If you’re coming off a 6-10 season – as the Bills are – it’s more or less a given that you’ve got significant holes to fill.
Take a quick peek at Buffalo’s pass ranking (28th at 193 yards per game) and it’s obvious they could improve their aerial game. What if they were to fortify their defensive line, which ranked fifth-last in the NFL at run defense, but was second with 57 sacks last season? Maybe opt for a tackle to help protect oft-injured EJ Manuel?
Oh, the possibilities, and oh, the greater possibilities should the Bills try moving up from No. 9, as Gil Brandt has reported. Thursday’s report jives with numerous other reports from the past few days that Buffalo is indeed trying to move up.
Hearing lots of chatter about #Bills wanting to move up in the draft from 9, #Dolphins wanting to move down from 19.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) May 1, 2014
ESPN’s Todd McShay said that Buffalo would likely be targeting Jadeveon Clowney (the thought of pairing him with Mario Williams might make the league’s best DL), OT Greg Robinson, or wideout Sammy Watkins. The latter could help compliment Steve Johnson and recent acquisition Mike Williams, whom the Bills got in a trade from Tampa Bay.
Of the trio, Robinson would figure to be the least likely as there’s significant depth among draftees at the OL position, but Clowney and Watkins are viewed as elite at their respective positions.
The other thing to keep in mind is that Buffalo only has six picks in the draft, and one has to wonder whether it would really yield some of those picks just to move up without an immediate and pressing need.
Aside from the No. 9 pick, the Bills might also have to include next year’s first-rounder to jump all the way up to No. 1 for the Texans’ pick. That would ensure Clowney, but are two firsts too steep a price?
