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Should the Bills Draft a Buckeye in 2019?

Hello everyone, and welcome to the 3rd annual edition of "Should the Bills Draft a Buckeye?" where I as BR's resident OSU alum evaluate this year's top Buckeye prospects, how they would fit (or not fit) with the Bills, and whether they're worth taking where they're estimated to go.

Nick Bosa, EDGE

6'4", 266

4.79 40, 29 reps, 33.5" vert, 116" broad, 7.1 3-cone, 4.14 short shuttle

Breakdown: Bosa arrived in 2016 and immediately earned a spot in a DE rotation which included three current NFL players, putting up 7 TFL and 5 sacks in his freshman year as he was lined up all over the D-line on the rushmen package, producing from both inside and outside (1:57, 2:07). While Bosa isn't quite as strong as his older brother, he is quicker and even more refined. I'm pretty sure he had better hands and a better pass rushing plan than a lot of pros by his sophomore year at OSU, check the entire video I linked above for my point. And despite missing most of 2018 with an abdominal tear, also had more sacks in 3 games this year than Rashan Gary did all season.

As for his flaws, he doesn't have many. His pursuit in the run game isn't incredible, but he gets in the backfield so often that it isn't much of an issue. His health may also be a concern given his older brother's injury issues, but Nick only had one major injury while he was at OSU.

Bills Fit: Bosa would be a perfect fit for the Bills, but there's no way that's happening. I'm definitely not crying as I type this.

Parris Campbell, WR

6'0", 205

4.31 40, 11 reps, 40" vert, 135" broad, 4.03 short shuttle

Breakdown: Parris Campbell entered Ohio State as a 17 year-old running back, but was quickly turned into a wide "receiver". The air quotes around receiver didn't go away until his junior year, as he seriously struggled to catch the ball in the first two seasons after he red-shirted. He broke out his junior year playing in the slot and returning kicks, though concussions from returns limited his playing time in the middle to later parts of the season and led to him being taken off the kick return unit. His hands drastically improved since Brian Hartline took over and he's now in line to be a day 2 pick after catching 90 passes for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns last year.

Campbell is the most athletically gifted Buckeye since Braxton Miller, and reminds me a lot of Ted Ginn with his blazing speed (3:43) and smooth stride. While his hands are better than Ginn's, he ran a very limited route tree of mostly screens, curls, quick outs, and shallow crosses. He runs those routes extremely well, but it's unclear if he'll be able to handle a larger route tree, as there are relatively few examples of him doing so at OSU (1:55). He did well with these intermediate and deep routes at the combine and at OSU's pro day, but any GM who takes Campbell high is gambling that he can become a complete WR. Even if he doesn't, he's still a threat to score every time he touches the ball.

Bills Fit: The signing of Cole Beasley, combined with Zay Jones and Isaiah McKenzie being already on the roster, means that I don't think Parris Campbell is a fit for the Bills. The John Brown signing also means that Campbell's speed isn't as badly needed. With all that being said, he's such a freak that he might be worth a shot in the 2nd anyway.

Johnnie Dixon, WR

5'10", 201

4.41 40, 16 reps, 37.5" vert, 120" broad, 4.43 short shuttle

Breakdown: After his first three years in Columbus were ravaged by persistent knee injuries, Dixon was a very solid player for the last two seasons, culminating with a 42 catch season with 8 touchdowns this past season. Dixon was OSU's primary deep threat, lining up both outside and in the slot. (1:06, 1:38) He's probably the most refined route runner of the three receivers available, as well as having the most varied route tree. He's also been a solid special teamer, both as a return man and a punt gunner. That being said, he's less of a freak than Parris Campbell, and not as good as Terry McLaurin on special teams or as a blocker. Those facts, combined with injury concerns, make Dixon a likely day three pick.

Bills Fit: Dixon could be a good fit for the Bills in the last couple rounds of the draft. He would provide a supplementary deep threat to Foster and Brown while also being capable of playing in the slot. He'd also have good special teams value, but I doubt the Bills would take him if they already spent an earlier pick on a receiver.

Dwayne Haskins, QB

6'3", 231

5.04 40, 28.5" vert

Breakdown: The best QB in the draft. I'll stand by that. I think he's got the same ceiling as Murray (Pro Bowler, very likely not HoF) but a much higher floor.

The first pro-style QB OSU has had in over a decade, Haskins shattered records in his lone season as a starter, throwing for 4,900 yards and 50 touchdowns while completing 70% of his passes with just 8 interceptions. He's got an absolute laser for an arm, but is also more than capable of throwing with touch. (2:16, 2:33) Not only is Haskins accurate, but he places the ball where it's easy for his receivers to pick up a ton of YAC, especially on crossing routes. He also was responsible for calling out protections on the line, and showed serious improvement in that area as the season went on.

Haskins does have some notable flaws, and in a vacuum he would've been better off staying at OSU for another season. But with Herbert, Tua, and Fromm all coming out next year, I understand Haskins' decision. The first is that he runs like C-3PO. (thank Ramzy Nasrallah for that comparison) It's functional, but man is it ugly. I cringed every time OSU ran the read option this past season.

Haskins' other issue is that he's not the best under pressure, best evidenced by the Penn State game, where OSU was relegated to throwing a ton of screen passes. The receivers were good enough to make it work, but it was far from ideal. The good news for whoever drafts him is that Haskins greatly improved on this by the end of the season. This article does an excellent job breaking down his progress in that area as the season went on.

Bills Fit: We have Josh Allen.

Dre'Mont Jones, DL

6'3", 281

5.12 40, 31.5" vert, 110" broad, 7.71 3-cone, 4.53 short shuttle

Breakdown: Dre'Mont Jones has been Ohio State's 3-technique DT for the last three seasons. After a relatively quiet 2017 season, he exploded last season with 13 TFL and 8.5 sacks. The main reason for this was Dre'Mont's inclusion in the rushmen package, which utilized four DE's: Nick Bosa, Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard, and Jalyn Holmes. After Lewis, Hubbard, and Holmes got drafted last year, Jones was added to the package. Jones is excellent at quickly knifing off blocks and getting into the backfield to either tackle a ballcarrier or pressure the quarterback. However, he really struggles against the run at times, where his lack of strength really shows. This article by the Draft Network does a better job showing his flaws than I ever could. Some of this could be OSU's scheme, which was hyper-aggressive to a (massive) fault, and dictated players get upfield quickly and not worry as much about gap integrity, but undoubtedly some of it is on Jones' weaknesses as a player.

Bills Fit: On paper, Dre'Mont is exactly what the Bills need, a DT who can quickly get into the backfield and rack up TFL's and sacks. But his fragility against the run makes me terrified for repeats of the Pats and Colts games last year. I wouldn't hate taking him in second, but he'd have to stay in the weight room all summer.

Michael Jordan, OL

6'6", 312

5.27 40, 19 reps, 32.5" vert, 116" broad, 7.71 3-cone, 4.71 short shuttle

Breakdown: The first freshman OL to start for the Buckeyes since Orlando Pace. While Jordan isn't a Hall of Fame talent like Pace was, he's still in line to be a second or third round pick. In Jordan's freshman year, he was a very solid run blocker, but needed a lot of work in the pass blocking department. He made big strides in pass protection his sophomore year before moving inside to C this past season, much like how Pat Elflein and Billy Price moved from G to C. He struggled quite a bit at center this season, as his head always tipped off the snap count and his snaps were often low. Additionally, he was just too big to get the necessary leverage there in the run game. That being said, his pass blocking was just as good, if not better this season than last.

Bills Fit: Before the Quinton Spain signing, Jordan could've been a fit for the Bills, depending on what the plan was for Dion Dawkins, but with Spain, Long, Feliciano, and Teller at G, there really isn't room for Jordan, nor is there justification for taking another interior o-lineman in the 2nd or 3rd.

Terry McLaurin, WR

6'0", 208

4.35 40, 18 reps, 37.5" vert, 125" broad, 7.01 3-cone, 4.15 short shuttle

Breakdown: After an unspectacular first two seasons at Ohio State, Terry McLaurin has improved drastically in the last two seasons under receivers coach Brian Hartline, culminating in 2018 where he was named captain for the second year in a row while catching 35 passes for 11 touchdowns. While his reception numbers aren't incredibly impressive, OSU had so much depth at receiver this year that the catches were more spread out.

The best comparison I have for him is a faster, less refined Robert Woods. McLaurin's got the speed to separate downfield (2:38) and has drastically improved his route running since Hartline took over. He's also a special teams ace (1:07). But he's most exceptional as a blocker, both in the run game and the screen game. He threw perhaps the best block I've seen by a receiver, taking out three Nittany Lions at once (coming off the left side of the screen at 11:38). He is a bit of a body catcher, but that can likely be coached out of him.

Bills Fit: Terry's middle name might as well be process. While the Bills have a ton of WR's, I could still see McLaurin being taken in the 3rd or 4th round, if he lasts that long, because he's such a good fit in Buffalo. Maybe he'd take John Brown's spot in a year or two.

Isiah Prince, OT

6'6", 305

5.09 40, 23 reps, 27" vert, 115" broad, 7.9 3-cone, 5.02 short shuttle

Breakdown: Prince was probably the most maligned Buckeye in 2016, his first season starting at RT. He'd routinely get torched by speed off the edge, just whiffing on his man Jordan Mills-style. This was worst during the defeat to Penn State, where he gave up three sacks. He improved massively in 2017, being one of PFF's top 5 pass protectors. Unfortunately, he regressed some in 2018, giving up more relatively uncontested pressures. While he has all the measurables to be a starting NFL tackle, he doesn't have the consistency right now, though his 2017 season will likely give teams some hope.

Bills Fit: While I'd argue the Bills still have a need at RT, especially in the long term, I don't think Prince is a good fit. Maybe he could sit a year and improve his technique and consistency, but I'd much rather see the position addressed earlier, either in the 1st with Ford/Taylor or with a guy like Tytus Howard or Caleb McGary on day 2.

Kendall Sheffield, CB

5'11", 193

Injured during combine, no stats available

Breakdown: Kendall Sheffield is another maligned OSU player. After transferring from Alabama, Sheffield started at outside corner for the Buckeyes in both 2017 and 2018. Unfortunately, he didn't develop much over this span. While Sheffield is an absolute physical freak (he likely would've had the fastest 40 at the combine had he not been injured), his technique leaves a lot to be desired. He rarely looks back for the ball, meaning he only had two interceptions in his two seasons started. Not looking back for the ball also makes him a penalty magnet, something especially bad for AFC East teams.

Bills Fit: Given the additions of Kevin Johnson and E.J. Gaines, I don't think the Bills have the need for another corner. I wouldn't want Sheffield anyway, as he's a better fit in a man system and his technique leaves a ton to be desired.

Mike Weber, RB

5'10", 211

4.47 40, 22 reps, 33.5" vert

Breakdown: Weber played in Columbus for three seasons, and elected to stay for his redshirt junior season after missing much of 2017 with injuries. He was very productive in 2018, putting up 954 yards despite splitting carries with J.K. Dobbins, who I'll likely be writing about next year. A Michigan native, he made his name as a killer of both Wolverines, and Spartans, lighting up the Big House in 2017 and Sparty the last two seasons.

Weber is a jack of all trades, with the exception of pass blocking, where he is markedly above average. He was cast as OSU's power back the last two years despite his impressive speed. There were two reasons for this. First, Weber is a better fit as a power back than Dobbins is. Second, while Weber has one hell of a top gear (0:14, 1:15), his acceleration isn't good enough to reach it very often. Weber also a capable pass catcher, with over 20 grabs in both of his full seasons in Columbus. For these reasons, Weber is generally projected as a 4th-5th round pick who'll likely be either a backup or part of an RB committee.

Bills Fit: Weber would pretty much fill Frank Gore's role once the legend retires as someone who can reliably run between the tackles, as well as be sure-handed out of the backfield and good in pass protection. But just because his style is similar to Gore's doesn't mean he'll have anything like Gore's career. With the state of the RB room currently, I wouldn't mind taking Weber at the end of round 4 or early in round 5, but I think Justice Hill, Darwin Thompson, etc. are more in line with the Bills' needs than Weber is.

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.