Bills Draft Discussion - The Best Players at the Biggest Positions of Need! | UR - Under Review

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:13):
Previous play, we'll go under Review.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Welcome everybody, Happy Tuesday evening, and thank you so much
for tuning into this week's episode of Under Review. My
name is Joe DeRosa and you can find me on
Twitter slash x at show Underscore de Rosa. We have
gotten pasted, at least the what I was gonna say,
the initial craziness of free agents before the news broke
out tonight of Stefan Diggs and Russell Wilson, so we

(01:03):
could pretend that didn't happen for now, but at least
for the Bills, the initial craziness of free agency has
coming gone with some savvy signings being made. But there
are still positions to address for this team in the draft,
and I am excited to go over those in depth
as this show kicks into its gears in draft season.
There is a lot to cover, but I can never

(01:24):
do something like this alone, and I wanted to bring
in someone who I trust, whose work speaks for itself,
who does a great job at analyzing these prospects. That
is mister James Foster, draft analyst of the thirty thirteen. James,
I appreciate you so much for tuning in joining me tonight.
How you do and how's draft season been for you.

Speaker 3 (01:42):
I'm doing great, man, Thanks for having me. It's a grind,
but I love it.

Speaker 1 (01:47):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Man, I just offline, we were just talking and to
share the story with the people who watch. You know
that this time of year is usually the busy time
for tax season and accountants and tax experts alike. And
I was saying that it's really the draft analyst that
I think you should call it for busy season. You
guys are watching hours of tape, you guys are going
through it. And you mentioned offline just how many prospects

(02:09):
you've had to cover where you're at right now, and
I want to, just before we get into this a
little deeper, ask you first just your overall thoughts on
this class relative to last draft season to now, maybe
just how you feel about it from death from really
the top end talent and how much very I guess
you could call it variety there is in grading when

(02:29):
you look at who's in the first round, how many
first round grades you have, how much does it fluctuate
from round one to round two and so on.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
Yeah, so this is the weakest class in terms of
top end talent that I've covered in depth. I've been
doing a full like three hundred plus player board for
this is going to be my fifth year now, and
the way that I do my grades is a little
bit different than the NFL, where like I sc so

(03:00):
that ideally in an average year, I will have like
around twenty eight to thirty two first round grades. An
individual team might have like fifteen. But the way I
look at it is like I might if there's one
kind of team or one sort of scheme that I
would have a player graded in the first round, I'll

(03:20):
still give them a first round grade even though they
might you know, they might have a first round grade
for the Steelers but not the Lions or whatever. So
the first four years that I did this, I had
between twenty five and twenty nine first round grades every year.
For this class, I only have seventeen. So definitely definitely

(03:43):
weaker in terms of top and talent. And there's really
like three players that I think I feel really confident
in that they're going to be high quality starters. Abdul Carter,
Travis Hunter, and Ashton Genty. Those are what I would
say are blue chain prospects. Whereas last year I had,

(04:04):
you know, ten or eleven, so top in talent is
definitely a step down, but then it kind of evens
out when you get into the depth of the class,
like second and third round I think are still very
comparable to recent years, so it's really just kind of
the blue chip talent that's lacking.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
I'm glad you mentioned Ashton Genti because as a Dynasty
team owner that has the first overall pick, it's music
to my ears.

Speaker 1 (04:32):
That he is one of the true starters.

Speaker 2 (04:34):
But I'm glad you brought that up, and it's interesting
to hear you say it because the impression I've gotten
from the initial dive I've done just on relevant players
to the Bills who are picking at thirty is there
is just so much variety when it comes to the
back half of the first round going into round two,
of people that you would deem worth a first round
pick or at least having a first round great on

(04:54):
and just people that are kind of all over the
place depending on team need. And it makes me think
that this upcoming draft, once you get past that like
initial in your case, seventeen or however many first round
grades that Consettus may have, it's kind of the wild
West as far as where you could expect people to go,
what boards might look like, because truly, there isn't someone

(05:16):
that I see at like pick twenty five when you
talk about some of the more stable classes in the past,
that like wide receiver or edge rusher that are just
knockout picks, whereas it seems like it's more functional pieces
going to that and to the second round and so on.
So would you say that's kind of the vibe you
get where that round two has kind of a high
four where like you could find starters, but maybe not

(05:38):
that all world elite level project you mentioned earlier.

Speaker 3 (05:42):
Yeah, I think that's kind of the type of player
that you're going to be getting in the late first
to early second. And there's honestly not a huge gap
in my opinion between you know, the thirtieth best player
and the fiftieth best player. I think you're looking for
either like high upside kind of dart throw players or

(06:06):
somebody that just projects as a solid, capable starter but
maybe doesn't have that elite upside.

Speaker 1 (06:14):
And I guess that's in the case of the Bills.

Speaker 2 (06:16):
If you're a fan who has their heart set on
a specific prospect, it is kind of whereco because again
that wild West, that chaos that might ensue at the
end of the first round, so on and so forth.
It's anybody's game if you have similar positions of need,
which a lot of the teams that are sitting in
the back half of the twenties kind of do as
far as D line goes, maybe even in the secondary.

(06:38):
So it is going to be equal parts concerning for me,
who has some prospects on this list, who we absolutely loves,
despite as we've pointed out, not being true top end
can missus, but also kind of fun because I love
the draft, I love seeing how it shakes up and
just really where any of these players can go. And James,
you and I very briefly spoke in shout out to
PIGSKAPEDI and June who hosts the morning commute space, and

(07:01):
I heard your takes.

Speaker 1 (07:02):
I love what you had to say. That's why I
wanted to bring you on here.

Speaker 2 (07:05):
But when you and I spoke, it was really just
about defensive line, and I figure that that was a
good place to start from because in my eyes, that
to me, is the biggest need for the Buffalo Bills.
They have just a room that outside of Ed Oliver
is either unproven in what's going to be second year
player Dwayne Carter, patchwork free agents like Larry Ogunjobi who

(07:25):
they just brought in for well six less games now
and moving on from bets. And then you have Daikwon Jones,
who is an older player who still has some gas
in the tank in my opinion, but not a long
term building block for the Steve line. Talk to me
just in your opinion some of the players you really like.
It doesn't even have to just be for the Bills,

(07:45):
but the players in the interior defensive line class who
you think provide the most upside when it comes to
pass rush or just a high ceiling as a run defender.

Speaker 1 (07:54):
Who do you like? James and why.

Speaker 3 (07:57):
So you know, after Mason Graham, who I think will
probably not be on the board for the Bills. My
number two defensive tackle is Walter Nolan and really had
a breakout year in twenty twenty four. Watched some of
his twenty twenty three tape and like over the summer
and was not that impressed back at Texas A and M,

(08:18):
but took a major step forward this year as a
pass rusher, Like really.

Speaker 4 (08:22):
In both phases.

Speaker 3 (08:24):
He's just kind of a disruptive wrecking ball three technique,
lives in the backfield, extremely heavy hands and like knock
back power when he makes contact with a blocker, some
absolutely dominant reps, just like blowing people up at the
point of attack. This year, but really really improved the

(08:48):
skill with his hands and being able to you know,
thrown a cross chop, use use a euro step to set.

Speaker 4 (08:55):
Up his moves.

Speaker 3 (08:56):
Has has a nice one hand swipe, And then I
thought his bull rush, like when he plays low, his
bull rush is really effective. Still kind of a bit
inconsistent as a pass rusher. I thought early in the
year he looked like to me, like a top ten pick,
but kind of kind of tailed off and was just

(09:19):
a lot less consistent, like with hand usage and pad
level with his bull rush. So I still think he's
a bit of a work in progress there. And you know,
as a run defender, it's kind of a similar story,
like he makes a ton of plays in the backfield
pretty sure. Yeah, led the SEC with twenty six run

(09:39):
stops in twenty twenty four. He is a little bit
inconsistent as far as holding the point of attack, like
especially against double teams. He'll get driven off the line
of scrimmage by combo blocks occasionally, and so I don't
think that he's gonna be like ever somebody that just
has a stout anchor, you know, and it is gonna

(10:01):
have like nose tackle versatility or anything. He's he's right
on that three hundred pound border. So might be a
little bit redundant with Ed Oliver as two guys that
are kind of like slashing, you know, penetrating three tech
style of players, but he's he's definitely, I think the
the highest grade that I have for defensive tackles outside

(10:24):
of Mason Graham.

Speaker 4 (10:27):
The other guys.

Speaker 3 (10:28):
There's there's four other players that I have in my
top fifty Kenneth Grant out of Michigan, Derek Harmon out
of Oregon, Tyler Williams from Ohio State, and then Darius
Alexander from Toledo. Kenneth Grant is an interesting player because
he has the nose tackle frame and build.

Speaker 4 (10:48):
But I thought that.

Speaker 3 (10:50):
His footwork and technique when it comes to taking on
double teams was was pretty awful, honestly, And like he's
he's firmly to me a project player, and you know
it wouldn't surprise me if if there's a team that
ends up like wanting him to drop weight and play
more of a three technique role. I think Derek Harmon

(11:13):
is just like a really solid in most years, he
would be a second round defensive tackle. I've got him
at thirty two on my overall big board, so right
on the right on the borderline. A lot more disruptive
than he was productive. He's he's pretty stiff, like when
he gets deep into the pocket and he's trying to

(11:34):
redirect and close in on the quarterback, and so I
had a lot of mistackles in the backfield, but really
heavy hands, you know, good anchor. He's he's got a
good skill set, like early in the rush as a
pass rusher. I just I don't know if I see
him being the kind of guy that that has a

(11:54):
lot of pressures, gets a really high like PFF pass
rushing grade, but has five or six sacks every year.

Speaker 4 (12:01):
You know, TYLERK.

Speaker 3 (12:04):
Williams is just one of the sturdiest run defenders in
this class. I mean, I think I think he probably
has the best anchor in this defensive tackle class. I
can't remember him. I watched every game from this past season.
I don't remember him ever getting put on the ground
and like rarely gets moved back. Has has like one

(12:24):
or two flashes a game as a pass rusher, but
I don't see him being like high volume in that phase.
And then Darius Alexander, I see it very similarly to
Keanu Benton, where he's got that quick club arm over
move and then just a devastating bull rush. Some of
the heaviest hands at the point of contact in this class.

(12:45):
And you know, I think like for a twenty five
year old player that was going up against relatively weak competition,
his tape was good, but not dominant, like wanted a
little bit more. It came in flashes, but I kind
of question is conditioning a little bit seems like you
would kind of disappear for stretches. Still, though, like a

(13:07):
top fifty player when you stack together what he was
able to do at the Senior Bowl to really like
verify the flashes that are on his tape.

Speaker 2 (13:14):
Great great points on all of them, and you listed No.
One was one I never really thought would fall to
the bills. And what you mentioned was one of the
reasons why I didn't put him on my list. I
just feel like there's similarities to Ed Oliver, and if
I'm looking for someone even if they have primarily played
three tech in college, which a few of these guys
have at least in their senior year, I didn't want

(13:35):
to just have him on because to me it would
have been like, okay, cool, you have kind of the
same skill set and in a rotational component that can
be fun, but also there's more of a pressing needed
who's playing opposite of Ed, because I also feel like
that player, even if they have again mainly three tech
experience is the key to unlocking even more of Ed's arsenal,
which is kind of like the theme I have going
into IDL for the.

Speaker 1 (13:56):
Bills this year.

Speaker 2 (13:57):
But you listed really the guys I love, and I'll
start with Darius Alexander to pitch it back because the
real loan question I have about him where one you mentioned,
which is kind of can he be in every down DT?
Because he has serious size at least you know, looking
at his rass profile, which I had him at six
three three h five, he has the size. He's a

(14:18):
little bit lighter than you know, your heaviest one tech,
but he has the capability in my opinion, to play
that position and really anchor there. And then I've also
seen some alignment versatility from him where you can get
him out wide if you really wanted to. Granted, I
don't know how consistent that would be at the pro level,
but I think really also, i've seen people talk about
age with him. It's not really a concern for me

(14:39):
because even though he might be a little bit of
an older prospect, if that prospect has the higher flour
because he's gotten more time to play, I'm totally fine
with it. And it's really just a matter of is
that competition that you faced are you still able to
translate to the pro level where okay, it's more ramped up,
but you still have the skill set and you can
still compete.

Speaker 1 (14:57):
Derek Harmon to.

Speaker 2 (14:59):
Me, if he's dere at thirty, I'd be ecstatic if
they went for him.

Speaker 1 (15:03):
I love Derek Harmon.

Speaker 2 (15:04):
I think the chaos, the havoc he brings to the
line is just something that really pops off when you
watch him consistently. You brought up though, the fact that
you know it's a lot of pressures and not maybe
as much production, because it almost seems like he shot
out of a cannon to a fault where he gets
in the backfield, but he'll just glide right past the
target and you're kind of like, all right, man, to

(15:25):
slow it down a hair and we'll be okay, and
we could do more.

Speaker 1 (15:28):
But I like him a lot. I like what he
brings as a pass rusher.

Speaker 2 (15:32):
I like the tenacity he plays with as a run defender,
and he seems like an ideal fit and just whether
it's the Bills or not, a solid prospect that you
could have as a three ATTECH, but someone that I
think has enough aggression and enough strength to be able
to play one if you wanted to kick him over there,
or if you wanted to move him around however you
saw it. Grant, you mentioned a very polarizing player just

(15:53):
for the size he brings and how much burst he
can show. But yes, there are deficiencies in his game.
Certainly for me, I find that I can see the
vision of him truly developing as a stable run defender.
I have more concern of if he's just a two
down guy even when he does develop though, because that
aggression is great, but also with how much work he needs,

(16:15):
is he going to be able to maintain balance and
play with enough consistent technique at the pro level. Two
And Tyler Williams mister unsexy, not because he's this is
not a Wooks thing. It's more so just the fact
that he is a solid run defender, And when you
watch it more extensively, it's like, can you actually ask
this guy to become a more stable pass rusher and

(16:36):
can that actually be something that if he works on
it more becomes effective enough to justify keeping him on
the field. But for me, even having him as a
two down player, I really like him. I think he
provides you insane amounts of stability. The role would be defined,
he'd be able to stop the run consistently at the
pro level, and if you get actual development as a
pass rusher, a lot of fun and something I could

(16:56):
see the Bills doing in the second round most likely.

Speaker 1 (16:58):
But I'm going to flip it back to you, James.

Speaker 2 (17:00):
We talked about some of the top end guys maybe
rounds two, three, or even beyond. Do you have any
guys you really like that you feel might either be
slept on or just someone that you think deserves a
little more love and has a defined role at.

Speaker 1 (17:12):
The pro level.

Speaker 3 (17:13):
Yeah, man, I mean it's it's an incredibly deep class.
I've got fourteen defensive linemen in my top one hundred,
so like I could, I could sit here for an
hour and just list off names. But some more under
the radar guys. I think Vernon Broughton out of Texas
a player that I actually just watched like this week.

(17:36):
Really late getting to him, but like he's one hundred
and sixty nine on the consensus board, I think he's
I feel like he's a lock to go in the
top seventy five six five, three hundred and eleven pounds,
thirty five inch arms, just has really like an elite
frame for defensive tackle, and you know, I think that

(17:57):
he is kind of I think he gives you a
good balance of like being a pass rush first DT
but still being very sturdy in the run game. So
like he he has some of the best hands in
this defensive tackle class. Just really active and coordinated with
his hands. Has a lot of different moves, like he's

(18:19):
got a club rip, a swipe, swim, two handed swipe,
he's got a spin counter, and then a really good
long arm like uses that arm length to his advantage,
and you know, really like centralizes his power prize open
the pocket. So I think you combine his his his
technical savvy with his his ability to spring off the

(18:41):
line of scrimmage. He's got good edge to edge quickness
to get the angle into the pocket. Really like what
he can bring to the table as a pass rusher.
He isn't a dominant run defender, and like double teams
sometimes he will get driven off the line. He's kind
of got like a weird a weird build where it's

(19:02):
like kind of a thin lower half it looks like.
But against single blocks very does a very good job
with his hands. He can shed blocks quickly. I think
that Vernon Broughton's a guy that's not getting a lot
of attention, but to me is a lock to be
a Day two pick, and I think will be a
really good player. I see like the high end comp

(19:22):
for him as Christian Barmore just is kind of they
look almost identical on tape where they're like it's just
like frequently long arms for their build and they use
a lot of the same moves. I think that he's
not really under the radar, but like another guy on
that Texas defensive line, if you wanted to lean more

(19:44):
run defense would be Alfred Collins, who doesn't give you
much as a pass rusher, but I mean six five
and a half three hundred and thirty two pounds almost
thirty five inch arms as well, and I think he's
probably the first, her second best run defender in this class.
It's between him and Tyler Williams. Just an absolutely dominant

(20:06):
block shutter. So he's somebody that's gonna immediately upgrade your
run defense. The last guy that I would mention is CJ.
West out of Indiana, who is kind of like a
dynamic nose tackle. You know, he single handedly really like
led Indiana to having one of the best run defenses

(20:28):
in college football last year. He's he's got that stout build,
six to one, three hundred and sixteen pounds, pretty short arms,
but you know, really really quick knifing into gaps.

Speaker 4 (20:43):
Has has a lot of a lot of pass.

Speaker 3 (20:46):
Rushing skills, where like he's not going to be a
guy that leads your team in pressures or anything, but
he I think can be a three down player and
on early downs, like he can you know, play the
run first and then quickly transition into his pass rush
when he reads his keys. He's got cross chops, swipe,

(21:06):
club swim, just really quick and powerful hands.

Speaker 4 (21:10):
So I like CJ.

Speaker 1 (21:11):
West.

Speaker 4 (21:11):
I think a balanced player that's going to be a
positive impact in both phases.

Speaker 2 (21:16):
Love those takes, love the analysis, and I actually wanted
to pitch a couple more because I had a few
names on this list that I do like, but I'm
interested to hear your take on that. In the first
one I want to bring up is Jordan Phillips from
Maryland because you know, it was kind of the same
thing when I saw West. They have similar size profiles.
I think you got Phillips at six, one, three, twelve
right now, but you know, he has plenty of juice

(21:36):
but feels like someone who truly is a developmental player.

Speaker 1 (21:39):
What are your thoughts on him?

Speaker 2 (21:41):
And then I have one more name after that that
I just a little more polarizing, but we'll get to him.

Speaker 4 (21:46):
Yeah, I really like Jordan Phillips.

Speaker 3 (21:47):
I have him ninety three on my board, and you know,
he is just like a densely packed.

Speaker 4 (21:57):
Like ball of ball of energy.

Speaker 3 (21:59):
Like the explosiveness, not like he's explosive off the line
of scrimmage, but the way that he can explode into
contact with the hand pop. He just like rattles his
opponent's pads when he makes contact, and like, you know,
he's got that the quickness to shoot into gaps. There's
so many plays where like he gets a TfL just

(22:20):
from a from using like a swim or an arm
over to kind of slice against the flow of the run.
He is definitely a developmental pass rusher. But you know,
I say that not that like you know, some players
that just don't offer anything as a pass rusher, you
might say they're developmental. Jordan Phillips is developmental in the

(22:42):
sense that he's shown a lot of promise on tape.
He just hasn't really put it all together, doesn't have
a career Sack only had thirteen pressures in twenty twenty four.
It's kind of misleading because like he is almost never
being asked to just fire off the snap and rush
the passer, like he's always read stepping playing the run first.

(23:06):
Anytime that he's he rushes the passer and is able
to actually get into a move, he has to start that,
you know, a second or two into the play when
he you know, realizes that it's not a run. So
like he wasn't really given the opportunity to be that
productive as a pass rusher, but I think he has
a really nice pass rushing plan in development. Like he

(23:28):
wins with a cross chop, He has an incredible spin
move for his size, the hand pop and the power
that he shows into contact that translates to his bull
rush as well. And he had some dominant reps where
he just would like flatten the center. So yeah, I mean,
I it's not somebody that I think day one is
going to be ready to be super productive, but.

Speaker 4 (23:52):
I do.

Speaker 3 (23:53):
I think he's kind of like, uh, like Mazzie Smith,
what we thought Mazzie Smith was going to be. Like
obviously he's been awful in the NFL, but like as
kind of that densely packed, just really powerful nose tackle
that also has a pass rushing upside.

Speaker 4 (24:12):
That's that's what I see. Jordan Phillips as and you
know True Junior who.

Speaker 3 (24:19):
Declared it like he won't even be twenty one years
old when he gets drafted. There's gonna be a team
I think that really likes him and spends a Day
two pick on him. He was also dominant at the
Shrine Bowl as well, like he was he was probably
the best pass rusher there.

Speaker 2 (24:36):
All I saw was his name pop off and just
different clips of him showing out there, and it was
really cool to see. You know, as a fan of
a team that had another DT named Jordan Phillips, that
wouldn't mind a swap of them. That would be a
lot of fun. And you know, again great insight. And
there are plenty of players that I think are options,
viable options for the Bills.

Speaker 1 (24:54):
There's one I highlight.

Speaker 2 (24:55):
You know that our guys here on the network, Erikan
Ann have gone over and have been fans. But Josh Farmer,
who I really like because I feel like that I
quoted it as saying like he has a Bill's one
T build because a big thing for them is they're
not gonna typically don't.

Speaker 1 (25:09):
Go for the true three point thirty or super heavy guy.

Speaker 2 (25:12):
Maybe that changes this year, but Josh Farmer, just off
the line is a lot of fun. I think he
has a fun bowl rush, good first step. He's just
someone that needs a deeper bag. But in the case
of just plugging the whole creating havoc, I think he
could still have success on day one with that and
build off that, especially in rotation with Dikwan Jones. But
the one I wanted to bring up to you is
just someone that I've loved, and I know all the

(25:34):
red flags are there.

Speaker 1 (25:35):
I'm cognizant of it.

Speaker 2 (25:36):
I know that this is someone that I'm literally just
I draft crush on just for the sake of the frame.
But Dion Walker, who I'm listing his IDL. Granted, I
know he can go all over the line. I know
there's plenty of concerns over how low he can get
and whether he can maintain that, whether he could play
with kind of a stable anchor off the line, because
someone of his size you would expect to win more,
but he can get blown off the ball at times.

Speaker 1 (25:57):
And I know he was playing with the injured backs.

Speaker 2 (26:00):
There was just a lot going on with this prospect
that I'm really interested to hear your take on, just
given the fact of that that frame of six seven,
three thirty one is crazy.

Speaker 3 (26:10):
Yeah, you know, Dion Walker is probably somebody that I
would just let another team take, like I don't if
I was a GM, I don't see myself being willing
to like spend as high of a pick on him
that I think you'd probably have to and like, you know,
I've got him like well out of my top one hundred,

(26:31):
he's he's uh one thirty six on my board.

Speaker 4 (26:35):
And you know, the frame I think is is really impressive.

Speaker 3 (26:41):
But to me, like his his height is you know,
if you read like a Deon Walker scouting report, pretty
much the first thing in the strength section is always
going to be like, you know, he's six foot seven
and all this, Like to me, that's that is such
a negative and limiting factor for him in the sense

(27:01):
that he just he can't play with low enough pad
level to anchor or to really generate much push as
a power rusher. And you know, the back injury I
think would definitely that would definitely explain some of the
the you know, rough.

Speaker 4 (27:21):
Tape that he had this year.

Speaker 3 (27:25):
For me, like I would need to hear more confirmation
than just kind of his agent like putting out that
he had an injury, you know, to like have to
massively shift my opinion or anything. And I thought, I
mean I thought even last year, like in twenty twenty three,
his tape was definitely better, but there were still a
lot of the same concerns where like I was never

(27:47):
on board with.

Speaker 4 (27:47):
The top ten hype.

Speaker 3 (27:49):
So yeah, I mean, if you can get him on
day three, I think there's obviously a lot of upside
there that that the injury was playing a huge role
in his tape not being as this year.

Speaker 4 (28:00):
But for me, he's I would just let another team
take him.

Speaker 2 (28:04):
That's that is a great saying that I think I'm
gonna start reciting. If it's someone I'm not a fan of,
let another team take him. I've been a fan of
the prospect just since last year because I was a
fan of the traits, and I'm also someone who knows.

Speaker 1 (28:19):
That his GM is a traits based GM.

Speaker 2 (28:21):
That's not everyone he'll take, but he does like freak
athletes or freak prospects. It's why I feel like I'm
praying they don't reach on like a Landon Jackson or
something like that. Not because I don't like the player,
but because if Brandon Banc's six foot six with long arms,
I feel like that's all he needed to see, and
I'm like, please, let's not do that. But dial Walker
has I was in the hype and II liked him,

(28:44):
and I wiped the fact that he wind up in
multiple spots with that frame, and I was kind of
wondering what senior year would be like for him, because
if he does get lower and he does have that
explosiveness and can kind of get to a level of
like a shorter DT who has a lower center of gravity,
but playing with that big frame and then pairing the strength,
that would have been something that I thought would have
been a huge positive. It wasn't all put together. And

(29:05):
I do wonder, like you alluded to, like how much
did the back injury affect him, how valid was it
and if it really was that impactful, what does it
look like if he gets to the right team that
can develop him, get him to try it at the very
least and play a bit lower, And what does that
look like once that happens, I mean, or if it happens.
And that's why for me, if it's the fourth round

(29:26):
and the Bills have an abundance of Day three picks
and he's there, I'm cool with it, just because I
know that's not taken by design of growing him into
the Wolves right away as a starter. This is definitely
a guy you got to develop. But those traits, at
least the size profile.

Speaker 1 (29:41):
It can be damning. But if you can get him
to play to that level.

Speaker 2 (29:43):
I think that's like unlocking a key, but it takes
the right team, it takes the right development curve.

Speaker 1 (29:48):
So I definitely understand where you're coming from.

Speaker 2 (29:50):
With it, and I do agree it would be like
if you took him day two the second round, be
like okay, Like once upon a time, like twenty twenty three,
before I knew Bet, I'd be all ecstatic.

Speaker 1 (30:01):
Now I'm kind of like, I don't know about that.

Speaker 2 (30:03):
One, But great points on these players, and I want
to take it to the next group that I think
is what I would deem the second biggest need for
the Bills, and that's corner. They have Christian Benford, we're
still waiting to hear on if they can walk down
an extension with him. They just traded kyer Elam Russell
Douglass is still a free agent. That room outside of
JaMarcus Ingram and the backup Cam Lewis is barren, and

(30:25):
in my opinion, it seems likely that the Bills will
probably go for two prospects. And this is a nice
corner class at least from what I've been able to see,
and I have a good amount on here that I
really like. But turning it back to you, James, the
cornerback class. Who do you really like and what do
you think are the best traits about these prospects?

Speaker 3 (30:43):
Yeah, man, I you know, it's been disappointing. Azaria Thomas
out of Florida State has been one of my guys,
like since week five of the season when I first
watched him watched them.

Speaker 4 (30:55):
I immediately gave him a really.

Speaker 3 (30:57):
High first round grade, but reportedly ran between like four five,
five and four six, which is like, you know, cornerback
with forty yard dash is kind of the one position
where I have to just take a hard line and
like there's it's it's just it's really hard to like
be a good corner if if you don't have a
good forty time unfortunately, So in my next update, probably

(31:23):
gonna have him fall.

Speaker 4 (31:25):
A little bit.

Speaker 3 (31:25):
Like he's fourteen on my board right now, but I
think probably somebody that should be in the late twenties
to early thirties, you know, I think that. So I've
got eleven corners in my top top one hundred.

Speaker 2 (31:40):
And uh.

Speaker 3 (31:42):
A lot of like it's it's a much worse cornerback
class than I expected heading into the season because there's
a lot of players that either got injured or had
disappointing years, you know, obviously, like uh, Savonne revel Tear
his ACL.

Speaker 4 (32:01):
I I've got him thirty six on my board.

Speaker 3 (32:03):
I think he can be, you know, like really good
in a press man or cover three type of system,
but unfortunate that he didn't get to play out that
last year and kind of just have another year of
tape to to prove himself given that his the level
of competition that he's facing is not great.

Speaker 4 (32:21):
I think that.

Speaker 3 (32:24):
You know, Will Johnson is a player that I've I've
been a lot lower on really since since I watched
him last year. I just I don't think like he
has the speed really for a for a man coverage
heavy system, and I think that he kind of exacerbates
that issue by being so aggressive biting on double moves

(32:45):
and just ends up getting beat over the top a lot.
So I have him twenty six on my board, and
you know, and like it's it's not a prospect fatigue
type of deal really at all, because he's he's had
pretty much the same grade since the summer, you know, Max,
Max Hairston, I've got it forty.

Speaker 4 (33:04):
I think that there's there's so much upside with him.

Speaker 3 (33:08):
I really I'm not sure about like his physicality and
hand usage in press coverage, but playing playing off the
receiver with some cushion and just being able to have
eyes on the quarterback shoot into passing lanes. I think
he can be a really dynamic playmaker. And then the
other guy in my top fifty is John A. Barron,

(33:31):
who I've got a forty nine, and he's another player
that just like the the hype for him as a
as a top fifteen or even top ten pick kind
of makes no sense to me based on his tape.
Like he's really good at the catch point, he's a
good tackler, has versatility to play multiple positions, and I

(33:53):
think he's a smart player. But you know, when you
watch when you watch Texas defense and you watch John
AY Barron, he is almost never playing man coverage. He's
never playing press. Pretty much every rep is in a
side turn. Like doesn't have really any experience even being
squared up with the receiver. So I just I think

(34:14):
like the vulnerability of what he was asked to do
is so much less compared to other players in this class,
where even though he was really productive. I just I
don't know that I see like first round traits with Baron,
So it's yeah, it's it's a like a lot of
the guys in my top fifty, I just kind of,

(34:34):
you know, I have them ranked highly, but I have
them ranked lower than where kind of the consensus is,
and I think they'll probably get drafted a bit earlier
than where I'm comfortable with. When you get into like
guys in my fifty to one hundred range, like Jacob Parrish,
Darien Porter, Dorian Strong, that's where I think you can
really find value. Also, like guys like Zoff Frasier if

(34:58):
you can get him like third, fourth round. So I
think there's I think there's still a lot of interesting
depth and like sleepers in this class.

Speaker 2 (35:06):
Death definitely, and I think at pick thirty there's going
to be an abundance of options if the Bills want
to go that route. There's one that, if I recall correctly,
I don't. I don't think you were as high on
as I am, and a lot of Bills fans are.

Speaker 1 (35:19):
But that's Trey Amos.

Speaker 2 (35:20):
Like he is a player that I think has the
ability to play well in both zone and both men
with good instincts kind of like all and correct me
if I'm wrong, because maybe I had this misunderstood.

Speaker 1 (35:31):
I think he has the ability to.

Speaker 2 (35:33):
Man up pretty well, but he has also that kind
of timing, that processing to jump routes if need be.
And I think when you talk about the Bills, that
might trend to a more man heavy defense this year,
just you know, with crumbs of information that they've given
us to kind of allude to the fact that that'll
happen with coaching decisions and some of the personnel they've
brought on. I think he's the type of player, especially
just looking at his measurables, that I would be comfortable

(35:55):
with them drafting, just because again, to shore up a
CB two spot if you trust Benford the CB one,
I want someone that has the versatility, but you're also
not depending on him to really truly reach his ceiling yet.
And he just seems like the safest prospect and I
really like him. So I know you mentioned the other
ones that you talked about Baron who I think Baron
is a player that people when they hype him up,

(36:17):
it's really for the what could be, which like again
that's really any prospect, but especially with him because I
know that he had a lot of experience playing as
a slot guy, and you know, man needs refinement and
those are all traits that I think he can do
just given his athleticism. But really, you got to see it.
So it's like, are you willing to head your bets
on that early or do you want to just maybe

(36:37):
let another team develop him and we'll go for a
more quote unquote short thing. But yeah, I just wanted
to get your opinion on Amos because again, that's that's
a name A lot of the fans love, a name
that I really like. But curious what you think.

Speaker 3 (36:51):
Yeah, I do really like Trey Amos. I think first
round is a little rich for him, which is like
where I've seen him go sometimes. But I think he's
one of the smartest corners in this class in zone coverage,
like his ability to you know, read route concepts peel

(37:11):
off of his initial assignment, whether it's in you know,
cover three or like playing a high low as the
flat defender and cover two. I just think his field vision,
his awareness is exactly what you're looking for in that scheme.
He has really long arms, which makes him a weapon
at the line of scrimmage and at the catch point.

(37:33):
I still think in press coverage he's he's kind of
somebody that just like catches the receiver off the line
of scrimmage and like, at his level of competition, that
ended up still being pretty effective. But he's not really
like striking from a balanced platform and like playing with
the level of technique that I think he'll have to.

(37:56):
For me, what my biggest hang up with Trey is
that I don't think I think he has pretty tight hips,
and so I would worry about him in like a
true press man's scheme. He is just like on on
comebacks and stop routes, he has major major difficulties decelerating

(38:20):
and sinking his hips to stay with those guys. So
like he has enough speed to keep up with receivers
on the vertical plane, but they can just kind of
get him leaning downfield and then snap off that route
and he allows a lot of separation and just like
in and out of breaks, I feel like his transitions
are a little bit clunky and it really has to

(38:41):
to grab at the jersey at the top of the
route to stick with guys. And I'm not sure. Let's
see how many penalties so he only had Yeah, I
only had three penalties last year. But I was watching
his tape and like, normally, I'm not the kind of
guy that, like, normally I'm anti penalties, Like I'm not

(39:05):
somebody that's gonna like, uh, you know, complain about that.
But I was watching Trey Amos and I felt like
he should have been called for a lot more because
he's just kinda doesn't really understand when he needs to
release contact. And I know college and pro have different rules,
so yeah, I just I'm I'm not as comfortable with
him in a in a man heavy scheme, but I

(39:25):
think like press uh press cover three, I think he
could be a star corner because there's so much uh
so much potential uh uh at the line of scrimmage
as a press guy and then just like so smart
reading route concepts.

Speaker 2 (39:43):
Yeah, we'll go, We'll make the handle instead of no
flags film in the case of Trey Amos, will.

Speaker 1 (39:48):
Call it some flags. Maybe should be more flags film.

Speaker 2 (39:50):
But I I great points, and for me, I'm comfortable
living in that world just for the fact that I
while they are going to increase their man rate, I
don't think it's gonna be this exponentially drastic change, just
a slight uptick where maybe you're going to get him
in some press man looks, but it's probably going to
be still zone coverage most of the time. And I'm
more than happy to have this type of player there.

(40:12):
And I guess just you know, because you mentioned Darian
Porter briefly and kind of him on the outside, But
you know, any other prospects you want to talk about
on my list here? You know, I mentioned just for
players I like Kobe Bryant, Benjamin Morrison, Noel Williams, and
Zia Alexander as some players that I think might be
at least have traits that could work in the Bills defense.

(40:32):
But these players are anyone that we might not have
mentioned that you also like for anyone really beyond just
the Bills.

Speaker 4 (40:40):
Yeah, I'll just quickly like run through a couple guys
like Darien Porter. I think is.

Speaker 3 (40:45):
Has the best speed in this class, at least like
on tape, I mean, ran an incredible forty time. But
like he's somebody that just has no issues at all
covering receivers down the sideline, keeps up with them step
for step, and then you can tell that he's a
he's a former receiver, the way that he's able to
turn and locate the ball. He's a difficult evaluation because

(41:09):
he has it's such a small sample size of tape,
like really wasn't able to see the field until this year,
and he was kind of a rotational player, like you know,
he might play twenty or thirty snaps a game, so
there's just not a whole lot to evaluate, But definitely
think somebody's going to take him. On day two you

(41:30):
mentioned Noel Williams. I've got him as cornerback thirteen one,
twenty seven on my board. Really like a lot of
stuff on his tape, just incredible physicality and competitiveness, you know,
obviously extremely productive in twenty twenty four with seven interceptions,
nine pass breakups. He is, like you know, I wrote

(41:53):
in a scouting report, he plays with a completely random
level of composure and technique from snap to snap, like
there are there are textbook reps on his tape, and
then the very next play he'll just kind of, you know,
be undisciplined with his hips get carved carved up by
like a press release, and so it's it's really like
a radic levels of play. But I think he's kind

(42:17):
of he's one of those guys, like you've heard Matt
Harmon for a reception perception, he kind of coined the
term sacrificial X receiver as a guy that's just gonna
like take a bunch of you know, press man snap
snaps as the X. Noel Williams is kind of the
cornerback version of that, where like he's just somebody that
can live on an island and press man and like

(42:38):
give you six hundred press man reps in a season,
and like he'll give up some plays. He'll have like
you know, thirteen pass breakups might allow five hundred yards
and like four touchdowns. It's gonna be pretty up and down,
but like he can just hang in there. Kind of
That's how I see Noel Williams. You know, so really
really like him. It's just there's some inconsistent sees that

(43:00):
hold me back from seeing him as like a Day
two guy.

Speaker 4 (43:04):
And uh yeah, like the other who are the other
players you mentioned.

Speaker 2 (43:08):
And Benjamin Morrison, yeah, Kobe Bryant Zy Alexander.

Speaker 3 (43:12):
Yeah, ben Morrison. You know, he's a tough player. Like
the injury is really concerning to me. I don't have
any insight to that, but a hip injury for a
corner is pretty much the most that's pretty much the
worst injury that you can have, So got to see
how how that affects his draft stock. I really like him,

(43:33):
you know, played one of these guys that just played
on an island almost exclusively impressed man for his his
college career. And I think he's really good at the
line of scrimmage and like sticking with routes on the
vertical plane. I think he would be really good in
a cover three system because he has good speed. He
can he can open his hips and and run down

(43:56):
the sideline pretty efficiently. He has a major issue with
letting people cross his face, like on quick slants fake
and outside release and then separate inside against his leverage,
and like that was something that it's like really specific,
but you saw it happen over and over again on

(44:17):
his tape for the last couple of years. And then
also kind of has shorter arms, isn't the strongest player,
and you see a lot of times at the catch
point he just he might be in good position but
just doesn't have that extra reach to dislodge the ball.
I have him with a late third round grade. He's

(44:38):
ninety fourth on my board, and that is partially influenced
by the injury. If it was a completely clean medical deal,
I'd probably have him like sixties or seventies would be
my guess. And then Kobe Bryant just has electric tape.
One of my favorite players to watch the definition of

(44:58):
a ballhawk. You know, I think that he is, like
his size is obviously a concern, six foot one pint
eighty really slender build, but he has really long arms,
and I think he plays with enough physicality to offset

(45:19):
that in the run game, especially like just really tenacious
when it comes to crashing downhill, defending screens and outside runs.
And you know, I might I think he's somebody that
would be a better scheme fit for like the traditional
Bills coverage scheme than like a really heavy man scheme,

(45:42):
because I think speed and fluidity are closer to average
with him. But you know, just his awareness in zone
coverage can be really disruptive at the line of scrimmage.
And then his ball skills, you know, he's he's somebody
that I would definitely be targeting early day three.

Speaker 2 (46:00):
Yeah, I really like him and all those points you
made just when you watch him extensively, there's just this
different level of aggression that he plays with, whether it's
mentally or physically. And I think that even if it's
something where the Bills maybe up their man rate, I
still think, like I said, it'll be enough of a
balance where I can live in a world where any
of these guys that might have stemmed from one system

(46:20):
more than the other, like Harrison being more of his
own guy, but you know, some other guy being more
of a man guy. It's something that I still think
will benefit their room. And he's a player I really love.
And then the last one, Zaya Alexander is just someone
that I felt like has like that four you can
work with where I feel like he's a stable corner.
I don't think he's going to be incredibly flashy, but

(46:41):
I think when they draft their corners they want him
to kind of be able to wear a lot of hats,
especially in run defense right away, and he seems like
a pretty sure run defender at least right now, and
someone that I think could blossom a little more as
he gets further into the pros. But otherwise, I mean,
you nailed everyone on my list. I got no one else.
To really bring up. So I appreciate that insight. I'm

(47:02):
really excited to see what the group does in the
pros and whoever the Bills decide to take. I want
to move on now just to defensive end again, another
position to need. I think the Bills have granted you know,
you can see my tagline. They just recently got Joey
Bosa and still have Greg Russell, but Epinez's on and
expiring deal. That Bosa is just a one year deal.
Outside of it is really Javon Solomon, Michael Hoyt, and

(47:25):
there's gonna be holes that they have to address. And
this is a class that has edge rushing talent. So
I'm interested in your opinion on just some players you
really like James for any team and who shines to you.

Speaker 3 (47:37):
Yeah, this is very similar to defensive tackle. It's an
incredibly deep edge class. I've got sixteen guys in my
top one hundred. I have nine players in my top fifty.
When it comes to the thirtieth pick, I would be
looking at Donovan Ezeraku out of Boston College and Brayden

(48:02):
Swinson out of LSU. Those are kind of the two
guys that I think would be in range that makes
sense for the Bills. You know, if MIKEL Williams or
Shamar Stewart end up falling there, would prefer either of
those two players. But you know, Izaraku is kind of
actually like similar to Javon Solomon in terms of his build,

(48:25):
and I love that build for edge rushers and defensive
lineman where he's short, but he has really long arms,
so he's got the natural leverage but doesn't have like
the short arms that normally come with being undersized. He
has I think arguably the best bind in this class,

(48:46):
and he's got the best cross chop. I mean has
like if I were to make a reel of like
all of his cross shop wins, it would probably be
thirty or forty plays long this past year and really
just incrediblyductive in both phases, led the power for in
sacks and run stops. He has a simple pass rushing plan,

(49:07):
but it's really effective. He's just he's kind of just
alternating from the cross chop into an inside counter, just
like spamming those back and forth and really made him
like unblockable on a two way go. Like the acc
tackles that he was facing could not mirror him.

Speaker 4 (49:26):
The one thing that.

Speaker 3 (49:27):
Holds me back with Easiraku, who I really like as
a prospect, but what holds me back from giving him
like a top ten grade.

Speaker 4 (49:35):
Is that he cannot win with power.

Speaker 3 (49:38):
He had a dominant bull rush rep against I think
Old Dominion or like one of the lower level teams
that they played, but really like against acc tackles, was
not able to push them back at all, and so
I think I think he could kind of end up
getting boxed into a Harold Landry type of role where like,

(50:02):
really all he has is speed and you know, ends
up as kind of a one dimensional player. But I
think what he can do at a high level is
pretty dynamic. And then Brayden Swinson, I think is one
of the most underrated players in this class. You know,
led the sec in pressures sixty and twenty twenty four.

(50:24):
He can win with speed, he can win with win
with power, and he can win with inside counters. He
can attack tackles on all three levels. He's explosive, he's fluid,
he's quick. I just think he's somebody that checks every
box as far as what plays at the next level.
And I've heard like some off the field stuff as

(50:49):
far as like football character, Like he was supposed to
go to the Shrine Bowl and ended up backing out
of that. So there could be some some weird stuff
like that that I don't really have too much inside
into that's that's you know, causes him to fall. But
purely based on the tape, I think he's a top
thirty two player for me, and you know, somebody that

(51:09):
can just be a consistent, like high end number two
pass rusher.

Speaker 2 (51:14):
Yeah, and I like Swinson a lot. I like Easieroku too.
I think both are viable options. Again, I like I
refer to him as Donovan because I'll probably trip over
his last name if I say it three times in
a row.

Speaker 1 (51:24):
I don't want to watch it.

Speaker 2 (51:25):
But I like the pass rush bag he has, Like
you know, guys in the film room in our network
have covered this extensively too. But he's someone that's a
bit savvy, and I think that's something you could really
really for any defensive structure galvanized if you have a
variety of moves. Again, you know, whether it's playing with power,
in which he you said he struggles with, but whether
it's being able to kind of use your arms effectively

(51:47):
or use your hands effectively, if you have a plan
and have different weapons in your arsenal, that to me
is something that really can be built off of effectively.
And for the Bills ed rushers that have typically been
at least in years past, the profile they've gone for
kind of having length, having the ability to use your
arms and kind of go for those stabs power moves
with your arms, even if he doesn't have the true strength.

(52:08):
I would like the idea of them kind of building
upon what they did with Solomon last year and going
for the long armed guy that is a bit versatile too,
and therefore, if you do actually develop the power with
his rush, that could be something that lends itself really
well for your edge rushing group. And you know, you
hit the nail on the head with Swinson, Who's someone
that I think you know, as the discourse has kind
of gone on since the start of draft season, I've

(52:29):
seen his stock rise, but to hear him kind of
mentioned for the back half of round one is interesting.
I do wonder if he does get taken at any point.
There there's one player on here. There's a ton of
ed rushers I've listed, but for the sake of time,
you know, I won't get into all of them, but
guys like you know, Lyndon Jackson, Prince Lee, Nick Sketon,
like these are options that I also really like for
the bills and think at positives but also some refinement

(52:50):
to work on. But there's one player that I really
like and I'm curious what your take is on him, James,
and that's Jordan Birch out of Oregon. I like the
frame he has. I think he's an athletic freak. I
think his burst off the line is a lot of fun.
I think he is violent with his hands. It can
win in a lot of ways with power or with
using them. What do you think about Jordan Birch. Do
you think he's a byproduct maybe of some havoc that

(53:13):
was created from other d linemen likea Derek Harmon, like
a Jamari Caldwell, or do you think that this is
a true stout edge rusher.

Speaker 1 (53:19):
In the NFL.

Speaker 4 (53:21):
I really like Jordan Birch.

Speaker 3 (53:23):
I think that he's I would say top four power
rusher in this class, like my top four power rushers
would be in no order.

Speaker 4 (53:32):
Jordan Birch, Elijah Roberts out.

Speaker 3 (53:35):
Of SMU Ashton Gilatti out of Louisville and then David
Walker out of Central Arkansas. I think those are the
four best speed to power guys in this class. Jordan
Birch is you know, he's got the length he has,
you know, six eight, two hundred and eighty pounds, like

(53:56):
not an elite explosive athlete, but does a really good
job of floating into contact and you know, having a
lot of you know, like hand pop and just strike
power when he makes contact.

Speaker 4 (54:09):
He has.

Speaker 3 (54:10):
He had an incredible rep against Ohio State where just
like folded the right tackle back into the pocket. But
then he can also win the corner with the cross chop.
He's got a really good bin for his size. He
flashed kind of a spin move. I think took a
major step forward this year in terms of his pass

(54:31):
rushing because I remember watching him last year and was
just not impressed at all, Like did not see anything
in terms of an NFL caliber pass rusher, And you know,
can't say enough about the steps that he took this year.
Should be a much more productive and disruptive run defender
for his size. He had like yeah, I only had

(54:54):
five run stops in twenty twenty four. You know, he
doesn't get pushed back or anything. His ground pretty effectively,
but you know, want to see him make more plays
in the backfield. But yeah, I do really like Jordan
Birch as a second or third round pick.

Speaker 2 (55:08):
And I'm perfectly comfortable if they want to bank on
athleticism for a pass rusher and have the run development
come after that. That would be a fun world of
living because I love this prospect. There's there's a few
other on here too that I'm fans of, like, but
I feel a little more limited like Jack Sawyer, who
I think is like he's fun, but I it sounds
a little like kind of ridiculous to say this, but
if he doesn't have the stripsack recovery in that playoff game, like,

(55:31):
how hyped is he going to be? Is he truly
above just that moment? Because to me, he felt a
little one dimensional despite being someone that hasn't all Because
now that I'm saying this, James, They're going to draft him,
so it's gonna bite me. But like, he plays with
a lot of intensity, a lot of aggression. The motor
never goes away, and I love that about him. But
that's like him and JT are players that I feel

(55:52):
like are positives for a D line, but I don't
really trust the expansion of what you see from them
now almost like they're or as high, but it's also
at the ceiling. How do you feel about the OSU
ed rushers? Am I off base here or you you
feel a little similar? What's your take?

Speaker 4 (56:08):
Yeah, so I am.

Speaker 3 (56:09):
I'm probably about as low on Jack Sawyer as you'll
see with anyone. I I've got him his edge twenty
three and he's still you know, one forty six on
my board. I just I don't really see NFL traits
with him in terms of explosiveness, bend length. You know,

(56:30):
he he's a solid, like high effort run defender, but
he'll still get put on his back like he's got
a kind of thin lower half and and has some
issues anchoring and then the lack of length makes it
difficult for him to shed blocks consistently. I H so, yeah,
I don't really see him as as like a high level,

(56:52):
you know, starting caliber defensive end, but could be a
rotational contributor.

Speaker 4 (56:57):
I think JT.

Speaker 3 (56:59):
Tuomolu is definitely like I'm also a bit lower on him,
but he at least I think has like brings some
NFL traits to the table in terms of his length
and size. He's an outstanding run defender, really like evenly
dispersed build, and just I think gonna be a rock

(57:20):
solid player on early downs.

Speaker 4 (57:23):
He's got a good power to push the pocket.

Speaker 3 (57:25):
He he has a really like layered and diverse pass
rushing plan with a lot of different moves that he
can throw at you.

Speaker 4 (57:33):
He just doesn't quite have.

Speaker 3 (57:34):
The explosiveness and been to win the corner consistently, and
so I don't think ideally he's gonna be somebody that
you have on the field, like on third downs trying
to beat tackles around the outside shoulder. But I do
think he's a He's a starting caliber player who should,
at least on early downs, be a solid contributor. And

(57:58):
I've got a fourth round great on him, but I
wouldn't hate him in the third round at all.

Speaker 2 (58:03):
Yeah, I do wonder if he even makes it to
the Bills at that point, but I'm looking at it
from the lens of when you have Epineza, I think
would probably walk next season unless you get him for
a reasonable contract. You want to find someone who kind
of replicates the role I don't know if they're going
to replicate the frame because obviously Epineza just has crazy
length and is a bigger prospect or well player now

(58:24):
was a bigger prospect. So I wonder if they would
go a different route or find a more like prototypical,
like versatile edge rusher that might not have that size
but could still bring those positive traits and run defense,
And this might be an option for them if he
does manage to fall, But I'm still just not high
on really either one. Again, that line felt like, you know,
you had Tyler Williams, who was the stout run defender,

(58:46):
then you have these two edge rushers that kind of east.
But also when it comes to just being a power
rusher in college football, I feel like that.

Speaker 1 (58:52):
Can get you somewhere.

Speaker 2 (58:53):
But once you get to the NFL, where more variety
is i don't want to say needed, but definitely preferred,
and you start boxing yourself into one thing, you're probably
not going to comfortably live in that world. As someone
who sees the field often beyond special teams or just
sees beyond more than a rotational role. So I feel
a little more validated because that was my concern and
just real fast David Walker.

Speaker 1 (59:15):
He's so much fun. He's so much fun.

Speaker 2 (59:18):
I don't think the Bills take him just because, again,
like Solomon to me, like he occupies unless they move
on from him. He occupies this specific role as just
true pass rush specialist. And I'm really excited to see
what year two of Javon Solomon looks like in that defense.
But if they didn't have him and it was like
round four and he was there, I'd be pounding the
table for him. He's he's just like I can't even

(59:39):
describe other than vicious like that.

Speaker 1 (59:41):
That's the thing.

Speaker 3 (59:42):
I think he's a Brandon Graham clone to me, and
he's just like playing that at six foot what I
what I saw was six foot two sixty three.

Speaker 2 (59:50):
I don't know if the weight is different from more
recent updates because I think I had this down like
a few weeks back. But he's he's just a fun player.
He's going to be that rotational component that's just going
to feast when you get him in a true pass
rush down. And if the Bills did do it, like
would I think it's a little redundant just given the room, sure,
but I'd be hyped, like he's.

Speaker 1 (01:00:12):
Just such a cool player.

Speaker 2 (01:00:13):
But again, just great points made on these players, and
I want to move on to just what I would
deem the final major position group, because there's cases to
be made for the Bills about finding their third tight end,
maybe even a running back successor for James Cook. A
lot of people still pound for receiver, although I'm not
so much in that camp anymore after the Palmer signing,
but safety, and I think that right now, this Bill's

(01:00:36):
room has two established starters in Taylor Ramp and Cole
Bishop going into year two, and I think that they
want a versatile player, one that can play close to
the line, but one that also has that deep half
experience or even could play centerfielder if they run more
cover one in the case of safety, James, what's your
take on this class and really some of the mid
round guys, because it seems like, just from my take,

(01:00:57):
a lot of these safeties are going to be really
living in second, third, and fourth round at least the
top of the top of the group.

Speaker 3 (01:01:05):
Yeah, the guys that I would be targeting for the
Buffalo Bills, I think there are there are two guys
that I really love the fit for the Bills. Jonas
Sanker out of Virginia and RJ. Mickens out of Clemson.
So like you've got the top guys, Nicky Man worry
Malachi Starks. I think Kevin Winston Junior out of Penn

(01:01:28):
State has been forgotten about, but he's an awesome player.

Speaker 4 (01:01:31):
And then Xavier Watts.

Speaker 3 (01:01:35):
You know, Winston and Watts could definitely be in play,
but I just I think you know what Sanker and
Mickens can give you as far as the ability to
play single high, but then also just being a really
versatile kind of moveable piece on the back end is
really appealing. So Sanker is six foot two hundred and
six pounds almost thirty three inch arms, ran a four

(01:01:58):
to four eight in the forty yard down had a
ninety second percentile ten yard split. He's like a downhill robber,
you know, crash on inbreaking routes over the middle type
of safety, but like has the speed to keep up
with vertical threats from the slot. He can play a
little bit of single high. Incredibly productive as a run defender,

(01:02:21):
an underneath screen like patrol guy led FBS defensive backs
with one hundred and seventy three solo tackles since twenty
twenty three, and that's not him, Like, I'm never the
kind of guy that's gonna like use tackles as a
stat for defensive backs, really, but that's not him like
getting beat and making the tackle. It's him making a
lot of plays on the line of scrimmage. Does a

(01:02:43):
great job of using his length to play the ball
and not the receiver, and like Rake out rake the
ball out at the catch point, didn't have a single
penalty in twenty twenty four. I just think he's like
a physical downhill presence but also has the back end
athletics that you want to be able to play multiple positions.

Speaker 4 (01:03:04):
And then r J.

Speaker 3 (01:03:05):
Mickens out of Clemson is somebody who I was really
late getting to just watch him a couple of days ago,
really like based on his combine performance, but he's been
a four year contributor for Clemson and has a ton
of experience. He's six foot one hundred and ninety nine
pounds thirty two and a half inch arms, so really

(01:03:27):
good length, and he's he's kind of like he played
a lot more as a box safety in Clemson's defense,
like has experienced everywhere, but he saw a lot of
his best plays defending routes from the ten to twenty
yard range, Like he makes some incredible reads on the

(01:03:49):
ball as a robber safety. I think you know he
ran he ran a four four nine out a forty
one and a half inch vertical. He's got the athleticism
to like cover ground and play as a single high safety.
There's just not a lot of experience, you know, in
deep zone coverage, so I don't know exactly what his

(01:04:11):
eyes are like and like, you know, his instincts and
that sort of thing. But good tackler, good run defender. Well,
he's a good tackler. I think the one thing that
was most disappointing about his tape is when I see
a safety.

Speaker 4 (01:04:24):
With really long arms.

Speaker 3 (01:04:27):
Obviously it's important because they can play into passing lanes,
but I like that because it means they can shed
blocks at the second level when when they're playing as
a box safety. And that was my biggest hang up
is that you just didn't see the physicality playing off
of blocks.

Speaker 4 (01:04:43):
So I want to see a step forward there.

Speaker 3 (01:04:45):
But outside of that, I think he's an extremely well
rounded player and somebody that's not getting a ton of
hype right now, but I would guess he's probably a
fourth round pick. Could easily see him sneaking into the
third round.

Speaker 1 (01:05:01):
I'd before it.

Speaker 2 (01:05:02):
He wasn't even on my radar, and I appreciate you
giving me the kind of rundown on him because I
definitely want to go watch him now. Looking at the
rest of the list, I mean, you covered some of
the names, and I did have Sanker on here. There's
one player who I did like that I originally wasn't
really considering, but I do like just the way he
lined up, some of his experience, and that's Leithan Ransom.
I think he's a player that you know, has that

(01:05:23):
mix of both. You know, he's lined up closer to
the line, he's been a little bit back, but he
kind of plays with what I would deem is a
lot of you know, athleticism, a lot of good coverage ability,
someone that I think positions himself well. I'm curious about
your thoughts of this player too, because to me, at
least just what I've been able to watch of him,
I could see him slotting in and being.

Speaker 1 (01:05:43):
A part of that rotation of safeties.

Speaker 2 (01:05:45):
Whether they want to align him in kind of a set,
you know, split half look or if they want to
send him deeper. What do you think about this player?
Do you think he's a fit? If not, you know
where do you think where do you see him fitting?

Speaker 4 (01:05:57):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (01:05:58):
So I have a fifth run great on Lathan Ransom,
And just based on the guys we're talking about, it
seems like I'm an Ohio State hater.

Speaker 4 (01:06:05):
I promise there. I really like, but.

Speaker 3 (01:06:09):
I view him as kind of purely a box safety.
I think his his straight line speed is adequate. I
just didn't see great coverage instincts. It kind of seems
like he needs to really see something clearly before he breaks.
And that shows up with like he really doesn't have
a lot of ball production. I think just two picks,

(01:06:31):
two pass breakups over the last two season two seasons.
But he's a a tone setting just like physical demeanor
as as a run defender. He had a play I
don't know if you watched the Oregon playoff game, but
he had to tackle on Jordan James that just like
set the tone for the entire game. Had had a

(01:06:53):
wide open runway down the field and just like flattened
him for a two yard game or whatever.

Speaker 4 (01:06:57):
And like I.

Speaker 3 (01:06:58):
Remember watching that game live and I think it was
only seven to nothing at that point, but that play
kind of told me how the game was going to go.
So yeah, I mean, I think he's a decent player,
Like he can play a little bit of man coverage,
Like I said, he's got enough speed he can shed blocks,
But as far as back in coverage instincts and range,

(01:07:19):
I'm not sure he's a guy that I would be
targeting super highly. Yeah, But like a couple other guys
that I would mention that I think are intriguing kind
of mid round options, Andrew Mukaba out of Texas and
Jalen Reid out of Penn State, I think are really
interesting players.

Speaker 1 (01:07:37):
Yeah, Makoba is so much fun.

Speaker 2 (01:07:40):
He is just I think of Bill Safeties and you know,
I look back at like kind of their I want
to say, the discourse around Poyer and Hyde because a
lot of people kind of had the understanding that these
guys were high rast guys and they weren't and not
saying Maccuba is the same thing. But what really made
them win was even without athleticism, they still had that
processing ability. And I think even if it's not fully

(01:08:02):
there with him. Yet when he gets to the pros,
like any team that you know, kind of I guess,
like in the case of Sean McDermott, has that DB's
background and it's just developed them. Well, is gonna love
this kid because again, it's just all those traits you
described that I think for the original safeties you mentioned,
he can bring that to the table. And just when
I think of someone that I want in this safety room,

(01:08:23):
it's someone that again just has the capability to not
look out of place when he has to go deeper
into the field, but also when they occasionally because I'm
hoping they do this this season, can stat the box
bring their safeties a bit more up to someone that
plays with violence and has great processing the instick to
shoot a gap, to be able to know where they
got to be and not get blown off of that.

Speaker 1 (01:08:41):
And I think he has that. He's someone that I
really really like.

Speaker 2 (01:08:45):
Where do you honestly see him following because I've seen
people say he could climb into the second, maybe.

Speaker 1 (01:08:49):
Go down to the fourth. I'm hoping the fourth.

Speaker 2 (01:08:51):
Because maybe there's a chance they could get him then.
But what's your opinion of them? Yeah, I have Mukuba
with a mid third round grade. He's seventy eight on
my board. My only hang up is just the size.
I mean, one hundred and eighty six pounds for a
safety is third percentile. And you know he's he's fearless,

(01:09:11):
Like for me to even consider him on day two
at that size, like he's got to have that mentality
and just be fearless into run fits, which he definitely
is to me, like just the range, the.

Speaker 4 (01:09:23):
Athleticism, the ball production.

Speaker 3 (01:09:27):
But it's not just like you look at his profile
on ESPN and he has six, you know, five interceptions
or whatever, like these are high quality plays on the
ball where he's actually you know, creating turnovers and not
just converting interceptions that are thrown right to and like
making some incredible reads and really really skilled and precise

(01:09:49):
at the catch point. So I think that's the kind
of thing that can translate to the next level.

Speaker 2 (01:09:54):
Yeah, I hope. So I hope he ends up a
Bill Man. He's a lot of fun to watch. There's
another player that you talked to outsize concerns that's also fun,
Billy Bowman. I just again, like I think it's what
five nine one nine two, which is just hilarious, and
I think he would probably slot more as as a
slot maybe nickel defender for a team, But I think
he has the ability to go a little further on

(01:10:15):
the field. But like you said, can the size? Can
you play above your size or is it gonna limit
you that I'd have to see. I just think he's
a fun prospect. It's someone that I would keep on
the radar in the light rounds. But James, that's really
all I got. I mean, I will give you one
last question before we sign off, and is there anything
let's just for the sake of fan base that always

(01:10:36):
wants receiver even though we just got Josh Palmer. The
receiver class is one that I have viewed as just
kind of weak. There's players that I think can be
serviceable to very limited roles, but not ones that I
see being true stars outside of course, like if Travis
Hunter became full time wide receiver, Ted McMillan, Luther Burden.
Even for me in the right system, could be it
be someone who eats a lot in this league. But

(01:10:58):
I guess just any wide receiver, maybe in the second,
third round, someone a little further beyond the first that
you like, I know you know, guys like Jalen Royal's,
Kyle Williams or names that pop up a lot.

Speaker 1 (01:11:08):
Who do you like.

Speaker 3 (01:11:10):
Yeah, I'm a huge Kyle Williams fan. I've got him
as a top fifty player. I think he's the best
receiver in this class against press coverage. So he's somebody
that it's like, outside of having average size, I really
think he checks every box as a prospect, So I
would be comfortable spending a second round pick on him.

Speaker 1 (01:11:29):
Oh.

Speaker 4 (01:11:29):
I think Tory Horton is similarly just such a complete prospect.

Speaker 3 (01:11:36):
Like he's got the speed, he's got the change of
direction ability, he doesn't drop passes, he has really good
focus at the catch point. I think he's the best
receiver in this class against zone coverage. Not only it
finding like the right spot to sit down, but then
continuously repositioning himself to like stay aligned and like keep

(01:11:57):
a wide open passing lane. You know, Like I said,
he's got the speed, but then he can slam slam
on the brakes, decelerate on a dime, really productive after
the catch. It's like again, same thing with Kyle Williams.
I just you know, he doesn't have the ideal build
he is tall, but he's kind of slender and has
shorter arms, so you worry about that a little bit,

(01:12:20):
and then also had the injury this year. But I
think he's an incredibly clean prospect. That you know, both
of those guys I see is as high end number
two receivers.

Speaker 1 (01:12:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:12:30):
I know, Anthony on our network is a big Tory
Horton fan, so he'd be elated to hear that.

Speaker 1 (01:12:35):
But listen, James, I appreciate your insights so much.

Speaker 2 (01:12:39):
I like to think I know things, but then I
bring you on the show and just someone with your knowledge,
and I realize that I know very little. You are impressive.
You are a draft almanac, and the work speaks for itself.
I want to give you the opportunity to tell everybody
who watches the show, who listens, where they can find you,
what you got going on, what to expect in your world.

Speaker 4 (01:12:58):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:12:58):
So I write for the thirty three third Team, post
all my articles there on Twitter at No Flag's film.
My pin tweet is it has my draft board with
all my scouting reports up on there. So got it
as like a pretty sleek web application. You can go
and see all my thoughts on different guys, and then

(01:13:20):
also have a YouTube channel. If you just search James Foster,
it should be the first thing that pops up on YouTube.
Have positional rankings for quarterback and running back up there,
and got the rest of the positions coming soon.

Speaker 2 (01:13:35):
Yes, definitely check that out before I continue on. Spin says,
you all forgot the most important need for the bills.
What about punter? All of them did a great job. Spin,
all of them did a great job. To be honest,
I have.

Speaker 4 (01:13:47):
Not left single punter. Couldn't tell you anything about them.

Speaker 2 (01:13:51):
John Smith from whatever university I'm a fan. No, in
all seriousness, I'm sure they're going to find someone in
the UDFA and they'll be fine with that. But again, James,
just awesome stuff. It was so much fun speaking to
you learning more about these prospects. You know, I've done
my start of my draft prep, but there's still a
lot more I got to cover, and hearing how far
along you are and how much you put out there

(01:14:12):
just for everyone to see is really really impressive and
a lot of fun to keep up with. So thank
you for lending your time to this show, you know,
for the hour. I appreciate it immensely and for all
of you that checked us out tonight, Thank you so much.
Always appreciate your time. Thank you for joining our comments section.
Thank you for being here as always. If you enjoyed
the video, if you enjoyed the conversation, drop alike. It

(01:14:33):
means the world to not only need but the members
of our network. Subscribe to the one Pass. You can
check that out in the description below. That is the
lifeblood of our network and for sixty dollars a year,
you have an opportunity to keep up with us at
the network, join our discord and be able to get
some awesome perks, including our Partnership shirt with twenty six shirts.

Speaker 1 (01:14:49):
Which you should all check out.

Speaker 2 (01:14:51):
But be back next week to keep going on draft season.
I anticipate a few more mock drafts, a few more
discussions on the needs of this team.

Speaker 1 (01:14:58):
But for tonight we will say good night, enjoy the
rest of your evening, and as.

Speaker 2 (01:15:02):
Always, go bills. We will see you soon. Take care everybody,

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Bills Draft Discussion - The Best Players at the Biggest Positions of Need! | UR

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