With just two weeks until the start of NFL Scouting Combine, the draft hype is just starting to heat up. ESPN’s First Draft Podcast took a look at the future of the Bills and how the team can push its way to the top of the AFC East.
Analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. gave a shoutout to quarterback Josh Allen as the central piece for the Bills success. “They are, and they’re a team that is not going away as long as Allen can play.” Kiper, who challenged his colleague Todd McShay about his view on Allen, highlighted the quarterback is far from perfect, but the intangibles more than makeup for the sometimes questionable decisions. Kiper added, “The players love him. They’ll go through a wall for this guy on offense and defense. I’ve never seen a team go to bat for their quarterback as much as these guys have.”
Kiper continued, “He [Allen] improved in every category dramatically from his rookie year.” Allen increased his yards passing per game by 20 yards and doubled his touchdown production all while limiting the number of interceptions thrown. This is the growth that the team expected when he was drafted seventh overall in the 2018 draft.
Kiper, Jr. brought it back to how the team can help Allen improve. “One thing that Allen needs is a bigger target. You’ve got Cole Beasley, a really good player, slot guy, and you’ve got John Brown, a really good player.” However, Kiper sees the absence of a big target for Allen. “But when you got to get a mismatch, who are you throwing to?”
Kiper,Jr. added that the Bills have constructed a deep roster, possible one of the stronger groups in the league. “They got the cornerstone player in Josh [Allen], they got the cornerstone player on defense in [Tremaine] Edmunds, they got a shutdown corner in [Tre’Davious] White, Oliver could be really good along the interior, and they’ve got a lot of nice pieces in place.”
While discussing young quarterbacks in the AFC East, McShay made a plea that New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold has “a chance at being one of the three-or-four best quarterbacks in the league.”
Kiper, Jr.’s response: “I think Josh Allen does as well.”
Buffalo will look to supplement Allen with additional skill players this offseason. Both analysts, while they disagree on Allen, believe wide receiver is a need in the draft.
Kiper, Jr. mentioned all of the top wide receivers as options at the 22nd spot in the draft. Colorado’s Levisha Shenault and Clemson’s Tee Higgins were options named at this point.
McShay, for his part, shared there will be talent on day two of the draft at the wide receiver position. “Don’t force it the first round” was McShay’s advice. The analyst revealed that if an edge rusher is available at the No. 22 spot, the Bills could wait on the receiver until the second round. McShay shared that Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk, Florida’s Van Jefferson, and USC’s Michael Pittman could be viable options of day two for the Bills.
The NFL Draft Combine takes place from February 24-March 1.
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