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One Fan(n)’s Opinion: Bills 2nd/3rd Round Options Abound by @RDotDeuce

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Alan Draper
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As the NFL freight train starts to slow post-free agency frenzy, pre-schedule announcement and pre-draft, now is a good time to take a step back and look at the options that will be available to the Buffalo Bills intelligentsia on the 1st of May for the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the NFL draft. This is of course assuming that they don’t trade into the first round on the 30th of April, which could absolutely happen. The following tweets will serve as landmarks or guides to how we should view those picks – pre-draft smoke notwithstanding. 

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsA small draft class is fine; But I’d argue a more Seahawk-centric approach, where you are allowing UDFAs, draftees and previously-signed players to scrap for spots would be a more competitive approach than assuming that your picks will wash out past the 3rd round. However, for the purposes of this article, we’re going to follow that string out: only focusing on day 2 players will allow me to get 20 solid options (plus the four I’m saving [sigh] until the end) out there that you might or might not have heard about. Keep in mind that “contributor” line as we discuss these prospects; Whaley is trying to put the Bills in a Steelers/49ers/Ravens type of situation where your youth can grow behind the starters without the threat of having to start too soon.

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//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIf Rex and Doug are to be taken at face value, that means they’re a-okay with some combination of Glenn, Incognito, Wood and Henderson, with Urbik as depth. Chris Williams, Kouandjio, Richardson and draftee(s) would then scrap to play left/right guard or left/right tackle depending on how things shake out. If that’s true, the draftee could start, or they could come in and work as a 6th/7th OL in heavy fronts and contribute (there’s that word again) should that player not outright start. And, there’s the issue of the 2016 cap to ponder:

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As Whaley (via Mike Rodak) mentions, those four are going to be a priority to re-sign and as a result they’re going to need some of that “cheap labor” to fill in behind them via the draft and undrafted free agency. I’ve mentioned in prior posts that the worry over the cap isn’t as pronounced as published, but having that cheaper depth will be paramount to ensuring they don’t “need” anyone outside of their key FA’s next year.

With those markers in mind, here are my Buffalo Bills perceived needs headed into the draft, in no particular order other than moving QB to bottom. Why? Because it’s getting old to me prefacing every conversation in the off-season with “well they don’t know who’s starting at QB.” Yeah. I think y’all get that.

1. Offensive line “contributor(s)”
2. On the line TE to pair with Clay
3. Defensive Line Depth
4. Linebacker Depth
5. Secondary Depth
6. QB

Keep in mind that the people are just listed arbitrarily, with some pro’s and con’s for each:

Round 2:

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Maxx Williams, TE Minnesota / Clive Walford, TE Miami – Williams or Walford would be solid on the line candidates for the Bills. Maxx is a player that is aggressive in his run blocks and is learning to get more nuanced in the pass game; Walford looks like more of a butt kicker getting off the bus than he is when in games, but given time I believe he’ll grow into the role and embrace it. Both will be good in the seams that should be open with safeties worried about Sammy, Percy, Bobby and Charles.

AJ Cann, OG South Carolina / Laken Tomlinson, OG Duke – Both are fundamentally sound guards that will be day one starters. I like Cann a little more than Tomlinson, but part of that is my anti-Duke bias rearing its ugly head. Both can get to the second level, both can maul you in the run game and I’d say Cann is a little smoother in the pass pro. Getting either of these linemen would give a solid group of five linemen Aaron Kromer can mold into the ground and pound specialists Rex and Roman want.

Benardrick McKinney, LB Mississippi State – Besides having a name that made me think he was a 19th century cobbler, McKinney is a player I could see as a starter in the scheme. Because they already have two really good linebackers inside and may also re-sign Brandon Spikes, I put him pretty low on the list of “run around the living room because they drafted him” players, but I won’t lose sleep if he’s the BPA. Depth is always good and a thumper like Benardrick that can also get up the seam a little bit in coverage would find a spot.

Carl Davis, DL Iowa – Davis is a 320 pounder that is effective stopping the run and when needed can occasionally make some noise in the pass rush game. He’s got a chance to be the run stopper Buffalo needs to even out the rotation. If he were to be the pick I’d be quite happy watching him blow up the run game and allow Preston or Bradham to look like bosses EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Preston Smith, DL Mississippi State – Preston Smith, without question is a player that was born to play in a Rex Ryan defense. At Mississippi state he played from 0 (nose) out to 7/9 technique, so he’d be used to being moved around as a chess piece. On passing downs, having him and Kyle Williams inside with Hughes, Mario and Dareus as well will lead to some poor dude having a really bad night at some point this season. Because of that versatility I’m hopeful he’ll make it to 50 but realistic enough to understand he probably won’t.

Hau’oli Kikaha, EDGE Washington – I love Hau’oli Kikaha. This dude is relentless. His 4.97 40 to me isn’t too disappointing, because as you see in the linked report, Hau’oli’s game is being consistent in his pressure. Off the edge in this defense I think he can do some damage. I’ve got him a little higher than some, but 2nd to 3rd is ultimately where I think he lands.

Quentin Rollins, DB Miami (OH) – For a guy to only have one true year of playing collegiate football and play as well as Rollins does is amazing to me. I think the “does he love football” question is a little tired. Rollins played basketball, doesn’t have a career there and might be drafted in the second round as a corner. He’ll love football enough to play, trust me. I can see given his freshness to the game sliding him in as the Free Safety as well and allowing him over time to learn how to maximize those athletic gifts into a ball-hawk back there. The tackling is still a work in progress but he seems to want to make the effort from everything I’ve read/seen on him.

Byron Jones, DB UCONN – What do they put in the water at UCONN? Jones is a combine freak, but during the game he’s equally impressive. Jones might sneak into the first, pushing some of the others on this list that much closer to Buffalo, but if he was there at 50 I would be enamored with his potential as a man-trail corner or perhaps (as I’ve suggested for nearly every DB) slide him into a safety role.

Round 3:

http://gty.im/185720720

Donovan Smith, OL Penn State – Donovan is a solid, Herb Hand coached tackle that would be a pretty good guard for the Bills. I think that putting him between the experienced Glenn and Wood (heretofore known as the ‘Richardson Initiative’) would go well, or Richie will make him eat the snow.  and there’s nothing that could possibly ever go wrong with him needing his fellow guard to help guide him. Nothing. Move along.

Ali Marpet, OL Hobart – Ali Marpet does not care if you are a D-1 athlete, pro bowler or dancing with the stars enthusiast. He’s going to block you and he’s probably going to do so through the echo of the first whistle he heard as a kid playing football. Marpet is going to be a pain in the rear to any defender he blocks because not only is he good at it, he’ll keep at you. That sort of tenacity wears on a team and fits the ground and pound to a ‘T’. On the Bills he’ll most likely fit as a guard. A very surly, very effective guard.

John Miller, OL Louisville – He’s a street fighter on the inside of the line. Miller’s more of a straight forward type of blocker, so I wouldn’t want him to (nor expect him to) pull a lot. In terms of the Bills’ needs, he’d fit as a starting right guard and resident face puncher of defenders. Miller could also be cross-trained like Urbik throughout the interior of the line, so that would put *just a little* less pressure on the line should Wood get injured as well. Miller is a little less technically sound than say Marpet, but I think he can be coached up.

Cedric Ogbuehi, OL Texas A&M – Cedric is recovering from surgery so this is essentially a redshirt. But, to get a player that most likely would have been a late day one / early day two pick in the third would be quite good. Ogbuehi has been called “soft” by some evaluators, but I see him as a quality left tackle or left guard that can also kick out to right tackle if you needed it. He’d be a quality piece to add to the puzzle, potential lost rookie year or not. Worst-case he’s a guard. Best case you stole a starting Left Tackle in the 3rd round and have cover should Glenn peace out.

Jesse James, TE Penn State – James is going to be more of a projection, given the switch to a more wide-open offense of Franklin, as opposed to the “pro style” he’d been in under Bill O’Brien. He looks the part of a solid on the line Y and from the games I watched of him I thought he acquitted himself well. Ultimately, I’d like to see him settle in year one as TE #2/3 and focus going the typical year 1 to year 2 development from a weight/body perspective. Should they make a move with a Williams or Walford in round 2 this would no longer be an option.

Chris Conley, WR/CB Georgia – Conley is a bit of a renaissance man. Filmmaker, football player, scholar. I like him a bunch and I think if signed, like Lippett below he’ll be a great option as a depth receiver and/or developmental corner. I’m a bit higher on him as a receiver than Lippett, so I’d probably argue with you that Conley’d start as a #4 and work his way up, whereas I see Lippett as a #6 that fights as a ST’er.

Tony Lippett, WR/CB Michigan State – Lippett, as noted by new Pitt Football Head Coach Pat Narduzzi was primarily a receiver, but picked up his responsibilities as a corner quickly. Given Lippett’s size, I think he could be a depth 6th wideout or corner on the team, leaning more towards corner given the lack of corners with his length in the league.

Grady Jarrett, DL Clemson – One of my favorite linemen in the draft. At 6’1 and around 300 pounds he’s similar to Kyle Williams in body type. I call him “Greasy Grady” because every time I watch him I wonder how he slipped a block and got back into the backfield so fast. Jarrett could play 1 technique or 3 technique and while he’s good at holding up a double team, I wouldn’t want that to be his whole job. Would be a great rotational guy to develop and take over for KW in 2017.

Lynden Trail, EDGE Norfolk State – Take Manny Lawson’s 6’6″ frame, add another 20 pounds. You’re now looking at Lynden Trail. Trail would be a good SAM backer in the Ryan defense, though year one he’d be primarily a special teamer and someone that can float in should there be injury. Over the next year I’d expect him to find that weight sweet spot as well as learn how to use his hands a bit better.

D’Joun Smith, DB Florida Atlantic – As a player I think Smith might be better at FS than corner, but I don’t write the checks. I’ve only seen a few games, but I think he’s a willing tackler, he competes (NOT ‘GOOD COMPETE’. Sorry, Nolan’s got me riled up) and in a perfect world the Bills have the depth to allow him to come along slowly ala Duke Williams. If they kept him at corner I can see him as cover should they find something lacking in their current crop.

Anthony Chikillo, EDGE Miami – This dude is another fave. I liken him to Jarret Johnson on the Ravens – a guy that gets converted to linebacker and is an ox vs the run and can get after the QB when you let him run. Lost about 25 pounds to start that process too:

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsTHAT HAIR THO! I thought during Anthony’s time at Miami he was more of a 2 gapper when they should have let him eat as a 1 gapping pass rusher. On the Bills he’d be a fun pass rushing piece for Rex to scheme open.

The QB Conundrum: Alright sports fans, here’s where rankings go out the window and you keep this in mind:

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIf Doug hasn’t inherited Buddy’s ability to say nothing and say a lot in a few sound bytes, you (by you I mean I) should be prepared that if the right player is there at 50 or 81 the Bills may draft a QB. As I have said from day one here at Buffalo Wins and will say until Joe fires me VKM style, IF YOU DRAFT A QB YOU BETTER HAVE A UNIFIED BELIEF IN HIM AND A PLAN FOR HIS SUCCESS. I retweeted the ‘Kangol Kid’ Bruce Arians talking about that subject this week, with regard to his aversion to starting his project QB Logan Thomas in the playoffs:

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YES. DO THIS MORE NFL. PLEASE!

So, with that as the backdrop, here are 4 QBs that can “fit” based on Greg Roman’s scheme.

http://gty.im/454485994

1. Garrett Grayson, Colorado
2. Brett Hundley, UCLA
3. Bryce Petty, Baylor
4. Sean Mannion, Oregon State

All four have their warts. All four need time. And all four cannot, nor should not be seen as the team’s savior. Looking at any of them, think of what they do well and how that’d help the team instead of the warts. That’s really what a coach is going to have to do should they be drafted.

Thoughts? Hit me up @RDotDeuce on twitter and we can chat. If you want to call me an idiot though, you can hit up @BuffaloWins (heh)

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Alan Draper

Alan is a vastly experienced sports and gambling writer who is the Chief Editor of The Sports Daily.
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Alan Draper

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Alan is a vastly experienced sports and gambling writer who is the Chief Editor of The Sports Daily.
View All Posts By Alan Draper
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