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:
DE Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State
Great hand usage sets up this sack for Mich State's Shilique Calhoun pic.twitter.com/s00GYgW9xR
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) January 18, 2016
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 251
Why he’s a fit
- The Bills are in need of an edge rusher, and if they don’t select one in the first two rounds, Shilique Calhoun would be available right in that range. Calhoun has great size for the position and is quick off the snap. While he’d likely need to have a really strong camp to be in consideration to start, he could be an added gun when the Bills occasionally run in four-man fronts on obvious passing downs.
Why the Bills may shy away
- Despite having the prototypical size required of a transition to an outside linebacker role in the 3-4, that’s all that makes sense in having Calhoun in that scheme. He doesn’t have the same movement ability as others in this pass rushing class which could make him a liability in coverage. Calhoun would be much better suited for a team that predominantly runs a 4-3 scheme.
Joe B. Verdict
- The accolades and numbers with Calhoun are great from his time at Michigan State, but the lack of scheme versatility is what ultimately hurts him as far as the Bills are concerned. If he’s available at some point on Day 3, taking a flyer on a highly productive player wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. However, if he ends up being selected where he’s projected (Rounds 2-3) that would be too high of a cost with other prospects being better suited to play in Rex Ryan’s scheme.
