♦ There’s been countless speculation about who the Bills may take with the third pick, and endless scenarios that would see the team actively seeking to trade down.  But you can throw everything out the window if Cam Newton and Von Miller go 1-2 in the draft like many are now forecasting, Buddy Nix will waste precious little time in making Marcell Dareus their pick.  According to someone who knows much more about the Bills from the inside than me, the Bills would choose Dareus if they had the first pick of the entire draft.  Obviously, that must mean he’s at the top of their big board.

♦ I’m positive not everyone in the Bills war room is convinced Denver will really take Miller or Patrick Peterson over Dareus, despite the plethora of 11th hour reports suggesting otherwise.

♦ Do not consider the Bills taking a quarterback in the second round a lock by any means, even if more quarterbacks are on the board than most expect.  Bruce Carter of North Carolina, who the Bills project as an inside linebacker, offensive tackle James Carpenter of Alabama and tight end Kyle Rudolph from Notre Dame could all get serious consideration if they are available.

♦ There’s people in the organization hoping the New England Patriots trade out of the 17th spot for a team looking for a quarterback.  The reason is the Patriots would likely draft Cameron Jordan if he’s available, and he’s a player the Bills really like.  There’s little chance of the Bills trading down to target Jordan and absolutely none if they can get Dareus, but they still don’t want to face him twice per year in the division.  People in the organization think he will be a special player and the last thing they want is him in a Patriots uniform.

♦ At least one Bills scout off the record think the Miami Dolphins are going to make a shocking selection at No. 15 and take quarterback Ryan Mallett.

♦ The same scout thinks reports of five or even six quarterbacks going in the first round is exaggerated.

♦ It’s been speculated heavily that if Dareus and Miller were the first two picks of the draft, the Bills would then take Newton because Chan Gailey is known for having success with quarterbacks.  I’m told that’s not necessarily the case. I’m as sold as I can be without actually being in the war room that the Bills are intent on getting a defender with their first pick.

♦ More on Rudolph: If he gets past Atlanta at pick No. 27 there’s a good chance he’d be there at 34.  As stated above, if that happens the Bills will strongly consider him. I’m told Bills quarterback coach George Cortez compares him favorably to Rob Gronkowski; the Western New York native Buffalo became all-too-familiar with last year.

♦ Buffalo will also be a strong candidate to grab an offensive tackle in the second round if someone they have a first round grade on slips into day two. Derek Sherrod or Nate Solder are possibilities.

♦ Don’t expect the Bills to take a wide receiver in the first half of the draft, if at all, under any circumstances, including an (unlikely) trade down.  A.J. Green and Julio Jones are special talents, but the organization is more than happy with their current crop of receivers. It’s one of the few positions and perhaps the only off limits for this draft.

♦ A great deal of “Draft Night Eve” was spent going over final evaluations of quarterback prospects, concentrated heavily on Blaine Gabbert.  No one of course will definitively divulge the team’s plans at quarterback, but I’d be shocked if they selected Gabbert and moderately surprised if they go QB in round two either.  However, I shouldn’t be shocked about Gabbert.  Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News cited sources that said if the decision came down to Gabbert of Miller, that Gabbert would be very much in the mix.

♦ Most reputable draft sites have inside linebacker Kelvin Sheppard listed as a fourth round prospect, but the Bills have him rated higher.  Unless Buffalo grabs Carter in round two, Sheppard is the odds on favorite to be the third-round pick.

♦ Teams have had a harder time than ever before trying to get a strong handle on what  other team’s are going to do, because no holes have been filled through trades or free agency.  It remains a mystery which organizations will stick to the draft plan they usually implement or which will draft stronger based on need.

♦ Lastly, I’m told the Bills would “have an interest” in bringing back Drayton Florence when/if free agency eventually starts. I’m not sure if that means they won’t target any cornerback in the draft.  Indications I’ve gotten is this a dreadfully thin cornerback draft class after the first five or six guys.