Rather than staying put at No. 26, the Buffalo Bills decided to take a route that a lot of fans may have not been expecting. If the Bills had traded back, no one would have been surprised. However, they traded back three times before eventually falling out of the first round. Now, they are set to kick off their draft at No. 35, which they acquired from the Tennessee Titans.
While trading back can be annoying, it was necessary for the Bills to do so considering that they only had seven draft picks going into Round 1, and they didn’t have a second rounder. Now, they have added two extra draft picks which includes in the second round, and early in the third round as well.
It will be shocking if the Bills trade back again from No. 35, but at this point, I wouldn’t rule anything out. However, Buffalo should definitely be making a pick early in the second round later tonight and their first pick of this draft should be as clear as day.
Bills' first draft selection is painfully obvious
With the Bills needing help on defense under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, the Bills could go basically anywhere that isn’t in the secondary. So, that could be EDGE, defensive tackle, or linebacker. If the Bills want to add a player early in the second round who has first round talent, they should be looking no further than Texas Tech linebacker, Jacob Rodriguez.
Rodriguez would be the replacement for Matt Milano, who still remains a free agent. The Bills need an off-ball linebacker and Rodriguez would fit Leonhard’s scheme perfectly. He can play excellent sideline-to-sideline football, and he attacks the ball with vengeance.
Since 2024, Rodriguez has 120+ total tackles in each of the last two years and he also has 10 pass deflections, 6 sacks, and 10 forced fumbles. How he didn’t get selected in the first round is beyond me.
Bills fans definitely have the right to be disappointed by not seeing Buffalo make a draft selection yesterday, but it’s for the better for the next two days of the draft. Now, the Bills have added extra draft capital, and will be picking early in the second when they didn’t have a pick in that round going into yesterday.
Buffalo can start strong with this rookie class by bringing in arguably the best off-ball linebacker in Rodriguez, giving them an immediate playmaker.
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