Buffalo Bills need to avoid D.K. Metcalf at No. 9 overall

D.K. Metcalf showed off at the 2019 NFL Combine, but the Buffalo Bills should still pass on him. At least with the No. 9 overall pick.

D.K. Metcalf made his mark at the NFL Combine with his abilities, strength and speed.

At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Metcalf ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, racked up 27 reps on the bench press and had a vertical jump of 40.5. Metcalf displays a rare athletic ability with his size at the wide receiver position.

A case can be made for Metcalf to be a top ten pick. Who happens to be in the top ten? The Buffalo Bills at number nine. What is one of the Bills’ weakest positions? The receiver position and it is not even close.

The Bills snatched quarterback Josh Allen last year who arguably has one of the strongest arms in football. Allen lacked both protection and a threatening receiving corps. An Allen to Metcalf combo for the next ten-plus years, given their age? That looks amazing, but the Bills have bigger needs at the number nine spot than a receiver.

The Bills are in a position to grab a superstar at positions that they need help in. This could be receiver, and offensive or defensive line.

In the last five years, these are the receivers that have been drafted in the top ten:

• Sammy Watkins (Buffalo) – 2014
• Mike Evans (Tampa Bay) – 2014
• Amari Cooper (Oakland) – 2015
• Kevin White (Chicago) – 2015
• Corey Davis (Tennessee) – 2017
• Mike Williams (Los Angeles) – 2017
• John Ross (Cincinnati) – 2017

Out of these seven receivers, Evans is the only player that still makes an impact on the team they were drafted to. With the exception of Cooper dominating in Dallas, no other receiver has made a huge impact on the team they were drafted to.

The Bills traded up for Watkins as he looked to be the clear best receiver in the 2014 draft class. Watkins has been injury prone throughout his time in Buffalo, Los Angeles and now in Kansas City. The Bills missed out big on other potential draft picks in that draft including Khalil Mack, Jake Matthews, Zack Martin, Odell Beckham and Aaron Donald.

With this upcoming draft, the Bills have the opportunity to get it right and learn from their mistake in 2014. I am not saying Metcalf has no talent, because he may arguably be the best receiver coming into this draft. The Bills have bigger needs which including filling in the trenches with offensive and defensive linemen.

The organization would need to focus on a Jonah Williams, Jawaan Taylor, Cody Ford, Dalton Risner, Ed Oliver, or a Christian Wilkins. Josh Allen is considered to be the franchise guy for the Bills. The one who can give the organization some sort of stability on the team at the one position they have failed at for many, many years.

Either obtain protection for Allen or find the beef for the defensive line to pair with Harrison Phillips. The only way to protect your franchise guy is to guarantee protection. If Allen can stay upright, the receiver position will fall into place for Allen over time. This draft can make or break Allen for the start of next season.