Of the six undrafted free agents that the Buffalo Bills signed, two were cornerbacks and one of those players was Nick McCloud. This past season he played for Notre Dame after playing four seasons for North Carolina State. Let’s take a look at what he brings to the team and how he might fit on the Bills.
Measurables/Stats
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 193 pounds
He played 30 games for North Carolina State over four seasons from 2016 to 2019 and finished with 105 total tackles, three interceptions and 20 passes defended. During this time period, his best season was in 2018 when he had 51 total tackles, two interceptions, and eight passes defended.
McCloud then transferred to Notre Dame as a graduate student and played this past season for the Fighting Irish. He would play in 11 games and finished with 33 total tackles, one interception and eight passes defended.
NFL.com Scouting Report by Lance Zierlein
"McCloud has decent patience from press, along with the length and strength to slow the release. While he has average feel for the route from trail, he rarely finds the football once his back is turned. His off coverage is way too passive and he allows catch after catch from zone and off-man. McCloud lacks the instincts to squeeze routes and play chess with quarterbacks. The measurables are good but the tape is below average."
How he fits with the Buffalo Bills
The cornerback position is certainly up for grabs after Tre’Davious White with a position battle likely between Levi Wallace and Dane Jackson. However, even the depth is unsettled and it wouldn’t be surprising to see an undrafted free agent earn one of the final roster spots.
As Zierlein notes, McCloud has good size for the position at 6’0″ and 193 pounds but certainly has room for development. This was a theme for the Buffalo Bills this year during the NFL Draft as they selected a number of players with great physical attributes but need some more development to reach their potential.
This is why I believe that while McCloud could make the 53-man roster, it is probably unlikely with the development he would need to show in a short period of time. However, with a good performance in training camp and the preseason he is a player the team could keep on the practice squad.