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We’re in the thick of mock draft season. But Bleacher Report decided to take a different route toward the 2022 NFL draft.
Instead of guessing which prospect each NFL team might pick with their selections in a mock draft, B/R named a player every club “need to grab.” For the Bills, the player was a defensive tackle, Devonte Wyatt from Georgia.
Here’s why the outlet came to that conclusion:
The Buffalo Bills defense finished a respectable 13th in rushing yards allowed in 2021. However, the Bills weren’t consistent against the ground game and had some embarrassing outings during the second half of the season.
In Week 11, the Bills surrendered 264 rushing yards to the Indianapolis Colts. In Week 13, they gave up 222 ground yards to the rival New England Patriots. In its divisional-round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo surrendered 182 yards on the ground.
Additionally, the Bills defensive line is set to see Mario Addison, Jerry Hughes, Vernon Butler and Harrison Phillips hit free agency. Reloading the line with Georgia’s Devonte Wyatt would make a lot of sense.
“[Wyatt] handles himself well in the running game against single blocks, in part because of how well he takes control early,” Derrik Klassen of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. “He can then finish on plays thanks to his good balance to stay upright and eye discipline to see the backfield correctly.”
The 6’2″, 307-pound Wyatt played multiple positions along the line in Georgia’s defense and could slot into Buffalo’s defensive-line rotation immediately.
The last two drafts saw the Bills take defensive lineman with the last three top-overall picks. However, those three were pass rushers (Greg Rousseau, Boogie Basham, AJ Epenesa), so Buffalo should be open to someone like Wyatt who would line up in the middle of the D-line.
If the Bills scouting department thinks Wyatt can help their run defense, there’s no reasons they shouldn’t have him on their draft board. However, The Draft Network adds a curveball. Their analysis pegs Wyatt as a three-tech tackle that can rush the passer. Buffalo has a starter in that role already in Ed Oliver.
And if the Bills do re-sign Phillips, he’ll likely start next Oliver in the run-stopping one-tech role.
Wyatt could certainly be on Buffalo’s radar in April. He’s a talent prospect. However, he might not be the type of player the Bills currently “need.”
But there’s tons of time before the draft, including free agency. A lot can change before the draft.
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