2013 DBN Mock Draft: Buffalo Bills Select QB Geno Smith at No. 8

With the eighth pick in the 2013 Dawgs By Nature NFL Community Mock Draft, the Buffalo Bills select...

Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

This selection and write-up was made by Stigosaurus:

I was somewhat surprised that no quarterback had been taken yet by the time the Bills were on the clock. I considered a few other players and positions, but ultimately decided that quarterback is much too important to overlook.

The Bills need a long-term upgrade over Ryan Fitzpatrick and will find it in 22-year-old Geno Smith. Smith has NFL-caliber arm strength and accuracy and makes smart decisions, as evidenced by him having only 21 career interceptions. He is a pocket passer, but possesses plenty of athleticism to make plays with his legs.

With running back C.J. Spiller, wide receiver Stevie Johnson, and a solid offensive line, the Bills are not bereft of talent on offense and could make a big jump in 2013 if Smith can live up to his draft position.

This seems like a good move. No matter how people try to value quarterbacks, the top-ranked guy is usually off the board by now. Buffalo underachieved with their offensive and defensive lines last year, which was a big surprise to me. They have the talent to be strong with those units on both sides of the ball, though. The Bills have an explosive running back tandem, if they can both stay healthy.

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been way too spotty, giving Buffalo fans zero confidence that he can lead the team to a division title. His cap hit is $10.45 million in 2013, and the dead money owed to Fitzpatrick will be pretty high until 2015. Drafting Smith now gives Buffalo the option to start him right away and just bite the bullet with Fitzpatrick, or let him learn on the sidelines for a couple of years.

The New York Jets are up next, led by notthatnoise.

2013 DBN Community Mock Draft Results (so far)