremy Shockey, Albert Haynesworth, Javon Walker, Lito Sheppard were on the board, too.