Buffalo Bills: 4 options with their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft

Despite not having their first pick until the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, there are still some intriguing possibilities for the Buffalo Bills and we break down four of those options.

Just because the Buffalo Bills don’t have a pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, it is no reason for fans to lose any interest in this year’s event. Apart from the fact it was worth it to give up the 22nd overall pick in order to trade for Stefon Diggs, there will still be plenty of quality players available.

A lot of NFL general managers have apparently complained about the draft going ahead as planned. This is due in part to them not being able to bring in players to meet and interview, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

However, history will tell us that there is no full-proof method for picking a sure-fire winner, with former first rounders Ryan Leaf, Tony Mandarich and JaMarcus Russell all jumping to mind. On the flip side, there have been plenty of later round successes, including six-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady and Hall-of-Famer Terrell Davis in the sixth round, along with four-time First-team All-Pro Karl Mecklenburg in the 12th round.

As such, there is every reason to believe the Bills have just as good a chance to find a gem in the second round, as they would if they were still selecting in the first round. With this in mind, let’s break down four players they should consider with the 54th overall draft pick:

1) J.K. Dobbins

At first glance, some people may be surprised we are picking a running back as one of the Bills’ options with their first pick in the draft. After all, last season they had one of the better grounds games in the NFL, ranking eighth with just under 130 yards per game.

However, a deeper look tells you that selecting a running back actually makes a lot of sense. Frank Gore is a soon-to-be 37-year-old unrestricted free agent, while Devin Singletary still needs to prove he can be the main man on a consistent basis (and could use a strong backup regardless).

In addition, it is not realistic to continually rely on Josh Allen using his legs as often to boost the running game, especially if he is going to stick around as the long-term field general in Buffalo. Enter J.K. Dobbins.

The idea of selecting Dobbins is an intriguing one. We’re talking about a player who became the only Buckeye in history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season; even the great Eddie George didn’t achieve this during his time at Ohio State.

Due to the Houston, Texas native’s stellar season on the ground, he finished sixth in voting for the Heisman Trophy. He was also named 2019 First Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten, meaning it was no surprise when he decided to forgo his Senior year and declare for the 2020 draft.

Dobbins’ big season in 2019 proved he could be the main man in respect of carrying the load. He also displayed some mental fortitude in the way he rebounded from an average Junior season; this was further shown in his ability to perform at a high level in big games.

The 21-year-old may only be 5 ft 9, but he has a solid, compact body which helps him withstand the punishment which comes with being a running back. He’s durable and seems to enjoy the physical side of the game, although he isn’t always effective which his blocking ability.

At the NFL level, Dobbins might be better suited to sharing the load with another back rather than being the main man. This doesn’t mean he can’t be a starter — a lot of scouts have raved about his vision — but you can imagine him as the thunder in a “thunder and lightening” backfield tandem.

As a final note, Dobbins can be utilized in the passing game, but still needs to improve in this area. Overall, he would prove to be an excellent addition to the Bills’ ground game if they do decide to pick him.