Kyle’s pick:
118. S Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger has soared up draft boards in recent weeks, this thanks to a strong outing at the 2020 Senior Bowl.
He likely caught the eye of Buffalo’s front office at the event, as well, as the Senior Bowl has been the source of half of the team’s draft picks over the past three years.
Eleven out of the 22 players the team has selected since the 2017 NFL Draft took part in the Senior Bowl. They also have a track record of taking small-school defensive prospects who took part in the event, as well. Think back to Taron Johnson and Siran Neal in 2018.
Kyle Dugger could be the next player who fits this bill to join the organization. A 6-foot-1 safety, Dugger is a dynamic athlete who is effective in coverage.
He perhaps projects to be a linebacker in the NFL, but this could bode well for the Bills, who are in need of an additional outside backer after the retirement of Lorenzo Alexander. Dugger is a versatile defender who appears to check all the boxes that Buffalo likes to check, and thus, he’s a realistic projection in Round 4.
PICK! Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger makes the interception during one-on-one drills. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/nqbS438EyT
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) January 22, 2020
Nick’s pick:
118. DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
Improving the pass rush is going to but one of the more important aspects for the Bills this offseason. Shaq Lawson, who’s a pending free agent, led Buffalo’s defensive ends with 6.5 sacks. That’s not good enough from that positional group.
If the Bills they can improve Willekes as a pass rusher, who they reportedly met with at the Senior Bowl, they’ll love him. PFF touted his run defending grade, which was above 80 every year at Michigan State. In addition, Willekes has the makeup the Bills like in their locker room.
Out of high school, Willekes only had one college offer from Wayne State. He turned that down and said he wanted to walk-on at Michigan State. He did just that. At the Senior Bowl, Willekes stood out with two sacks, four tackles and drew a holding penalty in 30 snaps played. With that in mind, it should be no surprise that draft experts tout Willekes’ motor as a defender. McDermott will love that, too.
That didn’t take long💨
Kenny Willekes gets to Justin Herbert!
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) January 25, 2020
Recap
Kyle’s four-round mock:
22. RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
54. WR Jalen Reagor, TCU
86. DE Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame
118. S Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
Nick’s four-round mock:
22. WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
54. LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
86. RB Eno Benjamin, Arizona State
118. DE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
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