The Buffalo Bills may have fallen short in their attempt to land star edge rusher Maxx Crosby, but could soon have another chance to land a young prospect to take his place.
The Bills have already addressed their spotty pass rush this offseason, signing veteran Bradley Chubb after the Las Vegas Raiders turned down their bid to trade for Crosby. Analyst Pete Prisco of CBS Sports believes the Bills will take another crack at the position in this month’s NFL draft.
Bills Grab Athletic Pass Rusher in First Round
In his mock draft published on April 6, Prisco predicted the Bills would take UCF pass rusher Malachi Lawrence with the No. 26 overall pick. Prisco suggested that Lawrence could learn from Chubb while working his way into the lineup for the Bills.
“They need a young edge player to come in and supplement what they have there,” Prisco wrote. “Bradley Chubb isn’t a kid, and they are seemingly in never-ending pursuit of speed off the edge.”
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein predicted that Lawrence would grow into a strong NFL starter.
“An NFL-caliber edge rusher with prototypical size and length, Lawrence moves with the suddenness of a smaller player,” Zierlein wrote. “Explosive get-off and a deep bag of moves/counters fuel his pocket disruption. He can win inside or outside but his speed-to-power conversion is average. His hands are subtle but skilled to quickly unlock openings and his secondary rush. He closes with burst and has the motor to hound scrambling quarterbacks.”
The Bills had been named as a top suitor for Crosby when he hit the trade block and reportedly made an offer, but the Raiders decided to go with the Baltimore Ravens as their first-round pick is higher than Buffalo’s one at No. 26. The trade ultimately fell apart when the Ravens balked at the results of Crosby’s physical, but it appears the Bills have since moved on.
Bills Have Other Options at Edge Rusher
While many insiders believe the Bills will use their first-round pick on another edge rusher, there is not consensus on just who they might pick.
NFL.com analyst Charles Davis predicted the team would land Auburn pass rusher Keldrick Faulk, noting that the Bills could shy away from offense after making a big addition to their wide receiving corps.
“After acquiring WR DJ Moore from the Bears, the Bills count on Faulk to provide consistent pass-rush pressure,” Davis wrote. “I won’t be surprised if Buffalo decides to continue bolstering the receiver room here, though.”
Several others predicted the Bills would land Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell. NFL.com expert Chad Reuter noted that Howell would be a good fit for the Bills despite some less-than-standard physical tools.
“This Bills’ new-look defense could use Howell’s speed off the edge,” Reuter wrote. “Opponents will forget all about his short arms (30 ¼ inches) when he becomes a major pass-rush factor as his rookie campaign progresses.”
The Bills have already undergone some other changes, allowing A.J. Epenesa and Joey Bosa to leave in free agency.
Bills Predicted to Find Speedy Replacement for Maxx Crosby