2017 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills Class Strong Despite Front Office Shakeup

Doug Whaley is out as the Bills general manager but that didn’t stop Buffalo from getting some very good players in the 2017 NFL Draft

Not many people were shocked to see Doug Whaley be fired by Buffalo the day after he concluded his first NFL Draft with coach Sean McDermott. In fact, can you even call this a Doug Whaley draft? Multiple reports claim the first-year head coach McDermott was given unprecedented power by owner Terry Pegula.

Even with a first-time head coach running the show in Buffalo the Bills left the NFL Draft with one of the best groups of the year.

Six players were selected by Buffalo through the three-day marathon, which bolstered both the offense and defense evenly.

After trading back with Kansas City to acquire a third round pick and next years first rounder the Bills added cornerback Tre’Davious White. Replacing the departed Stephon Gilmore White comes out of “defensive back U” also known as LSU. Pairing White and Ronald Darby gives the Bills another 1-2 punch at cornerback after Gilmore signed with New England.

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Buffalo then used their added assets to jump several teams for East Carolina wide receiver Zay Jones. A fast riser in the NFL Draft process Jones replaces a departed Robert Woods while having an opportunity to shine next to an oft-injured Sammy Watkins.

McDermott, who worked in Philadelphia from 1999-2010, drafted Temple offensive lineman Dion Dawkins, who’ll compete for a starting job on the offensive line.

Between adding linebackers Matt Milano and Tanner Vallejo Buffalo managed to draft a quarterback who will fight for Tyrod Taylor’s job. Pittsburgh’s Nathan Peterman was originally expected to go off draft boards in the second or third round, but slipped into the fifth behind C.J. Beathard, Davis Webb, and Josh Dobbs.

Jan 1, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Cardale Jones (7) drops back to pass against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

In a weak quarterback class Peterman could ultimately have one of the best NFL careers once given an opportunity. Working with quarterback coach David Culley Peterman enters the Bills quarterback room with a chance to beat Cardale Jones and TJ Yates for the backup quarterback position.

Should starter Taylor be injured or endure another bad season it’s not far-fetched to believe Peterman sees NFL action this year.

Next: Unknown quarterback Josh Allen already touted as 2018 top pick

Forget the general manager and scouting staff are gone and the Pegula’s may have no clue how to run an NFL franchise, and look at this Bills draft class. It’s as impressive as any when you see the value and recognize the additional first round draft pick acquired from Kansas City.

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