By Justin DiLoro / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Buffalo Bills have filled plenty of holes in their roster already this offseason via free agency.
They brought in a slew of offensive linemen to compete in the trenches. In addition, general manager Brandon Beane signed several adequate skill players to provide quarterback Josh Allen with a stronger supporting cast.
With these moves, one would conceive that Beane has limited his prospective pool of players when the Bills make their selection with the No. 9 pick. Several mock drafts have predicted the team could select offensive line help (Jawaan Taylor, Jonah Williams, Andre Dillard), defensive line development (Christian Wilkins, Ed Oliver), or freak athletic ability with a wideout (D.K. Metcalf).
However, the Bills could throw a curveball and deviate from these areas of focus for the roster. It’s easy to mock the best player available to the Bills. It’s a challenge to see who could be a surprise pick if things don’t fall the intended way for Beane.
Here are four viable players who could be surprise picks for the Bills in the first-round at nine overall:
Noah Fant TE Iowa
It’s no surprise that the Bills would be interested in taking a tight end in this draft. However, prioritizing tight end over other spots on the roster and selecting Fant ninth-overall would be surprising. Tight ends typically never get selected high, let alone in the top-10. The Bills did sign Tyler Kroft and project Jake Fisher to fill out the depth chart at the position with holdover Jason Croom.
Fant would immediately vault to the top of the depth chart for the Buffalo at tight end. In addition, he would provide Allen with a player who can create mismatches down the seams of the field. The most recently tight end drafted in the top-10of the first round was Eric Ebron when he was picked the Detroit Lions 10th overall in 2014. Over the past two decades, only Kellen Winslow (2004) and Vernon Davis (2006) were selected earlier in the draft. Both players went off the board sixth in their respective draft years. History shows that tight ends may be around later in the draft. Still, Fant’s athleticism could make him an option for teams earlier than anticipated.
Clelin Ferrell DL Clemson
The Bills could use another pass rusher to release havoc on opposing offenses. If the ends on Buffalo’s draft board are selected earlier than anticipated, Ferrell would be an option to watch.
Ferrell would fit in well with Buffalo’s rotation on the defensive line as his skill set translates to a defensive end a 4-3 defensive front, such as the one Buffalo runs. However, he is capable of being a three-down end, and eventually, would be an ideal replacement for Jerry Hughes or Shaq Lawson who both could be off the Bills’ roster after next season. The junior ended the season with 11.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
Brian Burns Edge Florida State
Burns would be quite the swing at the ninth spot. Nevertheless, Burns’ ability to overpower opposing blockers made him stand out among all of the Seminoles on defense last year. He registered 10 sacks last season, nearly tripling the sack total of Marvin Wilson (3.5 sacks), who was second on the team.
Buffalo would have to be enamored with Burns’ physical gifts to make a play for him this high in the draft. Still, it would not be out of the realm of possibility, as the Bills took a gifted player in Tremaine Edmunds last season. In both cases, the upside of the player could reap massive benefits.
Burns has highly-touted flexibility for his size (6-foot-5, 249 pounds), which helps him get around corner on blockers and eat up opposing QBs. The Bills and Burns have reportedly had a pre-draft visit as well.
Cody Ford G Oklahoma
The Bills need help on the interior of their line. There is a great deal of competition taking place at the guard spots already with returner Wyatt Teller, plus the additions of Jon Feliciano, Spencer Long, and Quinton Spain, challenging for two starting spots. However, Ford still may the best option among this crew.
If Buffalo wishes to help the interior of the line for a long time, Ford would be a solid option. Ford also has what the Bills covet in their offensive line: versatility. He’s slated as a guard at the NFL level, but he did play plenty of tackle in college, too.
The redshirt-junior would be ideal for helping re-establish the run game on a consistent basis for the club.