Buffalo has signed seven of its nine draft picks leaving only first-round pick C.J. Spiller and second-rounder Torell Troup left to go. Of course, those will take the most work and the signing of first- and second-round picks is at its usual snail's pace with NFL camps about to open.

Getting Spiller and Troup, who figure heavily into the team's rebuilding plans, into camp on time is a priority for GM Buddy Nix. But until the league's "slotting" inertia takes over, there's no guarantee Spiller and Troup will be in attendance July 30 for the team's first practice.

Buffalo has a gauge to work on regarding Troup, a defensive tackle out of Central Florida picked 41st overall: DT Brian Price's four-year, $5.32 million deal with Tampa Bay. Price was the 35th overall choice.

Spiller, picked ninth overall out of Clemson, was the first running back selected, which gives him and agent Gary Wichard some bargaining power.

The Bills got a deal done with third-round pick Alex Carrington, a defensive end out of Arkansas State. It's believed to be four years worth $2.6 million with a signing bonus of $870,000. Buffalo will have to release two players when Spiller and Troup sign in order to get to the roster limit of 80.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS
Starter -- Trent Edwards. Backups -- Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Brohm, Levi Brown.

The 2009 season was supposed to be Edwards' "breakout" year. Instead, his career broke down with injuries and lost confidence. Enter new coach Chan Gailey, who has a good track record with quarterbacks. Edwards has the tools to hold off the gritty Fitzpatrick, who did some quality work a year ago (1,422 yards passing, 9 TDs, 10 INT) but doesn't possess Edwards' physical skills. Brohm, a former second-round pick signed off Green Bay's practice squad, lost his one start against Atlanta but showed signs that he could challenge for the position in training camp. Buffalo's 157.2 yards per game passing tied for the NFL's lowest average in the past 30 years. So really, the job is wide open.

RUNNING BACKS
Starters -- Fred Jackson, Corey McIntyre (FB). Backups -- Marshawn Lynch, C.J. Spiller, Joique Bell, Chad Simpson, Rodney Ferguson.

While Jackson emerged as a standout all-purpose back (1,433 yards), the Bills' 25.8 third-down conversion rate tied for fifth worst by any NFL team over the past 20 seasons. Jackson must prove his one big year wasn't a fluke. Former first-round pick Lynch, who has been plagued by off-field issues, performed with little passion and averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry. With Jackson and Lynch appearing to be boom-or-bust propositions, it's no wonder the Bills tabbed Spiller with the No. 9 overall pick in the draft. As a change-of-pace option, the record-setting NCAA star figures to add instant electricity to an offense hurting for a spark. McIntyre is a solid blocking back when needed. Free agent rookie Bell is a name to watch.

TIGHT ENDS
Starter -- Shawn Nelson. Backups -- Derek Schouman, Michael Matthews, Jonathan Stupar.

Is this the year Buffalo's eternal quest for a deep threat at this key position ends? The 6-5, 240-pound Nelson has great potential as a receiver and will benefit from earning 12 starts as a rookie. Schouman, coming off a season-ending knee injury, and Matthews, who earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants, give Buffalo some toughness as solid blocking options. A succession of Bills offensive coordinators have refused to use the tight end with any consistency. Gailey and Curtis Modkins have a chance to change that.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Starters -- Lee Evans, James Hardy. Backups -- Steve Johnson, Roscoe Parrish, Marcus Easley, Chad Jackson, Felton Huggins, Donald Jones, David Nelson, Namaan Roosevelt.

With Terrell Owens and Josh Reed out of the picture, jobs are on the table for a host of young prospects led by Hardy, Johnson, Easley, and Roosevelt. Someone has to emerge to start alongside the underrated Evans, who is looking to rebound after a down year in which he caught 44 balls for 612 yards and just two touchdowns. Hardy, a 2008 second-round pick, is all the way back from ACL surgery and brings great size to the job. Easley was a late-bloomer at UConn. Two different coaching staffs have failed to capitalize on Parrish's unique skills and he's poised to resurrect his career.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Starters -- LT Demetrius Bell, LG Andy Levitre, C Geoff Hangartner, RG Eric Wood, RT Cornell Green. Backups -- Kirk Chambers, Jamon Meredith, Andre Ramsey, Ed Wang, Kyle Calloway, Nick Hennessey, Christian Gaddis, Sean Allen, Cordaro Howard, Jason Watkins.

The Bills' 30th ranking in yards, 30th ranking in passing yards, 32nd ranking in third-down conversions and 28th ranking in points could be traced to this eternally troubled unit. Aside from raw inexperience -- Wood, Levitre and Bell had never started an NFL game before -- the line was ravaged by injuries. Buffalo's success this season will hinge on Wood and Bell recovering fully from serious leg injuries. Green struggled with penalties last season with the Raiders but does bring 46 career starts to Buffalo. Hangartner and Levitre started all 16 games and represent the only thing close to any cohesiveness. Chambers is a solid backup. Wang (fifth round, Virginia Tech) has good potential and could push Bell at left tackle.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Starters -- LDE Marcus Stroud, RDE Dwan Edwards, NT Kyle Williams. Backups -- Spencer Johnson, Torell Troup, Alex Carrington, John McCargo, Rashaad Duncan, Lonnie Harvey.

The Bills' switch to a 3-4 scheme was made in hopes of improving the team's horrendous run defense of recent seasons. The team allowed more than 156 yards on the ground a year ago. New coordinator George Edwards will use a heavy rotation of players up front, with Stroud, Johnson and McCargo making the switch from 4-3 tackles to 3-4 ends. How Williams holds up as a 310-pound nose tackle remains to be seen but he'll be used more as an attack player than space-eater. Edwards was a nice addition from Baltimore's defense and has a lot of experience in this look. Troup, the club's second-round pick out of Central Florida, should earn the backup spot behind Williams if he's as good as advertised.

LINEBACKERS
Starters -- WLB Andra Davis, MLB Paul Posluszny, SLB Chris Kelsay. Backups -- Kawika Mitchell, Aaron Maybin, Aaron Schobel, Reggie Torbor, Keith Ellison, Danny Batten, Arthur Moats, Antonio Coleman, Nic Harris, Ryan Manalac.

The team's switch to a four-linebacker scheme means one more starter must be found at linebacker and roles for others have yet to work themselves out. The only player set in stone is Posluszny in the middle. He's a physical, athletic player who would excel in any scheme. Davis, a very productive nine-year vet who started in Denver's 3-4, was a key free agent pickup and will battle Mitchell for the weak-side job. Schobel, the team's No. 2 sack leader making the switch from end, is also in the mix if he doesn't retire. Mitchell can also back up in the middle. The strongside job figures to be a battle between Kelsay and Ellis, ends making the conversion, and the rookie Batten. Kelsay, who had five sacks a year ago, had a strong offseason and has the size and work-ethic to get the job done. Maybin, the team's No. 1 pick in '09 who struggled as an undersized end, is a wildcard weapon the coaching staff can use in creative ways.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Starters -- LCB Terrence McGee, RCB Leodis McKelvin, FS Jairus Byrd, SS George Wilson. Backups -- Donte Whitner, Drayton Florence, Bryan Scott, Ashton Youboty, Reggie Corner, Cary Harris, Ellis Lankster, Lydell Sargeant, Jon Corto, John Destin, Dominique Harris.

Easily the best and deepest unit on the club. Buffalo notched 28 interceptions last year, the most since the 1970 merger, with the rookie Byrd leading the way with nine. With a full season at free safety and good health, he'll be looking to top that total. Wilson, a converted wide receiver, should hold down the strong safety spot after a career-best 95-tackle, four-pick campaign. Whitner remains a versatile team player that can be used in a lot of ways. At corner, McGee and McKelvin form a solid one-two punch, but each is coming off an injury. The depth is far above average, led by the dogged Florence, who had a nice bounce-back year after signing as a free agent from Jacksonville.

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Rian Lindell, P Brian Moorman, LS Garrison Sanborn, KR Leodis McKelvin, PR Roscoe Parrish.

Bruce DeHaven, a member of Buffalo's Super Bowl coaching staffs, returns to take over for Bobby April, who fielded some of the best units in NFL history. The Bills figure not to miss a beat. The kicking game is solid, led by Lindell and Moorman. Lindell finished with 108 points and Moorman finished with a 40.2-yard net average for the first time, a very impressive feat for a cold-weather punter. Long-snapper Sanborn was solid in his first season. There is also no shortage of return talent. Rookie running back C.J. Spiller is in the mix with McKelvin, Parrish and Fred Jackson.

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