Buffalo Bills 2023 NFL Draft: Prospects and games to watch in Week 12
Game of the Week: #7 USC @ #16 UCLA, 8 PM
USC Prospects: WR Jordan Addison, OG Andrew Vorhees, DE Tuli Tuipulotu, CB Mekhi Blockmon, OC Brett Neilon, OT Courtland Ford, DT Nick Figueroa, DE Solomon Byrd
UCLA Prospects: RB Zach Charbonnet, EDGE Grayson Murphy, S Stephan Blaylock, ILB Darius Muasau, EDGE Gabriel Murphy, WR Jake Bobo, CB Azizi Hearn, OT Raiqwon O’Neal, QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, LB Laiatu Latu,
One of two massive Pac-12 matchups this weekend USC takes on UCLA in a game filled with draft prospects. A ton of players here will get drafted and several of them are at premium positions.
Starting with USC who has the more blue-chip prospects in this draft keep your eyes on a few of their top players with the first being Jordan Addison. Addison is the reigning Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s best receiver last season when he was Kenny Pickett’s go-to man at the University of Pittsburgh.
Addison may be one of the top receivers off the board come this spring but where the wide receivers fall in this draft is unknown and the Bills could be in range. Addison has a similar lean frame to Devonta Smith who is on the Philadelphia Eagles but his skill set is more similar to players like current Buffalo Bills Stefon Diggs.
Addison is so incredible as a route runner and knows how to get open. He is able to get open at every level on the field and knows how to win matchups 1v1. Addison may be more of a slot receiver in the NFL and pairing a player like him and Diggs with a big play threat in Gabe Davis and the Bills could have the best route running trio in the NFL.
Also, USC keeps an eye on its entire offensive line. OG Andrew Vorhees is the best fit with the Bills and could be a day-one starter. Brett Neilon and Courtland Ford are both talented players who could fall to the second half of the draft and could garner interest from the Bills.
For UCLA there are fewer blue-chip prospects but they have a ton of guys who could go on day 3 could have solid NFL careers. The Murphy Twins who man both edge rushing positions are solid prospects with great athleticism with Grayson being the one more likely to be drafted. RB Zach Charbonnet is one of the top running backs in this class and could have the best size/speed combination in the class. However two guys I think you should watch are QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and S Stephan Blaylock.
QB is obviously not a position needed for the Bills. However, the Bills’ backup spot is not locked in and a player like Thompson-Robinson who is such an incredible athlete could develop into a solid backup. Also, this is not a totally accurate comparison but with what we have seen Taysom Hill do with the Saints I’m sure the Bills could get more out of a player like Thompson-Robinson who is an elite athlete compared to a lot of other players they would consider drafting after round 6.
Blaylock is could be a solid late-round prospect similar to the way Damar Hamlin and Jaquan Johnson were picked by the Bills late in their respective drafts. Blaylock has solid instincts and good athleticism. A good tackler who can play against the run, despite his smaller size Blaylock has a nose to be around the football making plays and tackles. Blaylock lacks the awareness and coverage IQ to consider him a top overall pick but he is a player I think the Bills would like the motor and skillset of.
