Bills Draft: Illinois DB Sydney Brown Provides Depth, Pop at Safety
The Buffalo Bills vaunted defense may have a bit of a different look in 2023.
Following another stellar output in 2022, the Bills preventive unit will enter the upcoming season without the services of venerated defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Last month, the 63-year-old announced that he will be taking a brief hiatus from coaching, with the possibility of returning in 2024.
Buffalo may also face the potential loss of safety Jordan Poyer, who is set to enter free agency at the start of the NFL year on March 15. Poyer has been a mainstay in the Bills’ defensive backfield for the past six seasons. As such, the prospect of replacing him looms as a difficult task.
While the remarkable recovery and progress of Damar Hamlin has provided palpable hope for his eventual return to the gridiron, his playing status for 2023 is clearly uncertain.
While the team may opt for a veteran free agent to fill the void, they may also look to a thin, but talented group of safeties in the 2023 NFL Draft class.
One such player that may be of interest to Buffalo is Illinois defensive back Sydney Brown. The 6-foot, 200-pound defender may not possess the flash of his peers. However, he is clearly not short on talent.
Brown has the potential to be a three-down player at the pro level. During his time at Illinois, he showed above-average quickness when getting into position, while keeping pace with his opposition. His wealth of football knowledge and instincts help to ensure that he is among the smartest players on the field at all times.
In the NFL, Brown should find his way to the football often, whether he aligns in the slot or as a split-fielder. As such, he found statistical success in his final collegiate season, earning 43 tackles, seven passes defended, six interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
Though blue-chip level prospects such as Alabama’s Brian Branch and Texas A&M’s Antonio Johnson are likely to be taken earlier in the first round, Brown should be there for Buffalo’s taking with pick No. 27.
Still, the Illinois product helped his draft stock with a strong showing at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. Brown ran a 4.48 40-time which ranked fourth among safeties, while also ranking in the top three for the broad jump (9.74) and vertical (9.75), respectively.
While Brown does not project as a prototypical replacement for Poyer, he possesses the virtual skill set to make an immediate impact on the Bills’ secondary in 2023 and beyond.
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