Remember how we mentioned that the Bills were showing some interest in Ohio State players? Turns out that interest is stronger than we expected. FoxSports.com writer Peter Schrager is reporting that the Bills brought a grand total of six Ohio State players out to dinner in Buffalo on Thursday, which would imply that this was part of a pre-draft group visit.
Buffalo Bills brass dined w/ 6 different OSU Buckeye prospects Thursday: Cardale Jones, Lee, Apple, Washington, Decker, and Bell. @NFLonFOX
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 1, 2016
Bills brass hosted the six Buckeye prospects at Italian restaurant Giancarlo's. Same spot they wined and dined Tyrod Taylor last year.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 1, 2016
This visit includes three names we already knew, but also features defensive tackle Adolphus Washington, offensive tackle Taylor Decker, and safety Vonn Bell. Counting these players, our list of pre-draft visitors is now up to thirteen names - six of them Buckeyes.
Decker is generally considered to be the best player out of these three new names, with most analysts placing him somewhere between the third and fifth best tackle in the draft and giving him a first round grade. He has great size, was a three-year starter at left tackle, and is currently training with former offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley to improve his technique.
Washington, who measures in at around 6'3" and 295 pounds, had 17.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in his last two seasons. He flipped around the defensive line, but was most effective playing as a pass rushing three technique.
Bell, an underclassman, is a two year starter for the Buckeyes. In his college career, he collected 9 interceptions, four tackles for loss, and fifteen pass breakups, playing as a deep safety.