1 - McShay loves idea of DK Metcalf and Josh Allen
Todd McShay released his Mock Draft 3.0 now with knowledge of players' performances at the combine. With this new information he mocked a different player to the Bills compared to his Mock Draft 2.0 and is excited to see the potential combination of Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf and Josh Allen.
"With Josh Allen and the ability he has to extend plays and some of the throws he can make down the field that very few in the league can actually make," McShay said. "A guy like Metcalf could really bring out the best in Josh Allen."
McShay now has Metcalf going to the Bills at the ninth pick instead of Florida offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor. Taylor has moved up to the seventh pick and is part of the reason why McShay chose Metcalf to the Bills.
"He's an absolute monster at 6-foot-3 with ridiculous strength and 4.33 40 speed. Metcalf specializes in running the nine route, andJosh Allenhas the big arm to get him the ball. It has been a while since Buffalo had a real receiving talent like Metcalf," McShay wrote about the receiver.
McShay did admit to seeing some weaknesses in Metcalf's game during a media conference call on Wednesday but teams should not be deterred from him.
"I understand he was kind of a one-trick pony, but it's a heck of a trick," McShay said. "When you can get down the field at 228 (pounds) and go up and compete for the ball the way he does, track the deep ball, adjust and make the plays he did, get off of press, which he did."
McShay's mock also included Alabama offensive tackle Jonah Williams picked immediately after Buffalo at 10.
2 - Why Bills showed faith in LeSean McCoy
General manager Brandon Beane went on NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport's podcast "RapSheet and Friends" and discussed why Buffalo held onto LeSean McCoy despite numerous trade rumors this past season.
"LeSean is an established player," Beane said. "He's been a very productive player in his career. Did he have a down year? Yes. Did he play up to his standard? No. But I think our offense as a whole was in transition. We had a rookie quarterback. We had a new offensive coordinator trying to put in a new system.
"We didn't get our running game established the way we wanted to last year for various reasons. We weren't consistent up front. You get into a rhythm as a runner just like you do as a passer. I think LeSean was never able to get in a rhythm where he got two or three games going with the run game.
"We just looked at it as a down year, a transition year. We still see a skill set with LeSean where he can play and be a factor. The better Josh (Allen) plays in the passing game, the more that will help move our run game forward."
McCoy did have his worst statistical season as a Bill, but part can be explained by having the fewest rush attempts in a season since his rookie year in 2009. McCoy posted 514 yards and three touchdowns and an additional 238 yards receiving.
If offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's system can find a better rhythm in year two then the Bills can expect to see McCoy return to being the perennial 1,000 yard rusher he can be.
3 - PFF: Bills top graded wide receivers
The question of if the Bills should take a wide receiver in the first round has been circling recently with the end of the combine. Some Bills receivers showed promise for next season and can be important parts of the team in the future.
Robert Foster was the highest graded receiver at 73.3, Isaiah McKenzie was second at 66.6 and Zay Jones was graded a 60.4 by Pro Football Focus. Those three accounted for 1,372 of Buffalo's 3,082 receiving yards this season and 10 of 13 touchdowns.
With all three making their NFL debut either in 2017 or 2018 the future of Buffalo's receivers looks bright as both McKenzie and Jones made jumps in their second year that you can hope to see in the third. Foster will enter his second season and has already been labeled as a top breakout candidate for next season by PFF.
