With the No. 100 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Bills grabbed another solid defensive back in Da’Noriss Searcy, a safety out of the University of North Carolina.This move is an obvious statement by the head brass at One Bills Drive that they have no intention of bringing back strong safety, Donte Whitner.
Searcy marks the fourth defensive player the Buddy Nix and the Buffalo Bills have selected in this draft. In his career as a Tarheel, Searcy recorded 106 tackles, six tackles for a loss, five interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and two sacks.
Short and stocky at 5’10”, weighing 223 pounds, Searcy brings the beef that the Bills need to stuff the run from the safety position.
He was an impact player on the Tarheel’s special teams unit, returning 35 punts for 428 yards and a touchdown.
Searcy has great range in the zone defense, but he has stiff hips and can get beat by opposing receivers’ double moves.
Like the Bills’ third round selection, inside linebacker, Kelvin Sheppard, Searcy was coached by Chan Gailey at the Senior Bowl.
While I would’ve liked a linebacker or another defensive linemen with the fourth round pick, Searcy obviously fills a need and has high upside.
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