Four Players the Buffalo Bills Should Target in Round Two
Four Players the Buffalo Bills Should Target in Round Two
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The Buffalo Bills may not have had a pick in the first round last night, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be able to find immediate contributors in round two or three tonight. In the past, the Bills have had great success in these rounds, drafting players like Preston Brown and Kiko Alonso.
After an uneventful first round, the available talent pool is loaded with players who are more than capable of immediately contributing to an NFL roster. Here is a look at four players the Bills should target in round two.
Donovan Smith, Offensive Lineman, Penn State
Donovan Smith is a versatile offensive lineman that is capable of playing both guard and tackle. He has the kind of raw power that should translate well into Greg Roman’s “ground-and-pound” offensive scheme. Athletically, scouts do feel that Smith can improve. But given his powerful frame and versatility, Smith could be a nice utility piece along the offensive line.
Why the Bills should target him: For the Bills, Smith’s versatility makes him a very intriguing player. At tackle, the Bills are well aligned with Cordy Glenn, Seantrel Henderson and Cyrus Kouandjio. However, guard is a different story.
After Richie Incognito, the other guard position is truly up for grabs. While it would be a lot for Smith to come in and start right from day one, it is a possibility. But even if he doesn’t, his ability to play multiple positions makes him a very valuable backup to have on a 53-man roster.
Eric Rowe, Safety, Utah
Jan 24, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad defensive corner Eric Rowe of Utah (18)enters the field during player introductions before the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The North won, 34-13. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports
Eric Rowe is a versatile safety that can do a lot of things well on the football field. He can disguise coverage, play man-to-man in four wide sets, patrol the box, or even play centre field in a cover-1 package. Simply put, Rowe is solid in all areas. Prior to playing strong safety last season, Rowe was a three-year starter at free safety for the Utes’. He is scheme-adaptable, but more than likely a safety — as opposed to a cornerback — because he has a tendency to play downhill.
Why the Bills should target him: With safety being such an important position in today’s NFL, a multi-dimensional safety like Rowe is a great asset. Even though the Bills are comfortable with Duke Williams at strong safety, adding a player like Rowe to the mix wouldn’t hurt. His versatility would give Rex Ryan options in the secondary, as he could line Rowe up all over the field. His 6-foot-1, 205 pound frame translates well in press coverage on the boundary, and most importantly, he is an above average tackler in the open field. All of those traits should fit well in the Bills’ defensive scheme.
Quinten Rollins, Defensive Back, Miami (Ohio)
Quinten Rollins is an interesting prospect because of his ability to play both cornerback and safety. After four years of basketball, Rollins is a very raw player who has one year of experience under his belt. However, during that one season, Rollins was extremely impressive, particularly in press-man situations. While some questioned the competition he was facing on a weekly basis in the MAC, Rollins answered those questions with his Senior Bowl performance in Mobile, where he once again showed very well in a variety of situations.
Given his speed, quickness and ability to change direction, Rollins should transition well into a nickel or dime corner in the NFL.
Why the Bills should target him: Even though Rollins is very raw and inexperienced, his ability to play cornerback and safety makes him an intriguing player in Rex Ryan’s defensive scheme. Likely a nickel or dime defender, much of Rollins value will be contingent upon how well the Bills feel he can tackle. Coverage wise, he is aggressive, but in control. Even though defensive back is not a glaring need for the Bills, GM Doug Whaley did mention the position as an area of need. Rollins will need some work, but his ability to play press-man coverage in a passing league is a nice asset to have.
Carl Davis, Defensive Tackle, Iowa
Carl Davis is a behemoth of a man. Standing at 6-foot-5, 320 pounds, Davis is an extremely powerful player that demands double teams. His ability to penetrate the A-Gap and disrupt the backfield can be suspect at times, so some view him as a bit of project. However, his physical attributes match that of a first round pick, which makes Davis a very tantalizing prospect. If he can find a way to consistently match his talent and physical attributes, Davis has the potential to be a key component of any defensive line in the league.
Why the Bills should target him: For the Bills, the looming free agency of defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is a big question mark. While the team does have him for this season, beyond that is unknown. Now, I’m not saying Davis is Dareus’ replacement this year, but next year, Davis could develop into the kind of A-Gap player Rex Ryan often makes use of. While he is far from being as polished as Dareus is, or was for that matter, Davis has the kind of physical attributes that are hard to ignore.