I still overall like the roster and job by Beane/McDermott, but there are whiffs that are really hurting them in the areas they need help in (Ford, Epenesa(?), Moss, Zay Jones)
Hopefully there's a little more urgency to fill them this offseason so the roster is more balanced.
Here's a breakdown of NFL Draft Picks since Brandon Beane took over in 2017, and my thoughts. I'll add Rounds 5-7 if they are impact and give bonus points.
Overall thoughts - first two drafts were very good, minus Zay Jones. Next two were below average, and this past year's 2021 draft pick is too early to tell.
All teams miss - but they've missed at too high a rate in the 2nd & 3rd rounds. Edmunds' viability is still to be determined. I know a lot of people like him. He has the talent. Need him to be much more consistent.
2017 - Draft Grade - B+ - 3 starters in one draft is really good, but there is absolutely no depth and the Zay Jones 2nd rounder when JuJu Smith-Schuster & Curtis Samuel were selected behind him is atrocious.
1st Round
Tre'Davious White - #27 Overall - Grade: A - Pro Bowl quality CB at #27 overall is a very good evaluation. Great pick.
2nd Round
Zay Jones - #37 Overall - Grade: D - Cut after 3 years; out of the NFL in 4; Had 56 catches his 2nd year which is the only reason why this isn't an grade.
Dion Dawkins - #63 Overall - Grade: A - Starting LT and borderline Pro Bowl caliber offensive lineman in the 2nd round. Very good selection.
5th Round
Matt Milano - #163 Overall - Grade: A+ - For a 5th round pick, this was an absolute home run.
Rest of Draft Picks -
Nathan Peterman (5th),
Tanner Vallejo (6th) - No impact, but none expected at that stage.
2018 - Draft Grade - B+ - 3 starters and a depth guy in the first four rounds is pretty good. Need Edmunds to become a force at that position; that's a top draft pick to use on a MLB. Again not much depth for special teams/backups in later rounds. Just one (Neal).
1st Round
Josh Allen - #7 Overall - Grade: A - Franchise QB in a position where you needed to take one. No issues.
Tremaine Edmunds - #16 Overall - Grade: B - Starting linebacker, has shown flashes, but has not stayed healthy and has regressed the last few weeks. Still very young, but needs to improved quickly.
3rd Round
Harrison Phillips - #96 Overall - Grade: C - OK depth guy, hasn't flashed much in the way of being a big impact; been injured a lot. Also not sure this was a great DT class. Tough to find a comparison player that would have been better.
4th Round
Taron Johnson - #126 Overall - Grade: A- - Has been a revelation this year; You could argue he deserves to be an A grade given his draft choice location. Solid player that is very valuable to the Bills D.
Rest of Draft Picks -
Siran Neal (5th),
Wyatt Teller (5th),
Ray-Ray McCloud (6th),
Austin Proehl (7th) - Neal has stuck around but hasn't made much of an impact; Teller was traded and ended up turning into a Pro Bowler at a position of high need for the Bills now. Questionable move, to say the least.
2019 - Draft Grade - C - Three starters, only one of which is top-tier potential (Oliver); One has already had a draft pick chosen after him (Singletary), while the other was on the cusp of having the same done to him before this season's revival. J. Johnson, D. Johnson & T. Sweeney were solid picks in the late rounds that added to depth.
1st Round
Ed Oliver - #9 Overall - Grade: B- - Has come on this year, but has not been a Top 10 impact guy through his first two years (IMO). Not sure how anyone else feels but I think Christian Wilkins for the Dolphins has been much more of a threat than Oliver has been, and he was picked at #13.
2nd Round
Cody Ford - #38 Overall - Grade: - Absolute bust. Has been atrocious throughout his first 2+ years, and will likely not be retained after his rookie contract. Dalton Risner taken 3 spots later has been much, much better.
3rd Round
Devin Singletary - #74 Overall - Grade: C- - Has not taken the next step after a promising rookie season. Is it the line, is it the player, or is it the system? I'm not 100% sure, but he doesn't have the burst an elite back needs to have, and his vision and his blocking ability have not been up to par for a starting RB. Leaves a lot to be desired.
Dawson Knox - #96 Overall - Grade: C+ - Has shown flashes of brilliance, and this season has been much, much better. But has also been mistake prone (NE game drops) and hasn't been consistent enough. Could argue he deserves a B- but his first two years were not good enough for this year to make up the difference.
Rest of Draft Picks -
Vosean Joseph (5th), Jaquan Johnson (6th), Darryl Johnson (7th), Tommy Sweeney (7th).
2020 - Draft Grade - C+ - Top two picks are looking like guys who will need to be replaced. Davis & Bass are good capitol adds in later rounds. Again, outside of Jackson, not a lot of roster depth either.
2nd Round
A.J. Epenesa - 54th Overall - Grade: D+/C- - Had a great preseason this year, showing flashes, but has already had two draft picks taken at the same position the following year. Has 1.5 sacks through almost 2 seasons. Has been average. Hope he improves but he's looking more and more like another 2nd round bust.
3rd Round
Zack Moss - 86th Overall - Grade: C - Has been average at best; Inactive off and on this season; Injured at the end of last season. Has shown signs of being OK, but nothing special. Best blocking back on the team, so why he isn't playing more when the alternates aren't setting the world on fire is beyond me.
4th Round
Gabriel Davis - 128th Overall - Grade: A- - Hasn't been given a tremendous opportunity, but when he is given a chance has proven to be reliable and has gotten open consistently. Really like him as a skill guy with this offense, and could be bumped to #2 next year.
6th Round
Tyler Bass - 188th Overall - Grade: A - One of the top kickers in the league despite a couple of hiccups lately. Has proven he can do it at a high level and has a strong enough leg on kickoffs. Good selection. Hoping they can make a similar selection at punter in the coming year.
Rest of Draft Picks - Jake Fromm (5th), Isaiah Hodgins (6th), Dane Jackson (7th). Only Jackson has proven worthy of being an NFL player, but hasn't made much of an impact on the top roster. Will get his chance the rest of the year.
2021 - Draft Grade - Incomplete - Too early to tell on a lot of these guys. Rousseau showing promise, Basham has been active lately but a lot of depth. Next year will tell the story with these two guys more than this year. Spencer Brown is looking like a very good selection in the 3rd round. The rest appear to be depth pieces at best.
