‘Beane has every reason to feel good about what he’s accomplished. He’s got the Bills on rock-solid footing, with a roster devoid of holes. Coming into the draft, the only one was potentially at cornerback, where the team lost Levi Wallace in free agency and is dealing with the uncertainty of when All-Pro Tre’Davious White will be ready to play after tearing his ACL on Thanksgiving night last year.’
Archives for May 1, 2022
Brandon Beane sees depth on Day 3: ‘They all have a legit chance’
‘“I’m excited about some of these late guys, maybe even more than some of the other years,” Beane said. “I think a lot of these guys have a legit chance to make our roster. I know people sometimes are like, well, get rid of your picks, they’re not going to make it. I mean, we needed some depth in some certain areas. I feel they all have a legit chance.”’
Bills first-round draft pick Kaiir Elam improves on ‘The Blueprint,’ follows father, uncle into NFL
‘“This is his moment,” Abram said Friday after Kaiir’s introductory press conference at One Bills Drive. “He took advantage of every opportunity and made the most of it. This isn’t about me. This is him. As a father, this is what you always dream of, your son having more or better than what you set out to do. … We always have a saying in the family. They call me ‘The Blueprint,’ but I see him and Matt and they took the plans and they enhanced it. You know what I mean? So they’ve taken it and did their thing with it and made it even better. And that’s what you always want.”’
Five things to know about Khalil Shakir, the Bills’ fifth-round draft pick
‘He’s more of a slot receiver. That’s where he played in 2019 and 2021. But he played outside a lot in 2020. He ranks fifth all time at Boise State in receptions (208), fourth in receiving yards (2,878) and sixth in career 100-yard receiving games (10).’
Five things to know about Bills punter Matt Araiza, the No. 180 pick in NFL draft
‘He’s a lefty. Araiza punts left-footed. He is right-handed, though, which even he notes is an interesting combination for punters. He set an NCAA record by averaging 51.19 yards per punt last season, eclipsing the record set by Texas A&M’s Braden Mann in 2018.’
Five things to know about Villanova cornerback Christian Benford, the second of three Bills’ sixth-round picks
‘He made an instant impact in college. Benford played as a true freshman at Villanova, being named the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Rookie of the Year and earning third-team all-conference honors after he tied for ninth in the Football Championship Subdivision with five interceptions. He also had 49 tackles and six passes defensed in eight start.’
Five things to know about tackle Luke Tenuta, a sixth-round Bills draft pick
‘He has exceptional height, at 6-foot-8, which will fit in well in the Bills’ offensive line room. The Bills have 6-8 starting right tackle Spencer Brown and 6-8 reserve tackle Tommy Doyle.’
Five things to know about Clemson linebacker Baylon Spector, Bills’ seventh-round pick
‘Star turn: Had 19 tackles against North Carolina State, the most by a player in the Dabo Swinney era, and the most for a Clemson player since John Leake had 21 against Maryland in 2002. The 19 tackles included nine solo spots. His previous career high had been 13.’
Draft notebook: Brandon Beane learned his lesson from moving on too soon from Wyatt Teller
‘The Bills traded Teller to Cleveland before the start of the 2019 season, ultimately cutting bait way too soon. That misstep came up Saturday, because the Bills went back to Virginia Tech to draft massive offensive tackle Luke Tenuta in the sixth round, No. 209 overall.’
Analysis: Winners and losers for the Bills after the 2022 NFL Draft
‘Sean McDermott’s culture.’
Analysis: Behind Bills stadium talks, threat to leave was real – and everyone knew it
Naming the new stadium? Let the taxpayers who are footing the bill decide
‘Furthermore, the name should resonate with Western New Yorkers and conjure up the history and pride associated with the hardy, determined folks who have made Buffalo a model of working-class values. I think all New York residents would agree that regional pride is a good thing and since we, in New York City, have a Yankee Stadium and a Madison Square Garden, Buffalo should also have a venue steeped in local lore’
Bills addressed their most important need, then spent rest of draft adding depth
‘But trying to judge a draft as soon as it ends is akin to proclaiming a basketball game is over two minutes after it starts. It’s a foolhardy exercise because we simply don’t know enough about any of the players to determine who killed it and who didn’t.’
Matt Araiza, the man they call ‘Punt God’ is coming to the Bills
‘Araiza started becoming a media star during 2021, his only season as the Aztecs full-time punter. Once he started booming 80-yard punts – of which there were two – people began to take notice and that’s when the nickname was born.’
Bills pick speedy WR Khalil Shakir after trading up in 5th round of 2022 NFL Draft
‘Shakir projects as a developmental slot receiver with tons of upside. Pro Football Focus has a 92.0 grade on him for his career with the Broncos. That’s the highest mark for any receiver in this draft class.’
Bills’ Khalil Shakir is ‘going to greatly outperform his draft spot’ (Media reactions)
‘Shakir has drawn comparisons to Deebo Samuel for what he can do on the field and recorded over 13 yards per catch over the past three seasons. In 2021, Shakir put together his best season to date with a 77-1,117-7 stat line.’
‘Someone get me a table’: The Punt God reacts to joining Buffalo Bills
‘The man with the golden leg probably won’t be going through any tables anytime soon, but it’s apparent that he knows the Bills fan base well.’
Why new Bills punter doesn’t like ‘Punt God’ nickname, takes draft position personally
‘“The people who know me know that I take a lot of things very personal,” Arazia said. “Yeah, we’ll just say that I’ll have a lot of motivation to dominate this season.”’
Buffalo Bills UDFA tracker: Reports, rumors on who team signed after 2022 NFL Draft
‘Buffalo has one of the deepest rosters in the league so finding players willing to sign with the Bills may be difficult. Agents will be looking to find a team where their clients have an actual path to the 53-man roster. With few jobs up for grabs, Buffalo will really have to convince agents and prospects on why they should join Buffalo’s roster.’
Former Syracuse football DL Kingsley Jonathan signs with Buffalo Bills
‘Jonathan, 24, was born in Nigeria and overcame difficult circumstances throughout his high school years. He became entangled in a human trafficking case after coming to the United States, drawn to a new country on the promise of education, scholarships and potential riches.’
Boise State’s top wide receiver Shakir extends Broncos’ NFL Draft streak to 13 years
‘“In the back of my head, I couldn’t stop thinking about the talks I had with the Bills,” Shakir said. “I guess it’s a match made in heaven.”’
Aztecs punter Matt Araiza selected in NFL Draft
‘What was surprising — even shocking, to some — is that two punters were selected Saturday ahead of Araiza.’
Bills draft Villanova’s Christian Benford
‘The Bills saw enough of Benford, who played in the NFLPA Bowl all-star game to take him off the board before other teams could make him a priority free agent. Benford’s hometown Eagles, for example, need help at cornerback.’
Josh Allen’s Presence Felt During Bills Draft Weekend
‘General manager Brandon Beane said he slept better after addressing the Bills’ biggest need by selecting Elam out of Florida with the 23rd pick. As for the remainder of the draft, secure in having Allen locked up to a long-term contract, Beane felt a lot more comfortable while dismissing the number of quarterbacks falling down the draft order to address other positional depth needs.’
2022 NFL Draft shocker: Bills land ‘Punt God’ Matt Araiza who surprisingly gets taken behind two other punters
‘Those two picks were also somewhat surprising, if only because you almost never see two punters get taken that early With Stout going at 130th overall and Camarda going three picks later, this year marked just the third time since 1993 that two punters were taken before the end of the fourth round. The only other times it happened came in 1993 and 2007.’
Bills draft wide receiver Khalil Shakir with 148th overall pick
‘The 22-year-old wideout put together a four-year career with the Broncos that saw him put up 208 receptions for 2,878 yards and 20 touchdowns. Shakir was named to the First-Team All-Mountain West team in both the 2020 and 2021 season.’
The Buffalo Bills select punter Matt Arazia with the 180th overall selection
‘The 21 year old, 6’2 200 pound punter was also able to have two 80+ yard punts this past season.’
The Buffalo Bills select Christian Benford 185th overall
‘Benford played for four years with Villanova and played in 36 games over his college career. Over his career Benford accumulated 137 tackles, 14 interceptions and 47 passes defensed. The 21 year old, 6 ‘1, 200 pound Benford was also a CAA Football First Team Defense selection in 2021 and 2019. Benford also won CAA Football Defensive rookie of the year honors.’
Buffalo Bills select Luke Tenuta at 209th overall
‘Tenuta started in 12 games in 2021, 11 at left tackle and one at right. And earned All-ACC honorable mention and in 2020 earned All-ACC Third team. Tenuta stands 6’8, 319 pounds and just 22 years old.’
Opinion: Capaccio: With few needs, Bills address them on Day 3
‘With the struggles Matt Haack had in 2021, Beane acknowledged at the end of last season that the team would be looking to add a punter to the roster. Haack is also valued as a holder, though, something Araiza has never done in competitive game action. But he told the media Saturday he’s been training and working on that, knowing NFL teams would require it.’
Beane: We followed our board on Day 2
‘”We just followed the board,” Beane said following Day 2 of the draft. “Ultimately, with the first selection of Cook, he’s kind of like a wide receiver. … [as for Bernard,] he can play both inside and outside linebacker.”’
Bills move up in 5th round, draft WR Khalil Shakir with 148th overall pick
‘Shakir, 6’0″ and 196 lbs, played four years with Boise State in which he recorded 208 receptions for 2,878 yards and 20 touchdowns. He ranks fifth all-time in receptions, fourth in receiving yards, and sixth in career 100-yard receiving games in program history. He was also used in the run game, finishing his career with 71 carries for 414 yards and four touchdowns.’
‘I guess it’s a match made in heaven’, Khalil Shakir brings versatility to receiver room
‘Shakir gives the Bills not just wide receiver depth, but a versatile player who is also a factor in the run and return game. In his four seasons with Boise State he rushed for 414 yards and had an average kick return of 23.8 yards.’
Bills draft “Punt God” Matt Araiza with 6th round and 180th overall pick
‘”That was very high on my list in qualities out of the team I went to,” he said. “We had a winning culture at San Diego State and I’m glad to be joining another team with a winning culture.”‘
Bills use remaining 6th round picks on CB Christian Benford and OT Luke Tenuta
‘Benford, 6’1″ and 208 lbs, played four seasons with FCS Villanova. His senior season saw him starting all 13 games where he finished with 39 total tackles, 18 passes defended, and seven interceptions for 66 yards including a pick-six. He’s the first Villanova player drafted since 2017 and the first one to be drafted by the Bills.’
Bills use final draft pick on Clemson LB Baylon Spector
‘Spector, 6’1″ and 233 lbs, played in 53 career games with Clemson. He finished his career with 210 tackles, nine sackles, four fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, and an interception.’
‘I’m a touchdown maker’, Bills 2nd round pick James Cook ready to make a difference in the backfield
‘”I really wanted to play with Josh Allen,” Cook said. “He’s a great quarterback coming up in the league here, a franchise quarterback. I’m looking to build and get ready to work.”‘
‘I’m energetic and give 100% effort’, Terrel Bernard ready to continue blitzing success in Buffalo
‘”I told my mom, hopefully I get a call from them [the Bills],” he said. “When the call popped up and I realized I was gonna be a Bill, it was a crazy experience. It’s something I’ll take [with me] forever.”‘
Bills able to stay patient on day three having addressed their biggest need in round one
‘“I’m excited about some of these late guys maybe even more than some of the other years. I think a lot of these guys have a legit chance to make our roster. I know people sometimes are like well get rid of your picks, they’re not gonna make it. I mean, we needed some depth in some certain areas and I feel they all have a legit chance.”’
Bills trade up, select Boise State receiver Khalil Shakir in 5th round
‘Shakir said the Bills were one of the first teams he spoke to and calls it a match made in heaven. He’s familiar with Josh Allen when he was a freshmen at Boise State and Allen was a senior at Wyoming. The first thing he wants to do is earn Allen’s respect.’