ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills finalized the obvious Tuesday at the NFL draft and then departed on a series of unpredictable moves.
The official announcement that Bruce Smith was the Bills' and the NFL's No. 1 pick was made shortly after 8 a.m. EDT. The 6-foot-3 standout defensive end from Virginia Tech had signed a 4-year $2.6 million dollar contract on Feb. 28.
But if drama was lacking in the Bills' first choice, there was no shortage of confusion surrounding their eventual pick of cornerback Derrick Burroughs. The 6-1, 180-pounder came via a lengthy circuitry of trades and helped enhance Buffalo's claim to the best collective draft of any team in 1985.
The Bills were awarded Cleveland's seventh pick in the first round before the draft began because linebacker Chip Banks never showed up for his physical with Buffalo.
Banks, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, was part of the deal in which Cleveland gained the first pick in the summer supplemental draft and the chance to take quarterback Bernie Kosar.
Buffalo quickly traded the Cleveland pick, along with its fourth-round selection next year, to Green Bay for the its first-round pick -- the 14th overall in the draft -- as well as the Packers' second-round choice.
The draft's 14th selection was used to take Burroughs, who began his college career as a wide receiver, but went on to become one of the highest-rated defensive backs in the draft.
'I feel great about being drafted to the NFL,' Burroughs said. 'With Buffalo, I hope I can come in and contribute to the team as much as possible.'
Buffalo, which after its dealings were complete owned five selections in the first three rounds, made Mark Traynowicz, a 6-6, 265-pound center from Nebraska its second-round pick and third choice overall.
'I'm real excited about it,' Traynowicz said. 'I've never been to Buffalo, (but) I'm real excited about going to Buffalo and playing for them. It's like a dream come true.'
He said a Bills offensive line coach told him the team might shift him away from center, a decision with which he said he had no problems.
