Buffalo Bills: Scouting the 2017 NFL Draft for a Running Back
By Daniel Hahn
James Conner – Pittsburgh
6’2, 235lbs
Career: 668 carries, 3,733 yards, 52 touchdowns
James Conner will be one of the better draft stories coming out of the draft. While being treated for a torn MCL, doctors found that he had Hodgkins Lymphoma. He missed almost the entire 2015 season and made a full recovery from both ailments to return in 2016.
Not only did he return to full health, but made the 1st team All-ACC team as a running back. He should be able to enter the NFL as a short yardage back right away, but perhaps more as a 3rd down back too.
In his senior year he showed a good ability to catch out of the backfield, with 21 catches for 302 yards and 4 TDs.
Buffalo Bills Projected NFL Draft Round: 5
Conner shouldn’t grade out with top-end speed, making him a likely day 3 NFL draft selection. The Buffalo Bills have selected running backs with at least 1 dominant collegiate season when picking with Doug Whaley. Conner fits that bill and should only get better being further removed from cancer treatments.
A side bonus should be that adding a Pitt RB to the mix will keep Shady happy as he could mentor somebody he saw a lot of in college and groom another Pitt star.
If the Bills are truly using college production as a key grade for prospects, let’s look at somebody who would get an A+.