Could the Bills use the 11th overall pick in the draft on a cornerback instead of the big, tall wide receiver that their offense covets?

When a team finishes ranked 31st in total defense, allowing 55 passes of 20 yards or better, it's a safe assumption that this unit will continue to get plenty of attention in spite of offseason upgrades.

The Bills improved their front seven on paper with the additions of defensive tackles Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson and outside linebacker Kawika Mitchell. Part of the hope there isn't just to improve the club's run-stopping ability but also its ability to rush the passer, which in turn will help its pass coverage.

A push up the middle will help defensive ends Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay, who combined for an embarrassingly low 9.0 sacks in 2007. If those two get to the quarterback, then life becomes easier for the defensive backs who walked around all season with second-degree burns.

"It changes everything," strong safety Donte Whitner said. "When you have two big guys that are run stoppers up front that offensive tackles and guards have to help on, especially on run downs and passing downs, that allows our defensive ends to get singled up one-on-one.

"In the running game, it keeps linebackers from having to fight with offensive linemen ... in the second level. It allows them to just roam and make plays. Having two good defensive tackles can do that for you and make this defense a great defense."

The Bills still need to bolster their secondary, though.

Lost in free agency was cornerback Jason Webster (New England), nickel corner Kiwaukee Thomas was released and restricted free-agent safety Jim Leonhard has not been retained as of yet.

The club did sign veteran free-agent corner William James from the Eagles and re-signed safety Bryan Scott and corner Dustin Fox. Restricted free-agent corner Chris Carr of Oakland was brought in for a visit.

James should challenge Jabari Greer for the right starting cornerback spot opposite Terrence McGee, but he has a history of back trouble. With untested second-year pro Ashton Youboty the only other corner on the roster, drafting a blue-chipper would only improve the overall picture since losing star Nate Clements (San Francisco) in free agency a year ago.

The top prospects include Mike Jenkins of South Florida, Leodis McKelvin of Troy and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie of Tennessee State.

At safety, the Bills are counting on Whitner's continued improvement and the return of free safety Ko Simpson (knee) to full health. Second-year pro John Wendling has potential at free. Scott is a good all-around option. The Bills see their safeties as interchangeable with the hard-hitting Whitner playing some centerfield last year, giving crossing wide receivers something to think about deep.

"We don't have to play perfect now if we have a good pass rush and get more pressure on the quarterback," Whitner said. "That will give the DBs more chances to jump on some of those balls going out there knowing they don't have to play perfect on every snap. So they can take more chances and more risk and that's a plus for everybody."

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