The Buffalo Bills drafted defensive end Aaron Maybin 11th overall to fill an immediate need.

They identified their pass rush as a major weakness that needed to be addressed immediately. They didn't look at the offensive line, at linebacker, at tight end. They allowed the likely rookies of the year to pass them by.

Buffalo went with Maybin, an underclassmen with one season of collegiate starting experience at Penn State.

Three-quarters through his rookie season, Maybin hasn't made an impact. Bills interim coach and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has noticed a progression in practice, but he's not counting on Maybin making a serious impression until 2010.

"It took him awhile to understand what we wanted and how we wanted it," Fewell said Wednesday. "He really turns it up a notch in practice and he's really been practicing well for us. That hasn’t always transferred to the game.

"I think he's going to be a dynamic player for us. It's very tough to play in this league, and I think he will get better, and he’ll be a top-flight pick. Maybe not at the end of this season, but he’s going to be a top-flight pick for this football team."

There has been little indication of that on game days. Maybin has played in all 12 games, but he hasn't started any. He has seven solo tackles, four assists and zero sacks.

"It's really tough to play in this league, and there are a lot of things like communication that goes on out there," Fewell said. "So it's more of the mental [hurdles] than the physical, and then ... he needs to get bigger and stronger. There's no doubt about that. We knew that coming in. We had a conversation this week about getting bigger and stronger, etcetera, and that's not going to happen until the offseason for him."