Rd 4, Pick 128: RB Ray Davis, Kentucky

[QLBillsFan]

5 hours ago, finn said:

How so? He looks like just another guy in his highlights, more like a free agent or camp fodder than a fourth-round pick. Not fast, big, or elusive. Sort of a dulled-down Singletary. What are you (and the Bills) seeing that I'm not? 

1000 yards 3 seasons in college 21 TD’s last year maybe ?? 

[finn]

1 minute ago, QLBillsFan said:

1000 yards 3 seasons in college 21 TD’s last year maybe ?? 

Yeah, I've come around. Rash response. I think he might even be special. 

[Chandler#81]

5 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

He’s already 24

Hey! 7th Grade is tough!🤬

[QLBillsFan]

32 minutes ago, finn said:

Yeah, I've come around. Rash response. I think he might even be special. 

Nice 👍.. I was flipping out over the KC trade. Now I’m fine 🙂 

[stuvian]

Probably a replacement for Knee Him Himez or Knee High Hymns aahh you know who I mean 

[BurpleBull]

Y'all were fine with Cook being taken 2nd rd. despite knowing his lack of real physicality, then later turned around to began complaining, asking 'does he ever break a tackle?', but have a problem with Ray Davis being taken in the 4th. Seems about right.

 

We actually needed to draft an RB, and we did.

 

He's a nice complement to Cook.

[foreboding]

Dang man, I'm watching Ray's highlights. His hips are so sudden, then fluid. He plays fast, is hard to tackle and has great hands! I think he us going to be great in our offense. We have a fast stepping little tank of a RB!!

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

This guy could honestly turn out to be better than Cook. 5’8 220 built like a brick wall and has a nasty juke. Great value in the 4th. 

[That's No Moon]

7 hours ago, MJS said:

Who said 40 times aren't relevant? They are. They just aren't everything.

I really do wish they'd have them run in helmets and pads.  It makes a difference.

[NickelCity]

Really fun highlight reel. Looking forward to watching him play. 

[Nihilarian]

Some Bills fans need to understand that the old way of signing worn-out free agents is no longer a viable option. So instead Beane is going to the draft instead of the free agent that doesn't get it done at the end of the year. Worn-out retreads aren't always the answer. 

 

Beane knows what he doing. 

[Sierra Foothills]

15 hours ago, Bangarang said:

No. Ty Johnson has earned that spot right now 

 

Ty is a good football player... tough, good in-line speed, good on special teams.

 

Davis is an accomplished running back and an upgrade over the journeyman Johnson.

 

Davis rushed for 260 yards and 4 TDs against a Top 20 team. He played for 3 college football teams and had success at each stop.

 

His selection ends the Bills veteran re-tread carousel of Duke Johnson, Latavius Murray, Damien Harris, and Ty Johnson.

 

15 hours ago, ColoradoBills said:

I'm too happy in life to be that miserable.

 

Amen, Brother.

 

15 hours ago, Beast said:

The Bills are not a run first team.

 

It's not a black and white thing... it's a matter of degree. Once Joe Brady took over, the offense definitely had a different identity. It looks to me that with the picks of Coleman and Davis the Bills are going to have that power component that they've been missing.

 

15 hours ago, Roundybout said:

I didn’t realize how many veteran WRs are still floating around. Post June 1 will likely see us add someone 

 

As we did at edge rusher last year with Leonard Floyd.

 

15 hours ago, khlax3 said:

how is rb not a need? We have James cook and Ty Johnson who is a journeyman type player. If cook went down you had Ty Johnson and literally nothing else

 

Exactly correct. James Cook had about 237 carries last year. The other Bills running backs (Latavius Murray, Ty Johnson, Damien Harris, Leonard Fournette) had a combined 144 carries..

 

Josh carried the ball 111 times.

 

I'm thinking Ray Davis will get at least 175 carries and 200+ touches.

 

He's essentially a starter, running back 1B. 

 

15 hours ago, wppete said:

😳 Im getting Zach Moss vibes. 

 

Moss played very well in 22 games with Indy as a backup and part-time starter (11 games) after Jonathan Taylor was injured. Moss had 259 carries for 1159 yards, 4.5 ypc, and 6 TDs in a poor, one-dimensional offense and looked like the physical, dependable running back the Bills thought they were getting when they drafted him in 2020.

 

15 hours ago, Mister Defense said:

I wanted a Maurice Jones Drew type, said it on this board, and while Davis may not quite be that he is similar--

 

low center of gravity, just a bit taller than the 5' 7" MJD.

 

Runs like a little bowling ball, like MJD.

 

And catches the ball well too, like MJD.

 

Seems to be the perfect counter to Cook, the slight, smooth, glider who can break one at any time, with Davis the tough, physical, hard hitting, bowling ball. Davis, if used well, and I have confidence Brady will not do what his extremely incompetent predecessor did--and use his players, even his young ones, like they should be used.

 

A very good physical WR,  good physical safety, likely future starter at DT, and now a quality physical running back.

 

The Biils are becoming the kind of young physical team that relates better to their fearless leader, Josh Allen. Hallelujah.

 

Davis does look a bit like MJD... and the comparisons to Frank Gore, Travis Henry, and (the Indy) Zack Moss are all good ones. Tough, hard-nosed, good vision and instincts, runs with conviction, has good burst, and is a good pass-catcher and pass blocker.

 

Davis gives the Bills an effective and dependable running back that they can use as an alternative to James Cook depending on game situations.

 

 

Edited April 28 by Sierra Foothills

[TPS]

14 hours ago, Billsguy said:

RB window age 25-30, then done for most

Exactly, and who was the last Bills' RB to get a second contract?  

[Sierra Foothills]

11 minutes ago, Nihilarian said:

Some Bills fans need to understand that the old way of signing worn-out free agents is no longer a viable option. So instead Beane is going to the draft instead of the free agent that doesn't get it done at the end of the year. Worn-out retreads aren't always the answer. 

 

Beane knows what he doing. 

 

5 minutes ago, Sierra Foothills said:

Ty is a good football player... tough, good in-line speed, good on special teams. Davis is an accomplished running back and an upgrade over the journeyman Johnson. Davis rushed for 260 yards and 4 TDs against a Top 20 team. He played for 3 college football teams and had success at each stop. His selection ends the Bills veteran re-tread carousel of Duke Johnson, Latavius Murray, Damien Harris, and Ty Johnson.

 

Funny we both posted essentially the same thought within seconds of each other.

 

👍

 

[JimBob2232]

Just heard his backstory.   Really hard not to root for this guy.  

[JaCrispy]

Is it me or does Ray Davis’ running style remind you of Thurman?

[njbuff]

Everybody complains about his age, but a lot of great RB’s were 24,25 year old rookies (namely Bo Jackson and Billy Sims).

 

Davis will probably be here for only his rookie contract, so just look at it like the Bills will have him for ages 25-28 and probably draft his replacement, if all works out, when his contract is up.

 

Of course, like I said, if it all works out,

[Magox]

The more I see and read about Davis the more stoked I am to have him on this team.    He has enough speed to break big runs, he has really good vision, his feet and quickness are exceptional is able to make great cuts and the way he runs has elements of Isiah Pacheco in that he relishes contact and is able to effectively break tackles and fall forward.   The guy is 5’9 nearly 220 lbs, he’s going to be very tough to bring down on a 1 v 1 if you have that got-to-have 1 yard run.

 

Plus he’s an excellent receiver from the backfield and instantly becomes the best blocking RB on the roster.   His addition instantly upgrades the offense and shows the continued commitment that Brady wants.

 

He’s going to get a lot of playing time, I suspect early on he will be the #2 back and I could actually see him getting as many carries and touches as Cook by the end of the season.

 

 

[Bob in STL]

20 hours ago, Blackbeard said:

Who’s our #1 wr this year??

NFL playbooks have X, Y, and Z receivers.   

 

Who decides on who is #1?   Typically the guy with the most targets and/or catches.   That, and the media.  

 

 

[DaggersEOD]

Always like a Davis in the Bills RB Room. 
 

Dude seemed to run really hard and with his life experience, he won’t take anything for granted.  
 

Looking forward to seeing him on Sundays