‘The controversy involved Kincaid, arguably the best tight end in the draft but seemingly not playing a position of need with starter Dawson Knox having been signed to a $52 million extension.
BillsBeat - May 1, 2023
Ryan O'Halloran: After margin-working receiver adds, door remains wide open for Gabe Davis to be No. 2
‘But before the Bills could pick at No. 27 or even position themselves to move up a few spots, the receiver run started. Jaxon Smith-Njigba 20th to Seattle, joining D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Quentin Johnston 21st to the Chargers, joining Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Zay Flowers 22nd to Baltimore, joining Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman. And Jordan Addison 23rd to Minnesota, joining Justin Jefferson.’
Bills' draft grades from Buffalo News writers show hits and misses
‘The Bills spun first-round tight end Dalton Kincaid as a slot player and matchup problem so the onus will be on offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey to create said matchups when defenses make in-game adjustments. I don’t care if Kincaid isn’t an NFL-ready blocker – he’s here to catch passes. Period.’
Explainer: What accountability is attached to Buffalo Bills' $100M community benefits promise?
‘The documents describe what the money will be spent on in broad terms, stating that it will go to community benefits “without limitation” that could include anti-violence, mental health, food access and higher education initiatives, as well as youth programming and recycling efforts. It also calls for the money to support efforts to improve “the upward mobility of impoverished and low-income neighborhoods.”‘
Brandon Beane reveals how Josh Allen reacted to Buffalo Bills drafting Dalton Kincaid
‘Allen had his phone nearby as Beane told Bills fans at a post-draft event on Sunday that the quarterback “blew his phone up” with excitement over the move.’
Bills had ‘good feeling’ Cowboys would take Dalton Kincaid, but Buffalo GM thought different team was taking TE
‘As it turns out, there was another team that Beane felt would take Kincaid before he ever had the chance. Buffalo released an exclusive look into the Bills’ war room on night one of the draft. In the video, attached below, Beane said he figured that Kincaid would not make it past the Los Angeles Chargers at pick 21. After the Chargers selected Quentin Johnston, Beane saw his opening. Following a run on receivers and the Giants taking CB Deonte Banks, Beane was able to work out a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.’
Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin inspires, educates Erie audience on benefits of learning CPR
‘“I encourage people to learn it and save lives,” Hamlin said. “What happened to me is proof ― living proof ― that you never know when it’s going to be your opportunity to save a life.”’
What the analysts are saying about the Bills’ draft class
‘“They took tight end Dalton Kincaid in the first, which will help the passing game. He is a move tight end who will make things easier in the middle of the field. He’s not a great blocker. Torrence will be a brute if his knees hold up. Fifth-round receiver Justin Shorter is a taller receiver who can run.”’
Carucci Take 2: If nothing else, the Bills get high marks for selecting O’Cyrus Torrence
‘Everything about Torrence screams first-round value. He has a massive physique, larger than typical interior offensive linemen, yet also has fluid movement and athleticism that belies his size.’
'A wild ride' | O'Cyrus Torrence and Dorian Williams describe the pre-draft adventures that led them to Buffalo
‘”Nerves would be through the ceiling one day, and exciting and nervous all in one,” Torrence said. “So, definitely something that I’m gonna remember forever, but also I was able to enjoy it. When I got the call, it just felt right. I didn’t know it was Buffalo at the time when I answered it, and they said it was Buffalo, and that’s when my heart started beating real fast, and I was like this is it. I’m officially gonna be a Bill, be part of Bills mafia, and that’s when it started hitting for real.”‘
The top six final observations on the Buffalo Bills 2023 Draft
‘”So we’ve just tried to look for different things different pieces to use so that (offensive coordinator) Ken Dorsey and the offensive staff can come out and kind of be in multiple formations, multiple looks, different game plans. This week we need to air it out. This week we need to run it a little bit more, adding Damien Harris, probably a more physical guy. James Cook in year two. Nyheim coming back from seven, eight games with us, has the whole offseason to learn our offense and special teams. So all of it is to make it to where Josh can play quarterback and not feel like he’s got to do everything.”‘
Bills 2023 Draft Grades | NFL analysts breakdown Buffalo's six selections
‘Analysis: The Bills got excellent value over the first two rounds, snagging Kincaid on the first night before landing Torrence to beef up their interior on Friday evening. Buffalo wasn’t expected to take a tight end after extending Dawson Knox last offseason, but Kincaid gives it another weapon to stretch defenses down the seam. In the latter round, the Bills again focused largely on offense with Shorter and Broeker, who should be depth pieces for the next year or two, with Shorter playing on special teams. Williams is intriguing, as Buffalo is thin at linebacker after watching Tremaine Edmunds leave in free agency.’
BillsBeat - April 30, 2023
Brandon Beane, Buffalo Bills trade down three times on Day 3; here's who they selected
‘In this draft, the Bills used four of their six picks on offense, but Beane said that wasn’t from pressure to build up that side of the ball, specifically. “There was never a, ‘Hey, we got to get offense this draft,’ ” Beane said. “It was the picks, when they came up, the first two rounds, and there was just a guy standing out, best player.”’
Jay Skurski: Pressure is on for Bills GM Brandon Beane's 2023 draft class to deliver
‘Those contributions from the 2023 rookie class will be far more than luxuries – they will be necessities. The Bills are firmly in their championship window, with quarterback Josh Allen in his prime, but they’re also up against the salary cap. That means they need players on cost-controlled contracts, the kind rookies entering the league through the draft sign for four years, to provide good value.’
Mark Gaughan: Buffalo Bills' winners and losers after 2023 NFL draft
‘The Bills drafted Torrence to start. Connor McGovern just got a contract worth $7.4 million a year to start at guard. That makes Bates the likely odd man out of the starting lineup, even though his spot on the roster is secure due to his versatility and his contract. It might only be a temporary “loss” for Bates. The Bills will face another salary cap crunch in 2024. Center Mitch Morse has two years left on his contract. The Bills could save $8.5 million against the cap by releasing him after the 2023 season. Bates can play center. That’s a long way off. A lot could happen before then. Morse could take a pay cut and stay. Who knows? But Bates is the obvious choice to give way to Torrence this year.’