These players are tied to the Bills either through select mock drafts, or visits during the senior bowl, combine, pro days, etc. The summaries come from NFL.com.
combine: 4.41s 40, 39"vert, 10'4"broad jump
combine: 4.61s 40, 38"vert, 10'7"broad jump
2023: 1st All-ACC, 50rec/658yds/11TDs
strengths: Attacks underneath throws with extended, sticky hands. Works aggressively back on short & intermediate throws. Unlikely to see focus drops. Meets jump balls with full extension to the high-point. Uses size to gain advantage over the corner on jump-ball wins. Hard to bring down after the catch.
weaknesses: Press coverage can blanket his release & catch a ride. Below-average acceleration getting out of breaks & cuts. Could struggle finding separation to avoid excessive contested catches. Capable of being a much more effective run blocker.
grade: 6.25 (Will eventually become an average starter)
comp: Drake London
S Calen Bullock: USC 6'2", 188
combine: 4.33s 40, 38.5"vert, 10'6"broad jump
2023: 2nd All-SEC/3rd All-American, 68rec/1,177yds/17TDs
strengths: Good job of steering clear of press hands during his release. Able to bend his hips and sit in the chair of route breaks. Straight-line speed takes him into top position on go-routes. Outstanding ball-tracker who can bring it in over his shoulder. Length & burst to run down and secure potential overthrows.
weaknesses: Needs to pick up his route pace & salesmanship as a pro. Will battle occasional focus drops. Fast but possesses average run-after-catch talent. Might need to ramp up physicality against clingy coverage.
grade: 6.44 (Will become a good starter within 2 years)
EDGE Laiatu Latu: UCLA 6'5", 259
combine: 4.64s 40, 32"vert, 9'8"broad jump
2023: Lombardi Award, Ted Hendricks Award, PAC-12 DPOY, 1st All-PAC 12/1st All-American, 49tckls/21.5TFLs, 13scks, 2INTs/2PDs, 2FFs
strengths: Menacing portfolio of movement and entry angles in his rush. Motor & strength to drive through redirect blocks once he finds an opening. Quick-win rusher when allowed to reduce inside against guards. Brutish take-on typically eliminates blocking TEs in short order. Stacks & sheds blockers with good timing to sink into RBs. Has athletic ability to drop & swerve in short-area coverage.
weaknesses: Medical concerns. Legs straighten out during rush engagement, robbing him of leverage. Plays with good power but doesn't carry a firm anchor against the run. Pursuit speed to the boundary or sideline is very average.
grade: 6.50 (Boom-or-bust potential)
comp: T.J. Watt
WR Xavier Worthy: Texas 5'11", 165
combine: 4.21s 40, 41"vert, 10'11"broad jump
2023: 1st All-BIG 12, 75rec/1,014yds/5TDs, 4car/35yds
strengths: Deep speed requires additional defensive attention. Creates space & loosens coverage for teammates. Has bend and agility to run post-corner & whip routes effectively. There'll be problems for the defense if he breaks a tackle after the catch.
weaknesses: Needs to improve efficiency & quickness getting off the ball. Lack of hand strength gets him bullied on contested catches. Takes reps off when he's not expecting the throw to come his way. Fails to adjust his speed to the ball placement consistently enough.
grade: 6.23 (Will eventually become an average starter)
comp: Darnell Mooney
DT Maason Smith: LSU 6'5", 306
combine: 5.01s 40, 31"vert, 9'broad jump
2023: 28tckls/4.5TFLs, 2.5scks, 2PDs
strengths: Can use long levers to strike and leverage blockers off-balance. Upper-body power to extend and set an edge when in position. Effective club move to rid himself of the block with force. Quick 1st 2 steps on pass-rush downs.
weaknesses: Leggy & plays with a very narrow base at the point. Too easily displaced when blockers get into him first. Bounced off balance when pad level gets too tall as a rusher. Isn't going to reset the pocket with a heavy bull rush.
grade: 6.11 (Good backup with the potential to develop as a starter)
WR Javon Baker: UCF 6'1", 202
combine: 4.54s 40, 37"vert, 10'1"broad jump
2023: 1st All-BIG 12, 52rec/1,139yds/7TDs
strengths: Uses speed variance and times up burst to race past off-man coverage. Separates with pretty good routes that should get much better. Works back to the throw & will scramble open for the QB. Wins downfield with good poise, a springy vertical & plus ball-tracking.
weaknesses: Needs to be more physical maintaining catch room to the boundary on verticals. Occasional inconsistencies finishing routes underneath. Loses focus from time to time and disappoints with drops. Runs off defenders much more than engaging as an eager blocker.
grade: 6.25 (Will eventually become an average starter)
comp: Josh Palmer
WR Jacob Cowing: Arizona 5'8", 168
combine: 4.45s 40, 39"vert, 10'4"broad jump
2023: 2nd All-PAC 12, 60tot tckls, 3scks. 1FF/2FRs, 2INTs/3PDs
strengths: Solid stop-start burst in coverage & pursuit. Looks to blister receivers in his zone. Hustle never shuts off, regardless of his proximity to the ball. Navigates traffic and knifes into crevices as a base defender.
weaknesses: Desire to make plays causes him to vacate coverage zones. Below-average eye balance between route & QB. Needs to do a better job of playing off run blocks near the line. Pursuit can lack pacing control, leading to overruns.
grade: 6.20 (Will eventually become an average starter)
S Malik Mustapha: Wake Forest 5'10", 209
combine: 22reps
2023: 2nd All-ACC, 80tot tckls, 0.5sck, 1FF, 1INT/2PDs
strengths: Swoops downhill in run support with good balance and tackle-ready posture. Closes the distance & runs through targets with wide, wrapping arms. Punches the gas to burst and challenge passing lanes & catch points. Contests the catch with well-timed ball attacks.
weaknesses: Gets caught up inside the box and loses the ability to play contain wide. Route coverage is more reactive than anticipatory. Field aggression makes him a target on pumps & play fakes.
grade: 5.98 (Average backup/Special teamer)
DT T'Vondre Sweat: Texas 6'4 1/2", 366
combine: 5.27s 40, 26"vert, 8'2"broad jump
2023: Outland Trophy, Big 12 DPOY, 1st All-BIG 12/1st All-American, 45tckls/8TFLs, 2scks, 4PDs, blocked kick
strengths: Devours blocks, allowing LBs to operate in space. Wide, balanced base and is rarely on the ground. Uses violent club move to eliminate a heads-up blocker. Shows ability to piece together moves to bolster pressure success.
weaknesses: Below-average snap quickness into the neutral zone. Unlikely to make many plays away from home base as a pro. Very average explosiveness into early stages of his bull rush. Arrested on charge of suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
grade: 6.38 (Will eventually become a plus starter)
comp: Vita Vea/Sam Adams
CB - Ennis Rakestraw Jr: Missouri 5'11", 183
combine: 4.51s 40, 10' broad jump
2023: 35tot tckls, 1FF, 4PDs
strengths: Rough ride for receivers when he's jamming them from press. Excellent body control allows him to stay in phase against comeback routes. Uses well-timed punches & slaps to disrupt the catch try. Salty in run support with willingness to wrap and lift ball-carriers.
weaknesses: Handsy play. Won't often get his head turned to find the ball on deep throws. Recovery speed comes into question at times. Torn ACL in '21 & missed games in '23 with a groin injury.
grade: 6.35 (Will eventually become a plus starter) Next Gen: 73 (good)
comp: Roger McCreary
S Kamren Kinchens: Miami 5'11", 203
combine: 4.65s 40, 35"vert, 9'2"broad jump
2023: 1st All-ACC, 59tckls/2.5TFLs, 1sck, 5INTs/5PDs
strengths: Has instincts and over-the-top range. Attracts throws with a receiver's timing & ball skills. Shadows route breaking with adequate transition quickness. Displays enforcer mentality when patrolling the hashes. Productive tackler on coverage teams.
weaknesses: Needs to play with better eye balance between WR & QB. Average lateral agility & burst as an open-field tackler. Needs to improve angles to the ball-carrier as a high safety.
grade: 6.14 (Good backup with the potential to develop as a starter)
comp: Juan Thornhill
S Tyler Nubin: Minnesota 6'1", 199
combine: 4.82s 40, 33"vert, 9'3"broad jump, 28reps
2023: Big 12 DLOTY, 1st All-BIG 12/2nd All-American, 29tckls/8.5TFLs, 5scks, 2 Off.TDs
strengths: Uses twitchy, controlled bursts to light up gaps and disrupt play development. Elite combination of strength, balance & flexible power in his lower half. Pass rush driven by relentless energy & extremely edge-to-edge quickness.
weaknesses: Can be swallowed by size if he doesn't keep it moving. Lack of arm length forces him to work harder to separate. Could be warn-down by NFL double-teams & size.
grade: 6.48 (Will become a good starter within 2 years)
comp: Ed Oliver
WR Ladd McConkey: Georgia 6', 186
combine: 4.39s 40, 36"vert, 10'4"broad jump, 13reps
2023: 30rec/478yds/2TDs, 2car/38yds/1TD
strengths: Difficult to keep him from uncovering due to route-running ability. Rhythmic route runner who keeps his feet under his pads for crisp cuts. Has enough vertical speed to keep coverage honest. Natural hands-catcher who typically plucks it away from his body. Slippery punt returner with vision of a RB.
weaknesses: Modest play strength could create issues in beating press. Deep ball-tracking drops were an issue in the past. Back & ankle injuries in '23. Average acceleration through route stems.
grade: 6.40 (Will become a good starter within 2 years)
comp: Elijah Moore
WR Adonai Mitchell: Texas 6'2", 205
combine: 4.34s 40, 39.5"vert, 11'4"broad jump
2023: 2nd All-BIG 12, 55rec/845yds/11TDs
strengths: Speed-shifter inside the route with sudden change of direction. Ridiculous catch web, bringing in off-frame throws from all directions. Already using the NFL two-foot drop near boundaries. Patient long-ball tracker & noted jump-ball winner. Able to break tackles and fall forward for positive yards after the catch.
weaknesses: Allows smaller players into his space to contest catches. Cradle-catcher who fights the ball when catching with his hands. Needs to keep routes on time with better efficiency & finish. Doesn't play with aggression or sustain when asked to run block.
grade: 6.38 (Will eventually become a plus starter)
comp: George Pickens
WR Roman Wilson: Michigan 5'11", 185
combine: 4.39s 40, 12reps
2023: 2nd All-BIG 10, 48rec/789yds/12TDs, 1car/10yds
strengths: Explosive speed to stretch the field and stress coverage. Defenders struggle to stay with him when the play extends. Good post-catch acceleration on west coast routes to hit big plays. Competitive & focused when catches become contested.
weaknesses: Inconsistent elusiveness to avoid route redirection at press or in space. Routes lack consistent leverage & salesmanship. Needs to get better at quickly setting and presenting on zone throws.
grade: 6.35 (Will eventually become a plus starter)
comp: Marvin Mims Jr
WR Xavier Legette: South Carolina 6'1", 221
combine: 4.39s 40, 40"vert, 10'6"broad jump
2023: 2nd All-SEC, 71rec/1,255yds/7TDs
strengths: Owns his space and defender's space when catch is contested. Magnificent timing & extension to snare throws up the ladder. Powerful hands create added catch security with or without contact. Sneaky burst gear propels vertical separation & run-after-catch speed. Capable combatant when asked to do his part as a blocker.
weaknesses: Release and route phases lack polish. Rushes through route design rather than selling it to the CB. Below-average quickness getting in & out of his breaks. Hits cruise control and waits for jump balls rather than keeping foot on the gas.
grade: 6.24 (Will eventually become an average starter)
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