(Photo: The potential Buffalo Bills draft pick will be waiting in this green room in Pittsburgh for the call at No. 26 in the draft. The Wellsville Sun is in Pittsburgh for photos, videos and Chuck Pollock providing day-by-day draft analysis. Wellsville Sun photos)
By CHUCK POLLOCK, Sun Sports Sports Columnist
So who do the Bills choose in this year’s first round?
So what’s the Bills’ major position of need as they head into the NFL’s 91st draft which debuts tonight at 8 o’clock in Pittsburgh at the Draft Theatre and Main Stage in the Acrisure Stadium/Point Park area.
Opinions vary on the Bills first-round choice.
Edge rusher and defensive tackle arguably top the list closely followed by linebacker and cornerback.
General manager Brandon Beane has failed miserably in signing free agent edge rushers as both Joey Bosa and Von Miller were undermined by injury. And their absence merely amplified Buffalo’s inability to persistently stop the run.
What made the problem worse was that two of the three starting linebackers — Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams — while talented, are both undersized, each weighing under 230 pounds.
The starting cornerbacks — Christian Benford and Maxwell Harrison, last year’s first rounder, are dependable, but the depth — Dorian Strong and Daryl Porter — is iffy.
With once-elite nickel cornerback Taron Johnson traded to the Raiders, that job falls to former Falcon free agent Dee Alford.
Defensively, last season, the Bills ranked seventh in yards surrendered, 12th in points given up (25.1) and in a tie for 20th in sacks recorded (36). Edge rusher Greg Rousseau topped the team with seven sacks.
That’s why the Bills should be focusing on defense in the draft, though picking 26th limits their choices.
MEANWHILE, BEANE repeated a point he’s made in the last few drafts.
“There aren’t nearly enough players with first-round grades to fill that round (32 players).” And that contention has merit.
In this year’s Sporting News Draft Preview, every draft-eligible player is graded. The most elite grade is 8.5-9.0 (perennial All-Pro).
This year, SN’s highest grade is 8.5 and only five players have it: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner; Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame running back; Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon tight end; Spencer Fano, Utah offensive tackle and Caleb Downs, Ohio State safety.
In all, there are 26 players with grades of 8.1 or higher … six offensive tackles but no centers, defensive tackles, outside linebackers or specialists (punter or place-kicker).
The question is, how many of those players fall to the Bills at 26.
• Coveted edge rushers are David Bailey, Texas Tech, 8.3; Keldric Faulk, Auburn, 8.2 andRueben Bain Jr. Miami, 8.1
• Defensive tackles available are Peter Woods, Clemson, 8.2 and Kayden McDonald, Ohio State, 8.1
• Inside linebackers at 8.1 or higher, Arvell Reese, Ohio State, 8.4 and Sonny Styles, Ohio State, 8.3
• Safeties are Downs, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo, 8.3, Jakobe Thomas, Miami, 8.1
• Four cornerbacks made the list: Mansoor Delane, LSU, 8.2, Aveion Terrell, Clemson, 8.1, Jermod McCoy, 8.1 Tennessee, 8.1 and Colton Hood, Tennessee, 8.1.
And, as is the habit of NFL teams, nobody is discussing their needs or their preference in players.
Beane’s success as a drafter has been spotty, especially in the first round.
His shining moment came in 2018 when, after joining the Bills from the Carolina Panthers, he traded up and took Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen who, after O.J. Simpson, was Buffaloi’s all-time-best dfraft pick.
But, in Beane’s subsequent seven drafts, results have been decidedly mixed in the first round: 2019 defensive tackle Ed Oliver (B-); 2020 no first-rounder; 2021 edge rusher Greg Rousseau (B); 2022 cornerback Karim Elam (F), 2023 tight end Dalton Kincaid (B); 2024 wide receiver Keon Coleman (C-) and 2025 cornerback Maxwell Harrison (incomplete).
That’s an average of C+, not what’s to be expected in the first round.
But, in fairness to Beane, he’s demonstrated his personnel acumen with many of his free agent signings.
Players such as center Mitch Morris, guards Connor McGovern and Jon Feliciano, wide receivers Cole Beasley, Mack Hollins, John Brown and Isiah McKenzie, linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and edge rushers Leonard Floyd and Mario Addison were all contributors.
This year’s Bills have a different look among the 90 players on the active roster. Only 50 return including 21 starters plus the long-snapper, punter and place-kicker.
Gone are wide receivers Gabe Davis, Curtis Samuel and Brandin Cooks; cornerbacks TreDavious White, Dane Jackson, edge rusher Joey Bosa; linebackers Matt Milano, Shaq Thompson, Baylon Spector and A.J. Epenesa (also in edge rusher); guard David Edwards; defensive tackles DaQuan Jones, Larry Ogunjobi and Jordan Phillips, place-kicker Matt Prater; fullback/special teamer Reggie Gilliam; safeties Taylor Rapp, Cam Lewis, Jordan Poyer and Darnell Savage; quarterback Mitch Trubisky and tackle Ryan Vandemark.
That’s a lot of spots to fill.
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
Wellsville Sun photos of the stage and draft area ahead of tonight’s NFL draft.
