1 - Two 2018 Bills UDFAs who shouldn't be overlooked
Pro Football Focus released its list of promising undrafted free agents from 2018 that shouldn't be overlooked. Among them are two Buffalo Bills, cornerback Levi Wallace and wide receiver Cam Phillips.
Levi Wallace was another undrafted free agent that made the most of his opportunity in his first NFL season, and he took the league by storm in the Bills' final seven games. Among the 69 NFL cornerbacks with 200 or more coverage snaps played in Weeks 10-17, Wallace ranked second in coverage grade (85.3) and first in yards allowed per coverage snap (0.45).
This shouldn't have come as too big of a surprise as he recorded an 81.4 overall grade and allowed a 44.7 passer rating in coverage during his final season at Alabama.
Wallace earned the No. 2 cornerback role midway through the 2018 season and so far throughout OTAs he appears to still hold that role. Wallace will certainly be challenged to keep his starting spot with the addition of veterans E.J. Gaines and Kevin Johnson this offseason.
Cam Phillips went undrafted out of Virginia Tech and signed with the Bills prior to the 2018 season. He appeared in two regular season games in Weeks 7 and 8, logging 24 total snaps out of the slot and contributing one catch for nine yards against New England.
Phillips had a promising season in his final year with the Hokies, earning an 85.8 overall grade that ranked seventh among draft-eligible receivers. With a productive offseason, Phillips has a chance to provide continued depth for the Bills' receiving corps.
2 - What did Dion Dawkins call Josh Allen?
Well Josh Allen might have a new nickname, and he has Dion Dawkins to thank for it.
Dawkins told reporters on Tuesday that Allen is "swaggy."
"Josh is more comfortable, or, if I would call, he's just in his swaggy self," Dawkins said. "Josh is just being natural and just being Josh. He's speaking up. He is a leader. He is our leader. He's comfortable, fluent, and just being Josh."
Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll shared similar sentiments on his QB.
"That's the nature of playing that position. It's going out there and being able to compete at a high level and also being a good leader," Daboll said. "Whether that's off the field or on the field. Josh is going to lead how Josh leads. I don't think he can take any cookie-cutter example of leadership and say, 'This is the way you have to lead.' I think Josh is a good leader."
3 - ESPN grades the Bills' offseason
With commentary from NFL executives, evaluators and coaches throughout the league, ESPN gave the Bills a B- on its offseason report card.
Executives from around the league see the Bills building a team much like the Carolina Panthers did. Each franchise has a big, athletic quarterback and a great defense to help.
One executive loved the signing of John Brown despite his production falling off when the Baltimore Ravens switched from Joe Flacco at quarterback to Lamar Jackson.
"Josh Allen has a [Ben] Roethlisberger kind of arm -- he can throw it a long way," another exec said. "You get a speed guy like John Brown to go get the ball. I like the signing."
An NFL evaluator likened what the Bills do to the New England Patriots.
"I think their maneuvers are similar to how New England operates -- not huge money, with some higher picks who got shown the door elsewhere," an evaluator said. "I think their GM and head coach are in sync and when you have that, you have a chance."
The discussion of the Bills left out offseason moves like the additional depth they signed for the offensive line and the additions to a secondary that ranked No. 2 in the NFL in yards allowed per game.
In relation to the rest of the AFC East, the Dolphins received the best grade with a B, followed by the Patriots (C) and Jets (D-).
