Buffalo Bills build around Josh Allen in latest SB Nation 2018 mock draft

If you have a young quarterback, the best way to help him succeed is to build around him with talented players. It worked for Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, Andy Dalton and Derek Carr, and it’s the strategy employed by the Buffalo Bills in Dan Kadar’s latest mock draft for SB Nation. Kadar went through two rounds in this week’s scenario, giving Buffalo four picks to use.

As is often the case, three quarterbacks were selected in the top ten of the draft, leaving the Bills to take Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen with their first pick. With Buffalo’s second selection, they added Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst as an understudy for Kyle Williams.

In the second round, Kadar had the Bills supplement Allen’s selection with two cornerstone picks for the offense. First was Arkansas center Frank Ragnow, whom Kadar projected as a replacement for Eric Wood:

My feeling about first- or second-year quarterbacks is that you have to surround them with talent early in their career to make sure their development doesn’t get impeded. That’s why my first thought on what to give a player like Allen is an offensive lineman. Allen struggled greatly when he was pressured up the middle, so Ragnow would be a replacement for Eric Wood. Ragnow was a three-year starter at Arkansas, which just produces these big, nasty blockers on a consistent basis. He can play all three interior offensive line positions, and excels when he can overpower defenders. He’s not a stellar athlete, but he makes up for it in technique.

Following Ragnow, Kadar had the Bills add Memphis receiver Anthony Miller, who had 96 catches for 1462 yards and 18 touchdowns this year.

Of the two second-round picks, Miller actually seemed like the easier choice. He’s going to get knocked in the draft process for his size and lack of great speed. But in many ways he’s this draft’s version of Cooper Kupp. He’s so dependable catching the ball. He can get himself open with crafty route running and arguably the best hands in this year’s draft. To me he’s a guy who will straight away get a team 80 receptions a year. He would be a young quarterback’s best friend.

How would you feel about this haul, Bills fans? Should they have traded up to the top five for a chance at another quarterback? Was Allen the right move, considering they tried surrounding him with offensive talent? Should they have chosen Lamar Jackson or Mason Rudolph?