2013 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills Draft Grade
By Blake Meek
Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduces E.J. Manuel as the number sixteen overall pick to the Buffalo Bills during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
1st Round 16th Overall — E.J. Manuel QB, Florida State — B
Manuel has all the tools to be an elite NFL quarterback. He is a big, strong, athletic quarterback who has a big arm. He can run the read option which is the craze of today. However, he is really inconsistent. If he can fix that, he can be great.
2nd Round 41st Overall — Robert Woods WR, USC — A
Woods is one of the most NFL ready receivers in this draft. He isn’t the strongest, fastest or most athletic but he runs great routes and he catches everything thrown at him.
2nd Round 46th Overall — Kiko Alonso LB, Oregon — B-
Alonso is a very talented linebacker. He can be a very good player in the middle of the Bills defense. However, he does have some off the field issues and he wasn’t the best linebacker on the board at the time, otherwise the grade would be higher.
3rd Round 78th Overall — Marquise Goodwin WR, Texas — B+
The Bills hope Goodwin will be their version of Mike Wallace. He is an Olympic track athlete who can absolutely fly. He isn’t a great route runner and he doesn’t have the best hands, but he can stretch the field.
4th Round 105th Overall — Duke Williams S, Nevada — B+
Duke Williams is one of my favorite safeties in the draft. He is a great athlete who is very fast for a safety. He has a lot of talent and unlike a lot of fast safeties, he doesn’t care to lay a receiver out over the middle.
5th Round 143rd Overall — Jonathan Meeks DB, Clemson — D+
This pick didn’t make much sense to me at all. They just picked a safety last round and they take another one here. Also, if they were going to double dip at safety, there were much more talented players still left.
6th Round 177th Overall — Dustin Hopkins K, Florida State — C-
Another pick that didn’t make a lot of sense. They just signed Rian Lindell to a 4 year deal last season and in 2012 he hit 21 of 24 FG attempts. Will they keep Hopkins as a kickoff specialist.
7th Round 222nd Overall — Chris Gragg TE, Arkansas — A-
I thought the Bills would get a tight end a lot earlier, but Chris Gragg is a good pick here. He isn’t going to do a lot of blocking, but he has good speed and good hands. He can also play the H-back position.
Overall — B
This draft really lives or dies with E.J. Manuel. If he becomes what they think he can, this will be an A+ draft. If he is a bust, it will be a much lower grade. They helped him out with a lot of weapons. He already has Steve Johnson, C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. Now add the reliable Robert Woods, the speed demon Marquise Goodwin and a new tight end.