The NFL draft was held this past Thursday at its annual location of Radio City Music Hall in New York City. And although my draft board didn’t make it past the fourth pick, there is much to be recapped and analyzed from a Bills fans perspective on this particular draft. This was the third draft of the Gailey Nix era, and in my opinion was their most effective, however only time will validate this opinion. Here I will break down rounds 1, and explain why I think that the Bills future just got a whole lot brighter.
Stephon Gilmore was drafted by the team with the 10th overall pick, and I love it. Although I was hoping for Boston College LB Luke Kuechly to fall to them, he didn’t and that may prove to be a blessing in disguise over time, as I think the team got a future stud in Gilmore. First and foremost the Bills addressed the teams glaring need for depth in the defensive backfield. You can never have enough good defensive backs in the NFL, especially when you have to play the New England Patriots twice a year. The thing that is unique about Gilmore is that he is unusually taller than the average NFL defensive back, measuring in at 6 foot one. This will go a long way in the Bills efforts to slow down the two headed monster of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski in New England. Another aspect of his game that myself and Bills fans alike can appreciate is that he’s a banger. He plays the run exceptionally well and loves to hit people, which will make him an immediate fan favorite. Some areas of his game that need improvement are his man to man coverage and his recovery speed. He is most effective when playing a zone defense and has a knack for positioning himself in that zone, but is known for getting beat off that ball and not being able to recover, as he does not have the blazing speed that most corners have. At the end of the day I see Gilmore as a shoe in for a spot on the opening day starting roster. The kid will come into camp eager to earn his teammates and coaches respect, and will flourish
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