Finding one thing to love about each of the Bills’ 8 draft picks in 2021
The Bills landed eight new players via the 2021 NFL draft. Considering none of them have played a single snap in the NFL just yet, most of the names are pretty unfamiliar.
If you’re looking for a reason to feel optimistic about the entire group, look no further.
Here’s one thing to love about all eight of Buffalo’s selections at the 2021 draft:
Jack Anderson | OL | Texas Tech
Jack Anderson #56 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Selection: Round 7, pick No. 236
What to love: Jack Anderson has a great level of experience from his time at Texas Tech. He turned down other offers from powerhouse programs to stick closer to home during college and because of that, he's started since his freshman year. Also, some think the nasty player in the trenches looks like former Bills offensive lineman Richie Incognito.
Rachad Wildgoose | CB | Wisconsin
Wisconsin cornerback Rachad Wildgoose(Gannett photo)
Selection: Round 6, pick No. 213
What to love: The number 492. If Rachad Wildgoose is not a factor at the Bills' No. 2 cornerback position battle? No problem. He has experience playing there and in the slot. During his college career, per Pro Football Focus, Wildgoose played 492 snaps as an outside corner and another 492 snaps exactly as a nickel defensive back. He has the exact same experience doing both jobs.
Damar Hamlin | DB | Pittsburgh
National Team defensive back Damar Hamlin. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
Selection: Round 6, pick No. 212
What to love: What Todd McShay said. During the draft's broadcast, the ESPN analyst raved about Damar Hamlin, even though he was a sixth-round pick. McShay made a bold prediction: Hamlin will make the Bills' final 53-man roster as a "special teams maven."
Marquez Stevenson | WR | Houston
Houston Cougars wide receiver Marquez Stevenson. Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Selection: Round 6, pick No. 203
What to love: After seeing Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill use his speed to run all over the Bills in 2020... Marquez Stevenson might be Buffalo's best bet to match that. At his Pro Day, Stevenson ran a 4.45 40-yard dash time. That alone is fast, but Stevenson said it was "windy" that day at the field and he's clocked as low as the 4.3s before. That's lightning.
Tommy Doyle | OL | Miami (OH)
Miami Redhawks offensive lineman Tommy Doyle. Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Selection: Round 5, pick No. 161
What to love: The Bills offense taught us one thing in 2020: They love to pass the ball. Tommy Doyle will fit right in. According to Pro Football Focus, Doyle graded higher than an 80.0 pass protector in three-straight college seasons. For reference, Daryl Williams was graded an 80.0 pass blocker last season for the Bills. Dion Dawkins clocked in at 74.9. Doyle also was a big hockey player growing up.
Spencer Brown | OL | Northern Iowa
Northern Iowa Panthers offensive lineman Spencer Brown. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Selection: Round 3, pick No. 93
What to love: Spencer Brown is a freak athlete. He's pushing 6-foot-9 in height and currently lists at 311 pounds even though he's played at even higher weights. Brown is described as "ultra lean" by PFF despite his frame and he gets some of that athletic ability from his pre-college football days. In high school, he was a defensive lineman and... tight end, running around and catching passes. Maybe him and Dawkins could catch touchdown passes in the same season?
Carlos Basham Jr. | DE | Wake Forest
American Team defensive lineman Carlos Basham Jr., of Wake Forest .(AP Photo/Rusty Costanza, File)
Selection: Round 2, pick No. 61
What to love: There's really nothing more to love about Carlos Basham Jr. than his nickname: Boogie. But keeping it football-related, Basham is projected by most as the Bills' best Day 1 impact maker in their 2021 draft class.
Greg Rousseau | DE | Miami (Fla.)
Gregory Rousseau (Miami) walks on stage after being selected by the Buffalo Bills Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Selection: Round 1, pick No. 30
What to love: It's hard to love anything more than Greg Rousseau's connections to Buffalo. He has family from the Queen City and his parents lived there before he was born. Again keeping it on the field, it's also hard to find something more to love than Rousseau's stats. While only playing in one college football season in 2019, the numbers are eye-popping. In 13 games played that year, Rousseau had 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss with two forced fumbles.
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