The Buffalo Bills have much bigger things to worry about right now instead of the 2021 NFL Draft. With the Bills’ upcoming Wild Card weekend matchup with the Indianapolis Colts (11-5) just a day away, the NFL Draft seems like a lifetime from now.
But for most of the league, it’s not, and those clubs are hoping to change their fortunes at the upcoming rookie selection extravaganza. Because of that, ESPN NFL Draft guru Todd McShay released his first mock draft of the offseason this week and despite not holding a top pick, the Bills (13-3) are still in it.
Picking all the way back at No. 29 overall based off of ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index), Buffalo addresses their offensive line in the mock. The pick is Ohio State’s Wyatt Davis.
Here’s how McShay breaks down the selection:
The Josh Allen-Stefon Diggs connection was electric this season, but with Jon Feliciano, Daryl Williams and Brian Winters starring (sic) at free agency, the interior offensive line will likely need new blood to keep Allen upright and flinging it to Diggs. Cody Ford will return from a knee injury, but Davis has the 315-pound size, mobility and awareness to make a big impact. In 666 pass-blocking snaps over the past two seasons, Davis has allowed just two sacks.
Offensive line in several areas could be an idea for the Bills to consider addressing this offseason, certainly. Their biggest free agent is likely Williams at right tackle, who’s had a career resurgence in his first year with the Bills. He was their best overall player on the O-line, per Pro Football Focus, in 2020, even just edging out left tackle Dion Dawkins.
In the middle is more the area of concern if Williams is locked up. Not only are Feliciano, Boettger and Winters free agents, they, along with Ford, have left something to be desired there, at times. As pass protectors the bulk of Buffalo’s offensive lineman have had promising play this season. Run blocking improvement is the biggest of all needs for the Bills in terms of offensive line play.
Feliciano is likely the best of the bunch so the Bills could lock up him, or try to, but still, general improved play could be found along Buffalo’s O-line in the middle. The same goes for Mitch Morse at center, too.
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