Dareus is probably in the best position to succeed that he is ever going to be in (he'll face a lot more double teams when he isn't lined up between Kyle and Mario Williams) but he just hasn't been a major factor in games. He's not a bad player or a bust by any means, but he still represents a missed opportunity by One Bills Drive. There were alternatives available that have already delivered the level of dominant play that you need from a 3rd overall draft pick and Buddy Nix missed them.
Missing out on 1st round picks like that is the sort of thing that Oakland does and I don't want to live my life like a Raiders fan, dreading the start of each new season and lying to myself about how, "wide receivers typically make 'the jump' in their third season and because of the lack of organizational stability on offense it's as if Darrius Heyward-Bey is really only going to be starting his third season this year and Carson Palmer is still young with today's medical technology so we have a chance to compete in our weak division."
Dareus's middling play is so disappointing because getting only a good player with the third overall pick is a great way for a team to remain stuck in a rut of mediocrity. Watching the 2010 Bills was a high price to pay as a fanbase for the right to cheer a 3rd overall pick that mires the team in mediocrity.
I could be wrong, of course. Years of watching the Bills has maybe made me too pessimistic. For example, I was really worried before the season that C.J. Spiller was never going to live up to his draft position and he has made a huge jump in his third season. Next year will be Dareus's third season.
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