By Anthony Sambrotto, Contributing Correspondent to BuffaloBills.com
The top end of Buffalo’s 2016 draft class was hit hard by injury, but as the season winds down some of the youngest Bills are earning their stripes.
The Bills certainly didn’t have luck working in their favor when it came to their top two draft choices leading up to the 2016 season. But as the season comes down the stretch Buffalo’s draft class has flashed and provided encouraging signs for the level of contributions they’ll be able to make in the future.
Here’s a look at how each of their rookie seasons has played out.
Shaq Lawson – 1st round (19th overall)
After missing the first six games of the season recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Lawson has played a big role in Buffalo’s defense in the weeks since. Lawson started his first career game last Sunday against the Steelers, and played in a season-high 46 snaps.
He has been rotating with Jerry Hughes and Lorenzo Alexander on the edge, and has impressed the coaching staff with how quickly he learned the defense.
“I feel confident enough to where I can put him right in there with that group,” Rex Ryan said. “And we’re going to rotate it like we have three starters and that’s an ideal situation for us, but I think that’s where the kid is, now that he’s had time, games under his belt, I feel that he’s ready for that role.”
Lawson had a sack each in his second and third career games, and has 11 tackles, three QB hits, and three tackles for a loss on the season.
The Bills are hoping that with Lawson having more time with the team, he can make an even bigger impact on the season’s final three weeks.
“When you come into this league and you’ve missed OTA’s, you’ve missed minicamp, you miss all of training camp, and then you miss almost the first seven games of the season, and you’re a rookie, you are way behind,” defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman said. “He’s starting to understand what we’re asking of him. It’s not going to be perfect because he’s missed so much time, but you can see the talent. You can see his physical gifts. He wants to do it. He’s working towards that and we’re expecting him to grow and get better.”
Adolphus Washington – 3rd round (80th overall)
The defensive tackle has seen his playing time fluctuate this season based on who else has been healthy on the line. He played 37 snaps last week against the Steelers with Kyle Williams out, but only 10 the week before.
The Ohio State product started the first five games of the season in Marcell Dareus’ absence and helped Buffalo’s defense to some of their best performances of the season in that span.
On the season Washington has started nine games, has 2.5 sacks, 19 tackles, three QB hits and three tackles for a loss.
Ryan said that those numbers may be lower than expected because Washington hasn’t been used in pass rushing situations, but that his opportunities will come.
“I think he’s playing well,” Ryan said. “He’s not going to put up a bunch of stats because we put different guys in to rush the passer for him but that’s something I think he can do. It’s just we prefer to keep him fresh and rotating guys in there but I think he’s playing pretty well for us.”
Cardale Jones – 4th round (139th overall)
There has been a lot of internal and external talk over the past two weeks about Washington’s former teammate at Ohio State, Cardale Jones.
Jones dazzled with both his arm and legs in college en route to helping the Buckeyes win the 2015 National Championship, and was arguably the splashiest of Bills draft choices.
With the recent struggles of the passing game, there have been calls for Jones to see some game action, but the Bills are sticking with Tyrod Taylor for now.
Jones has been doing well in practice however, and recently began splitting reps with backup E.J. Manuel. The 6-foot-5, 249-pound quarterback has never been doubted for his physical talents, but is putting in a lot of work outside of practices, as well.
“He’s picked up the offense well,” offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn said. “He’s in meetings with all of the other quarterbacks and he comes in early, and leaves late. I’ve been very satisfied with his work ethic.”
Jones has been inactive for all 13 games so far this season, but is staying ready if his number is called.
“Just continue to prepare like a starter each and every week,” Jones said. “You never know when your time has come because of whatever the circumstance might be. So I prepare like I’m the starter each and every week and the play comes down to our coaches putting our players in position to win.”
Jonathan Williams – 5th round (156th overall)
Although he has logged carries in only five games this season, Williams has provided the Bills with a depth option that the Bills are hoping to develop even further.
He scored his first career touchdown in Week 8 against the Patriots, in a game that he served as Mike Gillislee’s primary backup. He also backed up LeSean McCoy’s in Week 12, and has 20 carries for 73 yards on the season.
Center Ryan Groy, who blocks for Williams every day in practice, says that he likes the way Williams runs.
“He’s a great player,” Groy said. “He’s smart and he knows what he’s doing. He hasn’t had too many opportunities, but I think he is ready whenever he needs to go in.”
Kevon Seymour – 6th round (218th overall)
Seymour never played the nickel corner position in college, but has embraced that new role with the Bills. He has split time with Nickell Robey-Coleman at that position in recent weeks, as well as starting at corner against the Raiders with Ronald Darby out with a concussion.
Seymour’s size has given him the advantage over some of Buffalo’s other defensive backs, especially in the nickel position.
“I think he’s confident and he has a great skillset, and he can run,” Thurman said. “I think those are the two biggest things. If you have confidence and you can run, then you can play that spot.”
He has 10 tackles and two passes defended on the season.
Seymour said the biggest adjustment he’s had to make from college to the NFL has been the added responsibilities in the secondary.
“In college you can just focus on your job and your job only,” Seymour said. “When you get to this level, you have to do that, but you also have to know what’s going on around you so you can play better. You have to know where your help is coming from. I’m playing a lot of nickel, and I didn’t play that too much in college. Now I know how to play zone, in addition to man. In nickel, I have some safety responsibilities, some linebacker responsibilities, but I’m getting more comfortable out there.”
Sidelined draftees
Reggie Ragland – 2nd round (41st overall)
Ragland’s rookie season ended before it even began. The linebacker suffered a torn ACL at training camp in early August that has sidelined him for the entire season.
Ragland dazzled coaches in rookie minicamp and OTAs so much that he was named the starter before training camp even began. Fortunately for the Bills, Zach Brown has stepped in for Ragland and is third in the NFL in tackles.
Despite being out, Ragland has been around the facility and in team meeting on a consistent basis.
“He’s living in the coach’s offices,” Ryan said earlier in the season. “He’s everything you want him to be. He’s trying. He knows he can’t play, but he’s right there with them and he does all his rehabbing and you know 100 miles an hour so he’s going to have a full recovery.”
The Bills expect him to be ready for offseason workouts
Kolby Listenbee – 6th round (192nd overall)
Listenbee joined Ragland as another rookie whose season ended before it could begin.
There was a lot of optimism surrounding Listenbee after the Bills drafted him. He had the second-fastest 40-yard dash time among receivers and showed his explosiveness at TCU, averaging 20 yards a catch.
However, he has spent the entire season on the non-football injury list after undergoing surgery for a double sports hernia before the draft.
There were hopes that Listenbee would return this season, but the receiver announced this week that he also had surgery on his hip. He said on Twitter that he had a plate put into his pelvis to try and solve the issue that has been bugging him for several years.
The Bills are hopeful that he can return for offseason workouts.