NFL Draft 2017: Top target for each team
By John Buhler
Buffalo Bills: Mike Williams
With former second-round pick Robert Woods taking a bunch of cash to play for his hometown Los Angeles Rams, the Buffalo Bills now have a glaring need at wide receiver entering the 2017 NFL Draft. Look for the Bills to be the first team to take a wideout in the draft by selecting Clemson Tigers’ Mike Williams at No. 10.
Williams broke his neck in his true junior season in 2015. While some thought that injury would end his football career, Williams would have a dominating season for the 2016 national champions. He would have 98 catches for 1,361 yards and 11 touchdowns as Clemson’s No. 1 wideout last season.
There are other first-round wide receivers in this draft like Western Michigan’s Corey Davis and Washington’s John Ross. What makes Williams the pick here is his ability to possession receive between the hash marks. Ross is blazing fast, but isn’t big enough to run a ton of crossing routes at the next level. Davis was great, but was primarily a vertical threat at a small school. How does that translate to the next level in frigid Buffalo?
Another reason that Williams has to be the guy for the Bills at No. 10 is that he will complement Buffalo’s No. 1 wideout Sammy Watkins perfectly. When healthy, Watkins can spread the field as a vertical threat, as well as a speed guy in the slot. What Buffalo needs is a guy that can go what he needs help at: possession receiving.
One could argue for the Bills to draft Alabama Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard at this selection to accomplish just that. However, Howard tended to disappear at times in the Alabama offense. Using the 10th pick on him would be over drafting. The Bills could still grab him, but should trade back to do so. If not Howard, Williams looks really good sitting there at No. 10.