In his latest 2016 NFL mock draft published on Thursday, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper projected Clemson defensive end Kevin Dodd to the Buffalo Bills with the No. 19 overall pick.
Dodd, a redshirt junior that will turn 24 years old this summer, just finished his first season as a starter for Clemson, having toiled in anonymity behind Vic Beasley and others earlier in his career. The fact that he's a one-year wonder will be a concern for many as the draft approaches, but 2015 was a very good year for Dodd, who turned 8.0 regular season sacks and 4.0 postseason sacks - three of which came in the national championship game loss to Alabama - into soaring draft stock.
The 6'5", 275-pound defensive end is considered one of the better pass rushers available in this year's draft class, and most expect him to be off the board quickly this year. Here's what Daniel Jeremiah, former NFL scout and current NFL Network draft analyst, has to say about Dodd:
Dodd was a one-year starter at defensive end for the Tigers. He lines up on the left side and he'll play out of a two- and three-point stance. He has outstanding height, length and athleticism. Against the run, he's at his best when slanting and attacking gaps. He's very quick and slippery, which leads to a lot of tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He has an explosive burst closing from the back side. He is an excellent pass rusher. He has an explosive get-off, an array of hand moves and the ability to bend/wrap the edge. He dominated in the national championship game, collecting 3 sacks and 5 tackles for loss. Overall, Dodd doesn't have a lot of experience but he has all of the tools to be a double-digit sack artist at the next level.
There's also program pedigree to consider here; the Bills have developed a reputation for picking several prospects from the same school in recent seasons, and add in the familiarity that Rex Ryan has with the Clemson program, this seems like a prediction that has a fair likelihood of occurring.
What would you think of the Bills picking Dodd in the first round, Bills fans?