Buffalo Bills NFL Draft History: Re-Drafting the first round picks since 2010

Buffalo Bills 2019 First Round Pick: Ed Oliver

One of the fan favorites on the current Bills roster, Oliver has experienced varying levels of success as a pro. Being selected No. 9 overall and being an undersized defensive tackle brought along comparisons to Aaron Donald for the Houston product.

Although it’d be a stretch to say Oliver is in the same class as the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, he has shown to be a disruptive player. And after three seasons, Oliver has had two of which with a PFF grade above 65.8, including a career-best 70.9 in 2021.

Oliver had career-highs with 29 solo stops, 10 tackles for loss, and 14 QB hits last season to go along with four sacks, three passes defended, and 41 total tackles. The Houston native also totaled 18 pressures on the season, as he’s improved on that number in each of his three seasons.

Oliver also added nine QB knockdowns and missed just two tackles all year for the league’s No. 1 total and scoring defense.

I think one thing Oliver continues to show is he’s a player worth more than statistics. It’s hard to pile up numbers as a three-technique defensive tackle. Plus, Oliver is a guy who brings his presence as an energy guy in the locker room, which is an intangible that any football team needs.

While in Buffalo, the Bills have had two Top five defenses with Oliver in the lineup. There’s no question he’s been a major piece of that success.

Was this the right pick? 

Oliver still has room to grow as a player, but if he keeps trending up the way he has, then Oliver will be the right pick here. And at only 24, the Bills seem excited about his prospects, picking up his fifth-year option for 2023.

Oliver may not be Donald, but he’s in the class of DTs that can still impact games with a blend of quickness and power. And as long as he keeps growing, he should continue to be one of the leaders on a talented Bills roster.

Who could the Buffalo Bills have taken?

Several impact defenders were taken after Oliver; Rashan Gary, Brian Burns, Montez Sweat, and Christian Wilkins. But the one name at his position that stands out is Jeffery Simmons. Now the Bills would have been hard-pressed taking a player at No. 9 who was recovering from a torn ACL just two months before the draft, but Simmons was still talented enough to go No. 19 overall to Tennessee.

Simmons has made his presence known as a Titan. In each of his three seasons, the Mississippi State product has posted a PFF grade of at least 70.4, including an elite 83.6 grade in 2020.

The 2021 season may have been his coming-out party, though, as Simmons was named a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler after finishing with 8.5 sacks, 54 tackles, 12 TFLs, and 16 QB hits.