Archives for April 28, 2017

'"It’s just been a surreal moment these last 30 minutes," White said during a post-draft news conference. "I’m going to soak it all in and get up to Buffalo tomorrow and meet my coaching staff and then once I get back to Baton Rouge, I’ve got a lot of things to think about, a lot of things to do."'

'White, a 5-foot-11, 192-pound Shreveport native, was valued for his experience after starting 47 games in four seasons at LSU. He returned for his senior season and finished with 167 tackles, six interceptions and 39 passes defended. He scored three TDs on punt returns and another on an interception return.'

'And the Bills had such confidence in the 22-year-old White that they took the calculated risk of passing up a shot to select Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore with the 10th pick and instead move down 17 spots in making a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. In exchange, Buffalo acquired the Chiefs' third-round pick, 91st overall, and their first-round pick next year.'

'The Bills were really hurting at the cornerback position after losing Stephon Gilmore and Nickell Robey-Coleman, but this goes a long way to fixing that need. White isn't a big cornerback (5-foot-11, 190 pounds), but what he lacks in size he more than makes up for with elite feet and loose hips. He has the type of lockdown potential to take away an opponent's No. 1 receiver. If there's a knock against him, it's that he's not much of a tackler and can disappear in run support.'

'With the 27th overall pick, the Bills select Tre'Davious White out of LSU. White, 22, is smaller in stature at 5' 11" and 191-pounds, but put up some productive numbers with the Tigers. In his four years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, White registered 167 combined tackles with eleven of them for a loss. White also put up 1.5 sacks while coming up with six interceptions, one touchdown, and 34 passes defended.'

'The biggest knock on White in college was his lack of physicality. Some scouts said he didn’t stick his nose in as a tackler as often or hard as he could have. Interesting given McDermott said at the NFL owner’s meetings in March that his defense would be built around cornerbacks who can tackle. Bills fans remember Stephon Gilmore dodging tackles all-too-well on his way to a big pay day with the Patriots.'

'Patrick Mahomes could flame out and never be a starting caliber quarterback in the NFL. But of all the QBs in this class, he has the best chance to be great. He’s the ultimate high boom-high bust potential QB.'

'When asked on Twitter most fans approved of the move by the Bills while those who didn’t cited a need to “win now” and get an “impact player at 10” to help the franchise snap a 17-year postseason drought.'

'“I really felt good about the pick of Tre’Davious White,” said McDermott. “A solid person, solid football player. A guy we had on our board. We felt like if we could get him he’d be a good pick for us.”'

'In White’s senior season he was the most difficult cornerback to pass against. According to ProFootballFocus he allowed only 41.7 percent of his targets to be completed and he led the nation with a 90.5 overall grade.'

'Trade talks commenced with the Chiefs and other clubs right after the free agent market began to thin out according to McDermott. Kansas City GM John Dorsey and Bills GM Doug Whaley remained in constant contact throughout the week leading up to the draft Thursday night to ensure they remained on the same page.'

'“It’s been ongoing,” said head coach Sean McDermott. “It’s exciting. Everything you read about, the fans see that’s what’s going on right now. We’ve had a lot of conversations. We are in a good spot, a healthy spot. We’re not too high and we’re not too low, so we like where we are. There are a lot of people trying to get into where we are, so we feel like we’re in a good spot right now.”'

'Another former Bills player will also be announcing the team’s third-round selection. Former safety Bryan Scott will step to the lectern to reveal Buffalo’s third-round pick Friday night.'