Buffalo Bills: A rapid reaction and grade for the Ed Oliver pick
The Buffalo Bills decided to be patient and let the draft play out. Not only did they get a coveted player, they got him at a bargain rate.
If you told me that the Buffalo Bills ended up drafting Ed Oliver, I would have guessed they moved up. Brandon Beane is a savvy guy.
I’m sure you have read several articles stating why this pick was great, but I’m going to try to keep it as objective as possible. I can’t hide my excitement though because I also love this pick.
Prospect Analysis
I discovered Ed Oliver in 2016 on a viral Twitter video. He was working on footwork and hand drills that you would see a skill position player go through. I could not believe my eyes. I thought I was looking at a 275-pound running back. His smooth athleticism shows up almost every play on film.
As my No. 2 prospect in this draft class, the value that the Bills received with this pick was tremendous. He satisfied a need and was the best player available, so you couldn’t dream of a better scenario.
His career at Houston could have been better, but there is only so much one player can do for a team when he is double-teamed every play. Playing in only eight games last season due to a knee injury, he had 14.5 tackles for loss and had three sacks.
His explosiveness and energy make him a great fit for the Bills and he has the potential to be a top five DT by the end of his rookie deal.
Projection
Oliver, from the second he steps in the building, will be the motor guy along the defensive front. He will provide an interior pass rush and cause breakdowns in the run game. His speed and agility will be accounted for in every opponents’ game plan.
The Bills have done a great job of drafting young stars at each level of the defense (Oliver, Edmunds, White). With all the talk being about QB Josh Allen in Buffalo, the defense will be the standout unit for the Bills for several years to come.
Next. Four three-round draft scenarios for the Bills. dark