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Buffalo Bills: 4 Florida State prospects to target in 2021 NFL Draft

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 08: Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane watches warm ups before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 8, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Buffalo defeats New York 17-16. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 08: Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane watches warm ups before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 8, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Buffalo defeats New York 17-16. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Safety Hamsah Nasirildeen #25 from Florida State of the American Team during the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Safety Hamsah Nasirildeen #25 from Florida State of the American Team during the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

The next player is to explore is Hamsah Nasirildeen, and he is extremely intriguing because of the niche role he has the potential to play in the 2021 Buffalo Bills defense. For a couple of years now, the Bills have flirted with the idea of playing a big nickel with three safeties instead of three cornerbacks, or big dime with 3 safeties, 3 cornerbacks, and 1 linebacker.

These defensive personnel packages are attractive ideas because they can allow the Bills defense to be multiple in their execution while keeping the same group of players on the field. At 6’4″ and 220 pounds, Nasirildeen is big for a typical safety, and he played that way too. He’s always aggressive in run support, shooting run gaps wherever he sees them. On the other hand, he can also hold his own in coverage which would make him a very valuable tool at the disposal of defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

Given how much the Buffalo Bills defense struggled against tight ends in 2020 and the fact that the Patriots just signed Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith in free agency, the Bills will have to improve in their ability to defend against that position. We all know that Milano has been good in that department, but the responsibility can’t completely be on him, and by drafting Nasirildeen some of that pressure can be taken off of Milano’s shoulders.

It’s tough to project exactly where someone like Nasirildeen will be drafted because of the hybrid skillset he brings to the table but I would expect him to be off the board at some point during day two of the 2021 NFL Draft.