Rookie camp - Post updates here

[ganesh]

On 5/10/2025 at 4:54 AM, Mark Vader said:

3 months to Preseason.

 

Does that help?

 

 

Or a month away from Mandatory Mini Camp!

[BearNorth]

Jordan Hancock 9.82 RAS, 4.42 40, another guy with serious hops over 40" vertical. Taller, bigger, faster, more explosive than Cam and played at the highest level of CFB facing elite players [MH Jr.] every day in practice.  Suspect when Taron's time with the Bills ends, he could be the replacement, as he played slot at The Ohio State University, but also has size to play safety in a 6 DB set.

[YattaOkasan]

2 hours ago, BearNorth said:

Jordan Hancock 9.82 RAS, 4.42 40, another guy with serious hops over 40" vertical. Taller, bigger, faster, more explosive than Cam and played at the highest level of CFB facing elite players [MH Jr.] every day in practice.  Suspect when Taron's time with the Bills ends, he could be the replacement, as he played slot at The Ohio State University, but also has size to play safety in a 6 DB set.

Its also very exciting that he sorta played all over for OSU.  He seemingly didnt have a specific role and had to know the whole defense.  Very excited that were getting a supreme athlete that knows the defensive philosophy throughout.  That he didnt have the specific role to shine in was seemingly why he was available so late.  

 

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Jordan-Hancock-CB-OhioState (near the bottom says played CB, NCB, and S).

[Mikey152]

2 hours ago, YattaOkasan said:

Its also very exciting that he sorta played all over for OSU.  He seemingly didnt have a specific role and had to know the whole defense.  Very excited that were getting a supreme athlete that knows the defensive philosophy throughout.  That he didnt have the specific role to shine in was seemingly why he was available so late.  

 

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Jordan-Hancock-CB-OhioState (near the bottom says played CB, NCB, and S).

The Buckeyes really took off defensively when they moved him to free safety part time. Ransom was more of an in the box defender, which forced downs to play deep middle. When Ransom went down, they played Hancock deep middle and moved Downs closer to the LOS where he could make more plays. He acquitted himself nicely. They kept doing it after Ransom came back and he played a lot of safety snaps in the playoffs.

 

That said...he is more of a pass defender, IMO. More Micah, less Poyer or even Johnson.

Edited 13 hours ago by Mikey152

[BigAl2526]

4 minutes ago, Mikey152 said:

The Buckeyes really took off defensively when they moved him to free safety. Ransom was more of an in the box defender, which forced downs to play deep middle. When Ransom went down, they played Hancock deep middle and moved Downs closer to the LOS where he could make more plays. He acquitted himself nicely.

 

That said...he is more of a pass defender, IMO. More Micah, less Poyer or even Johnson.

The challenge of evaluating a guy who played in multiple spots in college is that the player had less opportunity to focus on the techniques and skill set development for any one position. It's tough to find both versatility and a highly developed skill set in one player unless it's Travis Hunter. 

[Mikey152]

8 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

The challenge of evaluating a guy who played in multiple spots in college is that the player had less opportunity to focus on the techniques and skill set development for any one position. It's tough to find both versatility and a highly developed skill set in one player unless it's Travis Hunter. 

Maybe. But he never really left the CB room at tOSU, he would just rotate in at safety for certain looks or to fill in for injury. He was their nickel CB. Even as a deep safety, he was mostly playing coverage. What I think had him slide was our outside CBs these past two seasons were kind of the weak spot and yet they never really moved him outside. 

 

In theory he is big and athletic enough to play out there, so it begs the question as to why they kept him at nickel.

Edited 13 hours ago by Mikey152

[YattaOkasan]

37 minutes ago, Mikey152 said:

The Buckeyes really took off defensively when they moved him to free safety part time. Ransom was more of an in the box defender, which forced downs to play deep middle. When Ransom went down, they played Hancock deep middle and moved Downs closer to the LOS where he could make more plays. He acquitted himself nicely. They kept doing it after Ransom came back and he played a lot of safety snaps in the playoffs.

 

That said...he is more of a pass defender, IMO. More Micah, less Poyer or even Johnson.

Love the rotation cause it implies understanding of the defense holistically and I believe that is what McD/Babich want.  Glad you also mentioned the free safety too because I view Bishop more in the Poyer role.  Both are plenty athletic but I think Bishop can be physical and would like a better coverage player behind him.  Rapp and Hamlin dont reallly offer that but they do obviously have mastery of the defense.  I still think Forrest might have a bit of the edge over Hancock at S but I would like either of them over Rapp/Hamlin come Sept.

[balln]

45 minutes ago, Mikey152 said:

Maybe. But he never really left the CB room at tOSU, he would just rotate in at safety for certain looks or to fill in for injury. He was their nickel CB. Even as a deep safety, he was mostly playing coverage. What I think had him slide was our outside CBs these past two seasons were kind of the weak spot and yet they never really moved him outside. 

 

In theory he is big and athletic enough to play out there, so it begs the question as to why they kept him at nickel.

Yea like - he played at the number 1-4 top program in cfb year in and year out. I’ll take my chances on players from sec and osu / mich any day of the week

[Dukestreetking]

On 5/10/2025 at 11:40 PM, transplantbillsfan said:

 

I'm guessing you've never watched Barry.

 

He's NoHo Hank and I'll never be able to get it out of my head when I see him.

 

Let's all hold hands and pray that LJ never becomes "King of Suck Balls Mountain"

 

Nota bene: I don't think he will be; it's just an obscure/funny Barry quote involving No Ho Hank

[NewEra]

7 hours ago, BearNorth said:

Jordan Hancock 9.82 RAS, 4.42 40, another guy with serious hops over 40" vertical. Taller, bigger, faster, more explosive than Cam and played at the highest level of CFB facing elite players [MH Jr.] every day in practice.  Suspect when Taron's time with the Bills ends, he could be the replacement, as he played slot at The Ohio State University, but also has size to play safety in a 6 DB set.

The more I read and watch on this guy, I start to wonder how he was even available in rd 5

[BigAl2526]

3 hours ago, Mikey152 said:

Maybe. But he never really left the CB room at tOSU, he would just rotate in at safety for certain looks or to fill in for injury. He was their nickel CB. Even as a deep safety, he was mostly playing coverage. What I think had him slide was our outside CBs these past two seasons were kind of the weak spot and yet they never really moved him outside. 

 

In theory he is big and athletic enough to play out there, so it begs the question as to why they kept him at nickel.

Don't get me wrong. I like the pick.  If anything, what Hancock's versatility suggests is that he has some untapped upside at some places where the Bills might use him.

[YattaOkasan]

1 hour ago, NewEra said:

The more I read and watch on this guy, I start to wonder how he was even available in rd 5

Not being able to focus on one thing probably confused the scouting and limited production. Lots of big school players are along for the ride and flame out so I suspect scouts just assumed he wasn’t good enough to take control of a position. I sorta get it but the context is important and in this case does provide a lot of hope. 

[BearNorth]

2 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

Don't get me wrong. I like the pick.  If anything, what Hancock's versatility suggests is that he has some untapped upside at some places where the Bills might use him.

Nothing wrong with having a guy with his athleticism on punt & ko teams either.

[Buffalo716]

3 hours ago, NewEra said:

The more I read and watch on this guy, I start to wonder how he was even available in rd 5

Because he has average coverage talent.. he has good size.. he's versatile... hes fast...

 

He lacks a lot of coverage skill.. he gets beat off press pretty easily... And playing off , sharp route runners turn him around

 

he is physical and is willing to get his nose dirty which is appealing... But his play recognition and play making skills leave a lot to be desired ... He does have good size at the nickel

 

I had a fourth round grade as a special teams player and versatile chess piece with some room to grow in the right situation 

 

He probably will never be a coverage savant tho , he's not a pure coverage guy... Tho he has decent awareness in zone 

 

He went right where he should imo 

Edited 7 hours ago by Buffalo716

[Low Positive]

I played EA College Football 25 this evening as OSU and Hancock got two sacks on safety blitzes. 

[Buffalo716]

@NewEra

 

I would transition him to safety right off the bat... He has okay not great size there.. but he would have very plus speed... And as I said he's willing to get his nose dirty 

 

That will keep him off of press basically the majority of the time and he was pretty good at keeping everything in front of him in zone

 

Bulk him up a tad... And Sean can probably get him up to speed on the complicated zone match we run

 

If you had to get a starting player out of him I like his long-term chances at safety better than corner where he just can't mirror and match and the highest level 

Edited 6 hours ago by Buffalo716

[Low Positive]

4 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

@NewEra

 

I would transition him to safety right off the bat... He has okay not great size there.. but he would have very plus speed... And as I said he's willing to get his nose dirty 

 

That will keep him off of press basically the majority of the time and he was pretty good at keeping everything in front of him in zone

 

Bulk him up a tad... And Sean can probably get him up to speed on the complicated zone match we run

 

If you had to get a starting player out of him I like his long-term chances at safety better than corner where he just can't mirror and match and the highest level 

This is the best plan. 

[NewEra]

8 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

@NewEra

 

I would transition him to safety right off the bat... He has okay not great size there.. but he would have very plus speed... And as I said he's willing to get his nose dirty 

 

That will keep him off of press basically the majority of the time and he was pretty good at keeping everything in front of him in zone

 

Bulk him up a tad... And Sean can probably get him up to speed on the complicated zone match we run

 

If you had to get a starting player out of him I like his long-term chances at safety better than corner where he just can't mirror and match and the highest level 

Most media speaking of him as an upgrad to Cam Lewis.  Seems like the perfect starting point

[Buffalo716]

Just now, NewEra said:

Most media speaking of him as an upgrad to Cam Lewis.  Seems like the perfect starting point

Yea.. learn safety at the NFL level.. he could probably back up the slot before he cracks the safety lineup 

 

Hes gonna play special teams 

 

It was a good pick