The Buffalo Bills went into the 2016 NFL Draft needing one of everything. Mostly, the Bills need help shoring up their porous defense. Their first three picks were defensive players. The big surprise was the choice of Ohio State quartback Cardale Jones, a long-term “project.” How did your favorite NFL team do in the Draft?
1-19: Shaq Lawson, ER, Clemson
Moments after drafting the 6’3″, 269-pound pass rusher and reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, general manager Doug Whaley announced that Lawson would start for the Bills in 2016, running opposite fellow edge rusher Jerry Hughes.
2-41: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
The Bills traded a fourth-round pick this year, plus a fourth-round pick next year, to move up eight spots to land Ragland, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He’ll also start for the team in 2016, next to Preston Brown.
3-80: Adolphus Washington, DL, Ohio State
A versatile 6’3″, 300-plus pound interior defensive lineman with polished pass rush ability, Washington has effort and consistency issues to work through, but should factor into the defensive line rotation heavily as a rookie.
4-139: Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State
Buffalo rolled the dice on the big-name, big-talent Buckeye in the fourth round, but tempered immediate expectations by saying that he’ll spend the 2016 as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Tyrod Taylor and backup EJ Manuel.
5-156: Jonathan Williams, RB, Arkansas
He missed the entire 2015 season with a foot injury, but that reportedly will not prevent him from missing time as a rookie. Williams is a light-footed 220-pound back with solid production and special teams capabilities as a potential third back.
6-192: Kolby Listenbee, WR, TCU
The Bills have been looking for a speed receiver to line up opposite Sammy Watkins, and the four-time All-American sprinter from TCU, Listenbee, is their latest attempt at finding that player. He’s very raw, but has potential.
6-218: Kevon Seymour, CB, USC
If you’re rolling the dice on a late-round pick, why not do so on a talented athlete? Seymour underwhelmed at USC, but near-6’0″ cornerbacks with 4.39-second 40-yard dash speed are not exactly easy to find.
I think we got an offensive lineman or two! I really don’t pay much attention to the draft!
Bob, the Bills play the Seahawks on Monday Night next season.
I didn’t pay any attention to the Draft. Eli Apple? That sounds like a name made up to play in New York!
Jeff, clearly he’s a Big Apple!
Just about everyone I’ve read rates the Bills’ draft higher than the ones by the Texans and Cowboys. Only Jerry Jones would use a second-round pick on a player with an injury so severe that he can’t play this year.
Bill, the Bills have drafted players that never made it to the field because of “pre-existing conditions” so Jerry Jones isn’t alone.
I only saw our first pick Bosa?? I don’t pay attention to the draft, either. I agree with Bill about using a pick for a player with a bad injury. I think there were a few other players with injuries that went higher than expected.
OT: White House Correspondents Dinner. I thought Larry Wilmore was dreadful. I’m no fan of ted cruz, but to repeatedly call him the zodiac killer was offensive. Once would have been enough, but it was like flogging a dead horse. I thought his comments on Sanders were funny, not too much else amused me of his speech.
I thought Obama killed it. the cnn talking heads after felt he took it easy on Trump. I thought he spread it around, and had trump been there, he might have gotten some more.
Maggie, I’m with you on Obama’s routine at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Very clever and funny. I loved Obama’s advice to Republican National Committee Chairma Reince Priebus: “Keep doin’ what you’re doin'”
I loved the video of Obama and Boehner watching TOY STORY.
Jeff, it was all cleverly done. Some people are going to miss Obama when he’s gone.
The thing about the draft is that only in retrospect can see whether a prospect deserved his high rating. My husband likes to point out that Ryan Leaf was drafted ahead of Peyton Manning; now one is a sure Hall-of-Famer, the other is doing time. You just don’t know what the future holds, but I suspect we may be making similar comments in a few years about previous Draft Day golden boy, Johnny Manziel.
Deb, in hindsight the Browns have to wonder why they drafted Johnny Manziel in the First Round. All the warning signs were there. I agree: there’s no way to evaluate a team’s draft picks until years down the road. However, I like some of the players New Orleans drafted.
Deb: ryan leaf is a name that still brings tears to the eyes of San Diegans. Had we taken Manning, and also had LT, the chargers would have been a lot better team .
The Bills needed to draft a new coach.
I followed the first day, but the second day I gave it up as Wingo and his buddies talked across the announcements and blathered mindlessly, between the endless commercials. I haven’t had a chance to look at or read up on Seahawks picks, and probably won’t today, either. So I’ll make a late comment here tomorrow.
Rick, I’m with you on Troy Wingo. Hot air, no content.
Okay, I took a look. I’m not terribly impressed except for the first pick, a guard. I give their drat a C, but they have a way of developing players, so who knows?
Rick, the 2016 NFL Draft was supposed to be deep in defensive lineman (the Bills chose two), but thin in wide receivers and offensive lineman.