Buffalo Bills
The addition of all-everything safety Micah Hyde should go a long way in helping Buffalo improve its safety play. He has a wide range of coverage and can play corner (his original position) on a whim. Retaining 2016 sack leader Lorenzo Alexander helped on that side of the ball as well.
Unfortunately, Buffalo lost its top cover corner in Stephon Gilmore to the division-rival Patriots while cutting slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman, who was among the best at his position in the NFL last season. That certainly was a strange move for general manager Doug Whaley and Co.
On offense, Buffalo saw No. 2 receiver Robert Woods move on to the Los Angeles Rams. It then replaced him with the likes of Jeremy Butler and Corey Brown. That’s not necessarily a recipe for success.
Without a playoff appearance since the Bill Clinton Administration, Buffalo’s inability to do much of anything in the draft has hurt big time. Of the team’s last 10 first or second-round picks, four are no longer with the Bills. Out of the other six, only three saw regular starting action last season. Again, that’s not a recipe for success.
Add in the Bills’ complete lack of success during free agency, and this is magnified even further following yet another disappointing season.
There’s been some talk that Buffalo may look to find an eventual replacement for Tyrod Taylor with the 10th pick in April’s draft. That would be utterly foolish, especially after Taylor restructured his contract to remain with the team. Instead, the Bills need to either trade down to refill their stock or take an impact player in the top 10. They simply can’t waste an asset like this on a quarterback that won’t be making an impact over the next couple seasons. That would be utterly foolish.