Buffalo Bills’ 2022 rookie class shows promise

[Woodman]

https://www.buffalorumblings.com/202...kir-james-cook

Kaiir Elam, CB

For as loud (in a good way) that Elam’s play was in Buffalo’s wild card win over the Miami Dolphins, he was rarely involved over the course of the broadcast against the Bengals. Instead, Joe Burrow and Cincinnati’s offense elected to attack Buffalo’s linebackers and veteran corners Dane Jackson and Tre’Davious White. As we’ve said multiple times throughout the course of the season, having a quiet game at the cornerback position is a good thing.


James Cook, RB

Some bright spots during the course of the regular season didn’t carry over into the playoffs for Cook. Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was forced into playing a script predicated on passing the ball and doing nearly everything through quarterback Josh Allen.


Khalil Shakir, WR

Shakir was the Bills’ second leading receiver in this game, posting two receptions for 40 yards on two targets. Shakir was clearly more involved in the twilight of the 2022 season, while his overall play was enough for promise to remain strong heading into 2023. His talent shone through such that he’s a likely candidate to factor heavily into the receiver rotation next season. Wide receiver will be discussed often as a position of need for Buffalo this offseason.


Christian Benford, CB

Benford was a healthy inactive once again. He never factored into the lineup after returning from Injured Reserve for the second time. Head coach Sean McDermott mentioned him as a potential position-change candidate in his end-of-season press conference.

[BuffaloBlitz83]

https://www.buffalorumblings.com/202...kir-james-cook

Kaiir Elam, CB

For as loud (in a good way) that Elam’s play was in Buffalo’s wild card win over the Miami Dolphins, he was rarely involved over the course of the broadcast against the Bengals. Instead, Joe Burrow and Cincinnati’s offense elected to attack Buffalo’s linebackers and veteran corners Dane Jackson and Tre’Davious White. As we’ve said multiple times throughout the course of the season, having a quiet game at the cornerback position is a good thing.


James Cook, RB

Some bright spots during the course of the regular season didn’t carry over into the playoffs for Cook. Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was forced into playing a script predicated on passing the ball and doing nearly everything through quarterback Josh Allen.


Khalil Shakir, WR

Shakir was the Bills’ second leading receiver in this game, posting two receptions for 40 yards on two targets. Shakir was clearly more involved in the twilight of the 2022 season, while his overall play was enough for promise to remain strong heading into 2023. His talent shone through such that he’s a likely candidate to factor heavily into the receiver rotation next season. Wide receiver will be discussed often as a position of need for Buffalo this offseason.


Christian Benford, CB

Benford was a healthy inactive once again. He never factored into the lineup after returning from Injured Reserve for the second time. Head coach Sean McDermott mentioned him as a potential position-change candidate in his end-of-season press conference.

I agree I like them all. I just don't see Pro Bowl ceiling on any of the 3. Maybe Cook can develop into that.

[sahlensguy]

If we got 4 starter/solid backups every draft who we would sign to a second contract, we'd be in good shape. Need more physicality/size in them though.

B

Not enough to make up for past draft class failures.

[sukie]

If we got 4 starter/solid backups every draft who we would sign to a second contract, we'd be in good shape. Need more physicality/size in them though.

B

Not enough to make up for past draft class failures.

Hitting on 4 is definitely making up for past failures since there is nothing you can do about that. Promising class.

[Woodman]

Hitting on 4 is definitely making up for past failures since there is nothing you can do about that. Promising class.

Agreed I'd take those numbers every draft.

[Forward_Lateral]

I would be ok with Elam/Benford and Tre on the other side next year, if Tre looks as slow as he did this year, replace him with one of the two.

Shakir SHOULD get a major opportunity next season. He looked pretty good at times, down the stretch. If he can be a high catch % guy, he will have a nice career.

Cook is going to be a stud, IMO.

[OpIv37]

I agree I like them all. I just don't see Pro Bowl ceiling on any of the 3. Maybe Cook can develop into that.

With the Bills' current O, I can't see any RB making the Pro Bowl. They just don't get enough touches. He'd have to have multiple 20+ yard touchdown runs and that's so rare in the NFL.

[Forward_Lateral]

With the Bills' current O, I can't see any RB making the Pro Bowl. They just don't get enough touches. He'd have to have multiple 20+ yard touchdown runs and that's so rare in the NFL.

Someone needs to get John Elway on the phone to explain to Buffalo that he didn't win a superbowl until they had a legit running game

[sukie]

With the Bills' current O, I can't see any RB making the Pro Bowl. They just don't get enough touches. He'd have to have multiple 20+ yard touchdown runs and that's so rare in the NFL.

Agreed on pro bowl and really who cares anyway? But Cook has hands. Imagine the prior Super Bowl runs without throwing to Thurman except every 3rd game. Dammit Dorsey!

[Novacane]

It was a good draft. Their problem is drafting big men. They aren't good at it.

[notacon]

The most promising pick out of these is Benford because he was a 6th rounder.. He looked better than Elam before he got hurt, and could develop into a reliable starting CB.

With Elam (hopefully) getting better for next season, and nailing down a starting CB spot, it might be time to trade Tre’ White. He is not getting any younger, and it is doubtful we will ever see him return to his pre-injury excellence.

His cap number is HUGE the next three years....$16.2M, $16.6M & $16.6M. A pst June 1 trade would save $10M in cap space for 2023.

Maybe they could get a 3rd round pick for him....maybe even a #2? He is still relatively young (28), although his contract may be an issue.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Looks like maybe a shift to safety for Benford? I like it. He looked much better facing the offense. He's a solid tackler as well. That's why he played.

[OpIv37]

The most promising pick out of these is Benford because he was a 6th rounder.. He looked better than Elam before he got hurt, and could develop into a reliable starting CB.

With Elam (hopefully) getting better for next season, and nailing down a starting CB spot, it might be time to trade Tre’ White. He is not getting any younger, and it is doubtful we will ever see him return to his pre-injury excellence.

His cap number is HUGE the next three years....$16.2M, $16.6M & $16.6M. A pst June 1 trade would save $10M in cap space for 2023.

Maybe they could get a 3rd round pick for him....maybe even a #2? He is still relatively young (28), although his contract may be an issue.

If he was playing at pre-injury levels, you could probably trade him with that contract.

Given how he's played since coming back, I can't see any other team taking him at those numbers.

[EDS]

I Think Elam is a good bet to be a longer term starter but the others appear more like depth pieces, and Benford only if he takes to safety. Cook looks good for the most part but he has never been a volume guy so hard to project him into a lead back role.

[Jeff1220]

I trust that Tre will find his old self again. He was out for a whole year. He worked his ass off to get healthy, and I'm sure he'll work his ass off to get his speed back. His contract is an issue though. I'll bet a restructure is in his future.

[Typ0]

How is it that Dorsey was forced to not run the ball?

[ParanoidAndroid]

We all knew that Tre wasn't going to be 100% at any point this year.

If he looks shaky next August, then it'll be time to worry.

[Ed]

I think Elam and Benford will be key starters in the secondary that provide good value on rookie deals over the next few years. I expect Cook and Shakir will be bigger contributors too. I'm happy with all those picks, but I still don't understand Bernard in the 3rd. Seems like they could have done a lot better with that pick.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Baylon Spector could end up being better than Bernard. My eyes tell me he already seems to have better instincts and better tackling ability in the open field.

[TacklingDummy]

2022 was much better than 2021. 2021 was awful.