Know Your War Rooms, Selecting 11-15

In the Draft, the middle of the first round is where things generally start to get interesting or hectic, depending on your point of view.

As the amount of guaranteed dollars drops and the level of talent slowly thins, teams are more likely to trade up for a coveted prospect or down to net additional picks.

Probably more than anywhere else in the Draft, the consequences of these trades and selections in the tens shape a team's immediate fortunes. Consider too many of these teams exist in the league's middle class, going 7-9 to 9-7 the previous season, perhaps only a player or two away from reaching the playoffs.

Projections often fail mightily in guessing just how exactly these trades will reorder the first round. All the more important to know your war rooms. (Part one here.)

Let's continue with the second part of Fuhbaw's five three part analysis of each of the 32's war rooms and their tendencies. Again, I'm discussing each team as their original draft slot comes up before trades (though all trades are noted). Onward!

11. Buffalo Bills

Bill general manager Russ Brandon has been on the job for a little over a year. And in that time he's brought a more aggressive direction than predecessor, coaching legend Marv Levy. Levy was supposed to right the ship, which he did. But his moves were cautious, his management uncomplicated. Brandon has pushed further in the Draft and free agency than Levy while still retaining some of his conservative ways.

Case in point, Brandon's first Draft with the Bills netted more prospects from small schools, something generally avoided under Levy's guidance. But premium was still placed on players with consistent college production, a hallmark of Levy's tenure. Expect Brandon to stand pat, not moving up or down, to make his selections. The Bills traditionally don't engage actively in the smokescreens and shell games that some teams do in the lead up to the Draft. Brandon, however, will take measured risks on character, whether it's James Hardy in the Draft or Terrell Owens in free agency. If the stars align on a productive player with a few but no glaring red flags, expect Brandon to take a risk.

The real question about the Bills is whether the 6-2 start or the 1-7 finish is the real team. Losing Derrick Dockery to free agency and the specter of another long Jason Peters holdout indicate needs along the offensive line. Inconsistent to nonexistent pass rush indicate needs along the defensive line. And while their skill positions especially in the defensive backfield and wide receiver appear solid, playmakers anywhere would be welcome for this middling team.

12. Denver Broncos

As if new coach Josh McDaniels and new GM Brian Xanders didn't have a big enough job in rebuilding an atrocious defense, with the outcome of the Jay Cutler saga and trade, they must reconstruct the team's most important position on offense as well. In losing a franchise signal caller, Denver netted a trove of Draft day riches from Chicago. Of course, those riches won't buy McDaniels and Xanders anything but a ticket out of Colorado unless they hit on their several first day picks between this and next year.

Like any newness, we lack a long track record to discern tendencies of the current front office. Xanders worked under former Broncos GM Ted Sundquist and coach Mike Shanahan. Shanahan directing the war room for the most part wasn't afraid of character concerns and didn't shy away from focusing solely on team needs, occasionally reaching with his picks or trading up for a targeted player. McDaniels of course apprenticed under Bill Belichick perhaps leading us to believe, in tandem with the Cutler drama, the new Broncos will place high grades on unselfish play, versatility, and work ethic.

But, like I said, absent a track record, that's purely conjecture. There certainly no shortage of needs. Quarterback might seem the most pressing, leading many to believe a trade up is possible should Mark Sanchez or Matt Stafford tumble. Let's not forget the mess on the defense that in large part led to Shanahan's dismissal. It wouldn't surprise in the least if the Broncos spent most of their ten picks on defensive linemen and linebackers, even all of their five selections in the first three rounds. Adjusting the identity of the team 180 degrees into a defensively dominating group might soothe in part the raw feelings at the loss of Jay Cutler.

13. Washington Redskins

Are the Redskins a borderline playoff team on the cusp awaiting a stellar Draft class to push them over the brink? Or is the rapid aging of their best players setting the franchise up for a precipitous drop off sooner rather than later? Sporting a mixture of youth and experience with razor thin depth, Washington is an ever shifting identity crisis. Talented enough when healthy to challenge any squad yet unfocused enough to succumb again to any squad. Owner Daniel Snyder and VP Vinny Cerrato are the counterpoints to the consistent Dan Rooneys and Bill Polians of the NFL world. Nowhere is this more evident than on Draft weekend.

As far as the Draft is concerned, Washington embodies the small sample size problem. Joe Gibbs stabilized the franchise to a great degree in his three years if unable return it to the Promised Land. Before new head coach Jim Zorn's first season, Washington selected ten players, the most by the team since 2002. In the past seasons, the Redskins burned Draft picks in trades, handcuffing their ability to inexpensively shore up depth. Usually so short on picks, Washington's front office has concentrated on needs and performers at big-time college programs. Despite last year's relative glut of picks (accomplished by trading down early) the Redskins continued to focus on needs, selecting three receivers - two wideouts and a tight end - with their first three selections while heading off the beaten path in late round selections sifting for overlooked gems.

A familiar refrain of Snyder-owned Redskins runs, they don't lack for needs just Draft picks. And again this year, that's the case. With only five selections, and only one on the first day, Washington is badly aged along the offensive and defensive lines. Plus, the linebacking corps desperately needs more consistency and depth to keep apace in the NFC East. How much ground they can make up on Draft weekend is questionable with so few picks and might be dependent on trading down.

14. New Orleans Saints

Save a shiny statistical season by Drew Brees, the Saints all-in approach last season netted no sudden improvements. In time, the trade for Jeremy Shockey and Jonathan Vilma may appear big pieces of a championship puzzle. Right now, however, those trades' terms pilfered New Orleans's 2009 Draft while leaving many of the same problems unanswered. The main problem is, of course, how to fix an inconsistent at best defense.

In coach Sean Payton's first couple drafts with New Orleans, the Saints targeted small school prospects with one or two elite measurables, hoping to uncover diamonds in the rough. Sometimes it worked (Marques Colston, Jahri Evans). Sometimes it didn't (Usama Young, David Jones). Last year, Payton did an about face, focusing on players from power conference. It's too soon to tell if the sea change paid off. And it's difficult to tell if Payton will continue that strategy.

What's not difficult to see is the myriad needs on the roster. Defense remains a concern. Playmakers at linebacker, depth along the defensive line, skill in the secondary all constitute needs. As productive as the offense has been, depth in the trenches is shaky and could be addressed. And the consistency in the kicking game is a concern for a team with playoff aspirations. With only four picks, however, the Saints will have to trade down from their first round selection to afford themselves ample opportunity to address these needs.

15. Houston Texans

While many considered Jacksonville the most disappointing team in the AFC South last season, I expected greater things from Houston. Quite simply, two of their players are among the elite in the league while playing crucial and difficult to fill positions. And around Andre Johnson and Mario Williams, the Texans have drafted solid starters like DeMeco Ryans, Owen Daniels, and Steve Slaton. However, there's a pie-in-the-sky aspect to this Texans squad that continues to frustrate. Will Amobi Okoye really become the Luigi to Williams's Super Mario? Will Matt Schaub become something more than accurate and injury prone? Will anyone ever step up among their safeties to stop a big play at a crucial moment?

Coach Gary Kubiak and GM Rick Smith migrated from Denver three years ago and have upgraded the talent of a team that was once another expansion laughing stock, more 70s Buccaneers than 90s Panthers. They've focused on the less glamorous positions early in the Draft, the linemen and linebackers, while zeroing in on measurables in skill position players in the middle and later rounds. Like the Bills, the Texans are another team that's relatively quiet on Draft day, forgoing moving up or down, preferring to stand pat and make their selections according to their board.

While the high expectations for their defense last year didn't pan out, Houston may not consider the talent on that side of the ball as dire as some outside observers paint it to be. Sure, the corner and line play needs more consistency, but they have a number of young players on the roster with which they hope to see marked improvement. The more pressing needs are at playmakers, whether that's at outside linebacker, wide receiver, or safety. Depth along the offensive line and in the backfield are likely to be addressed. But given their overall solid but not spectacular roster, the Texans shouldn't stray too far from selecting the best player available regardless of need.