Buffalo put together a solid draft class, but which one will be making the most significant contributions on the field in 2017?
By Jake Hamilton / Contributing Correspondent
As the Bills are quickly approaching their next phase of the offseason program, training camp, which is set to start July 27th, it’s time to take a look at the 2017 NFL draft class. In April, the Bills selected six players to come make a difference on their roster. But, which player will make his presence felt right away?
Tre’Davious White
The Bills kept themselves busy in the first round. Originally they were set to pick 10th overall, but then opted to trade back to pick 27 with the Kansas City Chiefs. They received a first-round pick in the 2018 draft as compensation. With pick 27, the Bills selected the cornerback out of LSU, Tre’Davious White.
While the first round pick has made his way nicely through minicamp and OTAs, he will still have to earn his role on the depth chart.
“I feel like I did pretty good, but I have a ways to go if I want to benefit this team in any way,” said White. “I’ve got a long ways to go, so I’m looking forward to getting back home and getting to work and working on my craft and getting better.”
Being the first-round pick might give White an edge on all of the other rookies in terms of playing time. With the Bills losing Stephon Gilmore in the offseason, White is projected to fill the starting role opposite Ronald Darby. The cornerback also brings versatility as a returner where he is also competing for playing time.
Zay Jones
In the second round, the Bills selected wide receiver, Zay Jones, out of East Carolina University. At the collegiate level, Jones broke the FBS record for most receptions ever with 399 in his four-year career.
While Jones flashed in the NCAA, he comes into a great situation with the Bills. In the offseason, the Bills lost wide outs Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin and Justin Hunter. With those departures, Jones has a golden opportunity to get on the field early and earn some targets.
Jones performed well in the spring practices and looked the part of a top three wideout. Despite being a rookie he has an air of confidence about him that has impressed the coaching staff.
“When you play football you have to have a level of confidence about you and the way you carry yourself and the persona you have,” he said. “But in the end this is bigger than me. This is about Buffalo now. This is about this team. So I never try to make myself bigger than this team. I’m only a piece of it.”
While Watkins is projected to be the number one receiver, Jones has a great chance to earn the number two or at worst third receiver role.
Dion Dawkins
The Bills traded up to take offensive tackle, Dion Dawkins, in the second round as well. Dawkins played four years at Temple University where he proved his versatility, having experience on all the positions throughout the offensive line.
With the Bills thus far, he has been working primarily at the left tackle position while Cordy Glenn was still undergoing ankle rehab. With Glenn expected to come back, the left tackle position figures to be his so where will Dawkins go?
“Right now, I’m doing a little bit of everything but I’ve been mainly at tackle. I’ve taken a lot of tackle reps. a lot of left and right tackle. So we’ll see.” said Dawkins.
One of the camp position battles to watch will be Dion Dawkins battling Jordan Mills for the starting right tackle position. If Dawkins is able to secure the role, he figures to make an immediate contribution as a rookie.
Matt Milano
In the fifth round, the Bills decided to draft linebacker Matt Milano from Boston College. At the NCAA level, Milano not only played on the defensive unit, but also made contributions on special teams.
With the Bills currently having more experienced talent at the linebacker position like Lorenzo Alexander, Gerald Hodges and Ramon Humber, Milano projects to earn an initial role on the coverage units in special teams.
But Milano was coming on toward the end of the spring practices and a strong camp could have him pushing for a possible subpackage role on defense. Nothing is set in stone and Milano will be a name to follow come camp.
Nathan Peterman
In the fifth round, the Bills took a swing on quarterback Nathan Peterman from the University of Pittsburgh. During his senior season, Peterman threw for 2,855 yards paired with 27 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.
While Tyrod Taylor may be the favorite to lead the Bills this season, Peterman has the opportunity to earn a backup position that could put his development on the fast track.
Through training camp, Peterman will be going up against Cardale Jones and T.J. Yates for playing time. He proved to be quick on the uptake when it came to executing the scheme and directing players pre-snap.
Peterman’s performance in preseason games will be critical in his battle to be the backup QB behind Taylor.
Tanner Vallejo
The Bills last selection of the 2017 NFL draft came in round six with another linebacker, Tanner Vallejo, from Boise State University. Throughout his four-year career, Vallejo secured 275 total tackles with 35.0 tackles for loss and five and half sacks.
Similar to Milano’s situation, Vallejo has experience on special teams. Again the linebacker position is crowded in Buffalo and a sixth-round rookie coming in to earn defensive playing time is a challenging feat. Vallejo projects to carve a role on the special teams unit for now, but will have the opportunity to earn more come training camp.