Getty Gallery: 6/6
No. 9 Buffalo Bills: LB Josh Allen, Kentucky
Like several teams picking at the top of the draft, Buffalo has already addressed their quarterback dilemma. Now the challenge is surrounding Josh Allen with enough talent to begin building a playoff contender.
The Bills could opt to draft an offensive lineman like Ole Miss' Greg Little, but the talent of Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen is too much to pass up. Why not add one more Josh Allen to the roster? Buffalo already has a few good young linebackers like Tremaine Edmunds and Corey Thompson.
Allen has top-five potential and can add even more value to an already solid core of players. ESPN's Todd McShay described Allen's outlook heading into the NFL draft.
"A versatile linebacker with the ability to play on the inside or the outside, regardless of the front, Allen has outstanding range as a run defender with above-average closing speed," McShay explains. "He does need to work on his change-of-direction skills in coverage, however. The onetime high school wide receiver finished with 18.5 TFL (tied for 10th in the nation), 14 sacks (fourth) and five forced fumbles (tied for first) this season, along with four passes broken up and six QB hurries. He is an absolute beast for the Wildcats."
No. 10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Deandre Baker, Georgia
Deandre Baker is one of the top corners in college football. Baker's stat line may not wow you with just seven interceptions over his career at Georgia, but the Bulldogs corner's impact on each play is noticeable.
McShay explains why Baker is one of the top corners in this draft.
"An instinctive corner, Baker does a good job of reading receivers' routes in man coverage and is excellent in dealing with route combinations," McShay notes. "While not big, he contains well and has no fear mixing it up in run support. Extremely experienced, Baker had a pair of interceptions this season with 82 return yards, and he broke up nine passes."
It is difficult to know what the Bucs have in their core group of players. Tampa Bay has holes on both sides of the ball, and it is not clear if Jameis Winston has what it takes to be their quarterback moving forward. Winston may be a recognizable name, but do not count the Bucs out of the quarterback market if they see a player of value in the first three rounds. For now, we have the Bucs going the safer route with Baker.
Comments
NFL Mock Draft 2019: Giants Select QB Dwayne Haskins