Dec 29, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Buffalo Bills running back
C.J. Spiller(28) wears his gloves on his helmet prior to their game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
As everyone knows every NFL team plays 16 games during the regular season. During those 16 games, the Buffalo Bills will face off against 15 of the first round draft picks. Five of those first round draft picks, or a third of them, were drafted in the top ten.
Buffalo will face off against first overall pick, Jadeveon Clowney in week 4 when they visit the Houston Texans. They will also see University of Buffalo star Khalil Mack when they head to California to face off against the Oakland Raiders in week 16.
Buffalo will also most likely go up against two of the three rookie quarterbacks that were drafted in the first round; Johnny Manziel, Browns week 13 and Teddy Bridgewater, Vikings week 7. Bridgewater is already being slated as the number 1 quarterback in Minnesota and should start under center. Manziel is being groomed as the back up in Cleveland but they like to do things backwards, by week 13 I think that the Browns will be turned upside down and Manziel will be coming to Buffalo as the starter in the Orange and Brown.
Eleven of the fifteen first round draft picks are defensive players that will go against Buffalo. Two more of them, as we mentioned above, are quarterbacks. Of the remaining two, Eric Ebron, TE and Ju’Wuan James, OT will round out the fifteen. Here is a look at the entire list of first round draft picks that Buffalo will face off against and the weeks the Bills will see them.
#1 Jadeveon Clowney – Texans Week 4
#5 Khalil Mack – Raiders Week 16
#8 Justin Gilbert – Browns Week 13
#9 Anthony Barr – Vikings Week 7
#10 Eric Ebron – Lions Week 5
#14 Kyle Fuller – Bears Week 1
#18 Calvin Pryor – Jets Weeks 8/12
#19 Ja’Wuan James – Dolphins Weeks 2/11
#21 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix – Packers Week 15
#22 Johnny Manziel – Browns Week 13
#23 Dee Ford – Chiefs Week 10
#25 Jason Verrett – Chargers Week 3
#29 Dominique Easley – Patriots Weeks 7/17
#31 Bradley Roby – Broncos Week 14
#32 Teddy Bridgewater – Vikings Week 7
I believe that the draft picks that will have the biggest effect on the Bills when they play them will be Clowney, Mack, Ebron, Barr, possible Manziel and Bridgewater. The first three or four named will have the biggest impact against the Bills when they see them, barring any injuries or suspensions.