Buffalo Bills 2023 NFL Draft: Prospects and games to watch in Week 8

#14 Syracuse @ #5 Clemson 12 PM

Syracuse Prospects: RB Sean Tucker, CB Garrett Williams, OT Matthew Bergeron, LB Mikel Jones, LB Stefon Thompson

Clemson Prospects: DT Bryan Bresee, EDGE Myles Murphy, OLB Trenton Simpson, OT Walker Parks, DT Tyler Davis, QB D.J. Uiagalelei, OT Jordan McFadden, EDGE K.J. Henry, S Lannden Sanders, CB Sheridan Jones

The Syracuse Orange plays their biggest game since joining the ACC in 2013 as they take on the 5th ranked Clemson Tigers. This game has massive implications for the college football playoff, as Clemson could jump into the top four.

However, with a loss to the surging Syracuse, the ACC could miss out on the college football playoff. Putting aside the massive implications for the college football playoff, we still have an incredible game with many players who will have long careers at the next level.

The surging Syracuse is led by RB Sean Tucker, who could be one of the first couple of running backs taken in the draft next spring. Tucker has excellent patience and is elite at making one cut upfield.

He takes on a stacked Clemson defensive line that features two likely first-rounders, Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy, and other prospects, Tyler Davis and K.J. Henry. The Syracuse offensive line will have its hand full.

Keep an eye on OT Matthew Bergeron for the Orange as he will likely be taking a bunch of reps against Myles Murphy. Murphy is potentially a Top 5 pick in the NFL draft so Bergeron will have plenty of eyes on him.

One position group that will be fun to watch in this game is the linebackers for both squads. Syracuse has two extremely athletic backers in Mikel Jones and Stefon Thompson. Jones is the better NFL prospect and is one of the best blitzing linebackers in the ACC. Clemson has Trenton Simpson, who could be on the fringe of the first round. He is an excellent open-field tackler who will always be one of the best athletes on the field.

The Buffalo Bills could have several positional fits from this game. Tremaine Edmunds is a pending free agent at linebacker and may need to be replaced. There is a plethora of talent at the linebacker position in this game that fits the style of linebacker the Bills look for. With elite athleticism and very well-rounded skillsets, like Trenton Simpson and Mikel Jones.

On the offensive side of the ball, a playmaker like Sean Tucker would give the Buffalo Bills a little more speed at the running back position and an explosive player, making cuts up the field. Although there may be a little more emphasis on the interior offensive line this offseason, this game has many tackle options. Walker Parks and Jordan McFadden for Clemson and Matthew Bergeron for Syracuse are excellent players who will fall into the middle of this draft. It will be hard to find a better time to watch these guys with a matchup of this caliber.

The Bills could be intrigued by two underrated options in this game: Clemson QB D.J. Uiagalelei and CB Garrett Williams.

The Bills have been rotating backups for Josh Allen since he came into the NFL. D.J. Uiagalelei was a hyped-up 5-star recruit who has largely disappointed in the footsteps of college superstar Trevor Lawrence.

However, Uiagalelei is quietly having an excellent, efficient season in his second full year behind center. Standing at 6’4″ and 235lbs, he is about as close to Josh Allen size as you can and has the arm to complement it. While it may cost a 2nd-day or early 3rd-day pick, it could be worth the four years of stability as Josh Allen’s backup.

Garrett Williams is a cornerback, and while it seems redundant, the Bills would invest even more in the cornerback position after drafting Kaiir Elam and the emergence of Christian Benford. Williams has elite speed and an ultra-aggressive style of play that the Bills could love. Sure he would be in tough competition for play-time early on, but it is hard not to be interested in a player with such an intriguing skillset.

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