2019 NFL Draft: Implications of Kyler Murray going No. 1 overall
DE/OLB. Mississippi State. Montez Sweat. 9. player. 16.
After adding several receivers in free agency, I no longer expect Buffalo to spend their first round pick on D.K. Metcalf or any other receiver on the board. At least, I don’t expect they would spend the ninth pick on one; maybe they would explore a trade-back option and take a receiver later, but I can’t see a receiver on the board who wouldn’t be a reach at No. 9 – even a combine freak like Metcalf.
Buffalo covets Oliver, but in this scenario they would be usurped by the Falcons moving ahead of them. That could leave them in a precarious position, and if they stand pat they might just go with best player available. That would likely be Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat, even after medical exams revealed a pre-existing heart condition. I don’t want to speculate too much on the impact on his draft stock, but early reports appear to be that it isn’t too serious, and he should still be an early pick.
Sweat was one of the biggest winners at the combine, putting up freakish numbers for a player his size. He ran a blistering 40, and had some of the most impressive measurables of any prospect. The tape didn’t always match his athletic prowess, but his potential is sky-high.
The Bills ranked 26th in the NFL in sacks last year, so adding an edge rusher with a high ceiling like Sweat would be a nice consolation prize if Oliver is off the board.
Improving their offensive line is also a priority, which means they’ll seriously consider the top linemen on the board like Alabama’s Jonah Williams, Oklahoma’s Cody Ford, and Washington State’s Andre Dillard, as they look to protect the investment they made in Josh Allen in the last draft.