The Buffalo Bills have some concerns up front along the offensive line that need to be addressed. They could address this need via free agency; however, are there some incoming rookie offensive linemen they should be paying attention to during the 2023 NFL Combine throughout this week?
The answer is yes. Even if the Bills elect to bring in an offensive lineman or two on free agency deals, no question that drafting a couple in the coming NFL draft is not a bad idea. The Bills’ offensive line ranked in the bottom half of the NFL per PFF. Bringing four or five new linemen in via free agency and the draft should help the Bills to revamp the line.
We’ve seen both the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals do something similar over the last couple of seasons, recognizing they had a problem with their line, they did what needed to be done to resolve the issue.
The Bills’ offense finished number two in terms of yards a season ago and did so with a below-average offensive line. I know there are a lot of fans who believe the Bills need a star running back, insert Saquon Barkley or Derrick Henry. Some will say the Bills need another wide receiver weapon, insert Keenan Allen or Mike Evans. Maybe draft a Bijan Robinson or Jordan Addison or Jalin Hyatt.
You find any of that sort of talk here. Nope, I’m all about the offensive line. Take the line from below average to above average and see what Josh Allen and the existing skill positions players can do!
So, with that, let’s take a look at five offensive linemen the Buffalo Bills should monitor at the 2023 NFL Combine.
The biggest concern with Broderick Jones is his availability at pick 27 when the Bills will be selecting in the first round. I’ve seen several mock drafts where Jones is gone before Buffalo makes their first-round selection. If the Bills want him bad enough, they may have to trade up in the draft to get him.
Jones is 6’4″ and weighs 310 pounds. He also has a recorded 40-time of 4.8 seconds, which is exceptional for a man of his size. He will have an opportunity later this week to put that speed on display and perhaps even improve on it.
Jones played 1,264 collegiate snaps for one of the premier college football teams in the nation. Productivity, level of competition, and experience are not concerns with Jones. During his two years as a starter, he gave up 13 quarterback hurries, only three sacks, and two QB hits.
Jones played almost exclusively at left tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs, but it’s unlikely that is where he would be plugged in with the Bills. Given that, some analyst project Jones as a better prospect on the right side of the line or possibly inside at one of the guard positions. These two areas are where the Bills need an upgrade, so Jones could be a perfect fit.
O’Cyrus Torrence is mocked to the Buffalo Bills more often than not this is probably the most consistent player that is being mocked to the Buffalo Bills, as far as offensive linemen go.
I like Torrence a great deal. He doesn’t have the speed or quickness of Broderick Jones but he’s bigger, at 6’5″ and 337 pounds, he’d make a great option inside at right or left guard.
Torrence has played a total of 3,065 snaps at the collegiate level as a four-year starter and has never given up a sack, not one! His first three years in college were spent playing for the Louisiana Rajin’ Cajuns. He transferred to Florida his senior year and continued to be a dominant interior offensive lineman.
Torrence has played almost exclusively at right guard, which would be perfect for the Bills because current right guard Ryan Bates could move back to left guard, where he was far better two seasons ago, than at right guard last season.
There are those that think Torrence could play at the tackle position as well but didn’t play much at all at the position throughout his collegiate career. If a move to tackle is something the Bills want to do, there is a belief he can succeed there but what does that learning curve look like?
I’d love to see the Bills take Torrence with their first-round selection but again, this is one they may have to move up a few spots to get, as he seems to be climbing draft boards as we near the combine and the draft next month.
Anton Harrison is another offensive tackle that will likely be an option for the Bills at 27th overall; however, it’s possible the Bills drop back a few spots, gain an extra draft pick, and still be able to select Harrison. If neither Jones nor Torrence is on the board at 27, I could see the Bills trading back a few spots and selecting Harrison.
Harrison is 6’5″ and weighs 315 pounds. NFLDraftBuzz.com has him rated as the fourth-best tackle in the draft, just after Broderick Jones.
Harrison played in 34 games and logged 1,866 snaps, all of them were at left tackle and over the last three seasons he’s given up a total of just four sacks. Could he swing to the right side or maybe inside at guard? Most scouts don’t believe he is someone that could be moved inside but could play either tackle spot, depending on where he’s needed.
Harrison is considered the second-best pass-protector in this draft, behind only Peter Skoronski; however, it is his run blocking that needs some work but there is nothing to show concern that he can’t improve that part of his game and become an excellent starting tackle at the NFL level.
John Michael Schmitz was the anchor in the middle of the offensive line for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He’s 6’4″ and weighs 320 pounds and while he may not wow you with his physical tools, it’s his football intelligence that makes him stand out.
He’s regarded as the best center in this year’s draft and has played a ton at the highest level of collegiate football. He played 2,495 snaps and 48 games during his five-year career.
Schmitz could be a great replacement for Mitch Morse should he decide to retire due to the history of concussions or if he elects to play, the Bills have an insurance policy in case Morse goes down again.
Morse is currently under contract through the 2024 season and is set to make over $19 million during that span. If the Bills were to move on after next season to save some dollars on the cap, Schmitz could step in right away and not miss a beat.
Many analysts say that Schmitz is a first-round talent, but most mock drafts have him going in the second round. His strength is without question run blocking, but his pass protection is solid as well, giving up only two sacks in his career.
Matthew Bergeron is 6’5″ and 323 pounds. He played left tackle for the Syracuse Orange. He is another in a long line of talented offensive linemen in this year’s draft.
Like Schmitz, he’s played a ton of football, playing in 44 games, totaling 2,539 snaps. During that time, he’s allowed 13 sacks.
I’m seeing Bergeron as more of a third-round pick, as he has the tools to be a solid but not great lineman at the NFL level. He’s shown exceptional power in the run game but loses some of the power when dropping back in his stance in pass protection. You can see in the number of sacks he’s allowed in his career, that his protection skills aren’t on the same level as run block skills.
The Bills could try to move him inside, where movement isn’t as critical, and he may be a better guard at the next level than a tackle. Unfortunately, the Bills haven’t exactly exhibited an ability to develop offensive linemen, see Cody Ford and Wyatt Teller. If Bergeron can be had late in the third round, I’m all for it but I wouldn’t reach for him before that.