Bills Bolster Pass Rush in McShay’s NFL Mock Draft
On paper, the Buffalo Bills have a roster that seemingly is only a piece or two away from finally getting over the hump in the playoffs.
With an already talented roster, what the Bills do with their first-round pick has been subject of some debate. However, in Todd McShay's latest mock draft for ESPN he has them bolstering the defense.
Rd. 1 No. 27 - Keion White - OLB (Georgia Tech)
"Buffalo's roster doesn't have many holes, so it might be "best player available" -- and White is a steal at this point in Round 1. The 6-5, 285-pounder posted 7.5 sacks in 2022, had a great Senior Bowl week and then looked good at the combine.
The Bills used a first-rounder on Greg Rousseau in 2021 and then signed Von Miller last offseason, but adding White to the pass-rush mix helps build out a really good group. Buffalo was 14th in sacks (40) and pressure rate (30.0%) last season, and White can contribute off the edge early in his career."
Last season, the Bills fielded an elite defense, holding opponents to 17.9 points per game on 300.4 yards of total offense - but appear poised to lose two key pieces of the defense in safety Jordan Poyer and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
While White plays different a different position than both Edmunds and Poyer, his impact could help make up for their loss should they leave in free agency. In his final season at Georgia Tech, he recorded 54 total tackles with 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
The Bills field one of the NFL's best defenses, and that is not likely to change next season. Adding White to a pass rush that features Rousseau and Miller is borderline unfair - and a move that could take the Buffalo defense to the next level.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @C onnorjz98
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