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The Buffalo Bills added an instant starter along the offensive line in round two of the NFL Draft, trading up with the Oakland Raiders to secure the rights to former Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Cody Ford 38th overall.
The Raiders had already traded once in the second round, moving back in a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Buffalo dealt their second-round pick (40th overall) and a fifth-round choice (158th overall) to make the move.
Ford, 22, was a third-team All-American in 2018. He was also named second-team All-Big 12 during this same season.
Ford’s versatility is definitely a plus, as he can play both guard and tackle at the NFL level. Most project him as an interior offensive lineman, with his size (6’4” and 329 lbs) translating well to the guard spot. The Bills listed Ford as a tackle in a press release following the selection, however, which indicates that the team views him as competition at (presumably) right tackle.
Whether the Bills choose to play Ford at guard or at tackle, one thing is certain: they have added a fantastic blocker to a completely overhauled offensive line group, one that is primed to be significantly better than it was in 2018.