Every NFL Draft is littered with them: stars, so-so’s and busts. It’s one big poker match and a lot of times, the draft is what pitching is for baseball: either you have it, or you don’t. It’s the same with the draft. Either you can draft or you can’t. Either you can successfully evaluate talent or you miss the boat completely. The Bills have been on both sides of the fence this decade. They’ve had great picks, surprises, head-turners and a few, ‘what the heck were they thinking?’ picks. As the great voice of the Bills, Van Miller used to say: “Fasten your seat belts, folks!” Let’s take a look back at the how the Bills have fared in the draft this decade.

2000 – Erik Flowers, DE Arizona State (26th pick) Coming off arguably one of the worst losses (and screw jobs) in NFL playoff history, the Music City Mistake, the Bills followed up one forgettable moment with another one: the selection of Erik Flowers. He was supposed to be the guy to help replace legendary end Bruce Smith. Clearly Flowers wasn’t up to the challenge. He recorded a measly four sacks in just 31 games. He began the 2001 season as a starter and that experiment lasted five games before Flowers was benched and then released during the 2002 training camp.

2001 – Nate Clements, DB Ohio State (21st pick) The first corner back taken in the draft, Clements became one of the game’s top corners during his time with the Bills. In his six seasons in Buffalo, Clements started all but five games (91 out of 96 possible starts), including starting every game for the Bills from 2002-06. Clements had 23 interceptions for Buffalo, leading the team in interceptions for four consecutive years. Clements holds the team record in returns for touchdowns with seven (five by interception, two by punt return). His lone Pro Bowl season came in a Buffalo uniform in 2004.

2002 – Mike Williams, Tackle Texas (4th pick) At 6-6, 380 pounds, Williams had draft scouts and the Bills’ brass salivating over the notion that Williams would be the cornerstone of the offensive line for years to come. Problem was the mountain of a man had the desire and work ethic of a goldfish. A solid run blocker, Williams, however, couldn’t block a wet paper bag in the passing game. He was later moved from the tackle spot to left guard, a move that also failed miserably. Williams was finally released at the completion of the 2005 season, a move that sent Buffalo fans dancing in the streets. The selection of Williams is viewed as one of the worst moves, if not the worst, made by then-GM Tom Donahoe. What makes it worse is some of the names the Bills passes on: Quentin Jammer, Dwight Freeney, Albert Haynesworth, Ed Reed, Clinton Portis, Brian Westbrook.

2003 – Willis McGahee, RB Miami (23rd pick) The wow factor hit Orchard Park on this day. McGahee was never thought to have been on the Bills’ radar on draft day, largely because the Bills already had a steady, reliable back in Travis Henry. But the Bills shocked everyone taking a chance on McGahee, who suffered a torn ACL, MCL and PCL in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl National Championship Game. McGahee missed all of the 2006 season, but became the starting running back in 2004, rushing for 1,138 yards and 13 touchdowns, fourth most in the NFL that year. The following year in 2005, McGahee again went over the 1,000 yard rushing mark (1,247) and found the endzone eight times. In 2006, McGahee had a career low 990 rushing yards and his durability and attitude came into question. After controversial remarks about the Bills possibly moving to Toronto, coupled with McGahee’s desire to remain in Miami during offseason workouts and the difficulty in getting McGahee to sign a long-term deal, the Bills dealt him to Baltimore for a package of draft picks.

2004 – Lee Evans, WR Wisconsin (13th pick) The first wide receiver drafted by the Bills in the first round since Eric Moulds in 1996, Evans quickly established himself as the Bills’ next top wideout when Moulds departed in 2005. In 2006, Evans had career highs in catches (82) and receiving yards (1,292). He also set franchise records in a 2006 game against Houston with receiving yards in a quarter (205) and in a single game (265). In the same game against the Texans, Evans also became the first player in NFL history to record two 80 yard plus touchdowns in one quarter. Among the Bills receiving lore, Evans ranks fifth in touchdowns and receptions and fourth in receiving yards.

2004 – JP Losman, QB Tulane (22nd pick) The Bills traded back into the first round in ’04 in a trade with the Cowboys and took Losman, who was the first quarterback the Bills took in the first round since Jim Kelly in 1983. But that’s where the comparisons between Kelly and Losman end. Unfortunately, Losman never showed the consistency you need under center; we only saw a glimpse in 2006 of what Losman was capable of doing (In ’06, Losman threw for over 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns). But Losman struggled with his maturity and accuracy, and it appeared at times he was a better athlete than a true quarterback. After his promising ’06 campaign, Losman seemed poised to take the next step as a quarterback, but he suffered a knee injury against New England that forced him out of action and he was never able to fully regain his starting job from then rookie Trent Edwards. In a draft class composed of Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger (all three have at least reached the conference championship game, two of them have won the Super Bowl), it’s a position where you are judged by your peers and Losman doesn’t grade out well among his fellow ’04 mates.

2006 – Donte Whitner, S Ohio State (8th pick) The Bills turned well, just about everyone’s head with this pick that was almost immediately labeled as a reach. It’s a draft that won’t be remembered for it’s depth at the safety position, but nonetheless when you think of the NFL’s best safeties you probably won’t lump Whitner in with the likes of Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, Adrian Wilson and Bob Sanders. Other offensive coordinators must gameplan around the aforementioned names, but Whitner hasn’t’ been a guy who’s going to keep offensive coordinators up at night. His peers that I’ve previously mentioned, it’s hard to go through a replay and not see them involved in the play. Whether it’s sacks, forced fumbles, or interceptions, Whitner hasn’t been that complete package you’d expect from a top 10 pick, especially when it comes to the safety position.

2006 – John McCargo, DT North Carolina State (26th pick) The third member of the Wolfpack defensive line taken in the first round in 2006, McCargo has done very little outside of taking up space on the roster. In three seasons with the Bills, McCargo has yet to start a game, while compiling 25 takes and just 2 ½ sacks. McCargo has been a huge bust in the interior of the Bills’ defensive line that Buffalo attempted to trade him last season to Indianapolis, only to have McCargo fail his physical with the Colts. Nick Mangold, Mathias Kiwanuka, and DeMeco Ryans were all left on the draft board by Buffalo. Do over anyone?

2007 – Marshawn Lynch, RB California (12th pick) “Beast Mode” wasn’t a bad consolation prize after missing out on Adrian Peterson and Patrick Willis just one pick prior. In his rookie season, Lynch became the first Bills running back to rush for over 1,000 in 23 years (Bills RB Greg Bell was the last one to accomplish the feat as a rookie in 1984), rushing for 1,123 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games. Lynch posted his second straight 1,000 yard season in his sophomore year in 2008, rushing for 1,036 yards and eight scores. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection in ’08, becoming the first Bills back to go to Hawaii since Travis Henry in 2002.

2008 – Leodis McKelvin, CB Troy (11th pick) The first defensive back taken in last year’s draft, McKelvin showed his explosiveness and home-run hitting abilities that made him so enticing to the Bills a year ago. McKelvin finished the season with almost 1,500 return yards (1,494), including a dynamic 98-yard kick off return for a touchdown on Monday Night Football in a loss against the Cleveland Browns. The next week in Kansas City, McKelvin picked off Chiefs quarterback Tyler Thigpen twice, returning one of his two picks for a 64-yard touchdown. Heading into the 2009 season, McKelvin will battle to lock up the starting cornerback job opposite fellow CB Terrence McGee.