Buffalo Bills: Senior Bowl appears to be major factor in 2021 NFL Draft

Now that the 2021 NFL Draft is officially in the books, it is interesting to look back at the Buffalo Bills draft class as a whole to see what themes can be taken out. There is no question that the Bills wanted to improve the pass rush with selections of two defensive ends with their first two picks.

They also wanted to get bigger on the offensive line with selections of Spencer Brown, Tommy Doyle, and Jack Anderson. Another theme was that they were looking for those high ceiling players who have great physical gifts to work with like Gregory Rousseau, Brown, and Doyle.

However, one other theme that jumps out when looking at the players selected and that is the Senior Bowl had a major impact on this draft class. Of the eight players selected, five of them were at the Senior Bowl this year, including Carlos Basham Jr., Spencer Brown, Marquez Stevenson, Damar Hamlin, and Jack Anderson.

This is certainly interesting but not necessarily surprising as the pandemic certainly impacted college football and in turn, impacted NFL teams and their ability to scout and interact with players during the season. For example, Spencer Brown lost his football season as the University of Northern Iowa moved it from the fall to spring. He didn’t get a chance to play anymore so going to the Senior Bowl was his first, and possibly only, chance to make an impression on NFL teams.

Brandon Beane talked about this on Friday night and said one of the things that stood out for them with Spencer Brown was that even though he missed last year, he was still invited to the Senior Bowl. Some players turned down that invitation but Brown did not and the Buffalo Bills took notice of that.

While this could have just been a coincidence, the way Brandon Beane spoke about it, specifically for Spencer Brown, the team appeared to put a lot of stock on the Senior Bowl during their draft process and their choice on the players they selected.