2023 Buffalo Bills Overall Draft Grade

[SCBills]

I went B+, but readily admit that it’s tinted by us using a RD3 pick on a head scratcher LB for the second year in a row. 
 

Kincaid and Torrence are home run A+ game changing picks.  
 

I actually like a lot of what I see and hear about Dorian Williams, but Bernard being such a year one non-factor bleeds into my view of this pick.  
 

I’m not in love with our WR room.. it has potential, but Shorter doesn’t alleviate my concern that we have Diggs and then question marks..  Can Davis be a high level WR2, can Harty stay healthy and make an impact, can Shakir develop into the receiver so many think he can be?   If the answer to those questions are yes, then we have one heck of a WR room, but that’s a lot of questions.  
 

I love that we traded back accumulating two more RD6 picks next year.  

[DrDawkinstein]

I was feeling B+/B (voted B). Glad to see all the higher grades here and in the press. We'll see how it all works out, but I always take the early grades to look at how the team addressed needs, got highly rated prospects, and maximized value.

 

 

[Rigotz]

We’ve got a pretty interesting normal distribution curve here that averages out to about a B+.
 

Feels right, given the uncertainty after rd 2.

[BillMafia716ix]

Grades are pointless nobody has played a snap. 

[Einstein]

Love Kincaid and Torrence.

 

But I think we’re at the point where Beane shouldn’t be allowed to choose the 3rd round picks.

[Warcodered]

 

[Big Turk]

A-

 

Not sure about another undersized LB on the 3rd round they drafted to start on ST...think they could have got someone that could have contributed more at that spot.

 

Other than that, loved Kincaid, REALLY loved Torrence, Shorter seems like a bigger Davis(perhaps thinking he can fill that role of Davis departs after this year) with better hands but not as much versatility, other 2 picks were decent players for where they were at. Overall feel pretty good.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

G, which is worst than an F.

 

Brandon Beane is not a good GM. 

[John from Riverside]

I gave it a b

 

It looks like they got two immediate starters

 

If you take the GM at his word, the linebacker will start off as the back up to Matt Milano

 

You also have to factor in that the GM did a lot of trading for draft picks for the following years and those later rounds and that Hass to be taken into consideration but it cannot be a valuated until those pics are made

 

We literally have 10 draft picks for next year more if he pulls off some trades

 

That is insane amount of draft capital for the following year and what will be a better draft

[Yantha]

Around the league I’d say we did about as well as any other main competitor, Miami, ny jets, New England, Cincinnati, Kansas city.   
 

Unfortunately, the eagles get an A+ from me….  Hope there isn’t a dynasty in the making over there.

 

I think we make it to the show.   
 

can we beat Philly?  Worth a roster comparison thread if anyone wants to put that together.

[CSBill]

My grade: Very Good = A-

 

Two potential starters, and all the rest of them have a decent shot at making the team, if not the Practice Squad.
 

And gaining some draft capital for next season is an under appreciated bonus.

 

All-in-all, considering our draft position, a very good weekend. 
 

 

Edited April 30, 2023 by CSBill

[T master]

I went C+ i'm hoping int will turn out better but my understanding of the picks & the move up are apparently a fan based wonder why .

[Shaw66]

You know, I think we, including me, have to adjust our understanding of what's going on at linebacker.   If you look back at the history, it's just so clear that McBeane actually believe that the linebackers they want are the slightly over-sized safeties.   Milano's draft profile really doesn't look all that different from Dorian Williams or Bernard.

Quote

 

BOSTON COLLEGE

OLB

Prospect Info

COLLEGE

Boston College

 

HEIGHT

6’ 0’’

WEIGHT

223 lbs

 

Prospect Grade

5.90

Average Backup Or Special-Teamer

 

And despite what we all seem to think what the need is, the Bills simply do not sign free agent linebackers who are in the traditional mode.  

 

I think the reality is that they want over-sized safeties, and we need to get used to it. 

[BillsFanThru-N-Thru]

I gave it an A based on the players they got but a B- for what I thought were moves or players they could’ve maybe picked instead. For example when Sanders and Simpson fell in the 3rd round I thought they could’ve been more aggressive to move up and get them. Now granted not sure if they tried but giving up something next year for both rank rd1-2 ILB this year should’ve been worth it. As for who we chose an A like I said.  
 

RD 1: The Bills make a small jump but land the premier pass-catching tight end in the draft in Kincaid. The 10th overall player on some big boards, so a huge value pick. Kincaid was the focal point of the Utah offense and led all players at the position with a 91.8 PFF receiving grade.

RD 2: Torrence is mountain of a man at the position and can move better than his size would suggest plus he’s different from our current G’s. Had overall grade pff grade of 88 with a run-blocking grade 90

RD 3: Williams, a player with legitimate range and a huge wingspan which made him one of the most impactful LB against the pass in his college career. He had a top-10 coverage grade among linebackers in 2 of his last 3 seasons.

RD 5: Shorter was one of the bigger wide receivers in this class, coming in at 6-foot-4 and 234 pounds with 34-inch arms and was a big-play threat for the Gators with averaged 19.9 yards per reception in 2022 plus not one dropped pass. Kinda in the mold of Gabe Davis.

RD 7:  Broeker’s played mostly at left tackle until 2022 when he was moved inside to left guard.  A reliable pass protector for the Ole Miss and had a  70.0-plus PFF pass-blocking grade his last 2 seasons.

RD 7: Austin has above average height/length blend but average speed. He had very good production with 21 passes defended over the past 2 seasons and only allowed 42 receptions for 529 yards in 2022.  He had a 70.0-plus PFF coverage and run defense grades in his final season in college.

[JMM]

5 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

You know, I think we, including me, have to adjust our understanding of what's going on at linebacker.   If you look back at the history, it's just so clear that McBeane actually believe that the linebackers they want are the slightly over-sized safeties.   Milano's draft profile really doesn't look all that different from Dorian Williams or Bernard.

And despite what we all seem to think what the need is, the Bills simply do not sign free agent linebackers who are in the traditional mode.  

 

I think the reality is that they want over-sized safeties, and we need to get used to it. 

THIS!! People need to understand that Frazier and that D is GONE. It's going to be different type of D this year. Maybe it will be better maybe not, we shall see.

[CincyBillsFan]

I give it a solid A on paper.  For me the 1st & 2nd round picks are A+ guys because they potentially fix big needs on the Offense (a 2nd elite play maker and top end guard) while being among the best players you could pick at that point in the draft. 

 

 

 

 

 

[JK Fan]

I gave an A-.  It looks to me like we addressed multiple needs while taking the best available for each pick.  What else do you expect or want from your GM?

[BarleyNY]

I think the Bills did a good job overall. My big complaints about their team building strategy over the last few seasons were addressed so I’m very happy about that too. My frustrations have included:

 

- Lack of 21 personnel. Check.

- Lack of weapons for Allen. Check.

- Insistence on dedicating resources  (huge FA contracts and 1st and 2nd round picks) to fix every defensive issue. Not this year. 

- Lack of quality additions to the OL to protect Allen and help the run game. Check again.

 

I’d have loved to have seen another quality WR added, but I’m pretty damn happy overall with the Bills approach. 

Edited April 30, 2023 by BarleyNY

[RenoNVBillsfan]

It’s only 1 draft publication but Lindy’s had Kincaid and Torrence as the top rated players at their positions. Dorian as the 12th rated OLB (4th-5th rd grade). Broeker was also rated 12th for the OG position (6th rd grade). Curiously there was a “Could Disappoint” warning attached to Broeker. Shorter and Austin were “Worth Watching”, which typically puts them in 7th rd-BFA territory. 
 

Of note, Alabama DT FA, Dale, had a 6th rd grade so maybe a good p/u by the Bills. 

[The Jokeman]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

You know, I think we, including me, have to adjust our understanding of what's going on at linebacker.   If you look back at the history, it's just so clear that McBeane actually believe that the linebackers they want are the slightly over-sized safeties.   Milano's draft profile really doesn't look all that different from Dorian Williams or Bernard.

And despite what we all seem to think what the need is, the Bills simply do not sign free agent linebackers who are in the traditional mode.  

 

I think the reality is that they want over-sized safeties, and we need to get used to it. 

The NFL is emerging to short passing games to TE and RBs are replacing running the ball. As a result LBs have to be quicker and able to cover. I don't mind the Williams pick yet if we keep running a 4-2-5 base defense we need to find a bigger nickel as Taron Johnson while good in coverage weakens our run stopping.