The Bills don’t have many holes on their roster. Let alone their defense. Let alone their stout secondary. But that group gets even deeper in CBS Sports‘ latest mock draft draft, which was released on Friday after the conclusion of Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday.
In it, the Bills stand pat at pick No. 54, their current first selection of the draft in the second round. With it, Buffalo nabs Southern Illinois safety Jeremy Chinn.
After their first pick, the Bills do decide to do some moving. In the third round, Buffalo jump up four spots from pick No. 86 to pick No. 82 in a mocked trade with the Cowboys. There is another defensive back as the selection, Mississippi State’s Cameron Dantzler.
Here’s the breakdown on both picks:
Yes, Buffalo has other, more obvious needs, but Chinn is part of the future as a “positionless” defender.
The Bills see the length, instincts, and feisty nature in Dantzler and make a move to get him.
While the Bills have a set safety duo in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, Chinn could be in play for the Bills because of his versatility. Some project him as a mix between a safety, linebacker and big slot cornerback in the NFL. That versatility will be coveted by Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott. The 6-foot-3, 221-pound defensive back has impressive size and just as impressive combine numbers. Chinn ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash time and followed that up with a 41-inch vertical jump.
At SIU, Chinn, a senior, finished his career with 13 interceptions, 31 passes defended and six forced fumbles. The Bills also reportedly had a pre-draft meeting with Chinn.
While the Bills did add Josh Norman and EJ Gaines to their cornerback room this offseason, those two have some health and consistency concerns. In addition, if the Bills don’t view Levi Wallace as their long-term answer, Dantzler could be that guy across from Tre’Davious White for years to come.
At 6-foot-2, Dantzler has the athleticism and length to match up with NFL receivers. He recorded 40 tackles and two interceptions last season.
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