2020 Buffalo Fanatics Draft Prospectus
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
2020 Buffalo Fanatics Draft Prospectus Director of College Scouting Steve Mathes _ @JudgeMathes Positional Outlook Quarterback Buffalo is not going to look to rock the boat by bringing in a legitimate threat to Josh Allen’s job, they believe in him as the franchise QB. Players Met With or “Linked-To” Likewise, they don’t appear to be looking to challenge Matt Barkley as a James Morgan - Florida International back-up either. He has a great relationship with Allen, isn’t threatening his job, and brings traits Allen doesn’t have like anticipatory throwing they hope will rub off on him. That leaves Davis Webb, the practice squad QB, as the only one at real risk of competition. The Bills met with Morgan, but this was before his stock significantly heated up. If the Bills decide to challenge Webb look for a UDFA QB to be the guy to do it. Running Back The Buffalo Bills have only two viable runners on their roster currently in Devin Singletary and TJ Yeldon. They will look to add a third to this tandem to replace Players Met With or “Linked-To” the departed Frank Gore. Cam Akers - Florida St. Gore was known as the “bruiser”. When he was on the field defenses tended to JK Dobbins - Ohio St. know what was coming. It appears from their list of potential targets the Bills Clyde Edwards-Hellaire - LSU are looking to buck that trend. Darrynton Evans - Appalachian St. Zack Moss - Utah On their list are mostly “All-Purpose Backs” and one guy who is all traits (SPEED) D’Andre Swift - Georgia in Darrynton Evans. Look for a Running bAck to be selected in one of the first four rounds, and in all likelihood, it is a name on this list. Wide Receiver Buffalo has in place a solid top three receiving corps in Stefan Diggs, John Brown, and Cole Beasley. The Bills could easily look to add to this position early, Players Met With or “Linked-To” but when balancing it with other needs the value might just be in looking for some players with traits later in the draft. Lynn Bowden - Kentucky Chase Claypool - Notre Dame That is where the depth of the roster comes in. There are four viable candidates KJ Hamler - Penn St. for what is likely three roster spots right now. Those players are Duke Williams Tee Higgins - Clemson (Size/Contested Catch), Rober Foster (Boundary Speed/Special Teams), Isaiah KJ Hill - Ohio St. McKenzie (Gadget), and Andre Roberts (Return Ability). Michael Pittman - USC KJ Osborn - Miami If Buffalo is looking to add another receiver, or two, they will probably look in the Jalen Reagor - TCU direction of guys with traits that can compete with what is currently on the back Laviska Shenault - Colorado half of their roster. Based on their multiple meetings with Liberty WR Antonio Antonio Gandy-Golden - Liberty Gandy-Golden I’d say size may be the trait the Bills look most interested in Lawrence Cager - Georgia upgrading. Tight End The Bills are currently pretty crowded at this position. Knox and Sweeney are the players this regime has used draft capital. Jason Croom and Nate Backer Players Met With or “Linked-To” are developmental guys still under contract. Tyler Kroft and Lee Smith appear to be in their last year in Buffalo as each have expiring contracts after 2020. Dalton Keene - Virginia Tech Josiah Deguara - Cincinnati The Bills have only met with two prospects at this position. The common thread they share is they are considered “H-Backs” meaning they have the ability to rotate between Tight End and Fullback. Pat Dimarco is on an expiring deal as well. The Bills may be looking to add versatility to the position if they add here. Offensive Tackle Dion Dawkins is in the last year of his contract. Cody Ford has struggled with speed off the edge as a Right Tackle. That being said I believe Dawkins and the Players Met With or “Linked-To” Bills will agree to terms and that this organization is fully committed to Ford as a Right Tackle. Cameron Clark - Charlotte The Bills also find themselves loaded with depth at the position. Both Ty Nsekhe (LT/RT) and Dary Williams (RT) have played at a high level in this league. That being said their contracts are expiring after 2020 as well. The Bills find themselves loaded at this position now, but it can thin out REAL QUICK. I do not expect the Bills to make a splashy play for an Offensive Tackle early in the draft but look for them to take a flyer on a high upside athlete later on in the draft. They have the luxury of being so deep they can redshirt a player for all of 2020 and mold them into the player they want them to be in 2021. That is not a luxury most teams have. Interior Offensive Line Another crowded room with lots of versatility. Feliciano is a valuable piece because of his Guard/Center flex but he is going into the final year of his Players Met With or “Linked-To” contract. If Ford doesn’t eventually kick inside there could be a real need here in 2021 if we want to keep the likes of Spencer Long and Evan Boehm as back-ups. Kevin Dotson - Louisiana Lafayette Damian Lewis - LSU The Bills have been linked to a number of mid-round Offensive Guards which to Robert Hunt - Louisiana me further reinforces Cody Ford as a Right Tackle in their minds. John Simpson - Clemson Calvin Throckmorton - Oregon Don’t be surprised if the Evan Boehm deal was made because the Bills are shying away from an offensive lineman for other needs, but don’t be shocked if one is taken somewhere between rounds 3-5 either. Special Teams People will argue that the Bills should and will grab a punter in the middle to Players Met With or “Linked-To” late rounds of this draft. I am not buying it. The Bills will likely do what they always do and bring in a UDFA Kicker and Punter to compete with our veterans. One slight caveat is the Bills may use Kaare Vedvik as their training camp Kicker and bring in a third punter to compete with him and Bojorquez for the other duties. Edge Rusher Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, Trent Murphy, Quinton Jefferson, and Daryl Johnson make up your likely edge rotation if there are no additions to the Players Met With or “Linked-To” squad. Mike Love is also around as a guy we can probably continue to place on the Practice Squad and develop. Jonathan Greenard - Florida Bradlee Anae - Utah While that line looks respectable for 2020 it boasts two players over 30 in Yetur Gross-Matos - Penn St. prominent roles as well as an underwhelming player, Murphy, in the last year of Mike Danna - Michigan his deal. If the Bills are looking to add a player it will most likely be between round 2-4 where they can find a player to replace Trent Murphy in the rotation and still keep Johnson to develop. The longer they wait to snag a DE the less likely they are to find a guy who can fill Trent Murphy’s role immediately meaning they are putting Daryl Johnson’s development at risk if they have to practice squad him and lose him. If the Bills don’t grab a guy after Round 4 I don’t expect it to happen at all. This edge class deteriorates after Round 4. Interior Defensive Line With Oliver, Lotulelei, Butler, Phillips, Jefferson, and Taylor the Bills are pretty set at this position in the short term. Players Met With or “Linked-To” It wouldn’t shock me if Ross Blacklock was their BPA at 54 they took him Ross Blacklock - TCU because he is an impact player. However, if that proves not to be the case the John Penisini - Utah Bills will most likely wait until the later rounds or undrafted free agency to Raequan Williams - Michigan St. address adding more competition to this position. Linebacker The Bills are set for 2020 at the starting linebacker spots with Edmunds, Milano, and Klein. That does not mean more linebackers do not need to be added to the Players Met With or “Linked-To” room. Logan Wilson - Wyoming Milano is in a contract year. It would be smart for the Bills to devote all of Shaq Quarterman - Miami Vosean Joseph’s time to the back-up weakside spot to develop in case Milano Chris Orr - Wisconsin leaves via free agency. Corey Thompson is over there as well. That leaves the back-up Mike/Sam positions to Tyler Matakevich and Tyrell Dodson. While it appears the Bills brass like Dodson a lot it would be wise to bring in competition for him. A strongside backer in the draft to push Klein in the future, back-up at middle linebacker, and play special teams. Secondary Buffalo could start the season now with the secondary they have, but that doesn’t mean it cannot be improved upon. Players Met With or “Linked-To” If a boundary corner the Bills value is their rounds 2-3 they will pull the trigger to Jaylon Johnson - Utah challenge the guys opposite Tre White. Taron Johnson has not proved he can Javelin Guidry - Utah stay healthy, a nickel corner is an option in the middle rounds. Chris Williamson - Minnesota Kyle Dugger - Lenoire-Ryne The real sleeper here is hybrid safety. The Bills could look to add a larger body Jeremy Chinn - Southern Illinois player from the safety group to come in on sub-packages and take passing Tanner Muse - Clemson down snaps away from linebacker AJ Klein.