Restrictions on NFL prospect visits due to the COVID-19 outbreak continue to force teams to find alternate ways of talking with their potential draft picks. For the Buffalo Bills, that has meant turning to FaceTime to conduct their necessary player interviews. It seems that the team has had a constant string of meetings for the past two weeks. Most recently, the team has reportedly conducted three new meetings with guard John Simpson (Clemson), linebacker Chris Orr (Wisconsin), and safety Jeremy Chinn (Southern Illinois). All three players are projected to be selected during the draft’s second or third day.
In a class that lacks true first-round talent at the position, former Clemson guard John Simpson might be the best of the bunch. He brings a solid combination of power and ability to move in space that would allow him to be a fit for either zone or man-blocking schemes. Perhaps the only weakness in his game is some limited hip tightness that only reveals itself when Simpson is facing speed rushers along the inside. A potential plug-and-play prospect at guard.
A former Wisconsin Badger, Chris Orr served as a versatile outside linebacker in Jim Leonard’s hybrid 3-4 scheme. Serving in that type of scheme, on any given play the senior was asked to rush the passer, drop into coverage, and serve as a quarterback spy. Additionally, Orr is a “process” guy through and through, as both a leader and due to his willingness to play special teams. Having said that, at 6’ 0” and 225 lbs he lacks the size most teams want in their ‘backers and doesn’t necessarily have the speed to compensate. He’ll likely be a late-round selection.
An intriguing safety prospect, Jeremy Chinn has the immense athletic talent and size to pique the interest of most teams in the second or early part of day three of the draft. A physical player on the back end combined with 4.45 speed and a chiseled frame, Chinn has the versatility to play multiple safety positions, including as a ‘Big Nickel.’ Coming from a small school like Southern Illinois likely means that teams will need to be patient in teaching him the nuances of the position and the instincts necessary to start in the NFL.