John Miller was one of the Bills’ best 2015 NFL draft picks, as he should be able to compete for a starting job right away. (Photo: Mark Konezny — USA Today Sports)
BBD Contributor: Brian Krosky
With the 2015 NFL draft in the books, it’s time to evaluate how effectively the Buffalo Bills found value and addressed needs with their six selections in this year’s event.
Pick 1.19 - N/A – This pick was traded to the Cleveland Browns last year when the Bills moved up for Sammy Watkins. There has been a lot of backlash that the deal wasn’t worth it, given the success of other rookies in last year’s wide receiver class, but the Bills got their No. 1 wide receiver.
Pick 2.18 - Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State – This was a confusing pick, as cornerback might be the deepest position on the Bills roster. With the Bills already having former first-round picks Leodis McKelvin and Stephon Gilmore as starters, and Corey Graham and Nickell Robey playing in sub-packages, the Darby pick was a shocker.
However, Robey’s contract expires in 2016, while Gilmore, McKelvin and Graham could all be free agents in 2017, and McKelvin and Graham are both potential cap casualties next season.
Darby is known for his track speed he brings to the football field, and the ability to recover on any route. Draft analysts were torn on him; some saw him as a first-round player and others thought he was an early Day 3 player. In Buffalo, he is brought into a great situation where he won’t have to see the field right away and will have a ferocious front seven helping out the secondary. Grade: C+
Pick 3.17 - John Miller, OG, Louisville – Miller was a good pick in the third round that addressed a clear need. Miller has a chance to find himself in a starting guard role at the beginning of the year. With the Bills opting not to look at offensive line with their first pick, they missed out on the top guards, but Miller was a solid pickup in the second tier of interior blockers and was picked right where many had him slotted.
Miller is a great run blocker who fits very well in the power-run scheme coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Greg Roman will implement. He handles his assignments very well and will clear holes for LeSean McCoy. Miller won’t be a pulling guard for the Bills, because he has slow and heavy feet. Nonetheless, look for him to be a day one starter on this line. Grade: B+
Pick 4.16 - N/A – This pick was also traded to the Browns as part of the Sammy Watkins deal.
Pick 5.19 - Karlos Williams, RB, Florida State – Another surprising selection of a Florida State Seminole. Like cornerback, running back is currently a strength of the Bills, where they have a couple of options they can trust. LeSean McCoy will be the staple of the Bills offense and Fred Jackson is always valuable on third downs with his blocking and receiving skills. Behind those two the Bills have Anthony Dixon, who they signed to a three-year contract last offseason, and Bryce Brown, for whom they traded a fourth-round pick (previously acquired from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for Stevie Johnson) in last year’s draft.
This pick does offer some future upside. Although McCoy is signed through 2020, Jackson’s future is unclear beyond this season, as he is only signed one year and will be 35 in 2016. After that, it seems like either Brown or Dixon will be released, or at least not re-signed following the expiration of their own contracts.
Williams, who started his Florida State career at safety, had some hype to his name prior to the start of the college football season. As the season progressed, his stock took a hit. He runs too upright and doesn’t get leverage when running through contact. He lost his job to a freshman this year and carries some concerns about football and personal character. All of that said, he has a great top speed and fits the style of running Rex Ryan is looking for. Grade: C+
Pick 6.12 - Tony Steward, ILB, Clemson – This pick was another surprise for the Bills, as they took a player who wasn’t invited to any major all-star games or the NFL Scouting Combine.
Despite the surprise, Steward fills a need for depth at inside linebacker. Having traded away 2013 PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year Kiko Alonso this offseason, the Bills needed to add depth behind starting inside linebackers Nigel Bradham and Preston Brown.
Steward flew under the radar as a draft prospect after playing alongside first-round pick Stephone Anthony in a lethal Clemson defensive front seven. He was a former five-star recruit out of high school, and had 73 total tackles and 13 hurries rushing the passer in his senior season. Grade: D+
Pick 6.18 - Nick O’Leary, TE, Florida State – This was the Bills’ third selection of a Florida State player in five picks. O’Leary, who won the 2014 John Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end for college football, brings an old-school mentality and physicality to the game.
He was a reliable target for Jameis Winston and did a great job of finding holes in the middle of zone defenses. Although he brings a high football IQ, O’Leary lacks the athleticism to be a No. 1 or even No. 2 target in the NFL. He won’t separate in coverage and won’t elude many tacklers.
O’Leary can be a great complement behind Charles Clay on the depth chart. He can line up on the line of scrimmage or in the H-back role, and can be utilized as a blocker or as a short-area passing option. Grade: B+
Pick 7.17 - Dezmin Lewis, WR, Central Arkansas – Probably the best value of any draft pick by the Bills, Lewis is a big target (6’4″, 214 lbs) who provides hands downfield on 50-50 balls. With Robert Woods, Percy Harvin, Sammy Watkins and Chris Hogan being smaller receivers, Lewis has a chance to step in and be a fourth or fifth option.
Lewis wasn’t great at creating separation for himself against small-school competition, and will definitely struggle with that in the NFL. However, he was projected as an early Day 3 pick, and drafting him in the 7th round was a steal for the Bills. Grade: A-
Summary: It’s clear the Bills were looking to the future and weren’t looking to get immediate impact out of some of their selections. While they selected players at running back and cornerback to prepare for their roster down the road, they left holes on the defensive line and on the edge, where they needed depth.
The Bills stuck true to their board, and took players that didn’t necessarily fill needs and were not always the most highly regarded players available. Overall Draft Grade: C+
