Rounds 2-4
Continuing Draft Wire’s breakdown, the Bills don’t shy away from their already stout defense. With one pick in each of the first four rounds, two of the next three come via the defensive side of the ball, starting with a defensive back in cornerback Jeff Gladney.
54. Buffalo Bills | Jeff Gladney | CB | TCU
Gladney isn’t a player the Bills would immediately need, but it’s hard to argue with. Levi Wallace and Kevin Johnson have split time across from Tre’Davious White this past season but the six-foot DB in Gladney could be groomed into a full-time starter. Sean McDermott has undoubtedly had success selecting defensive backs during his time as Buffalo’s coach, too. So if McDermott likes him, it might not be a bad thing.
Next, the Bills find a new potential defensive end in Anfernee Jennings:
86. Buffalo Bills | Anfernee Jennings | EDGE | Alabama
In the third round of the 2019 draft, the Bills struck gold with Devin Singletary and Dawson Knox. The Bills in this scenario could be hoping they do so again. The Bills could realistically (mostly) completely makeover their defensive line if Jordan Phillips, Shaq Lawson and Trent Murphy leave this offseason. The first two are pending free agents while Murphy is a potential cap casualty.
It’s hard to imagine the Bills moving on from all of them with near $90 million in salary cap space, but the Bills can stand to improve on their pass rushing from the edge. Lawson led that group in terms of sacks with only 6.5 in 2019. Jennings reads as a powerful type of pass rusher from the edge.
Kyler Murray steps into a Anfernee Jennings sack, followed by Christian Miller blowing right by Bobby Evans. Advantage: Bama DL – pic.twitter.com/C5404XAiAr
— Michael Kist (@MichaelKistNFL) December 30, 2018
Wrapping things up, Round 4 sees the Bills go back to offense with some help in the trenches. Kansas State’s Scott Frantz in the final pick of the early mock draft:
118. Buffalo Bills | Scott Frantz | OT | Kansas State
Frantz is a three-year starter will plenty of college experience. Buffalo revamped their offensive line last offseason, but Quinton Spain is a pending free agent and the Bills got lucky last season. Their depth across the board was rarely tested thanks to the injury bug mostly avoiding them. But having said that, Frantz could be a depth project for the Bills.
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