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Buffalo Bills Links, 4/17: Previewing the top edge rushers

Plus, how big of a draft need is cornerback?

The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, and many Buffalo Bills fans are convinced the team needs to use its draft picks to boost an underperforming pass rush.

In today’s edition of the Bills daily links, we examine the best edge rushers in this year’s draft class, a group that includes Michigan’s Kwity Paye, Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari, and a pair of Miami standouts in Jaelan Phillips and Greg Rousseau.

We discuss the top cornerbacks available in the draft and assess how big of a need the Bills have to add a cornerback in the draft. We also review the cost of what it took general manager Brandon Beane to trade up and land his franchise quarterback, Josh Allen, in the 2018 NFL Draft, and explore the best and worst first-round draft picks in franchise history.

We hear from guard Forrest Lamp on why he signed with Buffalo, learn how Allen made a lasting first impression on Archie Manning, discover what the oddsmakers have set Buffalo’s over-under win total at for the 2021 season while naming the Bills the odds-on favorites to repeat as AFC East champions, and more!


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The Buff Hub: All-time best and worst Buffalo Bills first-round picks - Buffalo Rumblings
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2021 NFL Draft: What’s the sweet spot for a Buffalo Bills second-round trade up? - Buffalo Rumblings
With their AFC Championship Game appearance, the Buffalo Bills don’t make their second pick in the 2021 NFL Draft until pick 61 at the back end of the second round.

2021 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills Prospect Meeting tracker - Buffalo Rumblings
Who have the Bills been meeting with immediately prior to the NFL Draft?

The Bruce Exclusive LIVE: Draft Game Theory - Buffalo Rumblings
Bruce dives into reasons why an organization would make a specific drafting decision that doesn’t revolve around need (however broad that term may be) and talent. PLUS, a listener mock draft.

2021 NFL Draft Scouting Spotlight: Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley - Buffalo Rumblings
A talented corner who could slide.

2021 NFL Draft: Trade to 30 is valuable to those near the top of the second round - Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills sit at pick 30 in the 2021 NFL Draft, and while we’ve discussed trading up in the first round, a more lucrative move may be to move back to the top of the second round.

Additional Bills news from around the web

Previewing the top edge rushers

Do Bills have a shot at top two edge rushers? - Democrat & Chronicle
If either Kwity Paye or Azeez Ojulari falls to Bills, they should take the swing.

Bills would have edge rusher options in the second round - Democrat & Chronicle
If the Bills pick an edge rusher early, they may look at Joe Tryon or Jayson Oweh in the second round.

Mel Kiper thinks Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari is stout enough for Bills | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“Ojulari had an excellent season for Georgia in 2020, playing 10 games and making 8.5 sacks, which ranked eighth in the nation,” writes Mark Gaughan.

If Bills go edge rusher, two from Miami stand out - Democrat & Chronicle
There are two standout edge rushers from the University of Miami who could be first-round targets for the Bills.

How big of a draft need is cornerback for the Bills?

NFL draft preview: Time could be right for Bills to add a cornerback early | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“The Buffalo Bills have not selected a cornerback in the first three rounds during Brandon Beane’s first three drafts as general manager,” writes Jay Skurski.

Reviewing what it cost to trade up and get QB Josh Allen

Bills' trades to draft Josh Allen cost two players, six picks. Here's what happened to them | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“The sequence of events, orchestrated by General Manager Brandon Beane over the course of three trades, changed the trajectory of the franchise and helped turn a longtime league laughingstock into a bona fide Super Bowl contender,” writes Jason Wolf.

Why guard Forrest Lamp signed with Buffalo

New Bills guard Forrest Lamp hopes he’s hit the switch on his NFL career | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Lamp started all 16 games for the Los Angeles Chargers last season, playing every snap at left guard.

Forrest Lamp: “The Bills Seemed Like the Right Fit” - BuffaloBills.com
Newly signed Bills G Forrest Lamp discussed his interesting path to the NFL, overcoming injuries early in his career, his excitement in joining the Bills, and more.

Josh Allen made a lasting first impression on Archie Manning

What Bills’ Josh Allen did in 2017 at Manning Passing Academy that wowed Archie Manning - newyorkupstate.com
Allen attended with other college QBs like Sam Darnold, Mason Rudolph and Jalen Hurts.

How Josh Allen impressed Archie Manning - WGR 550
“The patriarch of football’s first family says he knew Josh Allen would succeed in the National Football League — after he saw him throw a wet football,” writes Alex Reimer.

Latest mock draft analysis

2021 Mock Draft Watch 9.0 - BuffaloBills.com
Less than two weeks away from this year’s NFL Draft, find out who the experts are picking for the Bills in 2021.

Bills named favorites to win AFC East

Bills open at 10.5 wins for 17-game season. Is that too low? | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“The Bills, of course, crushed their opening total of 9.5 wins last season, posting 13 victories.”

Bills open as AFC East favorites - WGR 550
“Unsurprisingly, the Buffalo Bills enter the season as AFC East favorites. However, Vegas is disrespecting them with an over-under total of 10.5 wins,” writes Alex Reimer.

Odds and ends

Greg Cosell examines LB prospects - BuffaloBills.com
“NFL Films senior producer/ESPN NFL Matchup host Greg Cosell analyzed linebacker draft prospects on One Bills Live.”

Mandatory vaccines for Buffalo Bills games a ‘possibility,’ Cuomo says - newyorkupstate.com
“But New York is months away from any final decisions on those policies, Cuomo said during a press conference in Buffalo,” writes Kevin Tampone.

Zack Moss and the Bills Running Game Rebound - Buffalo Fanatics - Buffalo Bills
“After a tough year for the Buffalo Bills rushing attack, Zack Moss is ready to show that he can be the playmaker the Bills need in the backfield,” writes Mitch Broder.