New England Patriots: Grading AFC East opponents offseason
Buffalo Bills 2020 offseason
New England’s toughest opponent in 2019 when they were led by Tom Brady was the Buffalo Bills. They are well-coached by Sean McDermot (man, I like that guy) and they know what they are doing in personnel. I place the Buffalo Bills in the lead in the AFC East at present. The Patriots are behind.
So how did Buffalo fare in the 2020 offseason and did that give them an even greater advantage over the Patriots? Let’s take a look.
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The Bills traded their No. 22 first-round pick along with 5th and 6th round picks to the Minnesota Vikings for a really good wide receiver, Stefon Diggs. This was costly, but Diggs is a big-time player. This is a great first, fifth, and sixth-round pick for Buffalo.
Diggs is only 26 years old, in his prime and he elevates Buffalo’s offense to a new level. Nice move for the Bills. Very nice.
In the second round of the draft, the Bills took a defensive end for Iowa who had been mocked to the Patriots often, A. J. Epenesa. Another solid pick by Buffalo in the second round.
In the Third round, Buffalo took a running back Zack Moss of Utah. I really like Moss and I really like this pick. But it’s more bad news for New England. Buffalo clearly knows what they are doing in personnel.
I’ll just briefly mention two lower round picks I liked for Buffalo. One is Jake Fromm, the Georgia quarterback, who should have been taken by New England. Fromm was rated pretty highly and Buffalo already has a good quarterback in Josh Allen. But, having back-up quality is good. Competition is good. Buffalo’s drafting … is good.
They made the right move here while New England failed to even draft a quarterback at all in 2020. The other is Tyler Bass, a kicker from Georgia Southern who’d have been a better choice for New England than the kicker they drafted in the 5th round.
I just have to give the Bills a totally solid A, folks. Buffalo General Manager Brandon Beane is with “it”. I like his style. These picks may not all work out. They never do. But they were the RIGHT picks. That’s what matters.