Buffalo Bills: Revisiting the underwhelming 2016 NFL Draft class

ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 28: Shaq Lawson #90 of the Buffalo Bills gets the fans cheering during a game on Thanksgiving Day against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. The Bills defeated the Cowboys 26-15. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 28: Shaq Lawson #90 of the Buffalo Bills gets the fans cheering during a game on Thanksgiving Day against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. The Bills defeated the Cowboys 26-15. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 11: Kevon Seymour #29 of the Buffalo Bills and teammates walk out onto the field of play through the tunnel before the start of NFL game action against the Pittsburgh Steelers at New Era Field on December 11, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – DECEMBER 11: Kevon Seymour #29 of the Buffalo Bills and teammates walk out onto the field of play through the tunnel before the start of NFL game action against the Pittsburgh Steelers at New Era Field on December 11, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Round 6, 192 Overall: Kolby Listenbee, WR (TCU)

The lightning fast receiver out of TCU was a promising pick to help a weak Buffalo Bills receiver group. Running a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine, there was no doubt Listenbee could flash with his speed, but injuries would always derail his chances to shine.

Listenbee was injured for his first season with Buffalo and ended up getting cut in the offseason. The speedy receiver spent the next season on the Dolphins and Colts practice squads and was eventually cut by the Colts and never saw an NFL field again. Without ever appearing in an NFL game Listenbee doesn’t seem to have a future in the game.

Round 6, 218 Overall: Kevon Seymour, CB (USC)

Another speedy presence for the Bills, Kevon Seymour tied Listenbee’s blazing 40. Seymour had a successful 2016 season, appearing in 15 games and ended up starting 3 games with 22 tackles and 3 passes defended.

Seymour was traded by the Bills before the 2017 season for a 2019 seventh-round pick and wide receiver Kaelin Clay. The cornerback appeared in 16 games for Carolina, starting 2 games during the 2017 season, finishing with 22 total tackles and four passes defended.

The Panthers cornerback was hurt before the season in 2018 and was subsequently cut prior to last season.

The Buffalo Bills didn’t get much out of this draft class, with Lawson being the most successful player out of the class enjoying four seasons in Buffalo. Only Lawson and Ragland have become regular NFL players and amazingly none are still with the Bills franchise. This was a disappointing draft that highlighted the underwhelming performance of Rex Ryan and Doug Whaley in their tenure in Buffalo.

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