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Q&A Mailbag: Buffalo Bills’ biggest roster hole, looking to the draft

Buffalo’s largest roster hole heading into the draft is...

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The Buffalo Bills are likely done adding starting-caliber players via free agency (save maybe a Ziggy Ansah signing when he clears medical), so what are the biggest holes on the roster right now heading into the 2019 NFL Draft?

We also answer questions on former Bills wide receiver and current free agent Chris Hogan, trading down vs drafting a stud defensive lineman, the wide-receiver signings, and the direction of the 2019 NFL Draft.

To have your questions answered on the podcast, you can call 24/7 and leave your questions at 716-508-0405, email us at BuffaloRumblings@SBnation.com, tweet us at @RumblingsQandA, send us Facebook messages, or leave your comments below.

Question of the Week

What are the biggest holes remaining on the Bills’ roster after free agency?

It’s an easy call for me: tight end. Buffalo added Tyler Kroft this offseason to go with Jason Croom who was here last year. Other than that they have offensive-tackle-turned-tight-end Jake Fisher. They don’t have depth. They don’t have an established starter. They have JAGs (Just A Guy).

Luckily for Buffalo, there are several tight ends who could be had in the first two or three rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft to fit the need now and into the future. Add one of those players and now you have depth at a position that is clearly a roster hole as it’s currently constructed.

Beyond that, I think they still have a hole at one starting offensive-line spot. That’s where the debate starts about Dion Dawkins. If they see him as a tackle, they need to add a guard. I’m not sold on Wyatt Teller’s development and Jon Feliciano doesn’t inspire confidence (and that’s assuming Spencer Long actually does).

If Buffalo sees Dawkins as a guard, they need to add a tackle. Ty Nsekhe means the rookie could start at right tackle and shift to left tackle in a year or two or they could just plug the rookie in on the left side and roll with the punches.

Without knowing much about Bobby Johnson and his preferences, it’s difficult to nail down where Buffalo is planning on playing Dawkins. It’s probably more likely that they are going to draft best player available and left the Dawkins chips fall where they may.

Buffalo probably needs to add a talented rookie defensive end at some point, along with a young running back. They need a penetrating defensive tackle to replace Kyle Williams. But they are also a few players deep at all of these positions. Even if they aren’t in an ideal situation with these three position groups, they could get by in 2019.

Show notes

  • Here is the full scenario from Jeff in Boston if that was confusing to listen to:

Which draft-day scenario would you prefer happen?

- Both Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins are taken before pick nine, pushing top end d-line talent to you.
- Only one quarterback is taken before nine, opening a big trade market for the pick

What scenario is Brandon Beane hoping plays out? Would he prefer an additional second/third or draft a stud top-five defensive end/defensive tackle?