Tuesday, April 25, 2023

2023 Buffalo Bills Draft Preview: Part 2

 


These summaries come from NFL.com. Players mentioned have either been connected via mock drafts, or combine/pro-day visits.



TE - Darnell Washington, Georgia  6'7" 264















'22: 2nd All-SEC, 28rec/454yds/2TDs

combine: 4.64 40, 31"vert, 10'2"broad jump, 21reps

strengths: Mismatches LBs at the point of attack. Pure power to torque & displace the defender. Creates considerable advantage near the goal-line. Able to adjust to off-target throws & catch in congestion. 

weaknesses: Footwork into block fits needs work. Waist-bender and head-ducker at the point of attack. Stiff-kneed, limiting speed to attack the seam. Unable to sink and break off routes underneath. 

grade: 6.38 (Eventually will be a plus starter) Next Gen: 85 (Good)

comp: Darren Fells




WR - Tank Dell, Houston  5'8" 165










'22: 3rd All-American/1st All-AAC, 109rec/1,398yds/17TDs, punt return TD

combine: 4.49 40, 10'1"broad jump

strengths: Keeps distance from coverage to stay unencumbered in the route. Uses jab & crossover to defeat coverage leverage. Very sudden and explosive out of his breaks. Talented to track & adjust paths to make the catch. Very nice with his feet near the sideline. Catch-&-go punt returner with game-changing ability. 

weaknesses: Wasted motion getting into press release. Has drop issues. Has struggled to secure throws through contact. Below average catch radius.

grade: 6.30 (Eventually will be a plus starter) Next Gen: 83 (Good)

comp: Darnell Mooney




DT - Gervon Dexter Sr. ,  Florida 6'6" 310









'22: 55tckls/4TFLs, 2scks, 1INT

combine: 4.88 40, 31"vert, 9'2" broad jump, 22reps

strengths: Able to stay square to the line & mind his gap. Upper-body twitch for sudden block sheds. Slides through gaps with upper-body turn. Easy transition from bull rush to swim as a rusher.

weaknesses: Slow getting off the ball. Lacks explosive 1st contact as a bull rusher. Allows run blockers to take the action to him. Struggles getting to his punch separation in a timely manner. Content to play under stretch blocks rather than fighting for positioning. 

grade: 6.00 (Traits/talent to be an above-average backup) Next Gen: 70 (Good)





DT - Jaquelin Roy, LSU  6'3" 305















'22: 49tckls/3.5TFLs

combine: 30reps

strengths: 1st step & 1st hands are quick. Keeps eyes peeled into the backfield for the ball. Slide quickness to slap & slip around the block. Has relentless effort. Charges the outside edge to set up an inside rush counter. Clubs aside single blockers as a power rusher. 

weaknesses: Below average lower body bend. Will give ground to drive blockers with leverage. Needs to play with inside hands to protect his frame. Way too upright with his swim counters.

grade: 6.27 (Eventually will be an average starter) Next Gen: 69 (Average)

comp: Dalvin Tomlinson





C - Juice Scruggs, Penn St  6'3" 301










combine: 5.22 40, 32"vert, 8'6" broad jump, 29reps

strengths: Latches in with strong hands & a wide base. Inside hands to promote a strong core. Hands are patient in pass sets. Keeps head on a swivel looking for danger. 

weaknesses: Below average snap-to-step quickness. Very average lateral quickness to seal the nose tackle. Unable to flip his hips for recovery blocks. Needs to find quicker hand resets in pass protection.

grade: 6.00 (Traits/Talent to be an above-average backup) Next Gen: 61 (Average)





DE - Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern  6'2" 282















'22: Honorable All-BIG 10, 38tckls/9TFLs, 5scks, 2FFs

combine: 4.49s 40, 37.5" vert, 10'5" broad jump, 27reps

strengths: Good explosiveness in upper and lower body. Rapid punch & release move to slip past blockers. Uses leverage and hip strength to press through redirect blocks. 

weaknesses: Too caught up in playing the block rather than discarding it. Below average awareness & instincts. Too many missed tackles. Tight hips restrict ability to slide wide & improve pass-rush angles. OTs with length and strong hands derail his rush plans quickly.

grade: 6.12 (Good backup with potential to develop as a starter) Next Gen: 67 (Average)





CB - Julius Brent, Kansas State 6'3" 198










'22: 1st All-BIG 12, 45tckls/3.5TFLs, 4PU's, 4INTs

combine: 4.53s 40, 41.5"vert, 11'6"broad jump

strengths: Can jab & maintain contact through press release. Digests route combination cleanly from zone. Able to partition off catch space on deep sideline throws. Explosive leaps to win the high-point battle. Aggressive attacker as a run supporter. Springs form his hips to wrap-up the ball-carrier.

weaknesses: Can be juked out of position matching press release. Will lose ground once the route becomes a foot race. Loses track of the wideout when zone focus lingers on the QB. Play-making mindset can be exploited by misdirection. Feet stalls instead of running through the tackle.

comp: Trumaine Johnson

grade: 6.28 (Will eventually be an average starter) Next Gen: 78 (Good)





S- Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn St  5'11" 203











'22: 3rd All-BIG 10, PSU MVP, Rose Bowl MVP,  74tckls/7TFLs, 4.5scks, 4INTs, 3PU's, 2FFs

combine: 4.65s 40, 32.5"vert, 9'11" broad jump, 18reps

strengths: Plays with the same motor throughout the game. Versatility as a nickel corner or safety. Triggers downhill into the catch point. Good closing burst in coverage, as a blitzer & as a tackler. Determined and physical as a run supporter.

weaknesses: Can be frenetic and inefficient with his movement. Moved out of position by QB's misdirection. Inconsistent matching route breaks effectively. Must play with better downhill control and positioning as a tackler.

grade: 6.25 (Will eventually be an average starter) Next Gen: 79 (Good)

comp: Ryan Clark





WR - Josh Downs, North Carolina  5'9"  175










'22: 2nd All-American/1st All-ACC, 94rec/1,029yds/11TDs

combine: 4.48 40, 38.5"vert, 10'11"broad jump

strengths: Appears to have both quickness and long speed. Separation burst gains space through turns/cuts. Uses athleticism to elude defenders. Leaps & adjusts to pick throws off defender's head. Surprising catch toughness for his size. 

weaknesses: Can be slowed by a physical press corner. Needs to be more disciplined in route running. Struggled with focus drops at times during his career. Unable to make a difference as a run blocker.

grade: 6.46 (Will be a good starter within 2 years) Next Gen: 86 (Good)

comp: Kadarius Toney 






TE - Michael Mayer, Notre Dame  6'4 1/2" 249















'22: 1st All-American, John Mackey Award Finalist, 67rec/809yds/9TDs

combine: 4.70 40, 32.5"vert, 9'10"broad jump

strengths: Makes effort to strain & win his run blocks. Meets the defender with foot slide to gain positioning. Maintains his stride speed through route turns. Rarely distracted by route or catch conflict. Sinks suddenly into zone void and presents numbers to his QB. Plays big when it's time to win he contested catch. 

weaknesses: Needs to get into blocks with quicker hands. Sluggish release and acceleration off the line. Won't generate much separation at stems & turns. Upper body looks a little tight when reaching outside the frame to catch. Below average run-after-catch talent. 

grade: 6.44 (Will be a good starter within 2 years) Next Gen: 80 (Good)

comp: Jason Witten






CB - Riley Moss, Iowa  6'1" 193















'22: 1st All-BIG 10, 46tot tckls, 2FFs, 1INT, 11PUs

combine: 4.45 40, 39"vert, 10'7"broad jump

strengths: Explosive vertical leaper to challenge jump balls. Communicates effectively when passing routes off from zone. Well-positioned when defending high/low route concepts. Well-built and hits more like a safety than a CB in run support. Has experience and talent for a variety of jobs on Special Teams.

weaknesses: Unable to find sudden burst to make up ground. Can be late to turn & find the ball downfield. Gets lost on multi-breaking routes. Needs to elevate his entry point as a tackler in run support. Has injury history. 

grade: 6.12 (Good backup with the potential to develop as a starter) Next Gen: 77 (Good)

comp: Ross Cockrell






TE - Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan  6'5" 251





















'22: 3rd All-BIG 10, 35rec/418yds/3TDs

combine: 4.63 40, 33.5"vert, 10'7"broad jump

strengths: Fluid feet to get in and out of route breaks. Able to drop & dig out the low throws. Displays the fortitude necessary for NFL run blocking. Generates lift from hip explosion into contact. Impressive feel for hand resets as a base blocker. 

weaknesses: Waits on the throw rather than reaching to attack it. Low rate of success when catching in a crowd. Below average radar & adjustments as a lead blocker. Needs to add additional play strength. 

grade: 6.36 (Eventually will be a plus starter) Next Gen: 76 (Good)

comp: Dawson Knox






LB - Trenton Simpson, Clemson  6'2" 235













'22: 3rd All-ACC, 72tckls/4TFLs, 2.5scks, 2FFs, 3PUs

combine: 4.43 40, 25reps

strengths: Starting experience at inside & outside LB spots. Good read and response to his keys. Blazing speed to track down ball-carriers in all directions. Ideal traits for use as a spy on mobile QBs. Quick to squeeze routes underneath. Explosive charge forward when activated as a blitzer.

weaknesses: Gets bumped & bounced by climbing blocks. Below-average feel for attacking blocks with timing. Pursuit angles to the sideline can run too steep. Inconsistent to break down and center his tackle tries. 

grade: 6.24 (Eventually will be an average starter) Next Gen: 81 (Good)

comp: Darron Lee







WR - Michael Wilson, Stanford  6'2"  213















'22: (Missed 2nd half) Honorable All-PAC 12, 26rec/418yds/4TDs

combine: 4.58 40, 37.5"vert, 10'5"broad jump, 23reps

strengths: Experienced with more complicated route asks. Creates early separation with long strides. Runs with good toughness after the catch. Eager & effective as a run blocker. Above-average talent & traits for role as a gunner on Special Teams. 

weaknesses: Held up too easily by press coverage. Excessive wasted motion into the top of the route. Lacks natural ball skills down the field. Needs to carve out a cleaner catch space underneath. 

grade: 6.00 (Traits/Talent to be an above-average backup) Next Gen: 71 (Good)

comp: Mack Hollins






EDGE - Byron Young, Tennessee  6'2" 250














'22: 1st All-SEC, 37tckls/12TFLs, 7scks

combine: 4.43 40, 38"vert, 11' broad jump, 22reps

strengths: Plays with a great motor & determination. Twitchy athlete with sudden change of direction. Elite 1st-step quickness for gap disruption. Hustle & burst to collect sacks with a secondary rush. Slashing quickness for successful tackle/end twists. 

weaknesses: Contact balance is average at the point of attack. Below average technique to stack & shed the block. Rush requires development of moves and counters. Not a natural bend-&-corner rusher. Hands are flailing & unfocused at the top of the rush.

grade: 6.20 (Eventually will be an average starter) Next Gen: 69 (Average)






RB - Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama  5'9" 199















'22: 2nd All-SEC/3rd All-American (All-Purpose), 151c/926yds/7TDs, 44rec/444yds/3TDs

combine: 4.36 40, 33.5"vert

strengths: Runs with instant acceleration & gliding strides. Light, quick feet for sudden, lateral cuts. Opens the corner by altering tempo and stride to stall pursuit. Mismatch weapon in the passing game. Hands are natural, soft & sure. Above average potential as a kick returner. 

weaknesses: Flashes of indecisiveness processing inside runs. Below average feel for blocking development. Missing contact power to get tough yards. Looks for cuts when the track lacks traffic. 

grade: 6.37 (Eventually will be a plus starter) Next Gen: 84 (Good)

comp: Alvin Kamara






S - Jartavius Martin, Illinois  5'11" 194















'22: 1st All-BIG 10 (Flex), 64tot tckls, 1sck, 2FFs, 3INTs, 11PUs

combine: 4.46 40, 44"vert, 11'1"broad jump, 15reps

strengths: Offer nickel-back & safety versatility. Nimble feet to stay in phase with the route. Burst to close includes soft hands and plus ball skills. Has the range to play over the top as a safety. Punches & separates to free himself in run support. 

weaknesses: Inconsistent chase speed when beaten deep. Gets knocked off-balance in his tight man coverage. Undercut angles on the throw runs a little shallow. Needs to take leveraged angles to the ball-carrier.

grade: 6.22 (Eventually will be an average starter) Next Gen: 74 (Good)







RB - Kendre Miller, TCU  5'11" 215














'22: 1st All-BIG 12, 224c/1,399yds/17TDs, 16rec/116yds

strengths: Steps to the line are measured & controlled. Able to make easy changes of direction in the box. Runs with adequate vision and maintains space from defenders. Surprising agility & balance for being tight-hipped. Leg strength to carry tacklers for additional yardage. 

weaknesses: Runs with upright and with a noticeable hip tightness. Needs to lower pads and run behind them. Struggles to make crisp cuts as an outside runner. Doesn't show enough trust in block development. Doesn't search for much work in pass protection. 

grade: 5.97 (Average backup/Special Teamer) Next Gen: 80 (Good)






RB - Zach Charbonnet, UCLA  6'  214


 


















'22: 2nd All-American (All-Purpose)/1st All-PAC 12, 195c/1,359yds/14TDs, 37rec/321yds

combine: 4.53 40, 37"vert, 10'2"broad jump, 18reps

strengths: Patient waiting for blocks to develop inside the scheme. Surprising build-up speed as an outside runner. Can slip one tackler and run through the next one. Above average ball security. Runs a variety of routes with a plus catch radius. Will throw heavy hits at blitzers.

weaknesses: Hip tightness forces a more upright gait. Below average instincts on inside runs. Lacks gather quickness for quick cuts. Struggles to hit the gas when his feet are forced to slow.

grade: 6.23 (Eventually will be an average starter) Next Gen: 82 (Good)

comp: A.J Dillon     



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