Buffalo Bills predicted to draft offensive lineman in 2019 first round
By James Reeve
The Buffalo Bills are likely to draft an offensive lineman in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft according to ESPN expert Todd McShay.
Todd McShay released his first 2019 Mock Draft, with the ESPN analyst seeing the Buffalo Bills land the sixth-overall pick based on their disappointing 4-9 with just three more games to play.
The Bills have struggled through a season that has seen their offence specifically fail to find consistency, and the offensive line has been identified by McShay as the area likely to be upgraded with the team’s first pick in 2019.
McShay projects the Bills to spend the pick on Jonah Williams, a Junior left tackle from the Alabama Crimson tide.
Williams is a big-bodied tackle who would give the Bills an immediate starter at any place along the offensive line, standing at 6-foot-5, 301 pounds according to CFB Stats.
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A four-year starter on Nick Saban’s dominant Alabama side, where he has appeared in back-to-back CFP National Championships — winning one in 2018 — Williams was the highest-graded tackle by Pro Football Focus – allowing a grand total of ZERO sacks and only nine pressures all season.
With Buffalo Bills quarterbacks being sacked 39 times, 26 for Josh Allen alone, having a player on the line who is strong at protecting his QB is an absolute must.
The Bills have pieces that make up a strong defence, but they have a number of question marks on offence outside of Allen and Zay Jones.
LeSean McCoy is a focal point of the team’s offence, but his production has dropped this season and can’t be relied upon to carry the load when the team’s line doesn’t give adequate-enough protection.
The Bills are likely to look at offence for their first three picks in the draft, with concerns along the line as well as a huge need for better receiver depth.
Adding a player such as Williams, who is ranked the third-best tackle by Walter Football, is something that makes sense for the Bills.
Sean McDermott has something in Allen, and ensuring he is given the very best opportunity to succeed will do wonders for his confidence and development.
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What do you think of the draft prediction Bills Mafia? Let us know who you would like to see the team target in the draft, in the comments below.