Buffalo Bills 2021 NFL Draft: 3 areas team should look to address

Buffalo Bills should be looking to find a featured running back

Many draft experts predict the Bills to take a running back in the first round. There aren’t many teams likely to take one before Buffalo early which could give them their choice of the top-ranked options on the board.

Buffalo averaged 4.2 yards per carry totalling 1,723 yards on the ground in 2020 to go along with 16 touchdowns. Josh Allen played a big part in the team’s rushing production with 631 yards on 89 carries and half of the team’s touchdowns on the ground with eight.

The passing game took a major step forward with the addition of Stefon Diggs who was well worth the first-round pick the Bills gave up to acquire him. Now, they need to find a way to get the rushing game to be relevant beyond Allen which is why drafting a running back yearly would be important.

It would make the team much less predictable on offense if they showed that they are willing to hand the ball off to a featured back more than 10 times a game. There’s nothing wrong with the running back by committee approach but Buffalo needs to show a willingness to establish a rhythm on the ground.

There are really two targets the Bills can look at in the first round if they both reach No. 30. Najee Harris and Travis Etienne.

Brad Vos explained why Etienne would be the likely target considering he is versatile and has proven to be an explosive playmaker. While the Clemson Tiger is the likely pick, some also believe the Bills would trade up to get Harris.

The Crimson Tide back played a more significant role this past season and was a unanimous All-American in 2020. Allen would also love this pick considering the versatility Harris brings and the Bills would like his ability to make plays against second-level defenders.

If they don’t take a running back early, a bit of a Canadian bias would want the Bills to look at Chubba Hubbard who would be an interesting target in the later rounds.