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Bills NFL Draft CoverageBuffalo Bills hosting TE Trevon Wesco on pre-draft
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Thurman Thomas Jerseys 2019 ,11commentsThe West Virginia TE is viewed as a high-upside day-three selection.EDTShareTweetShareShareBuffalo Bills hosting TE
Trevon Wesco on pre-draft visitThe Buffalo Bills are using one of their 30
pre-draft visits leading up to this month’s NFL Draft on Trevon Wesco, a
predominantly blocking tight end from West Virginia who impressed scouts with
his pass-catching abilities during West Virginia’s pro day. According to Ryan
Talbot of NewYorkUpstate.com, Wesco—who is projected as a day three
selection—will be meeting with Buffalo’s brass leading up to April’s NFL
Draft.Wesco was used mostly as a blocker his first two seasons in Morgantown,
catching two passes in two years before enjoying a breakthrough in 2018. Last
fall, Wesco finished fourth on the Mountaineers with 366 receiving yards on 26
catches (averaging 14.1 yards per catch) with one touchdown. Wesco was named to
the first-team All-Big 12 and earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he
logged time as both a fullback and tight end. Listed at 6’3” and 267 lbs, Wesco
has been praised for his outstanding blocking ability, while scouts admit he is
rather raw as a pass catcher. Lance Zierlein, an NFL draft analyst for NFL.com,
says Wesco “has a terrific demeanor as a run-blocker and the footwork to become
much more consistent in sustaining blocks once he gets his hand placement
corrected. Teams might view him as an early developmental prospect on the
practice squad with a chance to compete for a tight end spot in the
future.”Walterfootball.com mentioned Wesco as one of its draft prospects on the
rise, describing him as someone “showing the ability to play both fullback and
tight end while also contributing on special teams could really help his draft
grade.” The Buffalo Bills enter the 2018 NFL off-season facing a big question at
the running back position. The team’s top two rushers are about to enter their
age-31 season, which is the time where running backs typically begin to show
extreme signs of decline. When those same rushers struggled during their age-30
season, it leads to many wondering aloud about whether or not the decline has
already begun.Is there historical precedent to watching a 31-year old running
back have a great season? In fact, there is. While the majority of age-31
seasons for running backs range from bad to mediocre, there are exactly eleven
instances where a running back topped the 1,000-yard mark at that age.Running
backs to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards at age 31PlayerSeasonRush Yards@31Rush
Yards@30PlayerSeasonRush Yards@31Rush Yards@30Seven of those 11 running backs
actually improved upon their age-30 seasons, and all of them averaged at least
four yards per carry (Warrick Dunn’s 2006 campaign saw the worst yards-per-carry
number, which was 3.99 yards per tote. I’ll round up and give him 4 yards per
carry for his troubles). If the Bills are looking for a bounce-back from their
star runner, they’re going to have to hedge against history, but it’s not as
impossible as I initially thought.Our state of the Bills roster series continues
with a look at the offensive backfield.LeSean McCoy Contract status for 2018:
Signed; $9.05 million cap hit ($2.625 million dead cap if cut)Age: 30 (31 on
7/12/19)Playing time: 14 games (13 starts), 490 snaps (46.27% of offensive
total)Key statistics: 161 carries, 514 yards (3.2 YPC), 3 TD, 46 targets, 34
catches, 238 yards (7 YPR), 195 touches, 3.9 YPT, 752 yards from scrimmageNo
matter how you slice it, Shady had a rough year in 2018. Coming into the season,
he was the only bona fide weapon on the Bills’ offense
White Bruce Smith Jerseys , one that was expected to be run-heavy and ball-control oriented with either Nathan Peterman or A.J. McCarron keeping the seat warm at
quarterback for rookie Josh Allen. We all know how that turned out, and as
opposing defenses stacked the box and dared the Bills to throw, they were able
to neutralize McCoy throughout the year.When the Bills’ offense did improve in
the final six weeks of the year, McCoy was still mostly a non-factor. Aside from
a 26-carry, 113-yard day against the New York Jets, McCoy was virtually a
non-factor for the entire season. Given that Shady also scored twice in that
game against the Jets, it represented nearly his entire season’s output running
the ball.For their part, the Bills have spoken about bringing McCoy back almost
as if it is a forgone conclusion, with both Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott
stating publicly that McCoy is part of the plan for the 2019 season. If the team
sticks to that plan, they’ll be banking on last season being less of a fade and
more of a blip caused by poor offensive line and quarterback play.Chris
IvoryContract status for 2018: Signed; $3 million cap hit ($750,000 dead cap if
cut)Age: 30 (31 on 3/22/19) Playing time: 13 games (1 start), 300 snaps (28.33%
of offensive total)Key statistics: 115 carries, 385 yards (3.3 YPC), 1 TD, 21
targets, 13 catches, 205 yards (15.8 YPR), 1 fumble, 128 touches, 4.6 YPT, 590
yards from scrimmageThe Bills stunned some fans and pundits last season by
signing the veteran Ivory to back up the veteran McCoy, inking him to a
front-loaded two-year deal worth $5.95 million in total. Ivory responded by
having a decent year overall, but his efficiency as a rusher left much to be
desired. His per-touch numbers were aided by a pair of big receptions, but he
did not see much action in what was thought to be his main function, which was
goal-line work. This was mostly due to Josh Allen’s emergence and rushing
effectiveness in the same area of the field.Ivory, like McCoy, will enter his
age-31 season. As with McCoy, Ivory can be cut with little financial
ramifications. Ivory’s $750,000 dead cap figure is much easier to swallow than
McCoy’s $2.625 million number, and given Ivory’s lack of history with the Bills
and the current coaching staff, it’s likely that the team moves on this
off-season. If they choose to keep him, they’ll be banking on a similar rebound
to McCoy.Marcus Murphy Contract status for 2018: Signed; $720
Bruce Smith Jerseys 2019 ,000 cap hit (0 dead cap if cut)Age: 27 (28 on 10/3/19)Playing time: 11 games (1 start), 196 snaps (18.51% of offensive total);
79 ST snaps (18%)Key statistics: 52 carries, 250 yards (4.81 YPC), 19 targets,
11 catches, 26 yards, 1 fumble, 63 touches, 4.4 YPT, 276 yards from scrimmageThe
third of Buffalo’s running backs was actually the most efficient rusher of the
bunch. Murphy took a limited number of carries and turned them into a solid
season overall. While he was phased out of the return game in favor of
late-season acquisitions Isaiah McKenzie and Victor Bolden Jr., he did a nice
job in an extended showing at running back for the first time in his pro career.
At a minuscule cap number, Murphy should definitely stick with the team at least
through the preseason.Keith Ford Contract status for 2018: Signed; $570,000 cap
hit (0 dead cap if cut)Age: 24 (25 on 4/18/19)Playing time: 2 games (1 start),
71 snaps (6.7% of offensive total)Key statistics: 21 carries, 79 yards (3.8
YPC), 5 targets, 3 catches, 21 yards (7 YPR), 24 touches, 4.2 YPT, 100 yards
from scrimmage The undrafted rookie made his NFL debut against the Detroit
Lions, rushing 14 times for 46 yards in his first taste of NFL action. By the
end of that afternoon, he was the only healthy running back the Bills had, as
LeSean McCoy and Chris Ivory were out with injuries, and Marcus Murphy
dislocated his elbow during the game. While Ford did not show enough to give
himself the inside slant at a starting gig next season, he definitely showed
enough strength and burst to warrant another extended showing in the
preseason.Taiwan Jones Contract status for 2018: UFAAge: 30 (31 on
7/26/19)Playing time: 6 games, 2 offensive snaps (.19% of offensive total); 92
ST snaps (20.96%)Key statistics: N/AJones did not register a tackle on special
teams, where he served as a captain this season. He only appeared on two
offensive snaps. He was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury after one
of the more gruesome plays of the 2018 season (don’t click that link if you’re
squeamish). He probably won’t be back in 2019.Patrick DiMarco Contract status
for 2018: Signed; $2.15 million cap hit ($1 million dead cap if cut)Age: 29 (30
on 4/30/19)Playing time: 16 games (5 starts), 168 snaps (15.86% of offensive
total); 233 ST snaps (53.08%)Key statistics: 1 carry, 9 yards, 4 targets, 3
catches
White Andre Reed Jerseys , 62 yards (20.7 YPR), 4 touches, 17,8 YPT, 71 yards from scrimmageBuffalo’s fullback is also a special-teams stalwart, as that’s where he
spent most of his time this past season. He was involved in the offense on a few
passing plays, leaking out of the backfield on some wheel routes and connecting
with Allen for two big gainers. His nine-yard rush was a career-high, and it
brought his career total up to seven rushing yards. (Yes, he had negative-two
yards rushing coming in to the 2018 season.)Positional OutlookI’m going to take
some heat for this, but I have to put it out there: the Bills should move on
from both McCoy and Ivory next year. There are a ton of options in the free
agent market at the position, and the $12.05 million the team has committed to
them in 2019 could be better spent in other areas. Yes, the team would still be
on the hook for around $3.4 million by cutting both, but they could sign a free
agent, draft a rookie, and still have money to spend elsewhere.Yes, it’s
possible that the offensive line struggles (and that’s being polite) were the
main cause of the poor rushing attack this year, but it doesn’t help McCoy’s or
Ivory’s case that two lesser-known talents (Murphy and Ford) ran behind the same
offensive line and averaged more yards per rush, albeit in a much smaller sample
size. Murphy, especially, looked just as shifty and far more decisive with the
ball in his hands, and at a fraction of the price.The Bills certainly aren’t up
against the cap, which Beane mentioned when asked about McCoy specifically, so
the Bills don’t necessarily need to move on from a financial standpoint. From a
performance standpoint, it makes sense to cut bait on a player a year too early
as opposed to a year too late. While pairing Shady with a younger rusher
acquired via free agency (T.J. Yeldon?) or the NFL Draft (David Montgomery?)
could work, McCoy doesn’t seem the type to embrace sharing the spotlight...or
the carries. If picking between the two, Ivory is the definite goner for me.
Saving $2.25 million is worth it, leaving only that $750,000 dead cap hit on the
docket for next year. Murphy should stay through the summer, as should Ford and
DiMarco. Jones should be allowed to sign elsewhere.While LeSean McCoy will
probably be a Buffalo Bill in 2019, I’m not sure it’s a sound decision. I hope
that I’m wrong, but history isn’t on the side of that argument.
