Buffalo Bills: 2016 7-round NFL mock draft
By John Buhler
The Bills will look to fortify themselves in the trenches again in 2016 by looking to upgrade at defensive tackle. While he won’t start, the Bills could have a strong rotational player for Ryan at defensive tackle if they select the Texas Longhorns’ Hassan Ridgeway at No. 139.
Surely, the Bills could have any number of defensive tackles in what appears to be the deepest position entering the 2016 NFL Draft, but could they extract more value in an under-the-radar player in Ridgeway?
Ridgeway could potentially play in more than one technique at defensive tackle since he came to Austin as a former defensive end in high school. While he may lack the necessary foot speed to appropriately play defensive end professionally, his strength and raw power on the interior of the defensive line could make Ridgeway an interesting pass rushing project for Ryan to work with going forward.
Again, finding value in players that can play in his blitz-heavy defensive scheme is Ryan’s greatest strength as an NFL tactician. While the Bills weren’t exactly elite in rushing the passer in his first season in Buffalo in 2015, the Bills will certainly improve in that department in year two of the Ryan era in Orchard Park.
Perhaps going with Ridgeway late in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft is a risk the Bills might be willing to take with this particular compensatory selection this spring?
Next: 156. Jared Norris, Inside Linebacker, Utah