Bills NFL Draft Grades: Did Buffalo Pass or Fail?
How did the Buffalo Bills fare in the 2023 NFL Draft in comparison to the expectations set upon them?
ESPN's Mel Kiper gave the Bills a "B" letter grade for their six-player draft class that featured first-round tight end out of Utah, Dalton Kincaid. While Kiper notes that he didn't have tight end as a pre-draft need for the Bills, the pick of Kincaid should be sufficient enough to operate as the replacement of Isaiah McKenzie in the slot. At the end of the day, the Bills needed to get quarterback Josh Allen more play-makers, and Kincaid should help alongside fellow tight end Dawson Knox and receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis.
"They traded up two spots to take Dalton Kincaid (25), the best pass-catching tight end in this class," Kiper wrote. "He led all FBS tight ends with 70 catches last season and did a lot of damage out of the slot."
Then Kiper mentioned the picks of offensive guard O'Cyrus Torrence and linebacker Dorian Williams, both who fill positions of need. Yet, Kiper noted that he was unsure if Williams would help fill the void of Tremaine Edmunds as an inside linebacker. While Torrence is an addition to the interior of a Bills offensive line that needed some upgrading, Kiper called Torrence a "road-grader" who, if he is on the field early, will help the Bills establish their running game.
So why a B letter grade if Kiper likes the Bills' first three picks?
"I question the Bills not taking a corner until the seventh round, but the first three selections in this class are enough for a solid B," Kiper wrote.
Despite drafting Kaiir Elam 27th overall a year ago, there are still questions about whether the Bills are set at the cornerback position long-term. The 2022 season saw Elam get off to a slow start as a rookie, as he only started in the final six games of the season. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Tre'Davious White returned from injury and allowed a 54 percent completion rate, recording just one interception and six pass breakups.
Judging from the needs that ESPN listed for the Bills, they only filled one of them in Williams, who Kiper is unsure of. But in spite of that, it still earned Buffalo a solid letter grade.
Thanks for reading our SI-powered coverage of your Buffalo Bills ... Bills Mafia!
Follow Harrison Reno on Twitter
You're a member of Bills Mafia hungry for more Buffalo coverage? Read here.
