Armed with an extra third-round choice for day two of the NFL draft, the Bills can have a bigger impact on their roster in what is seen as the prime value are of the class.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
When the draft began on Thursday the Bills had just three picks in the top 155 selections. After Thursday night’s trade with Kansas City they now have four in the top 91, counting the selection of Tre’Davious White Thursday night. It’s given Buffalo the ability to be flexible.
Buffalo already had pick 44 in round two and pick 75 in round three. They added pick 91 overall in round three.
“I like it. I like having another opportunity to get better,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott told Buffalobills.com after the conclusion of round one. “We came into it with six picks and now we have eight. It’s always good to have ammunition to either stay where you are and add players or package some things to move up.”
The Bills added draft capital gives them the assets they need to move up the board if there is a player they covet that might be sliding, or if there is a run at a particular position group Buffalo feels they need to address.
Most important is the Bills now an additional pick in an area largely viewed as the best value range for this year’s draft class.
“To get more picks in the middle rounds of this draft, which is the sweet spot to me, that third, fourth round area you can get a lot of starters there,” NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah told Buffalobills.com. “Second-round caliber players, you’re going to get them in the third, fourth and in some positions maybe even the fifth round this year. You can plug a lot of holes.”
Among the holes the Bills are expected to address include linebacker, offensive tackle, safety and wide receiver. Buffalo is also expected to consider quarterback knowing the value is more palatable in the middle rounds.
With the class extraordinarily deep at cornerback it’s possible the Bills could add another cornerback despite taking White in round one. Buffalo lost Stephon Gilmore in free agency, did not re-sign reserve CB Corey White and released Nickell Robey-Coleman.
Among the better values still on the board for the start of round two at positions of need for the Bills include the following
Cornerback
Chidobe Awuzie – Colorado
Sidney Jones – Washington (Achilles)
Kevin King – Washington
Quincy Wilson – Florida
Linebacker
Tyus Bowser – Houston
Zach Cunningham – Vanderbilt
Duke Riley – LSU
Tim Williams – Alabama
Offensive line
G/T Dion Dawkins – Temple
G Dan Feeney – Indiana
G/T Forrest Lamp – Western Kentucky
G/T Cam Robinson – Alabama
Quarterback
Brad Kaaya – Miami
DeShone Kizer – Notre Dame
Nate Peterman – Pitt
Davis Webb – Cal
Safety
Budda Baker – Washington
Josh Jones – N.C. State
Marcus Maye – Florida
Obi Melinfonwu – UCONN
Wide receiver
Chris Godwin – Penn St.
Zay Jones – East Carolina
Curtis Samuel – Ohio St.
JuJu Smith-Schuster – USC
“I feel good about it but not satisfied,” said McDermott of their day two outlook. “We are looking to put this organization in the best position to be successful, so every minute that were up at that draft board we’re looking at what we can do next to get better.”