One of the best moves of the offseason was the Buffalo Bills deciding to retain quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He can be hot and cold at times, but holding onto him means the Bills don’t have to force a pick at quarterback in the 2017 NFL draft and miss out on other key positions of need.
2017 NFL mock draft: Buffalo Bills go with Marcus Williams
The Utah coverage safety would push for playing time immediately.
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In the first round of the SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft, the Bills were able to take wide receiver Corey Davis instead of rushing a quarterback. Now in the second round, instead of forcing a pick of Cal’s Davis Webb or Pittsburgh’s Nathan Peterman, Chris Trapasso and Dan Lavoie of Buffalo Rumblings can sit back and fill another big need.
44. Buffalo Bills: Marcus Williams, S, Utah
Trapasso and Lavoie: In Sean McDermott’s Cover 3 defense, having a rangy free safety is vital. Malik Hooker was high on our board due to his incredible range from that center field spot, and Marcus Williams was our No. 2 free safety for the same reason … range.
The 20-year-old defensive back reeled in 10 interceptions over the past two seasons (five each year) and broke up a total of eight other passes. He isn’t the most aggressive, thumping tackler, but we don’t think that’s the worst thing in this day and age of the NFL. Athletically, Williams is a freak of nature.
At 6’1 and 202 pounds, he ran 4.56 in the 40-yard dash and had a 43.5-inch vertical. In the broad jump, he leaped 10’9”, which is in the 93rd percentile among safeties at the combine since 1999. Add in a 6.85 three-cone time, and it’s easy to realize Williams is not limited athletically whatsoever. He’ll be a game-changing back end player in Buffalo.
Analysis: Although the Bills signed Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde this offseason, Buffalo taking a safety should come as no surprise. Poyer’s specialty is coverage, but in Cleveland he was at his best in situational use. Having Poyer, Hyde, and Williams would allow the Bills to use some big nickel formations, which could help against a team like the Patriots that utilizes the tight end a lot.
Dan’s top five players remaining
- 26. Tim Williams, LB, Alabama
- 34. Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
- 37. Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn
- 39. Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
- 41. Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
Bills picks
- 1-10: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
- 2-44: Marcus Williams, S, Utah
Our last pick of the week will be coming up at 3 p.m. ET with Seth Cox of Revenge of the Birds making the pick for the Arizona Cardinals.
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