Prior to this month's draft, 1SBD's Mark Hogan takes an in-depth look into each team's current projected starters and identifies strengths and lingering team needs after the first waves of free agency.
Player stats collected from Pro Football Reference. Base salary information per Over The Cap.
TAKEAWAYS
PROS
- After subjecting quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Josh Allen to a couple of the worst supporting casts in the league in recent years, the Bills finally upgraded their wide receiver corps. John Brown - one of the most productive wide receivers to start last season - gives the Bills a deep threat option that could be devastating when used with some play action. But he needs to stay healthy. Cole Beasley should be a reliable slot guy and at least pick up some coverage from opposing defenses, but the question will loom over whether this group can beat guys one-on-one..
- While not a projected starter, the addition of running back Frank Gore provides some good depth for a team that consistently opts to run the ball (fourth most in the last year; second in 2017). Despite turning 36 before Week 1, Gore has proved he can stay relatively healthy - he started 14 games for the Dolphins last year before picking up an ankle injury with two games left - and means the Bills shouldn't lose a step when LeSean McCoy isn't on the field.
CONS
- It's hard to criticize a unit that ranked second-best in total defense last year, but the Bills need to get to the quarterback more -- whether that's through scheming; bringing in a front seven guy; or both. The Bills ranked just 26th in sacks last year and lost defensive tackle Kyle Williams to retirement this off-season.
- The addition of tight end Tyler Kroft in free agency doesn't mean Buffalo is set at tight end. The team will need to consider picking up a reliable target in a deep draft class.
- The addition of Mitch Morse is a huge boost to the offensive line and Ty Nsekhe could prove the same if he remains healthy. But the Bills could do worse than spending the 9th overall pick on someone to start ahead of Nsekhe and sure up their O-line for years to come. They're hoping a guy will finally prove impactful in his eighth year otherwise.
NOTE:
NAME, Draft Round.Overall Pick (TEAM, year). Starts/Games Played. Age. Cap Hit 2019
QB has an additional 'total yards, number of attempts (yards per attempt)' figure.
RB, WR and TE have an additional ‘total yards / number of touches (yards per touch)’ statistic
Age as of Sunday September 8, 2019 (Week 1)
QUARTERBACK
JOSH ALLEN, 1.07 (BUF, 2018). 11/12. 2,074 yards, 320 attempts (6.5 y/a). 23-years-old. $4,814,326
RUNNING BACK
LESEAN MCCOY, 2.53 (PHI, 2009). 132/147. 14,222 yards/ 2,821 touches (5.0). 31-years-old. $9,050,000
WIDE RECEIVER
JOHN BROWN, 3.91 (AZ, 2014). 42/72. 3,270 yards/ 226 touches (14.5). 29-years-old. $7,500,000
ZAY JONES, 2.37 (BUF, 2017). 25/31. 968 yards/ 84 touches (11.5). 24-years-old. $1,849,036
COLE BEASLEY, undrafted (DAL, 2012). 22/103. 3,278 yards/ 320 touches (10.2). 30-years-old. $6,900,000
Average: 128th overall pick. 89 starts/ 206 games played (43.2%). 7,516 yards/ 630 touches (12.0). 27.7-years-old. Total cap hit: $16.2M
TIGHT END
TYLER KROFT, 3.85 (CIN, 2015). 35/51. 661 yards/ 67 touches (9.9). 26-years-old. $4,956,250
OFFENSIVE LINE
DION DAWKINS, 2.63 (BUF, 2017). 27/32. 25-years-old. $1,140,882
WYATT TELLER, 5.166 (BUF, 2018). 7/8. 24-years-old. $633,531
MITCH MORSE, 2.49 (KC, 2015). 49/49. 27-years-old. $10,937,500
SPENCER LONG, 3.78 (WAS, 2014). 44/53. 28-years-old. $3,937,500
TY NSEKHE, undrafted (PIT, 2012). 16/56. 33-years-old. $4,800,000
Average: 122nd overall pick. 143 starts/ 198 games played (72.2%). 27.4-years-old. Total cap hit: $21.4M
DEFENSIVE LINE
TRENT MURPHY, 2.47 (WAS, 2014). 33/60. 28-years-old. $8,706,250
HARRISON PHILLIPS, 3.96 (BUF, 2018). 0/16. 23-years-old. $802,760
STAR LOTULELEI, 1.14 (CAR, 2013). 91/92. 29-years-old. $11,500,000
JERRY HUGHES, 1.31 (IND, 2010). 87/136. 31-years-old. $10,400,000
Average: 47th overall pick. 211 starts/ 304 games played (69.4%). 27.8-years-old. Total cap hit: $31.4M
LINEBACKERS
MATT MILANO, 5.163 (BUF, 2017). 18/29. 25-years-old. $710,379
TREMAINE EDMUNDS, 1.16 (BUF, 2018). 15/15. 21-years-old. $2,877,169
LORENZO ALEXANDER, undrafted (WAS, 2007). 51/175. 36-years-old. $3,750,000
Average: 145th overall pick. 84 starts/ 219 games played (38.4%). 27.3-years-old. Total cap hit: $7.3M
CORNERBACK
KEVIN JOHNSON, 1.16 (HOU, 2015). 18/35. 27-years-old. $2,718,750
TRE'DAVIOUS WHITE, 1.27 (BUF, 2017). 32/32. 24-years-old. $2,752,187
Average: 22nd overall pick. 50 starts/ 67 games played (74.6%). 26-years-old. Total cap hit: $5.5M
SAFETY
MICAH HYDE, 5.159 (GB, 2013). 64/94. 28-years-old. $6,618,750
JORDAN POYER, 7.218 (PHI, 2013). 41/79. 28-years-old. $4,325,000
Average: 189th overall pick. 105 starts/ 173 games played (60.7%). 28-years-old. Total cap hit: $10.9M
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