Could the Buffalo Bills pull the trigger and take the first running back off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft?
It’s not as crazy as it sounds.
Last year, the Bills were linked to then-Clemson running back Travis Etienne throughout the draft process. The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Etienne before Buffalo’s selection, but even Etienne believed he was Buffalo bound.
When the Jaguars released their draft episode of “The Hunt,” Etienne talked about coming off the board at pick 25.
“I knew it could happen, but I was thinking I was going 30 to the Bills,” Etienne told the Jaguars media crew.
After missing out on the most dynamic back in last year’s class, could the Bills go after Breece Hall, an explosive back in his own right in the 2022 NFL Draft?
Based on what NBC Sports’ Chris Simms is hearing, it’s certainly a possibility.
In his final mock draft on Chris Simms Unbuttoned, the former quarterback claimed there was “a little love affair” between Buffalo and Iowa State running back Breece Hall.
“I’ve got a little curveball for you,” Simms tells his co-host. “And this is a little bit because I’ve heard this too. Breece Hall, Iowa State running back, off the board. I’ve heard there’s a little love affair through the grapevine up there in Buffalo that they like Breece Hall a lot.”
Hall is as athletic as they come in this year’s draft. NFL.com recently released their Next Gen Stats can’t miss prospects for this year’s class and the Iowa State back came in at No. 1 among the class due to his speed, athleticism, age and production in college.
Simms painted a picture of what Hall could do for the Bills to keep defenses on their toes.
“It’s not totally off the rails here to go with this guy for what they are as a team,” said Simms. “They’re going to throw the ball, throw the ball, throw the ball, throw the ball. You’re going to start playing too much defense... Whew! Here’s a draw play to Breece Hall, your safeties are 30 yards deep and now you’re going to have to tackle Breece Hall 30 yards down the field and he’s got three rockets up his ass. I could see them going that route. Oh you’re down the field worried about Josh Allen throwing lasers... Here’s a dump-off screen to Breece Hall. Ut oh, watch out. He’s got 40 yards of free space to run around and get going here. This one’s a little off the radar, but also hearing a little bit and going, I could see this make sense. I could see it. It does make sense a little bit.”
Hall is expected to be the first back off the board, but a case could also be made for Kenneth Walker III of Michigan State. As for potential fits with the Bills, Simms believes Buffalo makes more sense because of what he can do in the passing game. During his career at Iowa State, Hall hauled in 82 receptions for 734 yards and six touchdowns.
“They want a guy that’s a little bit more of a thing in the pass game,” said Simms. “Breece, you get to see a lot of it. He’s smooth and can run routes out of the backfield and that is his cup of tea and that makes sense for what they want to do.”
In addition to Buffalo’s reported interest in Etienne, Beane has talked about certain types of backs still being worth first round picks in today’s NFL. Hall fits that mold.
“I’m for taking the best player,” Beane told Adam Schein ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. “And there are running backs in this league now currently in the NFL... I’ve talked about it in another interview. Christian McCaffrey, if he were in this draft--that was my last draft in Carolina--I would take him in the first round. I’d take Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook. There are guys that are multi-dimensional. They’re not just first and second down bruiser backs, but they can bring a lot to your offense. Christian McCaffrey, Kamara, those guys can go line up and play slot receiver for you in this league. They’re that good. This is a passing league. A homerun hitter or a vertical threat. We don’t have a guy that has that dimension so that’s another element. You have to look at that. Those are first round talents.”
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The Link LonkApril 26, 2022 at 03:57AM
https://www.syracuse.com/buffalo-bills/2022/04/buffalo-bills-have-a-little-love-affair-for-rb-breece-hall-says-chris-simms.html
Buffalo Bills have ‘a little love affair’ for RB Breece Hall, says Chris Simms - syracuse.com
https://news.google.com/search?q=little&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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