The Buffalo Bills 2019 draft class was good, but not grade, according to NFL.com. The team earned a “B” grade with the rookie’s collective performance from the outlet.
First-round pick Ed Oliver had a bit of an uneven season with and a mid-season production swoon, but he ultimately ended on top as the regular season concluded nicely, as the Houston product played over half of the snaps in six of the final seven games. He recorded four sacks and 23 sacks during this time.
But there’s optimism, as a stronger campaign is predicted for Oliver next year:
Falling into the Bills‘ lap at No. 9 overall, Oliver was widely regarded on draft night as the steal of the first round. And in the season-opening win over the Jets, he provided the type of interior disruption that validated the hype, recording five pressures and a QB hit. But he struggled over the next couple months and lost his starting job at midseason. To his credit, Oliver offered his most consistent play as a rotational piece in the second half of the season — racking up four sacks during one three-game stretch — and it’s not hard to imagine a breakthrough Year 2.
Second-round selection Cody Ford also faced a bit of a learning curve at the right tackle spot. However, he benefited from splitting snaps with veteran Ty Nsekhe, especially when the rookie was overwhelmed by opponents’ defensive ends. Ford didn’t receive quite as much praise:
Ford started 15 games, spending the vast majority of his time at right tackle, but the results were underwhelming, rekindling the question that plagued him prior to the 2019 draft: Would he be better served playing guard?
The biggest breakout among the rookie group was running back Devin Singletary. Once head coach Sean McDermott and company felt comfortable with “Motor,” they placed a greater emphasis on getting the ball in his hands. Singletary carried the ball no fewer than 14 times in each of his final six regular-season games. He wrestled the starting job away from veteran Frank Gore. It was an easy change, as Singletary’s explosiveness put defense’s on notice. In addition, Singletary was a surprisingly reliable player in the passing game, catching 29 targets during the year. Singletary was dubbed a steal of sorts for the Bills:
Thus far, Singletary has actually proven to be the biggest steal of Buffalo’s rookie class. After dealing with a hamstring injury in September and splitting carries with the ageless Frank Gore in the first half of the season, the elusive rookie really came on down the stretch, eclipsing 600 yards rushing in his final eight regular-season games.
The final player to produce decent numbers among this draft class was tight end Dawson Knox. The Ole Miss had several positive moments on the season. He put himself on the map with an aggressive 49-yard catch-and-run in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also contributed nicely in run-blocking situations. However, he, like many rookies, is still working on developing consistency, especially with his pass-catching.
Dawson Knox. You love to see it. #CINvsBUF | #GoBills pic.twitter.com/ovMqiUTmZN
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 22, 2019
Sixth-round selection Jaquan Johnson contributed primarily to the special teams unit. Darryl Johnson, Jr., a seventh-round pick, contributed on special teams as well. He played sparingly at the defensive end position after Week 8. Tight end Tommy Sweeney played in six games. However, he was mostly a depth piece, and will need to continue to fight among a crowded tight end group.
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