Buffalo Bills: Where Maybe Toronto Doesn't Have to Happen

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

If anyone still cared about the NHL, the Sabres might make it three whole things that people love about Buffalo. As it is, there's wings -- and then there's the Bills. Sadly, Canada seems intent on stealing the NFL away from the city in the middle of the night. Relevancy (almost achieved following a 4-0 start last season) would greatly enhance the Bills' chance of hanging around Buffalo.

There are bigger problems at play, but "nice offseason additions" would greatly benefit the franchise and head coach Dick Jauron. And there are plenty of areas that will need to be addressed over the coming months.

Free Agents: Kirk Chambers (UFA), Angelo Crowell (UFA), Melvin Fowler (UFA), Jabari Greer (UFA), Teddy Lehman (UFA), J.P. Losman (UFA), Corey McIntyre (UFA), Duke Preston (UFA), Jason Whittle (UFA), John DiGiorgio (RFA), Keith Ellison (RFA), Dustin Fox (RFA), Gibran Hamdan (RFA)

Draft Picks: 1 (11), 2 (10), 3 (11), 4 (10), 5 (11), 6 (10), 7 (11)

Needs

1. Defensive end: There's a widespread (and fairly accurate) belief that Aaron Schobel isn't really panning the way the Bills thought he would. With Bertrand Berry, Terrell Suggs and Julius Peppers all possible free agents in a week or so, there's plenty of talent to be had on the market. Since the Bills could have roughly $40 million to spend, there's certainly a chance that they can land a high-level end. On the other hand, they have the 11th-overall pick in the draft, and there's a decent chance they might see what made Everette Brown such an attractive option in our first Mock and pick up a defensive line anchor via the draft.

2. Wide Receiver: Lee Evans is spectacular (but inconsistent at times) and James Hardy has tons of potential (but is currently injured). And Trent Edwards needs a more consistent option on the other side of Evans. Michael Crabtree would be ideal pick in the draft, but he won't fall that far. Jeremy Maclin might, but whether or not he's the perfect fit for that role might take some time to figure out. The safer play appears to be via free agency, where Bobby Engram, Antonio Bryant or, on the high end, T.J. Houshmandzadeh can fill that slot.

3. Running Back? Without the news that Marshawn Lynch was arrested last week, this wouldn't even be a concern. But the fact that this is not Lynch's first rodeo with the law (and that Fred Jackson isn't a marquee back, although he's a nice compliment) means that the Bills have to at least consider the possibility that they'll need some assistance at running back in the near future. The recently-released Fred Taylor stands out as an immediate option (although he apparently wants to start) and while Knowshon Moreno and Beanie Wells will be available at the No. 11 spot in the draft, it seems a bit much to invest three first-round picks in running backs in just six years.