Joe Buscaglia's early mock draft

[MikePJ76]

Bills 7-round mock draft: A new weapon for Josh Allen and filling big needs on defense

 

Round 1

The pick at No. 30 — Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College

 

Round 2

The pick at No. 56 — Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

 

The pick at No. 62 — Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

 

Round 4

The pick at No. 107 – J.J. Pegues, DT, Ole Miss

 

The pick at No. 130 — Billy Bowman Jr., S, Oklahoma

 

Round 5

The pick at No. 171 (projected compensatory pick) — Cody Simon, LB Ohio State

 

The pick at No. 174 (projected compensatory pick) — Jo’quavious “Woody” Marks, RB, USC

 

Round 6

The pick at No. 177 — G/T Jack Nelson, Wisconsin

 

The pick at No. 179 — Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana

 

The pick at No. 206 — James Burnip, P, Alabama

 

Here is what Dane Brugler had to say about Donovan Ezeiruaku

 

Ezeiruaku is more “dip and rip” than “force player” as a pass rusher, because of his natural feel for depth points and the different ways he uses jab steps and cross-chops to soften the corner. He ranked top three in the FBS this season in both sacks (16.5) and tackles for loss (20.5).

He can be overwhelmed at times versus the run but flashes the length to get into his opponent’s pads, lock out and stalemate the point of attack, especially on the move.

 

 

Brugler on Jalen Royals

 

Thanks in part to his basketball background, Royals has a controlled, fluid stride and natural body coordination to be a weapon before and after the catch (10 catches of 50-plus yards over the last two seasons, No. 1 in the FBS).

His tape showed heavy helpings of screens, hitches and go routes, and he is still learning the nuances of route running, but he already showed improvements during Senior Bowl practices.

 

Brugler on Benjamin Morrison

 

Regardless of the coverage, Morrison has terrific foot quickness, body fluidity and technique to mirror early and regain phase late, which allows him make plays on the football without panic. He shows a natural feel in coverage and understands play indicators, although play-strength and durability concerns will follow him to the next level.

As he's back from his second hip surgery, Morrison's medicals will be critical for his final grade.

 

 

I have to say I am not exactly a fan of that being the top 3.  I am sure it will change many many times before the draft.

[JP51]

Love these things... I am so not a draftnik, but I seem to get up to somewhat speed by reading multiple analysis.  I appreciate you thanks! 

[LEBills]

First three picks are pretty solid.

 

Morrison is an excellent cornerback if his hip injury is cleared by the docs. Pegues being the only DT we select would be pretty disappointing especially since the 4th is early for him imo.

Edited 2 hours ago by LEBills

[Bray Wyatt]

Pegues would be the new tush push guy! lol

[boyst]

I see every mock giving us a CB referencing zone coverage. I don't think we go purely on zone coverage. 

[OldTimer1960]

I think Ezeiruaku will be a very good pass rusher, but for a team that already struggles to stop the run and has an undersized DT and small LBs I wonder if this would be a good match.

 

Not much of a fan of the WR class as a whole, but for sure Bills need help there.

 

IF Morrison is healthy, he would be a nice pick there.  But, if he is healthy he won’t last that long.

[nedboy7]

I'll wait for Gunners comments.....

[PromoTheRobot]

Where's Shaun Dolac?

[GunnerBill]

If Morrison gets that far it is because his medicals are BAD and if that's the case, based on history, this regime would pass. I have a later 2nd on Ezeiruaku. I need to go back to his film. As I was saying to someone the other day, I can't decide whether he is a swiss army knife, versatile usage, havoc causing DL or a bit of jack of all trades, master of none. 

 

 

[FireChans]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

If Morrison gets that far it is because his medicals are BAD and if that's the case, based on history, this regime would pass. I have a later 2nd on Ezeiruaku. I need to go back to his film. As I was saying to someone the other day, I can't decide whether he is a swiss army knife, versatile usage, havoc causing DL or a bit of jack of all trades, master of none. 

 

 

Yep.

 

Morrison is the exact player that this regime passes on and if/when he hits, it will pay off massively.

 

If his medicals are bad and he’s there, I would take him. On the field, he has a chance to be one of the great CBs in an NFL with very few left.

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, FireChans said:

Yep.

 

Morrison is the exact player that this regime passes on and if/when he hits, it will pay off massively.

 

If his medicals are bad and he’s there, I would take him. On the field, he has a chance to be one of the great CBs in an NFL with very few left.

 

Corner is a spot where I would be wary of medicals more than some others. I feel like it's a spot where those risks generally don't pay off... Caleb Farley and Andrew Booth spring to mind... but he might just be worth the shot.

[MikePJ76]

10 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

If Morrison gets that far it is because his medicals are BAD and if that's the case, based on history, this regime would pass. I have a later 2nd on Ezeiruaku. I need to go back to his film. As I was saying to someone the other day, I can't decide whether he is a swiss army knife, versatile usage, havoc causing DL or a bit of jack of all trades, master of none. 

 

 

Buscaglia's reasoning for him (Ezeiruaku) was that he plays on the right side mostly(60%), he has above average arm length and has the explosiveness the bills covet.

 

He seems to me like a guy you take because you think you have to take an end because you need an end.  I don't see how lining up a 250 pound defensive end without dominant traits is a fit in this defense.  I guess there are a lot of guys his size, I mean he is basically the same size as vonn miller.  So what do I know. 

 

I just personally wasn't a fan of these three picks in the top 100.  Good thing is it will change about a dozen times by the time of the draft.   

[SCBills]

This mock assumes we dont make a big trade given the picks in tact, so I don't love only adding two pieces to the DL. 

 

Completely on board with Pick 30, but is Oliver, Pegues, Jones and Carter scaring anyone?  Maybe Carter makes a jump and we hit on Pegues, but the DL still looks to need juice after this Draft.

[MikePJ76]

Just now, SCBills said:

This mock assumes we dont make a big trade given the picks in tact, so I don't love only adding two pieces to the DL. 

 

Completely on board with Pick 30, but is Oliver, Pegues, Jones and Carter scaring anyone?  Maybe Carter makes a jump and we hit on Pegues, but the DL still looks to need juice after this Draft.

I personally think oliver/carter/groot/espenesa would all look great if they were the backing band to a great front line player on the line.  

 

How do you get a front line player on the line.  Have a top 10 ish pick, trade into the top 10 ish, Trade for a proven vet and torch your draft or hope someone you take turns out to be way better than their scouting reports/college tape and or where they are picked a la Christian Benford.

 

 

[CNYfan]

17 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Corner is a spot where I would be wary of medicals more than some others. I feel like it's a spot where those risks generally don't pay off... Caleb Farley and Andrew Booth spring to mind... but he might just be worth the shot.

The Andrew Booth medicals led us to the Kair Elam failure.  Terrible

[Sojourner]

3 minutes ago, MikePJ76 said:

Buscaglia's reasoning for him (Ezeiruaku) was that he plays on the right side mostly(60%), he has above average arm length and has the explosiveness the bills covet.

 

He seems to me like a guy you take because you think you have to take an end because you need an end.  I don't see how lining up a 250 pound defensive end without dominant traits is a fit in this defense.  I guess there are a lot of guys his size, I mean he is basically the same size as vonn miller.  So what do I know. 

 

I just personally wasn't a fan of these three picks in the top 100.  Good thing is it will change about a dozen times by the time of the draft.   

I’m in the camp of addressing the CB & DT needs first. Preferably the DT for the reason you said but more that if you hit it correctly it can absolve a lot of the issues in the McD/Babich schemes on the line and secondary. Obviously an injection of talent is needed in the backend with Douglas likely gone but I have faith they find a guy with one of their other picks between of 56, 62 or 107. 
 

Deon Walker and Alfred Collins are 2 of my favorite prospects right now on the DT front but will probably be going in or around the 2nd to 3rd round, at pre-combine. I believe one or both of them land into the conversations or late first early second rounders after the combine is concluded. 
 

If Harmon or Nolan are there at 30, I’d hope they strongly consider that selection too. 

 

 

[gonzo1105]

Joe B and I are pretty similar in our picks. Had the same first rounder. I had 56 as Tre Harris but could see Royals being the pick there and even commented that to another poster and to be honest if I did it all over again I’d probably give the Bills CB Cobee Bryant out of Kansas which is a slight reach but not by much imo 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

4 minutes ago, Sojourner said:

I’m in the camp of addressing the CB & DT needs first. Preferably the DT for the reason you said but more that if you hit it correctly it can absolve a lot of the issues in the McD/Babich schemes on the line and secondary. Obviously an injection of talent is needed in the backend with Douglas likely gone but I have faith they find a guy with one of their other picks between of 56, 62 or 107. 
 

Deon Walker and Alfred Collins are 2 of my favorite prospects right now on the DT front but will probably be going in or around the 2nd to 3rd round, at pre-combine. I believe one or both of them land into the conversations or late first early second rounders after the combine is concluded. 
 

If Harmon or Nolan are there at 30, I’d hope they strongly consider that selection too. 

 

 

this is the deepest DT class in a long time. I really want to see them go interior DT in round 1 and/or 2. 

[Don Otreply]

3 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

this is the deepest DT class in a long time. I really want to see them go interior DT in round 1 and/or 2. 

It would be so great if we landed a beast DT or two, 

[LEBills]

6 minutes ago, Sojourner said:

I’m in the camp of addressing the CB & DT needs first. Preferably the DT for the reason you said but more that if you hit it correctly it can absolve a lot of the issues in the McD/Babich schemes on the line and secondary. Obviously an injection of talent is needed in the backend with Douglas likely gone but I have faith they find a guy with one of their other picks between of 56, 62 or 107. 
 

Deon Walker and Alfred Collins are 2 of my favorite prospects right now on the DT front but will probably be going in or around the 2nd to 3rd round, at pre-combine. I believe one or both of them land into the conversations or late first early second rounders after the combine is concluded. 
 

If Harmon or Nolan are there at 30, I’d hope they strongly consider that selection too. 

 

 

Alfred Collins is so impressive moving literally. I’ll be interested to see how he measures because he doesn’t look or move like someone who weighs 320 pounds. Would be a big fan of him being drafted to be our 1tech.