INDIANAPOLIS — The Buffalo Bills will get an up-close look at a lot of big draft

prospects, and Western New Yorkers will be in the spotlight starting today at the NFL Scouting

Combine.

The Bills, who have the ninth overall pick in the NFL draft, have a glaring need for an

offensive tackle and could use some help on the defensive front, as well.

"I've got seven offensive top tackles and then a drop-off," said NFL Network analyst Mike

Mayock. "I believe six of them may go in the first round — and four could go in the

first nine picks."

Bills General Manager Buddy Nix and coach Chan Gailey will be among about 600 executives,

coaches, scouts and medical personnel from the 32 NFL teams in Indianapolis for the annual

six-day scouting convention. About 330 college players will be in attendance to get measured,

weighed, interviewed and put through a series of athletic drills.

Those players include four from Western New York — tight end Rob Gronkowski, receiver

Mike Williams, running back James Starks and defensive lineman Doug Worthington. It's the most

prominent contingent from this region ever at the combine.

Early projections have Gronkowski, who played at Williamsville North and the University of

Arizona, as possibly a second-round pick. Williams starred at Riverside and Syracuse. He will

have to explain to NFL scouts the reasons for his departure from the Orange team with four

games to go in his junior season last fall. He had a falling out with Syracuse coach Doug

Marrone. Williams could be a second- or third-round pick but could boost his stock even higher

with a good showing this week.

Starks, from Niagara Falls High, rushed for 3,140 yards in three years for the University

at Buffalo but missed his senior year due to a shoulder injury. He's projected to go in

perhaps the fifth round. Worthington, from St. Francis, was a three-year starter for Ohio

State and is projected as a late-round pick.

The Bills will be taking a close look at the top tackle prospects — Oklahoma State's

Russell Okung, Rutgers' Anthony Davis, Iowa's Brian Bulaga and Oklahoma's Trent Williams.

Draft analysts are high on the big men at defensive tackle, too.

"The depth is the defensive line," said ESPN's Mel Kiper. "I have 13 defensive tackles with

grades from the first to third rounds."

"On the defensive side of the ball, it's probably the deepest draft I've seen in eight

years, particularly at defensive tackle and in the defensive backfield," Mayock said. "If you

need a DT, a corner or a safety, you can get a quality player deep in the third, fourth, fifth

round.

"On the offensive side of the ball I think it's a bad year for quarterbacks. I think it's a

bad year for interior offensive linemen. I think you're going to see some movement with the

offensive tackles early in the first round, similar to two years ago when we had eight

offensive tackles taken in the first round.

"I really like the tight ends, running backs and wide receivers," Mayock added. "There's

tremendous depth at those positions."

The Bills, of course, also have plenty of uncertainty at quarterback.

But the QB picture probably won't get much clearer this weekend because while the two

top-rated passers will be in town, they won't work out. Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen is

recovering from toe surgery, and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford is returning from shoulder surgery.

Meanwhile, Florida's Heisman Trophy-winning passer, Tim Tebow, is working on refining his

throwing motion. He won't throw for scouts until sometime next month. Central Michigan's Dan

LeFevour, also rated in the top three rounds, likewise is working on his throwing mechanics

and won't throw, either.

That opens the door for Texas QB Colt McCoy to impress scouts. A good showing could push

him up into the late first round or early second.

As always, a lot of attention will be paid to the 40-yard dash times of prospects. The

top-rated receiver is Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant, a 220-pounder compared with Texans star

Andre Johnson. He will be shooting to run anything under 4.5 seconds. Clemson's Jacoby Ford, a

possible third-rounder, reportedly may threaten the combine record of 4.24 seconds set by

Titans running back Chris Johnson two years ago.

Interviewing and medical testing of players begins today. Workouts run Saturday through

Tuesday.