EJ Manuel, the Bills’ first-round quarterback, said Buffalo’s offense is easier to learn than the pro-style offense he ran at Florida State. That may be because Buffalo’s head coach and offensive coordinator are coming from the college ranks at Syracuse.

“The funny thing is, it’s easier to learn than the offense I had at Florida State,” Manuel told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “It’s a true West Coast-type progression offense. That’s really what I wanted when I was coming through the pre-draft process. I wanted something that I could just go in and say one, two, three, four, five, check it down and run it. That’s it. It’s that simple. I love it.”

Manuel is catching on to the Bills’ offense quickly because it’s so simple. From what Manuel is saying, he should have no problem starting right away under Doug Marrone and Nathaniel Hackett.

“I’ve done great. The learning curve for me is a lot shorter simply because of what I had at Florida State,” Manuel said. “[The Seminoles' offense is] more complex and a little bit harder to catch on and learn. This offense is very simple. I’ve done a great job with it.”

Well, if it’s that easy, one would think NFL defenses will have no problem picking it apart as well. The Bills will play the Patriots Week 1 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Photo via Facebook/Buffalo Bills from B/R

Buddy Nix, who has been the Bills’ general manager for three seasons, has elected to step down from that position and instead take on a role as a special assistant with the team, the Bills announced Monday.

BREAKING: #Bills GM Buddy Nix will step away from his role as GM and tradition to Special Assistant.

—
Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) May 13, 2013

The Bills haven’t made the playoffs in 14 seasons, and they came no closer to breaking that streak during Nix’s tenure. The Bills went 16-32 during his three seasons as GM. Nix is also charged with giving quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick a six-year, $60 million extension, including $24 million guaranteed, and then releasing him one season into the new deal.

Nix’s announcement isn’t much of a surprise, as the team has been in constant transition since the end of last season, including the hiring of new head coach Doug Marrone.

Doug Whaley, who has spent the past three seasons as assistant general manager,  is expected to take over as GM for Nix, according to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Thumbnail photo via Facebook/Buddy Nix

When he asked his girlfriend, Erin Marzouki, to marry him last February, Williams did so by presenting her with a $785,000 diamond engagement ring. But the two have since split up, and Marzouki reportedly is not willing to part with the 10-carat ring.

According to UltimateTexans.com, Williams is now suing Marzouki in an attempt to get the ring back on the grounds that his ex-fiancee had never intended to marry him and only went along with the engagement in order to take advantage of Williams’ sizable bank account. In addition to the ring, Marzouki also reportedly charged around $108,000 last year alone on an American Express card Williams gave her and spent another $230,000 on “additional luxury items.”

Williams’ lawyers are seeking a temporary restraining order that would prevent Marzouki from selling or tampering the ring or profiting from its sale.

Photo of the night

The sneakers LeBron James wore for Monday night’s game were nothing short of ridiculous.

Photo via Twitter/@heidiburgett

Tweet of the night

Saban!

Photo bomb http://t.co/tVGB7YlYQH

—
Bradley Harris (@bradleyrharris) May 05, 2013

Video of the night

What a guy.

Among those shocking undrafted players were former Tennessee Volunteers Tyler Bray and Da’Rick Rogers. Both had reported off-the-field issues coming into the draft, but those were expected to drop both players a couple rounds, not completely out of the draft.

Once the draft was over, they found homes quickly. Bray signed on with the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com, while Rogers is headed to Buffalo, according to Pro Football Talk. Bray was known to make poor decisions with Tennessee and had accuracy issues. He had some of the best weapons of any college quarterback during his three seasons in Knoxville, but never led the Volunteers to a winning record.

Rogers got kicked out of Tennessee before the 2012 season and quickly latched on with Tennessee Tech. He left the Volunteers after failing multiple drug tests. Rogers was also arrested in 2010, and reportedly had multiple outbursts in the locker room, sidelines and weight room while with the Volunteers. It was still shocking to see Rogers fall off everyone’s boards this weekend.

Rogers was among the most talented wide receivers in the draft both on the field and off. He ran an unofficial 4.50-second 40-yard dash at the combine with a 6.71-second 3-cone time and 4.06-second short shuttle. He displayed impressive hands and route-running skills while at Tennessee and Tennessee Tech.

Among other notable undrafted players, Arizona quarterback Matt Scott signed with the Jaguars, Stanford pass rusher Chase Thomas found a home with the Saints and Duke wideout Conner Vernon is headed to Oakland, according to USA Today.

It’s tough to process right now that a quarterback didn’t go until No. 16. And it was Manuel! The same quarterback that couldn’t beat out Christian Ponder at Florida State. The same quarterback that many draft analysts had rated as a third- or fourth-rounder until Mike Mayock surprisingly put him in his top five positional rankings.

The Bills obviously liked what they saw in Manuel, though. The question is: Would Manuel have been taken this high had Russell Wilson, Robert Griffin III and Colin Kaepernick not excelled in 2012? Probably not.

Hopefully the Bills realize that it was those players who were special rather than the offense that they ran or the individual traits that they possess. The “mobile quarterback” was looked down upon for so many years because year after year it didn’t work out. Hey, there’s some mobile quarterbacks out there right now that haven’t done very well, like the aforementioned Ponder, Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert and this guy — you might have heard of him — Tim Tebow.

The problem with Manuel is that he’s still extremely raw, and the mental makeup doesn’t appear to be all there yet. That’s what made Wilson and Griffin so special last season. They weren’t the typical mobile passers in that they had elite accuracy, they had big arms and they had the smarts to run an NFL offense, even if certain aspects had to be simplified. Those were special players put in the right system.

Manuel has a bigger arm than Wilson, but he hasn’t shown the same accuracy and awareness. It would be wise to expect a lot of screen passes coming from Manuel’s arm in his first year in Buffalo, if he’s even given the opportunity to start.

This wasn’t a great quarterback class, but Geno Smith, Ryan Nassib or Matt Barkley would have been better picks, and they still could be coming out of the second round. The Bills needed a quarterback, that was certain, since Tarvaris Jackson and Kevin Kolb were ranked No. 1 and 2 on the depth chart coming into the draft, but they likely would have been better off waiting until the second round like every other team if their choice was going to be Manuel.

It’s not time to completely write off Manuel yet, but the best part of the day for the Bills was the extra pick they acquired after smokescreening the NFL in trading out of the No. 8 pick. They leaked to the media that Tavon Austin was the top player on their board, and then traded their pick to the Rams when Austin was still available.

It’s smart to take a quarterback in the first or second round, but once again, it depends on who that signal caller is. Manuel is a nice player, but he didn’t show anything in his two-plus years of starting to show that he was the best player in this class.

All of the workouts are over, the evaluations are done and now we play the waiting game. Only 29 of the 32 NFL teams currently have first-round picks, but that doesn’t mean just 29 teams will be making picks on Thursday night. In 2012 only 27 teams ended up picking in the first round, but in 2011 31 of the 32 teams selected a player in the first round. So, don’t be surprised if teams trade out of the first or back into the end of the round on Thursday.

As for the actual picks, Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel appears to be the consensus for the Chiefs at No. 1 overall, but Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher is still in contention for the honor. But after those two, predicting the rest of the first round is very much a crapshoot. Defenders like Oregon’s Dion Jordan and Florida’s Sharrif Floyd have piqued the interest of many teams, but either could come off the board anywhere from No. 2 all the way into the mid teens.

The big position of question continues to be the quarterbacks, though. Geno Smith tops most boards, but there have been a lot of rumors about Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib and USC’s Matt Barkley in recent days, making the possibility of multiple quarterbacks going in the first round even more likely.

The Patriots, meanwhile, will sit and wait patiently well into the first night before even taking a stab at their draft board. Wide Receiver, secondary and defensive line are all glaring needs that they will have to address at some point but, with just five picks to their name heading into this weekend, don’t be surprised if they trade out of the first round altogether this year. Sorry, Patriots fans.

With so many prospects to sift through and more uncertainty than in any year before, let’s dive right in and see what the final mock draft of 2013 has in store.

Editor’s Note: Draft order is as follows for the first round of this year’s draft. 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Joeckel has been the pick all along. The Chiefs know what they’re doing.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
The Jaguars need some fresh faces to fill out their new uniforms and Jordan will look damn good throwing down quarterbacks while sporting the black and teal.

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Quick, name three players on the Raiders defense… Give up yet? Yeah, they need Floyd.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Lane Johnson is the so-called “perfect fit” for Chip Kelly‘s offense, but Fisher is still the better player.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

5. Detroit Lions (4-12): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
If the Lions don’t trade out of here, which has been rumored, then Johnson would make the most sense.
Previous pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Pairing Milliner with Joe Haden will create some excitement for Browns fans, who can forget about Jimmy Haslam‘s problems for at least a few hours.

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
The left tackles are all gone, so getting a defensive playmaker like Ansah should be next up on  Bruce Arians‘ priorities list.
Previous pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Doug Marrone may be inclined to trade back into the back of the first round for Ryan Nassib to find his quarterback, making offensive line the next big need.
Previous pick: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

9. New York Jets (6-10): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
If Milliner falls maybe they snatch up Darrelle Revis‘ replacement. If not, Geno gives them a quarterback to compete with Mark Sanchez.
Previous pick: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10): Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
The Titans could use an athletic defensive end, too, but Lotulelei is just too tempting to pass up here.
Previous pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU

11. San Diego Chargers (6-10): Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
D.J. Fluker is also an option here, but his Alabama line mate is still the better pure lineman.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
Replacing Jake Long is the real concern, but getting a strong right tackle is pretty important too.
Previous pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

13. New York Jets [via Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)]: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
The Jets waited on Mingo at No. 9, but the risk pays off as he lands in New York anyway.

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Shelden Richardson, DT, Missouri
The Panthers couldn’t stop the run in 2012, but Richardson should help change that.

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Trufant’s speed should help the Saints against the pass.
Previous pick: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Austin is the best offensive playmaker in this draft and Sam Bradford can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
The Saints could grab Jones two picks before, but the Steelers won’t let him pass if he’s sitting here at 17.

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina
Jerry Jones may be tempted to get Tony Romo a new toy on offense, but in the end he goes with a need over a want.
Previous pick: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

19. New York Giants (9-7): Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
Osi Umenyiora and Chris Canty left a big hole in the Giants’ defensive line, forcing their hand to address it through the draft.
Previous pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

20. Chicago Bears (10-6): Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Jay Cutler is in a contract year, so the Bears will give him all the weapons necessary to prove he is the answer long term.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
The Bengals seem to think they’ll have tackle Andre Smith back on the roster next season, turning their attention to the next biggest need this offseason: the secondary.

22. St. Louis Rams [via Washington Redskins (10-6)]: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
The Rams could use a heavy hitter to set the tone in their secondary. Boom, Elam it is.
Previous pick: Matt Elam, S, Florida

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
The Vikings don’t appear intent on signing Brian Urlacher after all. So, Ogletree could address their need at inside linebacker.
Previous pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Indy is all set passing the football on offense, but they’re still having trouble defending it. Rhodes should provide a big boost in the secondary.
Previous pick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

25. Minnesota Vikings [via Seattle Seahawks (11-5)]: Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame
Te’o may be surrounded by controversy, but the Vikings know he still has the talent to be a
Previous pick: Keenan Allen, WR, California

26. Green Bay Packers (12-4): Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
There is no way the Packers trade up into the top-10 to get one of the big three, but Watson is a sturdy tackle with lots of potential. Plus, he can help Aaron Rodgers right now.
Previous pick: Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

27. Houston Texans (12-4): Matt  Barkley, QB, USC
I’m not necessarily saying the Texans will take Barkley — though Matt Schaub may not be the franchise quarterback they once thought — but this is a prime spot for the Bills, Cardinals, Browns or any number of teams to trade back into the first round and get their man.
Previous pick: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State

28. Denver Broncos (13-3): Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Elvis — Dumervil that is — has left the building, and the Broncos need a replacement in the pass rush. Look no further than the talented UCLA end.
Previous pick: Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State

29. New England Patriots (12-4): Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State
There is a good chance the Patriots trade back with a team looking to get a quarterback. If they do stay here, though, Carradine would give them a good complement to Chandler Jones.
Previous pick: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston
Hayden ran in the low 4.4s at his Houston pro day and seems to be fully healthy, making him a steal at this point in the draft.
Previous pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): Margus Hunt, DE, SMU
The 49ers are positioning themselves to move up but, without predicting a trade, Hunt seems like a great fit to replace Justin Smith.
Previous pick: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Keenan Allen, WR, California
They don’t have Anquan Boldin anymore, so why not take the closest thing this draft has to offer.
Previous pick: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

Dropped: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State; Matt Elam, S, Florida; Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State; DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson; Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama;

Newcomers: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina; Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame; Matt  Barkley, QB, USC; D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston; Margus Hunt, DE, SMU;

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

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Photo via Facebook/Oregon Ducks Football from B/R

Stevie Johnson

Johnson was “solemn” at the Bills’ facility, according to The Buffalo News.

“It’s ironic, nothing to be played with at all,” Johnson said. “I mean, that’s pretty much it. There’s really nothing to be played with, at the end of the day, with seeing what happened. I feel like how everybody else in America feels.

“No Twitter, no games, no jokes, none of that. But at the end of the day, I feel just how everybody else felt when they see those bombs go off.”

Johnson will likely get booed heavily when the Bills come to Foxboro in 2013. Johnson hasn’t been active on Twitter since Monday other than a retweet of his agent, CJ LaBoy, saying “Thoughts and prayers going out to everyone in Boston. Shocking & disgusting. Prayers to everyone affected and all those in the area.”

There was a good chance the Patriots would find a receiver at some point on draft day when Sanders was still a possibility, but now that he’s out the pressure to find a playmaker only increases.

Fortunately for Tom Brady and company, this year’s draft offers an array of talent on the outside and the Patriots should have some good talent to choose from at the end of the first round.

Tavon Austin and Cordarrelle Patterson are projected as the top two wide receivers to come off the board, but there is still no telling whether they’ll be taken before the Patriots pick at No. 29. Either way, players like Tennessee’s Justin Hunter, California’s Keenan Allen and Clemson’s DeAndre Hopkins are also available and could fit into the Patriots’ offensive system.

With all that in mind, let’s jump into this week’s mock draft and see who the Patriots and the rest of the league could have coming their way next Thursday night.

Editor’s Note: Draft order is as follows for the first round of this year’s draft. 

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Joeckel has been the pick for almost every one of these mocks, and there’s a reason: he’s the best player available.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
The rumors about interest in Geno Smith sounds more like the Jags trying to stir up interest in the pick. If they keep it, Jordan makes the most sense.

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
Oakland needs a playmaker on defense. Floyd would give them a building block for the future.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
I still think Chip Kelly‘s eyeing EJ Manuel over Geno. So, drafting on defense and waiting another round for the quarterback seems like the right play.
Previous pick: Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

5. Detroit Lions (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Fisher falls out of the top four, but he won’t last long. The Lions need some help on the offensive line after losing Gosder Cherilus.
Previous pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Milliner would give the Browns the best young cornerback tandem in football. Joe Haden would be jumping for joy.

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Rumor has it that Bruce Arians is very high on Johnson. So, he’ll get his man at left tackle.
Previous pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Kevin Kolb said he’s in Buffalo to win a Super Bowl, but he may not even have the chance with Geno in town.

9. New York Jets (6-10): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
The Jets may have a chance to get Rhodes at No. 13, if they send Darrelle Revis to the Buccaneers. Either way, they need to replace him somehow.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
There might be a little too much hype surrounding Ansah, but the Titans would be foolish to pass on his talent at No. 10.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

11. San Diego Chargers (6-10): Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Chance Warmack has the better grade from most scouts, but Cooper is more athletic and seems like a better fit for Mike McCoy‘s offense.

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
The tackles are all gone, but the Dolphins still need help in front of Ryan Tannehill.
Previous pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
With Milliner and Rhodes gone, the Bucs may jump on Trufant early to fill their need on the outside.
Previous pick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Shelden Richardson, DT, Missouri
Richardson is a beast in the middle, and the Panthers will benefit from his big frame in trying to stop the run.

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
Mingo’s pass rushing will help ease some of the Saints’ woes in the secondary.

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
Jeff Fisher may literally jump for joy if Austin falls to them here. He’s the best receiver in this draft and Sam Bradford desperately needs a playmaker like him.
Previous pick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Jones is looking more and more like a fit in the Steel city.

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
The Cowboys could be tempted by Cordarrelle Patterson, but addressing a major issue on the defensive line seems more important.
Previous pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

19. New York Giants (9-7): D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
I don’t know if Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese can stay away from the defensive side of the ball, but if they do then getting a right tackle is first on the agenda.
Previous pick: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

20. Chicago Bears (10-6): Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Jay Cutler is in a contract year, so the Bears will give him all the weapons necessary to prove he is the answer long term.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Ogletree could be the best linebacker in this draft five years from now.
Previous pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

22. St. Louis Rams [via Washington Redskins (10-6)]: Matt Elam, S, Florida
The Rams could use a heavy hitter to set the tone in their secondary. Boom, Elam it is.
Previous pick: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
The Vikings don’t appear intent on signing Brian Urlacher after all. So, Ogletree could address their need at inside linebacker.
Previous pick: Keenan Allen, WR, California

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Reggie Wayne is getting old and Andrew Luck needs a new toy.
Previous pick: Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State

25. Minnesota Vikings [via Seattle Seahawks (11-5)]: Keenan Allen, WR, California
Allen’s slow 40 time (4.72 seconds) might have turned many teams away from taking him in the first round. Then again, the Vikings were interested in Anquan Boldin earlier this offseason, and the two do have some similarities.
Previous pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

26. Green Bay Packers (12-4): Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Instead of reaching for a safety, the Packers grab a corner who is built like a safety. Who knows, maybe that’s where Banks ends up playing.
Previous pick: Matt Elam, S, Florida

27. Houston Texans (12-4): Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
Rather than getting Matt Schaub a receiver, the Texans find him some help on the right side of the offensive line.
Previous pick: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

28. Denver Broncos (13-3): Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State
Seminoles go back to back. Carradine is an injury risk, but if he pans out the Broncos will have themselves a steal.
Previous pick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

29. New England Patriots (12-4): DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
Emmanuel Sanders didn’t end up in New England after all, which means the Patriots need a playmaker ready to come in and contribute immediately.
Previous pick: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Losing John Abraham hurts, so the Falcons will look to replenish with a playmaker in the draft.
Previous pick: Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama
The 49ers are a prime target to trade out of this pick, given their abundance of selections on draft day. But, for the time being, Williams seems like a good fit in Jim Harbaugh‘s defensive scheme.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International;

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
They just got Elvis Dumervil to bolster the pass rush, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t looking for more help off the edge.
Previous pick: Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse

Dropped: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International; Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse;

Newcomers: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State; Cornellius “Tank” Carradine, DE, Florida State; Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama;

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

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Photo via Facebook/DeAndre Hopkins

Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher and Dion Jordan appear to be the three finalists for the coveted top spot, but it might take another week or so before we finally figure out which player Andy Reid plans to build around. That decision will determine the approaches that the Jaguars, Raiders and Eagles will take with the following three picks as well as much of the top 10.

While the top of the draft continues to figure itself out, the rest of the first round deals with their own draft-day dilemmas, including the Patriots at No. 29.

Bill Belichick and the Patriots only own five selections in this year’s draft, and that might mean trading out of the first round to acquire more picks is again a possibility. That strategy has benefited them in the past. Then again, they do have glaring needs at wide receiver, cornerback and on the offensive line.

There is still plenty of posturing, positioning and pondering left to do over the next three weeks, but in the mean time let’s get down to business on this week’s mock draft.

Editor’s Note: Draft order is as follows for the first round of this year’s draft.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Dion Jordan is technically in the mix, but this pick will come down to Joeckel or Eric Fisher. As has been the case for months now, Joeckel is still the better option.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
Jordan may not solve the Jags’ pass rush problems immediately, but he will add a big jolt.
Previous pick: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
After all of their offseason moves, it would be difficult to mention even one playmaker the Raiders have on defense. Floyd can change that.
Previous pick: Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Chip Kelly needs an athletic offensive line to run his fast-paced offense.

5. Detroit Lions (4-12): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Gosder Cherilus‘ departure left some chaos on the Lions’ offensive line. Johnson would help restore order.
Previous pick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Joe Haden is one of the league’s top five cornerbacks. Give him a running partner like Milliner and opposing quarterbacks will have nightmares about playing the Browns.
Previous pick: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11): Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
With all the tackles already gone, the Cardinals must resort to the best offensive lineman in this draft.
Previous pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Kevin Kolb is an upgrade over Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he’s still only a stopgap on the way forward.

9. New York Jets (6-10): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
Darrelle Revis appears to be on his way out, but adding Rhodes should keep their secondary in good shape.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10): Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
The Titans need to improve their defense and Lotulelei might be the best defender in this draft.
Previous pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU

11. San Diego Chargers (6-10): Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
The run on offensive linemen forces the Chargers to jump at the chance to take Cooper.
Previous pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
If Ansah lasts this long, the Dolphins would be foolish not to snatch him up. Here’s to hoping they’ve learned a thing or two this offseason.
Previous pick: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
This pick would be forfeited in a potential Revis trade, but if the Bucs do manage to hang onto it then Austin would be a no brainer.
Previous pick: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Cam Newton and the Panthers know how to run the ball — we know that. But can they stop other teams from doing it?
Previous pick: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
The Saints need help defending the pass, and rushing the passer will be a key to improvement.
Previous pick: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Both guards are gone, making wide receiver an even more obvious need for the Rams.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
James Harrison wasn’t the quickest or most athletic pass rusher, but he still managed to make a consistent impact. The Steelers will hope for more of the same from Jones.
Previous pick: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
Tony Romo is locked up for quite some time. Now, the Cowboys need to protect him properly.
Previous pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

19. New York Giants (9-7): Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
With Osi Umenyiora and Chris Canty gone, the Giants will need a few new faces in the pass rush.
Previous pick: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas

20. Chicago Bears (10-6): Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
Jay Cutler is in a contract year, so the Bears will give him all the weapons necessary to prove he is the answer long term.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
Ogletree could be the best linebacker in this draft five years from now.
Previous pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

22. St. Louis Rams [via Washington Redskins (10-6)]: Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Jeff Fisher goes offense with the first pick, but may want to address his defense with St. Louis’ second first-rounder.
Previous pick: Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Keenan Allen, WR, California
Greg Jennings gives the Vikings a consistent receiver outside the numbers. Now, all they need is a big target over the middle.
Previous pick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
The Colts aren’t good against the run. Hankins will make them better.

25. Minnesota Vikings [via Seattle Seahawks (11-5)]: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Jones can bring the heat, which should take some pressure off of Jared Allen.
Previous pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

26. Green Bay Packers (12-4): Matt Elam, S, Florida
Charles Woodson is gone and the Packers need a heavy-hitting replacement to roam over the top of that secondary.
Previous pick: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

27. Houston Texans (12-4): DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
He’s big, physical and will give Matt Schaub another reliable target opposite Andre Johnson.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International

28. Denver Broncos (13-3): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Remember that Joe Flacco throw in the playoffs? John Fox certainly does.
Previous pick: Kawann Short, DT, Purdue

29. New England Patriots (12-4): Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
The Patriots’ biggest need still lies at the wide receiver position. Hunter’s size and athleticism bring back memories of Randy Moss, which Patriots fans won’t fuss about.
Previous pick: Keenan Allen, WR, California

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes are gone, making cornerback an area of need in Atlanta.
Previous pick: Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International;
Cyprien has been darting up draft boards, and the 49ers do have a need at safety without Dashon Goldson.
Previous pick: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse
Pugh can play tackle and guard, making him a desirable swing option on the offensive line.
Previous pick: Kevin Minter, MLB, LSU

*Dropped: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama; Kawann Short, DT, Purdue; Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State; Kevin Minter, MLB, LSU

*Newcomers: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee; Matt Elam, S, Florida; DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson; Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

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Kolb, who signed with the Bills last week, was introduced at an introductory press conference on Monday and expressed some lofty goals for the time with his new team.

“I’m here to win a Super Bowl. Period,” Kolb said, according to the team. “It’s good to come to an organization like this. They’re hungry. It’ll be nice to come out and surprise some people.”

The Bills have been more competitive over the past two seasons and new head coach Doug Marrone should only add more fire to that mix, but they will need a reliable quarterback to make any real noise.

Kolb could be that guy, but he’ll have to compete with Tavaris Jackson, Aaron Corp and most likely a rookie quarterback — maybe Geno Smith —  for the starting job in training camp. His $6.5 million salary should at least help strengthen his case, but nothing is guaranteed even for that price.

Even if he does sound a tad delusional, it must be refreshing for Bills fans to hear a player with such a positive outlook for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in 13 seasons.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel took a guess as to the teams he might end up with during an interview on CBS Sports’ Eye on College Football podcast.

Manuel, who has been rumored to go anywhere between the first and fourth rounds, guessed that the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles were the three teams most likely to select him later this month. All three teams do make sense given their quarterback needs but the Eagles might even be the best fit because of Chip Kelly‘s need for a mobile quarterback in his offensive system.

There are still three weeks left until Manuel’s future is sown, and plenty could change in that short window of time. But he at least has a realistic expectation as to where he’ll be spending the first few years of his professional career.

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

Photo via Facebook/EJ Manuel

Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson has an interesting idea for avenging the Bills’ 19 straight losses to the Patriots.

Wednesday night, North Korea declared that it has clearance to launch nuclear missiles at the United States. Johnson heard that information, and placed a specific request on Twitter to North Korea with regard to its target location.

War is nothing to be played with. I apologize North Korea........but if y'all do bomb 1st... Bomb Foxboro, Mass. Sincerely,#BillsMafia

—
STVN (@StevieJohnson13) April 03, 2013

The receiver went on to say that he does have respect for the Patriots, and doesn’t actually want Foxboro blown to smithereens.

i know some of yall took it too serious.. but i have Much Respect for The Pats along with Every other NFL Team. Gonna to be a Great #NFL2013

—
STVN (@StevieJohnson13) April 04, 2013

PatsFans i lo...like yall also. ask any1 in my fam. ive said TheBoro is my fav place to play-bkuz you Pats fans are Live! BUT not for long..

—
STVN (@StevieJohnson13) April 04, 2013

Just add these tweets to the much-needed “social media training” seminar for professional athletes. They can be filed under “what not to say.”

Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@StevieJohnson13

Nick Barnett tweeted that he had rejoined the Bills, who cut him on Feb. 11, and even went so far as to thank Buffalo’s general manager Buddy Nix. It turns out Barnett was just playing — it was an April Fools’ joke, he had not re-signed with the Bills. Go ahead and laugh at Barnett’s hilarious prank, we’ll wait for you.

It would be one thing if Barnett was just a free agent, but the fact that Buffalo released the veteran linebacker makes this seem all the more desperate. We’re also not sure who the joke is on. Is it on the fans? The media? Barnett himself? We’ll likely never know.

Check out Barnett’s hilarious tweets below.

Great morning!! Great to be a Buffalo Bill again wanna thank all those who never lost faith in me!! Thanks Buddy Nix #billsmafia

—
  (@NickBarnett) April 01, 2013

Even thou I would love to be apart of the Bills organization this has been a April fools joke! Thanks for being good sports #billsmafia

—
  (@NickBarnett) April 01, 2013

Thumbnail photo via Facebook/Nick Barnett

Kevin Kolb

The Bills had limped to another last-place finish in the AFC East with the frustratingly average Ryan Fitzpatrick under center while Kolb, once thought to be Arizona’s quarterback of the future, played in just six games for a Cardinals team that dropped 11 of its final 12 games.

Now, it appears the two parties will be helping each other out, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Kolb plans to finalize a deal Saturday night that will make him the new front-runner for the Bills’ starting job.

Bills and former Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb finalizing a deal tonight that will give Buffalo one more starting-caliber QB.

—
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 30, 2013

Kolb enjoyed breakout success during his time in Philadelphia but was never able find a groove in Glendale, as injuries and inconsistency limited him to just 15 games over the last two seasons.

Though rosters are never set in April (see: Matt Flynn in Seattle), Kolb — barring injury — is now the prohibitive favorite to be Buffalo’s Week 1 starter. Tavaris Jackson and undrafted free agent Aaron Corp represent the only competition for the spot on the team’s current roster.

It will be interesting to see what effect this signing has on Buffalo’s draft plans, though. The Bills hold the eighth overall pick, and many experts suspect they’ll use that pick to draft their next quarterback. That list includes NESN.com NFL editor Luke Hughes, who has the team selecting West Virginia’s Geno Smith in his latest mock draft.

Update: Adam Caplan of PhiladelphiaEagles.com and The Sideline View cites a source saying that Kolb’s contract will be a two-year deal worth $13 million.

So Kolb gets a 2-year, $13 M max deal with the Bills, per source.

—
Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 31, 2013

Matt Barkley is the latest quarterback that has sparked Buffalo’s interest. The Bills will hold a private workout with Barkley and his Trojans wide receiver Robert Woods at USC on Monday, according to ESPN.com.

Buffalo has already worked out quarterbacks Geno Smith, EJ Manuel, Landry Jones and Tyler Bray. They only have Tarvaris Jackson and Aaron Corp on their roster at quarterback after releasing 2012 starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bills hold the No. 8 pick in the draft.

Photo via Facebook/USC Football from B/R

The decision will likely come down to either Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel or Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher for the No. 1 overall pick, but don’t count out Florida defensive tackle Shariff Floyd, who the Chiefs have already worked out.

As the draft goes on, one interesting position to watch will be the wide receivers. Right now, Tavon Austin seems like the player who has established himself most, but Cordarrelle Patterson is easily the best athlete of the group and seen as more of the traditional deep threat.

With teams like the Vikings, Rams, Texans and Patriots all in need of wideouts but some major questions still lingering with the talent, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we saw as many as seven or as few as two selected in the first round. This mock features just three of the primary receivers coming off the board, but one is to the Patriots, who could use some depth and might find an Anquan Boldin clone drop to them at No. 29.

There’s plenty of moving left to be done over the next month ahead of the draft start on April, 25, but in the meantime here is where the prospects are lining up.

Editor’s Note: This reflects the official draft order.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
Getting Alex Smith ruled out Geno Smith at this spot, and getting rid of Eric Winston only made offensive tackle more of a need. They’ll fill it.
Previous pick: Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14): Shariff Floyd, DT, Florida
The Jaguars have a glaring need on the defensive line, so taking the best defensive player available just makes sense.
Previous pick: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

3. Oakland Raiders (4-12): Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon
The Raiders need an athletic pass rusher. Look no further.
Previous pick: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-12): Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan
Geno Smith will tempt Chip Kelly here, but E.J. Manuel might be a better value quarterback later in the draft. Plus, Fisher is the best player available.

5. Detroit Lions (4-12): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
The Lions have done a lot to improve their defense in free agency, adding Milliner might just put them over the top.
Previous pick: Dion Jordan, OLB/DE, Oregon

6. Cleveland Browns (5-11): Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
The Browns signed Paul Kruger to improve their pass rush, why not take it one step further and draft the most versatile pass rusher available.

7. Arizona Cardinals (5-11): Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
Bruce Arians sounds content with the quarterbacks he has in Arizona — Brian Hoyer, Drew Stanton included — for the time being. But his offensive line remains a question mark.
Previous pick: Matt Barkley, QB, USC

8. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Buffalo is already wining and dining Smith. So, I’d say they’re interested.
Previous pick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

9. New York Jets (6-10): Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
If Star falls this far, the Jets would be foolish not to take him — medical questions and all.
Previous pick: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

10. Tennessee Titans (6-10): Ezekiel Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU
The Titans beefed up a number of areas through free agency, but they could still use a skilled pass rusher off the edge.
Previous pick: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

11. San Diego Chargers (6-10): Chance Warmack, G, Alabama
Joeckel, Fisher and Johnson are gone, so why not go away from tackles and take the best offensive lineman in the draft?
Previous pick: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

12. Miami Dolphins (7-9): Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State
Cameron Wake is one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, but adding Werner would make for an intimidating tandem.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
They picked up Dashon Goldson in free agency to pair with Mark Barron, now snag Rhodes and you’ve got yourself a talented young secondary to build around.

14. Carolina Panthers (7-9): Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina
Cooper is the quickest guard in the draft, and the Panthers could use a shifty blocker up front to keep Cam Newton upright and get that running game going again.
Previous pick: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

15. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia
Jarvis Jones might be the best pass rusher on film, but his pro day did not go over well. Then again Terrell Suggs didn’t have the greatest pro day, and he’s done alright for himself — just saying.
Previous pick: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

16. St. Louis Rams (7-8-1): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
Sam Bradford needs weapons, and Patterson is the most talented wide receiver in this draft.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cooper, OG, North Carolina

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8): Shelden Richardson, DT, Missouri
The Steelers have little to spend this offseason, meaning they better be able to fill their needs in the draft.

18. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Datone Jones, DE, UCLA
Monte Kiffin is a master of the 4-3 defense so the Cowboys might want another defensive end to use in their rotation.
Previous pick: Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

19. New York Giants (9-7): Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas
Kenny Phillips is gone, but the Giants find a new starting safety staring them in the face at No. 19.

20. Chicago Bears (10-6): Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame
The Bears gave Jay Cutler a new left tackle, now all he needs is a new tight end to keep him happy.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6): D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
Andre Smith is close to returning, but Andy Dalton could always use one more starting tackle.
Previous pick: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

22. St. Louis Rams [via Washington Redskins (10-6)]: Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse
Jake Long improves the Rams’ offensive line, but adding Pugh would make Bradford even more comfortable.
Previous pick: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

23. Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
The Vikings lost maybe the NFL’s best pure playmaker in Percy Harvin, but they can replace him with next best thing.
Previous pick: Keenan Allen, WR, California

24. Indianapolis Colts (11-5): Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
Hankins will clog up running lanes like no Colt could in 2012.

25. Minnesota Vikings [via Seattle Seahawks (11-5)]: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia
Brian Urlacher is in the mix to take over in the middle for Minnesota, but Ogletree is a younger and overall better option.
Previous pick: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

26. Green Bay Packers (12-4): Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
The Packers didn’t bite on Steven Jackson and have yet to improve their running game. Some capable veterans remain on the market, but Lacy is a good alternative.
Previous pick: Kevin Minter, MLB, LSU

27. Houston Texans (12-4): Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington
Ed Reed will improve their secondary, but the Texans can still use another cornerback to solidify things.
Previous pick: Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International

28. Denver Broncos (13-3): Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
Peyton Manning got Wes Welker, now John Fox needs to find someone to stop the run.

29. New England Patriots (12-4): Keenan Allen, WR, California
They missed out on Anquan Boldin four years ago, Bill Belichick won’t miss out on the second coming.
Previous pick: Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

30. Atlanta Falcons (13-3): Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State
Tony Gonzalez is back, Steven Jackson is signed, and Osi Uemenyiora seems like the next domino to fall. Now, the focus shifts to cornerback.
Previous pick: Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

31. San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1): Jonathan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
They might miss out on Nnamdi Asomugha. If so, Banks is the perfect alternative.
Previous pick: Matt Elam, S, Florida

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): Kevin Minter, MLB, LSU
Minter is a superior option to Manti Te’o, and the Ravens need help rebuilding a now depleted defense.
Previous pick: Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas Pine-Bluff

Dropped: Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas Pine-Bluff; Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International; Matt Elam, S, Florida

Newcomers: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama; Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State; Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State; Justin Pugh, G, Syracuse

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

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Photo via Facebook/Keenan Allen

That’s why it’s no surprise that the Bills are showing interest in multiple quarterbacks in the 2013 NFL draft. Buffalo held a private workout with West Virginia product Geno Smith on Friday, and they have one scheduled with former Florida State Seminole EJ Manuel as well, according to BuffaloBills.com. The Bills hold the No. 8 overall pick in the draft.

Smith is widely considered the No. 1 quarterback in his class, but he could be gone by the time the Bills’ pick comes up. The Jaguars, Raiders, Eagles, Browns and Cardinals could all use an upgrade at quarterback.

Manuel is the No. 2 ranked quarterback in Mike Mayock‘s positional rankings. While Smith is considered by most to be the top quarterback of 2013, it’s far from a consensus. Some draft analysts have Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib at the top of their board, while Matt Barkley and Mike Glennon are also highly ranked.

The Patriots have made their next move to shore up their receiving corps, adding former Bills wide receiver Donald Jones, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Patriots signed former Bills WR Donald Jones.

—
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2013

The Patriots signed slot receiver Danny Amendola this week as Wes Welker left in free agency, and Jones will join the mix of those looking to be on the receiving end of Tom Brady‘s passes in 2013. The Patriots are reportedly considering letting another one of last year’s key receivers, Brandon Lloyd, walk.

Jones started 10 games last year in Buffalo, recording 443 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He was also involved in special teams play in his three years with the Bills.

Thumbnail photo via Facebook/Donald Jones

With Brandon Lloyd possibly on his way out and the hodgepodge of veterans the Patriots used last year unlikely to be the team’s go-to plan this year, the Pats are expected to bring in all types of wide receivers to find a solution for their offense for next season.

The process is reportedly starting with Donald Jones, formerly of the Bills, who will be coming to New England this week, Tim Graham of the Buffalo News reports.

Source tells me former Bills WR Donald Jones is visiting the Patriots today.

—
Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) March 14, 2013

Jones played three years in Buffalo, with his best season being last year, when he started 10 games and had 443 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He also has time on special teams will Buffalo, which could prove useful as New England looks to plug the hole left by return man Wes Welker.

Thumbnail photo via Facebook/Donald Jones

Click here for analysis on the Patriots letting Welker go>>

The Bills announced shortly after the free-agency period began Tuesday afternoon that they have released Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has been the starter in Buffalo since 2009. The Harvard grad would have been owed a $3 million bonus by the team had he remained under contract until Wednesday.

Fitzpatrick’s release comes just hours after a bizarre phone conversation between Bills general manager Buddy Nix and Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik surfaced on Deadspin. During the conference call — set up by a pair of prank callers — Nix touched on his signal caller’s struggles over the past few seasons, saying, ”We’re still struggling here with our quarterback. … We’re not really struggling — he’s going to have to do something, or we’ll have to.

“We just can’t afford to pay that kind of money for a guy who’s fighting for probably a backup job,” he told Dominik.

Fitzpatrick, who completed 60.6 percent of his passes with 24 touchdowns and 16 interceptions last season, signed a six-year, $59 million contract extension with the Bills in October of 2011.

Tavaris Jackson is now the most experienced quarterback on the Buffalo roster. The team owns the eighth overall pick in April’s draft.