Senior Bowl executive director had a differing opinion on the QB class and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport lumped the Bills in a group of teams that might trade up.
By Jake Hamilton / Contributing Correspondent
Here is the Buffalo Bills news of note for April 26.
1. Savage takes final crack at QB class
Former Cleveland Browns general manager, Phil Savage joined The John Murphy show to talk about the upcoming NFL draft, and his assessment of the 2017 quarterback class had a twist to what most are saying.
Savage is currently the executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, which takes place in late January each year. It affords him an up close look at some of the best prospects in the draft.
As we get closer to the NFL draft, Savage gave us his perspective on the incoming class of quarterbacks and where he thinks they will go.
“I think it will be Mitchell Trubisky and Deshaun Watson that go for sure in the first round,” Savage said. “Then I do think it’ll be one of these developmental type quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Davis Webb or Deshone Kizer.”
Savage does agree with most NFL talent evaluators that the quarterback class is lacking sure fire prospects.
“In all honesty guys, I do think this is a very mediocre quarterback class,” he said.
Where Savage’s opinion deviated some from most NFL draftniks came with respect to Mitchell Trubisky and DeShaun Watson.
“I do think that Trubisky is probably seen as the best option but I personally like Deshaun Watson better,” he stated. “I think if you’re taking one of them in the first round ultimately, he’s going to be on the field this year at some point. I just think Deshaun with his mentality, intangibles, the leadership, he has incredible drive to want to be a pro quarterback, he’s been seen on the biggest of stages, he can handle the media. I think he’ll handle the job better.”
2. Rapoport: Bills “might” be calling about potential trade up.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport recently appeared on Good Morning Football to talk about the approaching NFL Draft.
When discussing the second overall pick, which is currently held by the San Francisco 49ers, there is speculation that they may take a quarterback but there is also interest from other teams to trade up to that spot.
“Well, there are several teams Kay that have already made calls, paving the way for a potential trade up,” he said. “It is all the teams that you would think, It’s all the teams that have done the considerations for possibly taking a quarterback.
“It would be a team like the New York Jets for instance, a team like the Buffalo Bills possibly, a team like the Cleveland Browns.” Rapoport speculates.
He then went on to say that it could be for quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky, Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes is the true wild car quarterback prospect in this year’s draft.
3. Rob Rang’s first round mock draft
CBS Sports’ Rob Rang posted his most recent mock draft on April 24th.
Here is his selection for the Bills at 10:
Buffalo Bills:
O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama: Whether it be in the form of wide receivers or tight ends, the Bills need to bring in more weapons for re-signed quarterback Tyrod Taylor. After watching Greg Olsen become the Carolina Panthers’ most trusted pass catcher while serving as defensive coordinator, new Bills head coach Sean McDermott may see Howard as the better complement to an offense expected to remain centered around the running game.
While many believe that O.J. Howard was underutilized on the Alabama offense, he still offers a large and athletic size for a tight end. At the NFL Combine he checked in at 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 251 pounds.
With that size, he was able to run a 4.51 second 40-yard dash time at the combine and 22 reps on the bench press.
Howard is one of the better-graded prospects coming out of college and is a name to watch for.