Early Draft Crushes

[OldTimer1960]

Still a long way to go before the draft, but with the college playoffs and all-star games in the book, let's discuss early draft crushes for the Bills.

 

I'll start with a couple:

 

DT TJ Sanders - He's undersized at 6'4" 285-290, but he has really nice quickness and ability to penetrate/rush the passer.  I've also seen him effectively use his height to knock down passes at the line.  He wouldn't be the replacement for Daquan Jones at 1T, but I think he would look pretty nice next to Oliver on passing downs early.

 

DE Princely Umanmielen - He's not the stoutest run defender, but he does appear to have the speed and length to be a good pass rusher - something the Bills need.  I don't think he is a strong consideration in round 1 and he'd likely be gone before the Bills' first pick in round 2, but he looks good to my mostly untrained eyes.  There are whispers of character concern for him and his teammate DT Walter Nolen, but I haven't seen what those concerns might be.

 

I firmly believe that the Bills need a CB early, I just don't know who would be a good fit and after the complete whiff on Elam I am worried about going that way again.

 

Who do you like?

Edited Thursday at 03:04 PM by OldTimer1960

[KentuckyBillsFan]

I really think we need a good corner to pair with Benford

 

Jahdae Barron and Shavon Revel could be available at 30. I'm sure we'll go D-line but our entire secondary is just not good enough IMO

[OldTimer1960]

24 minutes ago, KentuckyBillsFan said:

I really think we need a good corner to pair with Benford

 

Jahdae Barron and Shavon Revel could be available at 30. I'm sure we'll go D-line but our entire secondary is just not good enough IMO

I think you are right and there is a good chance the Bills take a corner in the first.  I know Revel is projected higher than 30, but coming off torn ACL, he will be a risk that some teams might not like in the first.  If the Bills draft him, they will have to be OK with maybe not playing him until mid-season or later.  I know ACL surgery and rehab have come a long way, but CB play puts a lot of stress on the knee.  Revel could be a great long-term pick if they have the patience to wait for him to fully heal, but there is some risk he won’t get back to 100% and there is risk with his level of competition in college as well.

 

With Barron, the seeming only question is can he play outside corner full time?  He played a lot of nickel prior to this season.  I think Gunner believes he can play outside well and Gunner knows his stuff.

[Mark Vader]

A couple of day 3 picks that are interesting to me.

 

S Craig Woodson, California-Solid player for Cal, was 2nd Team All-America and was also a team captain. Probably a better run defender than pass defender, but looks like he can become a good all-around defender.

 

WR Nick Nash, San Jose State- Redshirt Senior who started off as a dual threat QB, then made the transition to wide receiver in his 4th year. During his final year he blew everyone away by getting the triple crown of receiving in receptions, yards and touchdowns during the regular season.
Listed at 6'3", 195, he could be one to watch for. Is he a one year wonder? Don't know, but he's worth a day 3 pick.

[GunnerBill]

21 hours ago, OldTimer1960 said:

Still a long way to go before the draft, but with the college playoffs and all-star games in the book, let's discuss early draft crushes for the Bills.

 

I'll start with a couple:

 

DT TJ Sanders - He's undersized at 6'4" 285-290, but he has really nice quickness and ability to penetrate/rush the passer.  I've also seen him effectively use his height to knock down passes at the line.  He wouldn't be the replacement for Daquan Jones at 1T, but I think he would look pretty nice next to Oliver on passing downs early.

 

DE Princely Umanmielen - He's not the stoutest run defender, but he does appear to have the speed and length to be a good pass rusher - something the Bills need.  I don't think he is a strong consideration in round 1 and he'd likely be gone before the Bills' first pick in round 2, but he looks good to my mostly untrained eyes.  There are whispers of character concern for him and his teammate DT Walter Nolen, but I haven't seen what those concerns might be.

 

I firmly believe that the Bills need a CB early, I just don't know who would be a good fit and after the complete whiff on Elam I am worried about going that way again.

 

Who do you like?

 

Love Princely. He is a very high second round grade to me and EDGE4.

 

I like TJ too. I am trying to divorce "he isn't a fit for the Bills" from "he is a darn good player". I have a 2nd on him but he isn't getting the pop his tape deserves IMO. 

 

20 hours ago, OldTimer1960 said:

I think you are right and there is a good chance the Bills take a corner in the first.  I know Revel is projected higher than 30, but coming off torn ACL, he will be a risk that some teams might not like in the first.  If the Bills draft him, they will have to be OK with maybe not playing him until mid-season or later.  I know ACL surgery and rehab have come a long way, but CB play puts a lot of stress on the knee.  Revel could be a great long-term pick if they have the patience to wait for him to fully heal, but there is some risk he won’t get back to 100% and there is risk with his level of competition in college as well.

 

With Barron, the seeming only question is can he play outside corner full time?  He played a lot of nickel prior to this season.  I think Gunner believes he can play outside well and Gunner knows his stuff.

 

On Barron he just played 70% boundary corner in 2024 and had his best season. I am adamant he is a full time outside corner at the next level as long as he goes to a predominant zone team. If he goes to a team that plays a lot of man I think you use him like McDuffie is used in KC. He plays outside in base but when they go to nickel comes inside. I think he is the best corner in the class if you think Hunter is a WR.  

 

 

I like all three of those players a LOT though. I like Revel a lot too, but I don't think this regime has ever drafted someone coming off a major injury and I don't expect them to start now.

 

I'll throw a few other names out there:

 

Grey Zabel, OT, North Dakota State - has played every spot on the OL in college. Think he is probably a guard at the NFL level, but he can move and finishes his blocks.

Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA - bit of a one year wonder but love his 2024 film. He moves really well and he can hit, he can blitz, he can cover... plays with some twitch.

Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa - coverage linebacker, can be used as a matchup weapon, is the kind of guy you don't have to take off the field if you are going to nickel or dime on 3rd and long, has a habit of finding the football. 

 

 

[OldTimer1960]

2 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Love Princely. He is a very high second round grade to me and EDGE4.

 

I like TJ too. I am trying to divorce "he isn't a fit for the Bills" from "he is a darn good player". I have a 2nd on him but he isn't getting the pop his tape deserves IMO. 

 

 

On Barron he just played 70% boundary corner in 2024 and had his best season. I am adamant he is a full time outside corner at the next level as long as he goes to a predominant zone team. If he goes to a team that plays a lot of man I think you use him like McDuffie is used in KC. He plays outside in base but when they go to nickel comes inside. I think he is the best corner in the class if you think Hunter is a WR.  

 

 

I like all three of those players a LOT though. I like Revel a lot too, but I don't think this regime has ever drafted someone coming off a major injury and I don't expect them to start now.

 

I'll throw a few other names out there:

 

Grey Zabel, OT, North Dakota State - has played every spot on the OL in college. Think he is probably a guard at the NFL level, but he can move and finishes his blocks.

Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA - bit of a one year wonder but love his 2024 film. He moves really well and he can hit, he can blitz, he can cover... plays with some twitch.

Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa - coverage linebacker, can be used as a matchup weapon, is the kind of guy you don't have to take off the field if you are going to nickel or dime on 3rd and long, has a habit of finding the football. 

 

 

I think I read that Schwesinger was a walk-on and was so good that UCLA moved their starting MLB to DE to get Schwesinger on the field.  That MLB to DE convert was Oluwafemi Oladejo who reports claim improved his stock a lot at the Senior Bowl.

[frostbitmic]

Kenneth Grant - DT - Michigan

 

Height: 6 - 3 | Weight: 342 lbs | RAS: N/A

Kenneth Grant is a powerful and agile defensive tackle for Michigan, standing 6’3” and 340 pounds. Renowned for excelling in crucial moments, he effectively pressures the quarterback and anchors the run defense with his natural athleticism and strength. With significant potential and ongoing development, Grant is a top first-round prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

 

"Excelling in crucial moments" ... We could use more of that, we could also use a widebody like him to occupy a couple of blockers every play. He could fit the bill of BPA and at a position of need.

[Dan in Owego]

Really like Landon Jackson out of Arkansas, he reminds me a little of JJ Watt from a body type pespective.

[BADOLBILZ]

1 hour ago, Dan in Owego said:

Really like Landon Jackson out of Arkansas, he reminds me a little of JJ Watt from a body type pespective.

 

 

Yeah there are usually a handful of prospects who just get overlooked and get under drafted and then in hindsight it seems like even the reason for skepticism in the first place was ill conceived when you see teams reach for players at other positions in the same draft.   They end up being draft steals.   The guys like George Kittle.   Or more recently and painfully for Bills pass rush fans,  Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson.   Jackson could be one.   At his best he's looked like a guy who could be drafted early in round 1 but then him never truly breaking out has created some prospect fatigue.  Then you got guys like Shaq and Epenesa who just seem entrenched as a first round pick in every mock for a year and it's like "welp, somebody's gotta' take them I guess we're screwed if he's on the board".   I was surprised AJ actually made it to round 2 because of that......even though he didn't look like much of a pass rusher.   

 

[gonzo1105]

Devin Neal RB Kansas

Omarrion Hampton RB Kansas

Laquint Allen RB Syracuse

Tre Harris WR Mississippi

Tory Horton WR Colorado State

Mason Taylor TE LSU

Oronde Gadsden TE Syracuse

Mike Green DE Marshall

Jordan Burch DL Oregon

Fadil Diggs DE Syracuse

David Walker DE/LB Central Arkansas

Darious Alexander DT Toledo

Danny Stutsman LB Oklahoma

Andrew Mukuba S Texas

Cobee Bryant CB Kansas

 

Here was my very small write up about David Walker from September. Called it with him being much shorter than the listed 6'2 as he measure in a touch over 6 foot tall. Powell was also very impressive in the Hula Bowl practices and has a chance to be a Day 3 pick.

 

 

Edited Sunday at 09:45 PM by gonzo1105

[LEBills]

On 2/7/2025 at 7:43 AM, GunnerBill said:

 

Love Princely. He is a very high second round grade to me and EDGE4.

 

I like TJ too. I am trying to divorce "he isn't a fit for the Bills" from "he is a darn good player". I have a 2nd on him but he isn't getting the pop his tape deserves IMO. 

 

 

On Barron he just played 70% boundary corner in 2024 and had his best season. I am adamant he is a full time outside corner at the next level as long as he goes to a predominant zone team. If he goes to a team that plays a lot of man I think you use him like McDuffie is used in KC. He plays outside in base but when they go to nickel comes inside. I think he is the best corner in the class if you think Hunter is a WR.  

 

 

I like all three of those players a LOT though. I like Revel a lot too, but I don't think this regime has ever drafted someone coming off a major injury and I don't expect them to start not. 

 

Barron certainly has playmaking ability, but I’m not sure if he is a fit for the Bills. The game against Ohio State it was like he was allergic to contact and the time where he had to make a tackle it was not too pretty.

Revel was also a Juco kid because he was academically ineligible coming out of HS I read. Probably another reason they may stay away

 

 

 

 

Im very early in my process so have only really gotten through DT, WR, and some CBs so far. But two later round guys that I think will be some of the top players from their position cohort:

 

Ricky White - crushed Michigans dreams of playoffs as a Freshman at MSU. Transferred to UNLV and had two awesome years of production. I see a player who has a great feel for zone, has good yac ability with speed to pull away from tacklers, is fast enough to stack defenders when he gets vertical, has some contested catch ability as well as over the shoulder tracking, and most importantly is a good route runner who creates separation pretty easily. Some concerns is he seems to have had some undisclosed issue at Michigan State so character may be a concern, and he is not very big though he did play predominately outside. Also a good special teamer to stick on the roster early on.

 

O’Donnell Fortune - MVP of Shrine Bowl after his pick 6. One of those players that put in the work and went from special teamer to starter over his time at SC. Good tackler and I think he does a really good job reading QBs eyes and getting to the right spot whether he is playing his man or dropping off his guy to get in front of a throw. Plus bonus of having another guy with an O apostrophe first name. 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 03:29 AM by LEBills

[ArdmoreRyno]

I got to watch Jaxson Dart and Tre Harris up close at Ole Miss. BOTH would be great additions. Of course, Dart if we can get him in a later round. He's an EXTREMELY accurate QB and would be a good backup to Josh. We need a QB similar to Josh if he ever (got help me) got hurt. Harris, when he was healthy, was nearly unstoppable. Dude was a beast on the field. 

 

 

[Mark Vader]

On 2/8/2025 at 9:41 AM, frostbitmic said:

Kenneth Grant - DT - Michigan

 

Height: 6 - 3 | Weight: 342 lbs | RAS: N/A

Kenneth Grant is a powerful and agile defensive tackle for Michigan, standing 6’3” and 340 pounds. Renowned for excelling in crucial moments, he effectively pressures the quarterback and anchors the run defense with his natural athleticism and strength. With significant potential and ongoing development, Grant is a top first-round prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

 

"Excelling in crucial moments" ... We could use more of that, we could also use a widebody like him to occupy a couple of blockers every play. He could fit the bill of BPA and at a position of need.

Would love to have Grant on the team. We would have to trade up for him. No way he falls to 30.