Instant analysis: Bills add their complementary RB in Zack Moss

It will likely be Devin Singletary and Zack Moss as the one-two punch in Buffalo’s backfield next season. 

It will likely be Devin Singletary and Zack Moss as the one-two punch in the Bills’ backfield next season. With their slotted pick in the third round, No. 86 overall, Buffalo pulled the trigger on Utes RB Zack Moss.

At 5-foot-10 and 222 pounds Moss packs a punch. A physical runner with his best work coming between the tackles, his best attributes include vision, contact balance, power, competitive toughness and footwork. Moss had nearly 800 carries in college with three consecutive seasons of over 1,000 rushing yards, at least 5.5 yards per carry and double-digit touchdowns.

As a receiver, he improved in that area during his senior season and projects well in pass protection. He is fiercely competitive and plenty shifty and elusive given his size. Moss had a poor 40 time at the recent scouting combine, a 4.65-second clip, the fourth-worst among backs there, but you might not think that after watching his tape.

One item of concern is Moss’ injury history. The most severe was a torn meniscus in 2018, but the physical back also banged up his hand and shoulder throughout his collegiate career. Moss stayed healthy in 2019, showing a lot of promise and proving to teams that the injuries were behind him.

Running back was a position of need after Frank Gore is presumably not a candidate being brought back in the fold. Buffalo still has T.J. Yeldon on the roster and signed special teams ace and familiar face, Taiwan Jones, in free agency. Throughout the pre-draft process, the Bills produced what was a very obvious smokescreen, continually saying that the team should be fine with TJ Yeldon in the backfield next season. Yeldon was inactive in numerous games last season, so it’s not surprising that the Bills landed a running back on Day 2.

Moss’s selection in the third round indicates the Bills were serious about supporting Singletary and adding depth to the position. In a league where monitoring carries has been a theme, Moss should provide the short-yardage, goal-line and welcome change of pace for the offensive attack.

The acquisition of Moss likely takes Buffalo out of any trade discussions for Leonard Fournette, who Jacksonville is rumored to be shopping. But that could be a good thing considering the salary cap. Fournette, the former No. 1 overall pick, has a hit near $8 million next season, and the Bills don’t need to trade assets for a guy like him. Instead they used their own to take Moss.

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