(Sports Network) -

1 - Donte Whitner, S, Ohio State (5-10, 204); 1 - John McCargo, DT, North Carolina State (6-1, 302) - 3 - Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio State (6-0, 189); 4 - Ko Simpson, S, South Carolina (6-1, 209); 5 - Kyle Williams, DT, LSU (6-1, 299); 5 - Brad Butler, T, Virginia (6-7, 310); 6 - Keith Ellison, LB, Oregon State (6-1, 235); 7 - Terrance Pennington, T, New Mexico (6-7, 325); 7 - Aaron Merz, G, California (6-3, 346)

Analysis: The selection of Whitner at No. 8 was a major head-scratcher, since the secondary was not seen as a major need area for the Bills and Whitner was not rated above No. 20 by any major rating service. The selection of McCargo fills a definite need for a team that struggled mightily to stop the run in 2005, but some Bills fans would have preferred to see the team take a higher- profile d-line talent like Haloti Ngata or Brodrick Bunkley with the eighth pick, rather than selecting Whitner. Youboty was probably a steal in the third round, but again, Buffalo had more significant needs on the offensive line and at linebacker that went ignored until the second day. All three of the o- linemen that the team took on the second day are projects, and Ellison has no realistic shot of unseating London Fletcher or Jeff Posey at linebacker.

Bottom Line: It is very difficult to make sense of the first draft of the Marv Levy GM era in Buffalo.

Grade: D