Buffalo Bills: Options to replace Jon Feliciano at right guard to start year

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 16: Spencer Long #61 of the Buffalo Bills against the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter of their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on August 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 16: Spencer Long #61 of the Buffalo Bills against the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter of their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on August 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
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Buffalo Bills
ORCHARD PARK, NY – SEPTEMBER 22: Cody Ford #70 of the Buffalo Bills waits for the snap during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at New Era Field on September 22, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo beats Cincinnati 21 to 17. (Photo by Timothy T. Ludwig/Getty Images)

Cody Ford

The top option, and the one that makes the most sense, is sliding Cody Ford inside to right guard. The reason is that he probably should have entered training camp competing with Jon Feliciano for the starting right guard job.

This is not because Jon Feliciano did a bad job last year but because Cody Ford has such a high ceiling at the position. The Buffalo Bills second round pick is a big body, one that excels in run blocking, but struggles in pass protection against speedy rushers. He doesn’t have great lateral movement to beat those rushers to the point and struggled last year.

However, in a confined space like at guard, he wouldn’t be asked to make those big movements and can really utilize his size and strength.

While this is not to say Cody Ford couldn’t develop into a good right tackle, if the Buffalo Bills want to replace Feliciano with the highest upside, then that player should be Ford. However, if the Bills want to limit the amount of change along the offensive line and keep Ford at right tackle, they could look at some of these other players.

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