The Buffalo Bills 2023 NFL Draft was not a draft particularly loaded with picks, with only six selections being made through the weekend. However, the Bills made the most of their picks and had instances of aggressiveness and a little bit of luck to get real-impact players in the draft.
To summarise, the Buffalo Bills selected:
- First Round, 25th overall: Dalton Kincaid, TE
- Second Round, 59th overall: O’Cyrus Torrence, OG
- Third Round, 91st overall: Dorian Williams, LB
- Fifth Round, 150th overall: Justin Shorter, WR
- Seventh Round, 230th overall: Nick Broeker, OG
- Seventh Round, 252nd overall: Alex Austin, CB
Buffalo Bills 2023 NFL Draft Review Grade: 8/10
Buffalo Bills 2023 NFL Draft Review: Upgrading the Offense
The Best Player: Dalton Kincaid
The Bills got aggressive at the end of the first-round. They traded up a few spots to jump ahead of the Dallas Cowboys and draft Dalton Kincaid out of Utah. Kincaid was universally seen as the best tight end in the draft and was even getting slight comparisons to Travis Kelce. He is a smooth, athletic tight-end who excels in route-running and finding soft spots in zone coverage.
Kincaid also has a real motor when he gets the ball, giving some dynamic ability to the Bills. Not only was he seen as the best tight end, but many saw Kincaid as the best overall pass-catcher in the draft. Overall, the Bills needed more playmakers surrounding Josh Allen. Kincaid will provide that in a big way the first day he gets to Buffalo.
The Head-Scratcher: Justin Shorter
None of the picks the Bills made this weekend were egregiously bad, making it difficult to pick a head-scratcher. However, pundits generally found problems with Justin Shorter (pick 150) going into the draft. Shorter is a supersized receiver at 6’4” and 229 pounds. He displayed real athletic traits at the combine. NFL scouts generally do not consider a 4.55 forty-yard dash great for a receiver at the combine. Yet, for a player that is pushing 230 pounds, that time shows some athletic upside as a sizeable NFL deep threat.
Yet, Shorter was not a very productive receiver in college largely in part to a serious lack of route-running, agility, and overall explosiveness. Shorter will need some time to develop. He is unlikely to serve as an impact player next year. Hence, the Bills could have spent that pick better on another position.
The Surprise: O’Cyrus Torrence
Many mock drafters and sources were saying that Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence was an option for the Bills to select in round one of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Bills must have been elated to see him fall right to their pick in round two. The Bills landed one of the best guards in the entire draft. If Hollywood were making a movie about NFL guards, Torrence is the guy the directors cast as the lead. Standing at 6’5” 330 pounds, he is a whole lot of man.
He is a mauler in the run game, and just does not get moved by anyone. Only top-10 pick Jalen Carter could find any type of success against him. Torrence on day one will come in at one of the guard spots and be an immediate upgrade. He will pave holes for James Cook and Damien Harris, while giving a lot more pocket time to Josh Allen.
The Steal: O’Cyrus Torrence
Not only was Torrence a potential pick for the Bills on day one, but mock drafts slotted him to a few other guard-needy teams in round one and two. While some of those teams opted for other guards ahead of Torrence, Bills fans should not lose any confidence in this pick. Torrence will be an immediate contributor to both pass and run protection. The Bills desperately need improve on both to get to the Super Bowl. Torrence is just a person-mover, and he will greatly aid the Bills against some of the great defensive fronts in their division.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Dorian Williams
With the expected pedigree of players like Kincaid and Torrence, Dorian Williams could be the surprise candidate that makes waves in training camp. A linebacker from Tulane at 6’1” and 228 pounds, Williams is a fluid and rangy athlete. He ran a 4.49 forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He is not just fast, but really great at changing direction and flipping his hips in pass coverage.
The way he moves might remind some people around the Bills of current linebacker Matt Milano. Williams’ ability in pass coverage was among one of the best in this year’s group of linebackers as well. He can cover tight ends man-to-man and plays well in zone coverage. Williams will not be the best at taking on and disengaging from blocks coming to him right away. However, Williams’ ability in space will make a lot of people excited about him when they first get to see him play.
The Rest
The last two picks of the Bills draft came in the seventh round where they took Ole Miss guard Nick Broeker, and Oregon State cornerback Alex Austin. Broeker has some tools that will make him a valuable depth piece for an offensive line. However, he may not have enough strength or athleticism to become a quality starter. Austin is a corner that can play multiple types of coverages but struggles most against some of the better receivers in man-to-man coverage. He lacks a change of direction and pure speed. Both players project to be special teams or practice squad players.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
