Buffalo Bills Big Board for 1st Round of 2023 NFL Draft, 1.0
By Ryan Heckman
Buffalo Bills Big Board for 1st Round of 2023 NFL Draft, Number 3: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
One area the Bills have to address, at some point, is at edge rusher. Sure, they’ve spent a lot of draft capital and money on the position over the last few years. But, there are some concerns.
First of all, the health of Von Miller is on the forefront of every Bills fan’s mind. No one truly knows the timetable, right now, for his return. Of course, Miller suffered a torn ACL last Thanksgiving and represents the teams’ best overall defensive player.
That’s why Georgia defensive end Nolan Smith is a great pick here at 27, if he’s available. Smith is a very raw player, overall, but has a tremendous ceiling. He hasn’t even come close to finding his potential, and learning from a guy like Miller could really accelerate his development.
Smith dominated the Combine and brings a rare set of athletic skills to the table. He may be undersized at 6-foot-2, 238 pounds, but the man ran a 4.39 in his 40-yard dash and posted a ridiculous 41.5-inch vertical jump. Not to mention, he notched a 10’8″ in his broad jump.
He’s a tough player, and although he is smaller, Smith would bring an edge to this unit that could be without Miller for a bit in 2023.