The NFL Draft is just one piece of the puzzle for the Buffalo Bills, but with such an importance placed on next season, they’ll need to get their first few picks right. The Bills want the postseason, badly, and making the right moves in late April could be the key to the playoffs.
Each week, 7 ABC will go through and outline some of the players you should know in this year’s draft process. This week, it’s all about the players that protect the quarterback — offensive tackles.
One last look at four more offensive tackles the Bills may look at come April for the 2016 NFL Draft:
[If you missed the first parts of the series, catch up with Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3]
Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
6’6”, 315 lbs.
What he’s all about: Just a few months older than Laremy Tunsil, Ronnie Stanley also is the prototype for the position. He’s big, long, technically trained, and athletic enough to stay with any and all defenders. He mirrors his opponent well, can drive through defenders in the run game, and also fires off the snap to get position. If there are some critiques that separate Tunsil from him, it’s that he bends at the waist occasionally, and he’s not fully advanced on dealing with the bull rush just yet. Even with that, Stanley is still a top 10-15 selection in this year’s draft.
How he would fit the Bills: If the Bills couldn’t get Cordy Glenn under contract for 2016 at least, and if somehow he dropped down that far, they could go for it. Although, with the franchise tag in their back pocket for Glenn, the buzz around Stanley’s talents, and the need for help on defense, Stanley will likely land elsewhere.
Size, length, athleticism, technique... Notre Dame LT Ronnie Stanley will be a high pick. pic.twitter.com/ZJulptVnTU
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 31, 2016
Le’Raven Clark, Texas Tech
6’5”, 316 lbs.
What he’s all about: The best offensive tackle prospect the Big XII has to offer, Le’Raven Clark has all the required attributes to one day develop into something quite good. He’s athletic, balanced, strong, has length, and an ability to anchor against bull-rushing opponents. With Clark, though, teams will have to teach him the nuances of how to play in the NFL at the position. Committed to the spread attack at Texas Tech, Clark needs a committed coaching staff that has patience. If he lands in the right place, he could be a steal of a Day Two to early Day Three selection.
How he would fit the Bills: There were times when watching Clark that I was reminded of current Bills left tackle Cordy Glenn when he was coming out of Georgia, although Glenn had much more experience in a pro-style offense than Clark does. If he is somehow there in the fourth round — or maybe even the third round, the Bills could have him work with Aaron Kromer to try and develop him into a longterm starting option at right tackle. They can get by with what they have, but all three players failed to impress in 2015.
Big fan of Texas Tech LT Le'Raven Clark. Working against Oakman, he absorbs the rush and anchors down pic.twitter.com/YpAZ5W7rQg
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 31, 2016
Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M
6’5”, 325 lbs.
What he’s all about: Impressive to look at, Germain Ifedi will get decision makers talking just based on his stature and how long of a player he is. He can cover a lot of ground with a wide base, and that has helped him. However, he is a raw prospect that doesn’t offer quite the same amount of fluid moving and athleticism as some of the other spread attack tackles. He leans on his man, lacks balance at times, and also finds himself on the ground more than he should. With his size, teams will still try to mold him into something and could take him earlier than his skill-set dictates at the moment.
How he would fit the Bills: One name popped into mind when watching Ifedi operate: Cyrus Kouandjio. The two are quite similar in how the play the position, as there doesn’t seem to be much method behind the madness of some non-technical movements. Due to the similarities of the players, there really isn’t room on the roster for a quite similar player for as early as they would have to select him.
Texas A&M RT Germain Ifedi does his best to block out the sun on this blitz attempt. pic.twitter.com/J8f5rMBdJj
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 31, 2016
John Theus, Georgia
6’6”, 305 lbs.
What he’s all about: Another long prospect, John Theus has the advantage of coming from a pro-style offense that could be a more natural fit into the NFL. He’s athletic enough to get out in space, holds his ground well against bull rushers, and can anchor down when he keeps the defender within his pads. The trouble he has is with two things: his pad level and balance because of it, and with speed rushers. While that could be less of an issue for him over at right tackle, he could be better off playing guard in the NFL. Theus looks like a Day Three tackle, but, someone could view him as a guard and rope him in on Day Two.
How he would fit the Bills: Ideally, the Bills would re-sign Richie Incognito, and they still really like John Miller at right guard, so taking Theus on Day Two wouldn’t make a ton of sense. However, if available in the area of the fourth or fifth round, he could serve as competition to take over at right tackle, based on the way the current group has played. He wouldn’t be a huge upgrade, but he could compete for a spot.
Tough assignment for Georgia LT John Theus with A'Shawn Robinson. Does well to fight through and push him back pic.twitter.com/wiyHhxPj9H
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 31, 2016
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