2023 NFL Draft: Analysis of Buffalo Bills Squad

The 2023 NFL draft, which took place in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, from Thursday to Sunday, saw the Buffalo Bills make some significant moves.

Round 1, Pick 25 Overall: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

In the first round, they selected Dalton Kincaid, a tight end from Utah, with the 25th overall pick.

Kincaid is a big weapon for quarterback Josh Allen, and his elite hands make him an excellent receiving option.

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He will pair up with Dawson Knox, whom the Bills signed to a four-year extension last year, to form a formidable tight-end duo.

It’s worth noting that Kincaid is the first offensive player that the Bills have selected in the first round since Allen in 2018.

The Bills gave up a fourth-round pick to get Kincaid, indicating that they expect him to get regular playing time relatively quickly.

General manager Brandon Beane expressed that he was anticipating Kincaid being off the board, but the Bills felt so strongly about the 6-foot-4, 246-pound tight end that they decided to make the move to add him.

It’s possible that the Bills may take their time adding Kincaid to the team, as they typically do with rookies.

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Nonetheless, the team believes that Kincaid will add a dimension to the offense that they currently lack.

Round 2, Pick 59 Overall: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida

In the second round, the Bills added O’Cyrus Torrence, a guard from Florida, with the 59th overall pick.

Torrence will help to shore up the interior offensive line and contribute to run blocking, an area that the Bills struggled with last year.

He played primarily at right guard over the last three seasons but has experience at left guard.

Torrence only allowed two sacks during his college career and had the fifth-lowest blown block percentage on designed runs in the FBS among players with 1,000 snaps at guard over the last two years.

Round 3, Pick 91 Overall: Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane

In the third round, the Bills selected Dorian Williams, a linebacker from Tulane, with the 91st overall pick.

While many expected the Bills to select a middle linebacker in the first two rounds to address the gap left by Tremaine Edmunds’ departure in free agency, they chose to add depth at weak-side linebacker and special teams by selecting Williams.

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General Manager Brandon Beane believes that Williams will play his first season at outside linebacker, but there’s potential for him to move later in his career.

Beane describes Williams as a tackling machine and believes that he will at least earn a jersey.

It’s worth noting that Williams was one of two FBS players with at least 125 tackles and five sacks in 2022, alongside Cincinnati’s Ivan Pace Jr.

Williams is part of a 2023 Tulane draft class that has had multiple players selected in the first three rounds for the first time in the common draft era.

Round 5, Pick 150 Overall: Justin Shorter, WR, Florida

In the recent draft, the Buffalo Bills have continued to prioritize investment in the offensive end of their team.

By selecting Justin Shorter at Round 5, No. 150 overall from Florida, the Bills have acquired a promising wide receiver that possesses a rare combination of speed and size that was previously absent in their roster.

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With a towering height of 6 feet and 4 inches and a weight of 229 pounds, Shorter stands out as the biggest wide receiver on the team.

Furthermore, he clocked a 4.55 40-yard dash at the combine, demonstrating impressive athleticism.

Despite his struggles with contested catches last season, only having six catches on 18 contested targets, his talent should prove invaluable in the long run. In his three seasons with Florida, he only had three drops.

This addition is timely as the Bills led the league in drop percentage in 2022, with a rate of 6.2%.

Round 7, Pick 230 Overall: Nick Broeker, G, Ole Miss

With Round 7, No. 230 overall, the Bills once again fortified their offensive line by acquiring Nick Broeker, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound guard from Ole Miss.

Broeker, who has experience as a three-year starter, two years as a left tackle, and one as a left guard, is a versatile lineman that can play different positions, even performing as a right guard during the Senior Bowl.

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While he was able to avoid giving up a sack last season, he had 13 blown run blocks, which was tied for the sixth most in the FBS.

Round 7, Pick 252 Overall: Alex Austin, CB, Oregon State

Lastly, the Bills drafted Alex Austin, a cornerback from Oregon State in Round 7, No. 252 overall.

Despite the team focusing on the offensive side for their first few picks, they have proven that they value a strong secondary by adding Austin to their roster.

With a height of 6 feet and 1 inch and a weight of 191 pounds, Austin’s size, combined with his impressive speed, having run a 4.55 40-yard dash at the combine, will make him an asset to the team.

He has the versatility to play different coverage and positions, which fits what the Bills are looking for in a cornerback.

While the team has already drafted two cornerbacks that saw significant playing time in 2022, Austin could still be a valuable addition, especially given Tre’Davious White’s return from a torn ACL last year.

In all likelihood, Austin will be competing for a roster spot and will likely also contribute as a special teams player.