The 2016 NFL Draft is under a month away and the Buffalo Bills -- unlike last year -- have a first round selection to try and find themselves an impact starter. With a pair of selections on Day Two, the Bills could even two more starters to the roster.
General manager Doug Whaley has continued to say the Bills will look for the best player available and won't draft based on need, which makes them fairly unpredictable up until they make a selection on April 28. With so many positions that they could go after, the Bills have a great deal of names to keep an eye on -- as long as you know what you're looking for.
Leading up to the start of the draft, WKBW.com will be going through potential names that the Buffalo Bills could select in the 2016 NFL Draft:
OT Taylor Decker, Ohio State
On to offensive tackles this week, and we start with Ohio State LT Taylor Decker. Patient and anchors well pic.twitter.com/kQ8wLqlM2c
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 25, 2016
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 310
Why he’s a fit
- If the Bills were looking to complete the offensive line this year with a new right tackle, Taylor Decker would fit well into that role. Decker has the required size and strength teams look for in an offensive tackle, as well as the patience required to be a good player at that position. With how much both Seantrel Henderson and Jordan Mills — the combatants for the starting right tackle job — struggled in 2015, adding a fresh-faced rookie who could conceivably provide an upgrade would be a positive thing for the run-first offense.
Why the Bills may shy away
- With the way the Bills have attacked the offseason, offensive line has likely been sent down the list of things that they’d like to add. With Decker, he’ll likely be around at 19th overall, but so would plenty of defensive players that the Bills could add to find a starter in 2016. Plus, Decker’s best fit in the NFL is probably at right tackle. If Cordy Glenn were to leave following the 2016 season, the Bills would still be without a player at left tackle because Decker would likely struggle more on that side.
Joe B. Verdict
- If the Bills’ only option would be to select Taylor Decker at 19th overall, I think it’s more likely that they pass up on that opportunity and instead opt for a defensive playmaker. If Decker were to be available during Day Two at 49th overall, the value there would likely be too strong to ignore. However, with how poorly the offensive line played all over the league in 2015, Decker falling to the Bills in the second round is likely an unrealistic scenario.
