WGR

‘Johnson was a contributor right away for the Hurricanes, playing in 48 total games in his four seasons at Miami and was named to the All-ACC Second team in both 2017 and 2018. Johnson recorded 252 total tackles, 8 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown in his career at Miami.’

‘At pick 225 in the seventh round, the Bills took Johnson, a defensive end from North Carolina A&T. Johnson was a solid pass rusher for the Aggies, playing three seasons and accumulating 19 sacks and being named to the FCS All American Team and the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. In 2018, his junior year with the Aggies, Johnson racked up 10.5 sacks and 50 total tackles in 12 games.’

‘The quarterback wasn;t the only former Bull to agree to a deal with the Bills. He’ll be joined by cornerback Cam Lewis.’

‘“Competition is a good a thing,” McDermott said. “I know we both believe in building it up front. If you study the league over the years, as I’m sure you guys do, you’ve got to have it on both sides of the ball. It starts up front. When you look at not only Cody, but really the other picks today and yesterday within (the first three rounds), smart, tough. There’s something to be said for those two qualities right there.”’

‘Ford missed the majority of the 2016 campaign with a broken fibula suffered in his fourth game of the season.’

‘While at Florida Atlantic, Singletary appeared in 38 games across three seasons. He posted a career year in 2017, wherein he rushed for 1,918 yards and scored 32 rushing touchdowns. Singletary also added a single receiving touchdown in ’17; the only receiving touchdown of his collegiate career. Singletary’s collegiate rushing total was just south of 4,300-yards over those three seasons in the Conference USA (4,287).’

‘Knox is a converted quarterback, but spent parts of three seasons at Ole Miss at his current position of tight end. His collegiate numbers are not eye-popping by any measure, but it is important to remember that there were numerous other high-tier offensive talents on the Ole Miss roster during Knox’s time at the school. He reeled in 39 career receptions for 605-yards, including a career-high 321-yards receiving in 2017.’

‘The big question may be, where does all this leave Dion Dawkins? Dawkins started the last two seasons at left tackle after the Bills traded up to get him in the second round in 2017. Some believed he was more suited for guard. After some struggles last year, it’s possible the Bills move him inside to compete with the other names mentioned, Or they could gauge the trade market to try and fetch an asset for him. Or, of course, Dawkins could simply trot back out as the starting left tackle once again, protecting Josh Allen’s blind side.’

‘”I won’t be playing nose tackle, I’ll be playing three-technique. I feel most comfortable at nose. I feel like my skillset is rare. I can help guys on the outside by getting pressure up the middle. You get sacks, you win games… What I can do better than anyone else is simply run around and play as hard as possible.”‘

‘”No one is going to replace Kyle Williams. I want to temper expectations right off the bat. Ed is going to have to bring his lunch pail to work every day and earn everything he gets. We’re excited to see Ed in our system and integrate him with our group. We’re anxious to get Ed in here so he can learn the defense and take things one rep at a time. He’s an energetic, young man with a good smile and will definitely energize the guys early on. You could feel him. That’s presence; that’s energy. When Ed worked out, you could feel the quickness and power and the juice. More than anything, this young man’s competitive nature showed through.”‘

‘Beane added that in all the mock drafts his staff did in pre-draft preparation, they never had Oliver falling to them if only one QB was taken in top 8, had him sometimes falling if two QBs were taken, and was usually there if three QBs were selected. Two QBs and a non-QB surprise happened. He added that they thought a team could trade with the Lions into the No.8 spot and take him once he got there. That didn’t happen.’

‘Here’s my list of some of the best available players at positions they’d most likely consider…’.

‘Metcalf measured in at 6-foot-3, 228 lbs. and is widely belived to be the best wide receiver prospect in this year’s draft. The Mississippi native was limited to just seven games in his third and final season last year at Ole Miss due to a neck injury; but, still managed to record 26 catches for 569 yards and five touchdowns. While the numbers aren’t eye-popping, Metcalf is highly-touted prospect due to his strong showing at the combine and incredible physique.’

‘With the signing of T.J. Yeldon last week, there’s just no need for the Bills to draft a running back now, even though the prevailing thought (including from yours truly) has been that they needed to do that and get younger at the position. Yeldon represents exactly that. He’s only 25. In fact, he was the youngest of all the unrestricted free agents in this year’s RB group. That means the Bills signed the oldest free agent RB (Frank Gore, soon to be 36) and the youngest (Yeldon). And they still have LeSean McCoy, Marcus Murphy, Keith Ford, Senorise Perry, and former rugby player Christian Wade, who doesn’t count against the roster since he was allocated as part of the International Pathways Program.’

‘But the Bills also want their tight ends to block and Hockenson developed into an elite level blocker. Iowa tight ends regularly lined up across from defensive ends and were required to seal off the edge on run plays. Iowa ran the ball on 55% of their plays last season and they liked to run out of the two tight end set with Hockenson and Noah Fant, who would also be a good first round option for the Bills should Hockenson be off the board. Hockenson’s position coach at Iowa was Brian Ferentz who former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski credits with teaching him how to block.’