The Buffalo Bills Class of 2019 Mid Year Report Card

[Phil The Thrill]

It’s halfway into the season and Brandon Beane’s 2019 draft class appears to have some mixed results.  
 

1.  Ed Oliver - D

Ed has been average to below- average at times this season.  But he hasn’t made very many plays - not what you want to see from the 9th overall pick.  Also, in crucial times during games the past few weeks, coaches chose to keep Ed on the bench.  He’s playing 30% of snaps the past few weeks - there are players drafted in lower rounds who have played as much and had similar (or better) production.  While he has the talent to pan out, midway through the year, he’s been a disappointment.

 

2. Cody Ford - C-

Ford has looked outmatched at times trying to pass block against quick DE’s at RT.  To his credit, he has improved and made some good blocks in the running game and at times held his own at RT.  I feel that the Bills drafted him to play RT, and ultimately I see them moving him inside to guard full time in 2020.  Like Oliver, he has the talent to improve, but you’d like to see a 2nd round RT be a little more consistent.

 

3. Dawson Knox - C+
Knox has been a pleasant surprise for the Bills and has held down the starting TE spot for most of the season.  He makes some nice catches and is a great athlete.  But he also has had some costly drops in multiple games this season.   I think Knox is going to improve but first he needs to be a more reliable pass catcher.

 

3. Devin Singletary - B

He has been a difference maker in several games this year.  So far he looks to be the crown jewel of the 2019 draft for the Bills.  The Bills need to make him a bigger part of the offense.  With more touches, I can easily score him at a B+.  But in limited duty this year, I’ll give him a B.

 

5. Vosean Joseph - INC

6. Jaquan Johnson - INC

He has made some plays on special teams but given him limited action, this is tough to grade. 

6. Daryl Johnson - C-

Johnson played sparingly early in the year and started off ok in situational work.  He later struggled and saw his playing time drastically reduced.  Still, for a 6th round pick I’ll give DJ a passable score.  
 

7. Tommy Sweeney - C-

Like Johnson the Bills found a marginal contributor to their team, though he’s been inactive since Kroft returned.  He also beat out last years starting TE Jason Croom for a spot on the team.  It’s tough to evaluate Sweeney given his limited playing time, but I’ll give him a C-

Its way too early to make a final call on these picks.  Outside of Singletary and Knox, this looks like a class that will take atleast one season (or longer) to make significant contributions to this team.   So far the strength of this draft appears to be in the mid-rounds

 

 

Edited November 13, 2019 by Phil The Thrill

[jrober38]

I'd put Knox higher but the rest is bang on.

 

Oliver and Ford haven't come anywhere close to meeting expectations. 

 

Ford in particular barely looks like an NFL player. 

[Phil The Thrill]

1 minute ago, jrober38 said:

I'd put Knox higher but the rest is bang on.

 

Oliver and Ford haven't come anywhere close to meeting expectations. 

 

Ford in particular barely looks like an NFL player. 

What would you give him?  I graded Knox down because he had huge drops in at least  2 football games.  I could see him as a B, but don’t think he’s been consistent enough for anything higher so far 

[Augie]

I want to know who appointed the teacher. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 minutes ago, Phil The Thrill said:

What would you give him?  I graded Knox down because he had huge drops in at least  2 football games.  I could see him as a B, but don’t think he’s been consistent enough for anything higher so far 

 

I guess to me, Knox would be an A- if he didn't drop 18% of his targets, so I'd say maybe B or B-.  Keep in mind he's been pretty good in the blocking game also.

But I may have "grade inflation" from comparing output to other guys we've drafted.

 

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Looks to be an average draft class at best for Beane and Co.  Ford has been disappointing especially since Beane desperately wanted and moved up to get him.  

[Phil The Thrill]

1 minute ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I guess to me, Knox would be an A- if he didn't drop 18% of his targets, so I'd say maybe B or B-.  Keep in mind he's been pretty good in the blocking game also.

But I may have "grade inflation" from comparing output to other guys we've drafted.

 

 

Yeah he’s starting in his rookie year as a 3rd round pick.  You can also saw he was the difference maker in atleast 1 victory this year.  So I guess I can definitely see him at a B- or B

[uticaclub]

Just now, Phil The Thrill said:

Yeah he’s starting in his rookie year as a 3rd round pick.  You can also saw he was the difference maker in atleast 1 victory this year.  So I guess I can definitely see him at a B- or B

Who is he starting over? The 7th rounder? Lee Smith? Kroft can’t stay healthy?

[Phil The Thrill]

6 minutes ago, Mr. Wonderful said:

Looks to be an average draft class at best for Beane and Co.  Ford has been disappointing especially since Beane desperately wanted and moved up to get him.  

Maybe it’s average as of November 2019, but it takes time to properly evaluate a draft class.

 

Remember when Doug Whaley’s 2015 draft class looked like an “A” midway though the year?  Now it doesn’t look so good

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

I'd grade Knox higher, maybe B-.  His blocking has been better than expect3d I think and he already has more catches than he did last season in college.

 

I'd give Ford a C or even a C+ just for holding up as well as has with all the being jerked back and forth between two positions.  For a rookie to even be serviceable with that much churn going on is still pretty good on it's own.  And he has with a few exceptions done OK  Beane moved up one spot to get him, so not much of a move.

 

Croom was placed on IR so technically Sweeney didn't beat him out.  But do like the kid from what little  we've seen of him.  Does make me wonder what will become of Croom next year, maybe just move to the owners box?

Edited November 13, 2019 by Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

[Phil The Thrill]

3 minutes ago, uticaclub said:

Who is he starting over? The 7th rounder? Lee Smith? Kroft can’t stay healthy?

Fair enough.  Kroft has been a huge disappointment this year.  But, if Knox didn’t look ready the Bills probably never put Jason Croom (last years starter) on IR

1 minute ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

I'd grade Knox higher, maybe B-.  His blocking has been better than expect3d I think and he already has more catches than he did last season in college.

 

I'd give Ford a C or even a C+ just for holding up as well as has with all the being jerked back and forth between two positions.  For a rookie to even be serviceable with that much churn going on is still pretty good on it's own.  And he has with a few exceptions done OK  Beane moved up one spot to get him, so not much of a move.

 

Croom was placed on IR so technically Sweeney didn't beat him out.  But do like the kid from what little  we've seen of him.

I don’t think they put Croom on IR if Sweeney didn’t play so well in the preseason.  They’d probably just roll with 3 TE’s or make Croom the TE while Kroft recovers 

[Phil The Thrill]

19 minutes ago, Augie said:

I want to know who appointed the teacher. 

Self-appointed 

[Dr.Sack]

Oliver to me has been solid. He hasn’t done enough to warrant the high pick but I’m not disappointed in his play. He’s a bit undersized at DT and will benefit from the humble pie that has been his 2019 season.

[Augie]

I know, many people hate Cowherd, but he covered Tampa back when I was in that market. He commented recently how Warren Sapp was miserable for most of his first season. I recall that as being pretty accurate. Now he’s in the HOF. This is just ridiculous to be grading at this point, and it’s one more attempt to bash the FO and the team. This draft class is NINE games in. This is trying too hard to do your thing. 

 

I think Ed will find his groove, much like Sapp did ( NOT saying HOF level, but a slow start means little), Ford will be a starter - if maybe at guard, Singletary will be a pleasant surprise, Knox MAY just be a steal and I won’t crush him for a few drops as a rookie as he has showed so much positive, and Darryl Johnson may be the steal of the draft. 

 

I’m not going back and doing film study, or propping them up, just pointing out it’s ridiculously  early to have any real understanding of what these guys will become as pros. Another all to early bashing thread, IMO. But feel free to carry on. Do your thing, as always happens. 

45 minutes ago, Phil The Thrill said:

Self-appointed 

 

Are you at least state certified? 

 

.

Edited November 13, 2019 by Augie

[OZBILLS]

2 minutes ago, Dr.Sack said:

Oliver to me has been solid. He hasn’t done enough to warrant the high pick but I’m not disappointed in his play. He’s a bit undersized at DT and will benefit from the humble pie that has been his 2019 season.

 

Everyone expecting Aaron Donald type plays straight out of the gate.

 

I still hold high hopes and want to see him soon.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

13 minutes ago, Phil The Thrill said:

Maybe it’s average as of November 2019, but it takes time to properly evaluate a draft class.

 

Remember when Doug Whaley’s 2015 draft class looked like an “A” midway though the year?  Now it doesn’t look so good

 

Well, 3/6 are still starting on the league.  Two play for bad teams and one is playing for a recent SB champion - does that average out to "OK"?

The one that rots my socks is Karlos Williams.  He looked SOOOOooooo good his first year, then pppffft.

 

[Phil The Thrill]

1 minute ago, Dr.Sack said:

Oliver to me has been solid. He hasn’t done enough to warrant the high pick but I’m not disappointed in his play. He’s a bit undersized at DT and will benefit from the humble pie that has been his 2019 season.

I don’t know if I would say his play “solid.”  He has been average at times, but since the Washington game he has not been used very much.  When you see your play count drastically regress mid-season, then that’s a problem.  
 

What grade would you give him?

[Hapless Bills Fan]

5 minutes ago, Augie said:

I know, many people hate Cowherd, but he covered Tampa back when I was in that market. He commented recently how Warren Sapp was miserable for most of his first season. I recall that as being pretty accurate. Now he’s in the HOF. This is just ridiculous to be grading at this point, and it’s one more attempt to bash the FO and the team. This draft class is NINE games in. This is trying to hard to do your thing. 

 

I think Ed will find his groove, much like Sapp did ( NOT saying HOF level, but a slow start means little), Ford will be a starter - if maybe at guard, Singletary will be a pleasant surprise, Knox MAY just be a steal and I won’t crush him for a few drops as a rookie as he has showed so much positive, and Darryl Johnson may be the steal of the draft.

 

I think the OP knows that and isn't necessarily trying to bash the team - just assess what we're getting from our draft class.  JMO.

Would you not agree that relative to the immediate contributions some other teams have seen, it has been disappointing to date?  You're right, that doesn't mean several of the guys won't take a step next year and turn out to be a good class.

Would you prefer another Josh Allen/Daboll/McDermott thread?

 

[Elite Poster]

How dare you criticize the draft class, didn't you know HOFer Beane picked them??????!!!!!??

Edited November 13, 2019 by Elite Poster

[Phil The Thrill]

12 minutes ago, Augie said:

I know, many people hate Cowherd, but he covered Tampa back when I was in that market. He commented recently how Warren Sapp was miserable for most of his first season. I recall that as being pretty accurate. Now he’s in the HOF. This is just ridiculous to be grading at this point, and it’s one more attempt to bash the FO and the team. This draft class is NINE games in. This is trying to hard to do your thing. 

 

I think Ed will find his groove, much like Sapp did ( NOT saying HOF level, but a slow start means little), Ford will be a starter - if maybe at guard, Singletary will be a pleasant surprise, Knox MAY just be a steal and I won’t crush him for a few drops as a rookie as he has showed so much positive, and Darryl Johnson may be the steal of the draft. 

 

I’m not going back and doing film study, or propping them up, just pointing out it’s ridiculously  early to have any real understanding of what these guys will become as pros. Another all to early bashing thread, IMO. But feel free to carry on. Do your thing, as always happens. 

 

Are you at least state certified? 

I actually like Brandon Beane and the front office.  I’m not bashing them in any way but this is my honest assessment of their draft midway through the first year.  Of course, it too early to formally grace them.  But this is where they are as of November 2019.

 

I do think that it’s fair to hold the Knox drops against him.  It wasn’t just 1 drop, it was multiple drops during several games this season.  
 

 Daryl Johnson “the steal of the draft?”  Uh what are you taking about.  He had a few good plays early in the year but he struggled bad in the Miami game I believe and he has been used very sparingly ever since.  A good pick for a 6th rounder but a “steal?”  Come on man!

 

Your story about Sapp is interesting.  It shows that assimilating as a DT to the NFL can take time.  I do think that Sapp had a much more impactful rookie year.  He seemed to play better as the year went on - not worse.   

11 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Well, 3/6 are still starting on the league.  Two play for bad teams and one is playing for a recent SB champion - does that average out to "OK"?

The one that rots my socks is Karlos Williams.  He looked SOOOOooooo good his first year, then pppffft.

 

I only count 2 starters  - the strongest pick is Darby who is competent at best as a starting CB.  I’d say that Miller is average to below-average.  So IMO, I still say this was not a great a draft.

 

But during 2015, this looked to be an excellent draft class.  

 

And I would agree - Karlos Williams was awesome.  It’s too bad he ate his way out of the NFL.  He was an exciting player to watch

Edited November 13, 2019 by Phil The Thrill