‘“I got tired of hearing Sean [McDermott] call our group the ‘smurfs,’ so we decided to get some larger ones,” Beane joked with the media immediately following the draft. “Honestly, that’s where it was on the board. We had some big guys, some slots, some guys that could play inside-out and it really just worked that way. Gabriel Davis was the highest player on our board. When he went even though it was a need, as well. He truly was the highest guy, not every guy was the highest guy, but he was. Hodgins was not the highest guy but he was equal with a position that we felt Hodgins had a better chance to make our roster.”’
WGR
Beane: ‘It was definitely a different and memorable draft’
‘”I didn’t necessarily go in and say, ‘Hey, we can start taking kickers and backup quarterbacks’ and things like that. It was more of what was on the board. A lot of it is an unknown. Teams value different positions, different players and different spots. The thing about this draft was that the first round was the first round, but the first two rounds for us, Friday night in Rounds 2 and 3, our board, especially going into the third, was getting cleaned out more than you would anticipate it happening.”‘
Epenesa is excited to join the Bills organization
‘”I know Buffalo finished as one of the top defenses this past year, and for me to be able to come in and to have veterans to be able to watch and learn from and people like that, it’s a good situation for me to be in to learn.”‘
Bills sign free agent LB Mike Bell
‘At the time, Bell was listed on the rookie minicamp roster as a 210-pound safety. However, according to the team’s official website, Bell is now 220 pounds and will be converted to linebacker.’
Bills defensive line is flush with versatility
‘I’ll start by saying I don’t believe the Bills have the league’s best defensive line – it’s really pretty solid all around, but it may not even be featured in the top-five of NFL defensive lines. Having said that, they’re likely the most versatile in terms of position flexibility and overall player makeup in all of football.’
Bills select UCF wide receiver Gabriel Davis in fourth round of the NFL Draft
‘At 6-foot-2, 216 pounds, Davis is a vertical wide receiver who’s able to get down the field and high-point the ball. He’ll compete for playing time behind Stefon Diggs and John Brown as an outside receiver on the Bills roster.’
Bills take quarterback Jake Fromm in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft
‘After leading the Bulldogs to an appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game as a freshman in 2017, Fromm’s sophomore year was his best statistical season in the SEC, throwing for 2,761 yards, 30 touchdowns and six interceptions in 14 games played. He also completed a career-high 67.4% of his passes.’
2020 NFL Draft scouting report: Jake Fromm – Buffalo Bills
‘Not too long ago, Fromm appeared ticketed for NFL stardom.’
Bills take kicker Tyler Bass with 188th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft
‘Bass becomes the seventh kicker drafted by the Bills since 1970, and is the first kicker drafted by Buffalo since Dustin Hopkins in 2013.’
Bills select wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins with the 207th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft
‘Hodgins is another big-bodied wide receiver for the Bills, standing at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, and has been said to have some very good hands while making those contested catches.’
Bills select cornerback Dane Jackson with their final pick of the 2020 NFL Draft
‘Jackson was a Second-Team All-ACC selection this past season in Pittsburgh after registering 43 combined tackles, 12 passes defended, one interception and 0.5 sacks. In his four-year collegiate career with the Panthers, Jackson picked up 149 total tackles with 39 passes defended, four interceptions, 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.’
How each of their draft picks fits the Buffalo Bills
‘It’s no surprise the Bills added another arm to the roster this off-season. But drafting a quarterback in the fifth round may have been surprising to a lot of people.’
Bills take A.J. Epenesa with their first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft
‘Epenesa was thought, by many, to be a first round talent, but fell to the 22nd pick of the second round before the Bills selected him. The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder led the Big Ten in sacks in 2018 (10.5) and finished third last season (11.5). He ranks sixth all-time in the conference with 26.5 career sacks. Epenesa also finished 10th in the Big Ten with 14 tackles for loss last season.’
2020 NFL Draft scouting report: A.J. Epenesa – Buffalo Bills
‘Epenesa, who struggled at the NFL Combine, but was a force in Iowa’s defense the last three years, leading the Big Ten in sacks his sophomore season and put up equally impressive numbers as a starter this past year as a junior.’
Bills select running back Zack Moss in the third round of the NFL Draft
‘The 5-foot-9, 223-pound Moss is an aggressive, downhill runner, who not only doesn’t shy away from contact, but seems to welcome it. He’s tough to bring down, especially for smaller defensive backs once he gets going in the open field. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described Zack Moss’ running style as “like watching an exercise in controlled violence on just about every carry.”‘