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The NFL’s 100th season begins this week, and the regular season campaign for the Buffalo Bills will also be a historic one – the 60th in team history. Here is our preview of the Bills’ prospects for 2019, position by position:

 

Front Office/Coaching

After breaking their playoff drought in 2017, the Bills took a step back last season, laboring through a lot of changes at the quarterback position and falling to a disappointing 6-10 record. General manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott didn’t waste any time remaking both the coaching staff and the roster to try and improve the team’s fortunes in 2019. Beane was extremely active in free agency, not going after splash names but filling out the roster with solid pros at positions of need. McDermott kept his coordinators in place on defense and offense but made a change where it was needed, bringing in Heath Farwell as special teams coordinator in place of a holdover from previous regimes in Danny Crossman. He also brought in a true QB coach in Ken Dorsey to work with young Josh Allen and new coaches for the offensive line and wide receivers.

 

Quarterbacks

 

Veteran backup QB Matt Barkley

Unlike the beginning of last season, there is stability at the quarterback position for the Bills entering 2019. One positive outcome of the disappointing 2018 record was the establishment of Josh Allen as the starting signal caller. Not to be overlooked, however, is the presence of veteran Matt Barkley as the backup. He was signed almost as a panic move when poor play and injuries riddled the position last year, but he has settled in and been a revelation as the perfect complement to Allen. Allen still has a lot to prove, but by the end of last season was beginning to show that he “gets it”. It will be interesting to see how much faith Dorsey and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll show in their rising star.

 

Running Backs

 

Rookie RB Devin Singletary

Buffalo’s rushing attack was abysmal last season, save for Allen’s scrambling yardage, but it’s surprising that entering 2019 only fullback Pat DiMarco, who basically never carries the ball, is the only returning player in the RB room. The shocking release of LeSean McCoy puts the spotlight on rookie Devin Singletary, who the GM and coach seem to like a lot. Veteran Frank Gore was signed in the off-season and he not only should be a better mentor to Singletary than McCoy would’ve been, but still has enough left in the tank to provide some help for the run game. T.J. Yeldon, a veteran signed away from Jacksonville, was quiet in the preseason but is an interesting prospect. He has a lot of skill in the passing game and is a competent rusher also. The Bills’ 3 backs all have different, but complementary skill sets and should work together well as a unit.

Receivers

WR Cole Beasley

The receiving corps was another area of the team that needed upgrades from 2018 and GM Beane accomplished that by signing a couple of savvy veterans to help his young quarterback. They are John Brown, a legitimate deep threat, and Cole Beasley, longtime Dallas Cowboy slot receiver who should develop into Josh Allen’s security blanket. Brown was a favorite target of Joe Flacco in Baltimore last year, then fell out of favor when Lamar Jackson took over as starting QB. There are 3 holdovers from last season – Zay Jones, who found some chemistry with Allen last season and led the team in receiving and who should be poised for a breakout year, Robert Foster, who became a deep threat after being brought up from the practice squad, and Isaiah McKenzie, who had success as a “gadget” player, running jet sweeps and in the passing game. Another free agent signee, Andre Roberts, was brought in mostly to upgrade the kick return game but earned playing time as a receiver during training camp also. The tight end group was also completely changed. Four of them made the final roster, including veteran Tyler Kroft, a free agent from the Bengals. He is still recovering from a foot injury but should be a big part of the offensive plans when healthy. Veteran Lee Smith is strictly a blocking TE and is also valued for his locker room leadership. Rounding out the group are a pair of rookies with vast potential – third round draft pick Dawson Knox and seventh round pick Tommy Sweeney. Both looked like they belong in limited preseason appearances and should have bigger roles once the season gets rolling, or possibly sooner if Kroft misses significant time.

Offensive Line

 

New center Mitch Morse (Getty Images)

Buffalo totally revamped their offensive line group. They kept 10 on their 53 man roster, and only 3, guard Ike Boettger and tackles Conor McDermott and Dion Dawkins, are holdovers from last year. Boettger and McDermott had zero impact in 2018 so they are relative newcomers too. Dawkins, who holds down the starting left tackle spot he has manned since his rookie year in 2017, is the lone returnee who actually saw significant playing time on the O-line last season. Anchoring the new-look line this year will be the Bills’ prize free agent signee, center Mitch Morse. His veteran presence should help Allen with line calls, although his history of concussions could be an issue. He missed basically all of training camp while in concussion protocol. Luckily, the Bills looked for versatility when they went after replacements in free agency and the draft when it came to offensive linemen. Jon Feliciano won the starting right guard spot but can also fill in at center, just as his backup, Spencer Long, can. Starting at right tackle is rookie second round draft choice Cody Ford, who can also slide inside and play guard. Starting at left guard is another free agent, Quinton Spain, although he will have to eliminate the penalty issues he had in the preseason to hold his spot. Ty Nsekhe, a veteran reserve, is the swing tackle. He can move into either tackle spot if needed. Last but not least is rookie Ryan Bates. An undrafted free agent picked up in a preseason trade with the Eagles, he may be the most versatile of the 10 linemen the Bills kept. He can practically fill in at any of the positions along the line. The Bills seem well fortified to withstand a rash of injuries on the line if they occur.

Defensive Line

 

Pass rushing DE Trent Murphy

The Bills’ defensive unit was solid for the most part in 2018, except maybe for not coming up with a lot of turnovers and ranking low in red zone defense. Still, unlike the offensive units, the defense didn’t undergo as much change. Along the defensive line, the main change was losing veteran tackle Kyle Williams to retirement. However, they plugged that hole in a big way, drafting Ed Oliver in the first round in a move that eventually should lead to even more dominant play at that spot. The other starting tackle is Star Lotulelei, who has either underachieved or been quietly efficient in his tenure here, depending on who you ask. There is quality depth behind the starters in the two Phillips, Jordan and Harrison. The starting ends are Jerry Hughes, the team’s top pass rusher, and Trent Murphy, who should be playing at a top level this year now that he is a full year removed from recovering from a knee injury. The backups at end are Shaq Lawson, who could start on many NFL teams, and an intriguing rookie, seventh round draftee Darryl Johnson Jr. He wowed the coaching staff and fans with an impressive training camp, and coming from a small school (North Carolina A&T) he could be a major sleeper. In all, the Bills are deep and in a good place as far as their defensive line rotation is concerned entering the 2019 season.

Linebackers

 

LB Matt Milano primed for a big year

The Bills’ linebacking corps returns all 3 starters from last year in middle backer Tremaine Edmunds, flanked on the outside by Matt Milano and the ageless wonder, Lorenzo Alexander. Edmunds, a young stud with a great future, takes command of the defense this year as he will make the defensive calls. Milano, also a young vet, has shown a nose for the football during his short tenure here but coming back from an injury that prematurely ended his season in 2018, is primed for a breakout year. Alexander has already said this would be his final NFL go-around, but he hasn’t slowed down a bit. He is one of the most trusted leaders in the Bills’ locker room. The depth behind the starters is made up of Julian Stanford, Corey Thompson and Maurice Alexander. They are all expected to be top special teams contributors but if one of the starters is lost to injury, the drop-off will be more noticeable than anywhere else on the roster. Still, in today’s game, the linebackers play a reduced role, to the point where the slot or third cornerback is on the field to defend the pass more than all 3 LBs are.

Defensive Backs

 

CB Levi Wallace, a career “walk on”

The secondary was a major strength of the Bills’ team in 2018 and looks to be even deeper this season. Tre’Davious White, one starting cornerback, might be on the verge of a Pro Bowl season. The other starting corner, Levi Wallace, is a survivor. A walk-on in college at Alabama, he wound up starting in the defensive backfield of arguably the nation’s top program. He came to Buffalo last season as an undrafted free agent and eventually won a starting CB job. In this year’s training camp he fought off stiff competition to hold down that job. Behind the starters are a pair of Johnsons – Kevin, a former top draft pick of the Texans who has battled injuries, and Taron, the top slot corner who showed flashes of stardom last season in that role before getting injured. Buffalo kept 6 safeties on their 53 man roster, although one of them, Siran Neal, can fill in at corner in a pinch if needed. Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, the starters, are one of the top safety tandems in the NFL. Veterans Dean Marlowe and Kurt Coleman both have extensive experience in Sean McDermott’s defense and are dependable backups. The sixth safety is rookie Jaquan Johnson, who made some plays and provided some big hits in the preseason and should be an asset on special teams.

Special Teams

 

Pro Bowl kick returner Andre Roberts

The Bills cut some of their top special teams players from last season, like Lafayette Pitts and Deon Lacey, but then again their bomb squads were nothing to write home about either. They have a new special teams coach in Heath Farwell, and gave him a present when they signed Pro Bowl kick returner Andre Roberts away from the division rival New York Jets  in free agency. The specialists remain the same ones who started 2018 – long snapper Reid Ferguson, as dependable as they come, placekicker Stephen Hauschka, who struggled at the end of the season, and punter Corey Bojorquez, whose spot on the roster could be tenuous if he doesn’t improve on a woeful preseason performance.

 

For Bills’ fans’ enjoyment, here is the annual posting of the team’s popular fight song. LET’S GO BUFFALO!:

After signing 19 (and counting) players in free agency this off-season, the Buffalo Bills added more ammunition for the 2019 season in the recently held NFL draft of college players. General manager Brandon Beane showed patience in some spots, and was aggressive in a couple of others to get players he felt would fit the team’s “DNA”. Here’s our assessment of the players drafted and a few who are expected to sign as undrafted free agents:

 

1. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston – Beane was patient with his first round pick, standing pat at ninth overall instead of trading up, and the player he wanted in Oliver fell into his lap. With veteran Kyle Williams retiring, this pick is not only a classic “best player available” choice but also fills a big need along the defensive front. Williams was a warrior and a classic overachiever in his time with the Bills, but if Oliver lives up to his potential, his insertion into Buffalo’s D-line rotation should be an upgrade.
2. Cody Ford, OL, Oklahoma – the Bills are completely rebuilding their offensive line this off-season, and even after signing a number of reinforcements for this unit in free agency, Beane stayed patient again after considering trading back into the first round to grab Ford, and instead held steady and got him with his second round pick, only giving up a fifth rounder to climb 2 spots. The big Sooner is penciled in to compete at right tackle to start, and many draft analysts say he has the potential to develop into an All Pro type of player.
3. Devin Singletary, RB, Florida Atlantic – most Bills’ fans were surprised by this pick, with wide receiver apparently being seen as the biggest need and plenty of candidates at that position still available here. But Beane insisted that the team stuck to its’ draft board and Singletary stood out as the player to be chosen. To me, Beane showed he is thinking long term as well as improving the team this season with this pick. LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore are both aging and on one year contracts at this point so Singletary could emerge as a major contributor in 2020 if he pans out.
4. Dawson Knox, TE, Mississippi – this choice was actually 3A as Beane dealt both of his fourth round picks to move back into the third round for Knox. The Bills must think highly of him to give up that draft capital for him. There is definitely a lot of untapped potential with the Ole Miss tight end, as he played in an offense that also included a number of wide receivers who were highly regarded by NFL scouts. Jim Nagy, who puts together the rosters for the annual Senior Bowl game, insists that Knox is not that far off talent-wise from Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson, a first round pick by Detroit.
5. Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida – after dealing both fourth round picks to get Knox, the Bills had to wait until round 5 to make their next selection, and most analysts feel they got a pretty good player in Joseph, an undersized linebacker who looks like a safety. With his main positive traits being speed and hitting ability he might be a great candidate to start his career as a special teams gunner, but with Lorenzo Alexander possibly playing his last season in 2019, there could even be an opening in the starting lineup soon if Joseph turns out to be the real deal.
6. Jaquan Johnson, S, Miami,Fla. – the Bills used their sixth round pick on the first of 2 consecutive Johnsons, this one a safety from the Miami Hurricanes. The Bills are pretty set at safety as far as starters are concerned and late round picks are usually up against it when it comes to winning roster spots, so he will likely have to play special teams and then compete with the likes of Rafael Bush and Siran Neal at the backup safety spots.
7. Darryl Johnson Jr., DE, North Carolina A&T – Buffalo took a flyer on a small school prospect with this pick, but Johnson did dominate at the MEAC Conference level so he is a legitimate player. It’s always a roll of the dice with players who haven’t competed at a high level in college, but there are many players in NFL history from historically black colleges who have not only played in the NFL but excelled.
8. Tommy Sweeney, TE, Boston College – a lot of draft analysts had Sweeney going much higher than the final round. He is considered a one dimensional, in-line blocker style of tight end, which in today’s pass-happy NFL has fallen somewhat out of vogue. Buffalo, however, likes to play an offense that features a strong rushing attack so Sweeney could easily find a spot on the roster if he plays that role well enough.

 

As far as undrafted free agents, the Bills were aggressive in signing a number of them, and a few are interesting prospects who could find their way onto the final roster this season. With no wide receivers drafted and the position seemingly in need of help, David Sills V of West Virginia and Iowa’s Nick Easley will get good looks in camp. Cornerback Cam Lewis from Buffalo was a surprise signing, but the other UB prospect, QB Tyree Jackson, was a real surprise. First off it was stunning that he wasn’t drafted at all, and his addition to an already crowded quarterback room is a bit of a head scratcher. Still, if he performs up to what his potential is, he could be an excellent developmental candidate as a future backup. There were a number of offensive line players signed also, but with that unit being stacked already those players are mostly training camp fodder. As is usually the case, a free agent kicker was signed to compete with the incumbent, in this case Steven Hauschka. Hauschka did struggle toward the end of the season after sustaining an injury, so he could be given a run for his money. The kicker signed was Chase McLaughlin of Illinois, who was the Big Ten kicker of the year. He was perfect on extra point attempts and had a school record of 5 50 plus yard field goals made.

 

This is the fourth annual Rayonsports mock NFL draft, and once again  we’ll produce three rounds of selections for all 32 teams. Every year there are trades that affect the choices of some of the teams, but we will make our choices with the team’s standing in the draft as of today. Here are our predictions of how the first three rounds will go:

 

Round One

 

Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray

 

1. Arizona Cardinals – Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma) – there are very few experts who don’t think this will happen, and we agree with the majority. Murray is too dynamic of a talent and too good of a match for new Cardinal coach Kliff Kingsbury.

2. San Francisco 49ers – Nick Bosa (Edge, Ohio State) – if Arizona does follow through and pick Murray, the Niners will race to the stage with their pick of the Buckeye defender.

3. New York Jets – Josh Allen (Edge, Kentucky) – “edge rusher” is the new position that’s in vogue in the NFL now. The Jets grab a good one, who they hope will harass his namesake in Buffalo, along with the rest of the AFC East, for years to come.

4. Oakland Raiders – Quinnen Williams (DT, Alabama) – the Raider defense was a sieve in their lost season of 2018 and coach Jon Gruden chooses a stout interior lineman to help shore up that unit.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Devin White (LB, LSU) – new head man Bruce Arians is an offensive-minded coach, but decides to shore up his defense with his top pick, seeing the need to compete in a division featuring Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton.

6. New York Giants – Jawaan Taylor (T, Florida) – although they need to consider a future quarterback, with a pair of first round picks the G-men go with the best tackle in the draft, to help protect the immobile and aging Eli Manning as well as whoever succeeds him in the future.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars – T.J. Hockenson (TE, Iowa) – Jags get their new QB Nick Foles a shiny new weapon, who has been compared in some circles to Rob Gronkowski.

8. Detroit Lions – Rashan Gary (DT, Michigan) – defensive guru Matt Patricia stays in-state to grab a solid interior lineman.

9. Buffalo Bills – Ed Oliver (DT, Houston) – in a draft that’s heavy in defensive linemen, Buffalo picks one of the most talented of the group who slides down somewhat because of attitude issues. Because he wore a jacket on the sideline?

10. Denver Broncos – Drew Lock (QB, Missouri) – realizing that newly-acquired Joe Flacco is not a long term solution, GM John Elway picks his understudy.

11. Cincinnati Bengals – Dwayne Haskins (QB, Ohio State) – a surprise pick by Cinci as they elect to look to the future with Andy Dalton getting older, a third QB comes off the board and the Giants start to get nervous.

12. Green Bay Packers – Jonah Williams (T, Alabama) – although new coach Matt Lafleur’s club needs defensive help, they can’t pass up the opportunity to draft a stud offensive tackle who should help Aaron Rodgers stay upright.

13. Miami Dolphins – Clelin Ferrell (Edge, Clemson) – the first member of the national championship team comes off the board, as the Fish need to replace departed starters Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn.

14. Atlanta Falcons – Andre Dillard (T, Washington State) – this draft is deep in linemen on both sides of the ball, and the Falcons are thrilled to get a solid tackle with their pick.

15. Washington Redskins – Daniel Jones (QB, Duke) – with Alex Smith’s future in doubt, the Redskins ruin the Giants’ plans and pull another top signal caller off the board.

16. Carolina Panthers – Dalton Risner (G, Kansas State) – Panthers see a need for more protection for Cam Newton and draft a solid interior lineman, who may be a bit of a reach at this point of the draft.

17. New York Giants – Montez Sweat (Edge, Mississippi State) –  their QB plans up in smoke, New York switches gears and makes a good “best player available” choice instead.

18. Minnesota Vikings – Christian Wilkins (DT, Clemson) – defensive line help isn’t a big need for the Vikings, but in this deep DL draft they choose a stud from the national champs who will harden an already stout group.

19. Tennessee Titans – Garrett Bradbury (C/G, North Carolina State) – Coach Mike Vrabel adds some beef to his front line to make Marcus Mariota’s life a little easier.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers – DK Metcalf (WR, Mississippi) – Antonio Brown is gone, leaving a gaping hole in the club’s receiving corps. Although Metcalf is not the same style of receiver as AB, he will fit nicely into Pittsburgh’s passing attack.

21. Seattle Seahawks – Greedy Williams (CB, LSU) – the first corner comes off the board and the Hawks are glad to get him, filling a need in their undermanned secondary.

22. Baltimore Ravens – N’Keal Harry (WR, Arizona State) – some experts don’t see much first round talent among this year’s receivers, but Harry is a top notch player who will help lift their offense in 2019.

23. Houston Texans – Byron Murphy (CB, Washington) – this is a win/win for coach Bill O’Brien. Possibly the best available CB in the draft falls to them at this pick, and fills one of their top needs.

24. Oakland Raiders – Brian Burns (Edge, Florida State) – using the second of their 3 first round picks, the Raiders go defense again and corral a top edge rusher, hopefully improving their feeble pass rush.

25. Philadelphia Eagles – Dexter Lawrence (DT, Clemson) – already strong up front on defense, the Eagles can’t resist taking another run stuffer for their D-line.

26. Indianapolis Colts – AJ Brown (WR, Mississippi) – the Colts have a glaring need for outside receiving help, and make the wise choice of drafting another weapon for Andrew Luck, the second Ole Miss receiver off the board in the opening round.

27. Oakland Raiders – Noah Fant (TE, Iowa) – after taking defensive studs with their first 2 selections, the Raiders switch gears and pick a replacement for departed free agent Jared Cook. Right after a second WR from Ole Miss is selected, a second Hawkeye TE comes off the board.

28. Los Angeles Chargers – Devin Bush (LB, Michigan) – the “other Devin” comes off the board, giving the Chargers another young star addition to their defense, joining Joey Bosa and Derwin James.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Jaylon Ferguson (Edge, Louisiana Tech) – a lot of losses on the defensive front for Andy Reid’s club forces a bit of a reach to pick an edge rusher.

30. Green Bay Packers – Deionte Thompson (S, Alabama) – Packers fill a big hole on defense by choosing this Crimson Tide stud, the first safety off the board.

31. Los Angeles Rams – Cody Ford (G, Oklahoma) – the defending NFC champs have gaping holes to fill on both lines, and they start with the O-line with their top pick.

32. New England Patriots – Irv Smith Jr. (TE, Alabama) – the Evil Empire of the NFL never drafts for need, and in a lot of instances would trade down out of this pick, but with plenty of selections already in hand and a top replacement for Gronk on the board, they snatch him up.

 

Round Two

 

33. Arizona Cardinals – Marquise Brown (WR, Oklahoma) – “Hollywood” Brown is perfect choice to pair with his college QB, Murray.

34. Indianapolis Colts – Zach Allen (DE, Boston College) – Indy grabs a first round-type talent to add more toughness to an already formidable defense.

35. Oakland Raiders – Josh Jacobs (RB, Alabama) – the first running back comes off the board as the Raiders hedge their bets against an uncertain future of Marshawn Lynch.

36. San Francisco 49ers – Parris Campbell (WR, Ohio State) – John Lynch adds a speedy pass catching option for his returning QB, Jimmy Garoppolo.

37. New York Giants – Deebo Samuel (WR, South Carolina) – it’s a deep draft for receivers and the Giants need one, although he’s certainly not another Odell Beckham.

38. Jacksonville Jaguars – Greg Little (T, Mississippi) – after gifting Nick Foles with a stud tight end in round one, the Jags add a top pass blocker for him with their second pick.

39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jeffrey Simmons (DT, Mississippi State) – he’s coming off a major injury and may not play right away, but he’s too good of a talent to pass up for coach Arians, who drafts his second defensive player despite his offensive background.

40. Buffalo Bills – Hakeem Butler (WR, Iowa State) – the towering and speedy receiver with a big catch radius is a perfect second round present to emerging QB Josh Allen.

41. Denver Broncos – DeAndre Baker (CB, Georgia) – Broncos begin to shore up their defense after picking their future franchise quarterback in round one.

42. Cincinnati Bengals – Juan Thornhill (S, Virginia) – the Bengals are always a team that pulls surprises in the draft, but picking a QB in round one was their head scratcher in this draft. In round 2 they pick a solid addition to their defensive secondary.

43. Detroit Lions – Mack Wilson (LB, Alabama) – the ‘Bama studs just keep coming off the board.

44. Green Bay Packers – Jerry Tillery (DE, Notre Dame) – the first Golden Domer to come off the board, the Packers get themselves some more solid defensive help.

45. Atlanta Falcons – Darnell Savage Jr. (S, Maryland) – although a bit of a reach to be picked this high, Atlanta gets themselves a guy who projects to be a future starter in their secondary.

46. Washington Redskins – Andy Isabella (WR, Massachusetts) – after drafting their QB of the future in round one, the ‘Skins get him some receiving help with this small school slot receiver.

47. Carolina Panthers – Kelvin Harmon (WR, North Carolina State) – coach Ron Rivera fills a void with a replacement for departed free agent Devin Funchess.

48. Miami Dolphins – Will Grier (QB, West Virginia) – a controversial choice as this guy is all over the board with the experts’ evaluations, but hey, aren’t the Fish tanking for Tua anyway?

49. Cleveland Browns – Justin Layne (CB, Michigan State) – the Browns’ first pick of the draft due to the Odell Beckham trade, and they decide to strengthen an area of need at cornerback.

50. Minnesota Vikings – Kaleb McGary (T, Washington) – they added a strong piece to their defensive line in the opening round, and now draft a big man to add toughness to the O-line.

51. Tennessee Titans – J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (WR, Stanford) – the Titans add to their receiving corps with another stud in a deep receiver class.

52. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kaden Smith (TE, Stanford) – another weapon for Big Ben as Arcega-Whiteside’s teammate comes off the board right behind him.

53. Philadelphia Eagles – Elgton Jenkins (C, Mississippi State) – it’s a deep draft for big men on both sides of the ball and the Eagles add a future piece here.

54. Houston Texans – Taylor Rapp (S, Washington) – determined to improve their defensive secondary in 2019, the Texans add another player for that unit after drafting a CB in round one.

55. Houston Texans – Jace Sternberger (TE, Texas A&M) – a second consecutive pick for this club, and they get a nice security blanket outlet receiver for Deshaun Watson.

56. New England Patriots – Chris Lindstrom (G, Boston College) – after suffering free agent losses along the offensive line, the Pats stay in-state to pick a solid future starter.

57. Philadelphia Eagles – Riley Ridley (WR, Georgia) – they didn’t re-sign Golden Tate, so the Eagles use this extra second round pick to draft a replacement.

58. Dallas Cowboys – Nassir Adderley (S, Delaware) – the ‘Boys finally enter the fray with their first selection of the draft, and eagerly grab a nice piece to add to their weak secondary.

59. Indianapolis Colts – Julian Love (CB, Notre Dame) – another team taking advantage of multiple second round picks, the Colts pick up a good add to their young, aggressive defensive unit.

60. Los Angeles Chargers – Jachai Polite (Edge, Florida) – a first round talent who has plunged down many teams’ boards after a bad combine, Polite finds a home with a great group of young defensive talent in L.A.

61. Kansas City Chiefs – Rock Ya’Sin (CB, Temple) – a solid pickup for the Chiefs who was impressive at the Senior Bowl. K.C. gets more help where they most need it – on defense.

62. New Orleans Saints – Charles Omenihu (DT, Texas) – first pick of the draft for the Who Dat Nation and they decide to add some beef to their defensive line.

63. Kansas City Chiefs – Erik McCoy (C, Texas) – the departure of Mitch Morse leaves a gaping hole in the middle of K.C.’s offensive line, and they fill it with an immediate starter here.

64. New England Patriots – Yodny Cajuste (T, West Virginia) – with multiple picks like they always seem to have, the Pats get more help for their depleted O-line.

 

Round Three

 

65. Arizona Cardinals – Damien Harris (RB, Alabama)

66. Pittsburgh Steelers – Vosean Joseph (LB, Florida)

67. San Francisco 49ers – Michael Deiter (T, Wisconsin)

68. New York Jets – Emmanuel Hall (WR, Missouri)

69. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jalen Jelks (Edge, Oregon)

70. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Martez Ivey (T, Florida)

71. Denver Broncos – Dre’Mont Jones (DE, Ohio State)

72. Cincinnati Bengals – Oshane Ximines (Edge, Old Dominion)

73. New England Patriots – Amani Oruwariye (CB, Penn State)

74. Buffalo Bills – Chase Winovich (Edge, Michigan)

75. Green Bay Packers – Khalil Hodge (LB, Buffalo)

76. Washington Redskins – Johnathan Abram (S, Mississippi State)

77. Carolina Panthers – Cameron Smith (LB, USC)

78. Miami Dolphins – Kendall Joseph (LB, Clemson)

79. Atlanta Falcons – Trayvon Mullen (CB, Clemson)

80. Cleveland Browns – Bobby Evans (G, Oklahoma)

81. Minnesota Vikings – Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (S, Florida)

82. Tennessee Titans – Joe Giles-Harris (LB, Duke)

83. Pittsburgh Steelers – Gerald Willis III (DE, Miami (Fla)

84. Seattle Seahawks – Josh Oliver (TE, San Jose State)

85. Baltimore Ravens – Khalen Saunders (DT, Western Illinois)

86. Houston Texans – Te’Von Coney (LB, Notre Dame)

87. Chicago Bears – David Edwards (T, Wisconsin)

88. Detroit Lions – Germaine Pratt (LB, North Carolina State)

89. Indianapolis Colts – Max Scharping (T, Northern Illinois)

90. Dallas Cowboys – David Sills (WR, West Virginia)

91. Los Angeles Chargers – Joe Jackson (Edge, Miami, Fl.)

92. Kansas City Chiefs – Anthony Johnson (WR, Buffalo)

93. New York Jets – Isiah Prince (T, Ohio State)

94. Carolina Panthers – Ross Pierschbacher (C, Alabama)

95. New York Giants – Tyree Jackson (QB, Buffalo)

96. Washington Redskins – Devin Singletary (RB, Florida Atlantic)

97. New England Patriots – Connor McGovern (G, Penn State)

98. Jacksonville Jaguars – Michael Jordan (C, Ohio State)

99. Los Angeles Rams – Daniel Wise (DT, Kansas)

100. Carolina Panthers – Ricky Walker (DE, Virginia Tech)

101. New England Patriots – Foster Moreau (TE, LSU)

102. Baltimore Ravens – Dakota Allen (LB, Texas Tech)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buffalo Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane, with plenty of salary cap money to spend, promised to be aggressive, while spending “judiciously”, in this year’s annual free agent frenzy period in the NFL. With 14 total signings so far, he has lived up to his word on both counts. The Bills’ strategy, as outlined by Beane and coach Sean McDermott, was to fill holes on the roster with enough free agent talent so as not to leave the team in a spot where they suffer from any  “positional emergencies” when draft times comes in April. As of this date, with some free agents still out there unsigned, Buffalo has inked a grand total of 14 new players. Here is a positional account of the players the Bills have corralled so far:

Running Back

The Bills are almost surely going to select a back somewhere on day 2 or 3 of the draft, so it was somewhat of a surprise when they signed 35 year old veteran Frank Gore to a contract. Gore, along with LeSean McCoy and Chris Ivory, gave the Bills a geriatric running back stable by NFL standards, since all are over 30, until Ivory was released recently. Gore’s signing is mostly for his locker room presence and professionalism, but he is still a very capable runner.

 

Wide Receiver

The Bills caught a bit of lightning in a bottle late in the 2018 season with the emergence of Robert Foster and Isiah McKenzie, but their wide receiver room was still very thin. They grabbed a pair of veterans who will certainly help with Josh Allen’s progression in 2019 in John Brown, an underrated deep threat, and Cole Beasley, a top notch slot receiver. The team also swiped last season’s leading kick returner, Pro Bowler Andre Roberts, from the division rival New York Jets. He is basically a journeyman receiver, but his kick return ability shows that the Bills’ brass is serious about upgrading every phase of the team, including special teams, through free agency.

 

Offensive Line

The offensive line was clearly the unit in most need of an overhaul, and the Bills got an early start in that project when they signed center/guard Spencer Long after he was waived by the Jets in a salary cap move. Their prize fee agent, and a player I’m sure they expect to anchor the line for years to come, is center Mitch Morse, plucked away from the Kansas City Chiefs. He is a young veteran who will help Allen with the O-line calls. The rest of the offensive line signings could be viewed as depth players, but they all have untapped potential to grow into solid starters if they take advantage of the opportunities they will surely get. Due to the large number of players signed, the newcomers’ chances will range from becoming starters to not even making the final roster. The signees include guard Jon Feliciano from Oakland, who has worked with new line coach Bobby Johnson in the past, tackle LaAdrian Waddle from New England and tackle Ty Nsekhe from Washington, both of whom are immediate candidates to fight for the starting right tackle position. The Bills allowed three starters from last year’s line to walk away, so it was imperative that they add as many reinforcements as possible, and they did.

 

Tight End

After releasing Charles Clay and not re-signing Logan Thomas, the Bills had only one tight end, Jason Croom, on their roster, leaving another position group razor thin. They shored this group up by signing a pair of interesting prospects – Tyler Kroft, an oft-injured former Cincinnati Bengal who has shown promise in limited playing time, and a real project, Jake Fisher, also a former Bengal who is attempting to transition from tackle to tight end.

 

Cornerback

Although undrafted free agent Levi Wallace appeared to solidify the CB spot left open when Vontae Davis quit at halftime of a game last year, the Bills added a pair of veterans to compete with him for that spot and also much needed depth at the position. They are Kevin Johnson, a former first round draft choice of the Houston Texans, and E.J. Gaines, who returns to the club after playing last season for the Browns. Both have injury histories they will have to overcome in order to make the roster. It’s worth noting that when Gaines was with the Bills back in 2017, the team had an 8-3 record in the games he played in.

 

Linebacker

This appears to be strictly an addition to the special teams, but the Bills signed Maurice Alexander to a one year deal as a linebacker also. It should be remembered that Buffalo did the same thing a few years ago when they signed a player with the same name, Lorenzo Alexander, and he turned out to be much more than what they thought they were getting.

We’ll provide updates to this list if any other players are signed by the Bills as the free agency period continues.