Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘“I’m going to be honest, I don’t know much about any NFL team,” he said at the Combine. “I didn’t watch a whole lot of NFL ball this year other than obviously everyone knows the star players and everything and I followed it a little bit growing up. But I can’t say I know a lot about a lot of teams.”’

‘That’s exactly the point. With Frank Gore gone, the Bills had to bring in a No. 2 back to share the load with Singletary, something they weren’t going to get from T.J. Yeldon, Taiwan Jones and Christian Wade. Moss should be able to step right in and contribute immediately.’

‘Moss’ cousins Santana and Sinorice Moss are NFL wide receivers. Zack Moss not only chose to play a different position, he selected a different college. Santana and Sinorice played at the University of Miami. Zack Moss originally committed to the Hurricanes but changed his mind and opted for Utah.’

‘From that perspective, the Bills probably did as well or better than every other team who made a pick Thursday night as they obtained a ready-made NFL star at a position of need who will surely be ready to go whenever the on-field portion of the 2020 season begins.’

‘Singletary is 5-foot-7, 203 pounds and will never be confused with Jerome Bettis. He’s not built for three-down duty, in fact, few running backs are. Like Thurman Thomas needed Kenneth Davis, Woody needed Buzz and Cheech needed Chong, Singletary needs a running mate, a partner in the fight against evil and the quest for late-night munchies.’

‘It doesn’t seem like T.J. Yeldon, Taiwan Jones and Christian Wade will fill that No. 2 role. Depending on how the board falls, it’s possible that Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor or Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins slip to No. 54, but it’s more likely that LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire is there, and he looks like an ideal fit in Buffalo’s offense given his ability to catch the ball.’

‘Comparing the assets acquired (linebacker Cornelius Bennett, quarterbacks Rob Johnson and J.P. Losman, wide receiver Sammy Watkins) for the assets relinquished (five first-round picks, two seconds, a fourth and a fifth) in the years 1988, ’89, ’98, ’05 and ’15 provides plenty of fodder for historians.’

‘Last season, the Bills had at least five defensive backs on the field for about half the defensive snaps. And because the Bills enjoyed remarkable health, the group usually consisted mainly of White, Wallace, Poyer, Hyde and Johnson. When they went to six DBs, the player who most often got the call was now-departed Kevin Johnson.’

‘The only other running backs on the current roster are T.J. Yeldon and practice squad member Christian Wade, so it seems like a pretty safe bet Buffalo will be picking one at some point in the draft, and perhaps might add a veteran free agent after that, too.’

‘Originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in conjunction with the Raiders arrival in the city, the draft will now be held virtually with teams making their selections remotely and Commissioner Roger Goodell announcing selections from his home in New York.’

‘The league has shipped technology to 58 top prospects, led by LSU quarterback Joe Burrow and Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, so live player reactions and interviews will be plentiful. Who will be this year’s Thurman Thomas, caught dozing off? And with ABC, ESPN and NFL Network personalities plugged in, analysis will flow until the last eyelids are shut.’

‘Quite the contrary, with so many talented receivers available, it would be wise for Beane to think about the future and start developing a player who could replace Brown when his contract expires after 2021, not to mention someone who would probably move right into the No. 4 spot on the depth chart this year.’

‘“You can never have enough pass rushers,” said Beane, whose 2019 Bills amassed a respectable 40 sacks which ranked 10th in terms of sacks per pass attempt. “At the end of the day there’s guys in this draft that I’m already aware of who can come right in and play for us right now. Those guys usually go pretty quick, though.”’

‘Here’s a look back at the other drafts in which the Bills did not make a pick in the opening round, the reason why, and who wound up being the first player they chose.’

‘”I’m grateful for individuals in Buffalo and across the country that are on the frontlines – doctors, nurses, first responders, grocery store workers, pharmacists, all the people that are trying to help others and are putting their own health at risk for this big cause,” Beane. “There’s no way to really thank them, but hopefully this is a good way for the rest of the community to help.”‘