Kyle’s mock
Round 2 | No. 54: WR Laviska Shenault, Colorado
Round 3 | No. 86: CB Darnay Holmes, UCLA
Round 4 | No. 128: DE Alton Robinson, Syracuse
Round 5 | No. 167: S Geno Stone, Iowa
Round 6 | No. 188: DT Tyler Clark, Georiga
Round 6 | No. 207: RB Raymond Calais, UL Lafayette
Round 7 | No. 239: QB Khalil Tate, Arizona
Even after acquiring Stefon Diggs from the Vikings, Buffalo is still in need of youth at wide receiver. John Brown and Cole Beasley, the second and third receivers on the team’s depth chart, respectively, are each 30 years of age. There’s a steep dropoff after the team’s starting trio. Knowing this, the Bills would be wise to draft a talented and versatile wide receiver who could be impactful in a rotational role immediately before carving out a larger role in the future.
‘Talented’ and ‘versatile’ are perhaps wideout Laviska Shenault‘s defining traits.
The 21-year-old wideout out of Colorado played in a variety of positions throughout his three years with the Buffaloes, lining up on the boundary, in the slot, in the backfield, and even as a wildcat quarterback. Though he likely wouldn’t carve out a starting role in Buffalo straight away, he would still see a fair share of snaps due to his versatility. He could spell anyone, potentially even Devin Singletary from time to time. Given the team’s relative strength at receiver, the Bills could afford to place Shenault exclusively in situations to succeed, something that could allow him to build confidence as he becomes a more featured part of the offense in 2021 and 2022.
Look at as a Day 1 pick throughout the majority of the 2019 season, Shenault has fallen down draft boards in recent weeks due to injury concerns. Now claiming to be 100% healthy, he’d be a steal for Buffalo should he be available at pick No. 54.
The Bills then add another player to their defensive back room in round two, selecting UCLA cornerback Darnay Holmes. Though he likely projects to be a nickel cornerback in the NFL, Holmes did play a bit on the boundary throughout his collegiate career. Whether he’s a long-term starting option opposite Tre’Davious White, or someone who can push Taron Johnson for the starting nickel job straight away, he would be an intriguing addition at the end of night two. There’s also a Buffalo connection here, as his father, Darick, played running back for the Bills from 1995-1998.
The Bills then add developmental defenders with high upside in rounds three-through-five, selecting edge Alton Robinson, safety Geno Stone, and lineman Tyler Clark. A prototypical 4-3 defensive end, Robinson tallied 19 sacks throughout his three years at Syracuse. A former Iowa safety, Stone could develop into a serviceable player under the tutelage of fellow Hawkeye Micah Hyde. Though Buffalo’s depth chart is stacked at defensive tackle, Clark is an intriguing player who could develop into a serviceable rotational three-tech.
The Bills get a bit crazy at the tail-end of the draft, adding UL Lafayette running back Raymond Calais and Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate. Though he’s only 5-foot-8, Calais is a speedy running back who runs a reported 4.42-second 40-yard-dash. Devin Singletary, Buffalo’s presumptive starting running back, is a well-rounded player who lacks breakaway speed. Calais would add that weapon to the team’s backfield.
Perhaps the most outlandish pick in this mock, Tate is simply too intriguing of an athlete to pass on in the seventh round. He threw for 6,318 yards throughout his four years at Arizona and ran for an additional 2,285. Whether the Bills choose to develop him as a backup quarterback or as an offensive Swiss-army knife, he’s certainly worth a swing at pick No. 239.
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