Grading the Buffalo Bills 2020 NFL draft

A.J. Epenesa Buffalo Bills

Following a 10-6 season and an appearance in the AFC playoffs, the Buffalo Bills are poised to make a run for an AFC East title in 2020 now that Tom Brady is no longer in the division.

Buffalo ended the 2020 NFL draft with seven picks. Their first came in the second round (No. 54 overall) when the selected Iowa defensive lineman, A.J. Epenesa.

The good news for the Bills is that they aren’t a team in need of a roster turnover anymore. They didn’t need to hit on several starters in the 2020 draft. Instead, Buffalo simply had to find complementary pieces to add to an already playoff-caliber team. General manager Brandon Beene did a nice job accomplishing that goal.

Best Pick: A.J. Epenesa, DL, Iowa

Epenesa began the 2019 college football season as one of the five best prospects in the country. And while he didn’t have the kind of monster year that some analysts projected, his tape was steady and consistent and very similar to how he played in 2018.

But the NFL draft often results in scouts and analysts overthinking the process. That’s what happened with Epenesa and it’s why he fell to the second round.

Epenesa will be a 10-year starter for the Bills and it wouldn’t come as any surprise if he becomes the kind of player who can register double-digit sacks on any given year. He’ll find success in the NFL because of his strength, motor and quarterback-hunting instincts.

Buffalo got a first-round player at No. 54 overall.

Worst Pick: Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern

Tyler Bass Buffalo Bills

The Bills’ decision to draft Bass in the sixth round resulted in two kickers getting drafted by AFC East teams (Patriots). And as we discussed in New England’s draft review, it’s never a smart idea to draft a kicker. They rarely work out.

It’s an even worse pick for Buffalo because they only had seven selections. The Patriots had 10; there’s at least some logic in using an extra pick on an otherwise undraftable position.

There’s a chance Bass won’t even make the final roster. He’ll enter a training camp competition with veteran Stephen Hauschka, who’s set to earn more than $3 million in 2020.

2020 Draft Class

Buffalo Bills NFL Draft

2.54: A.J. Epenesa, DL, Iowa
3.22: Zack Moss, RB, Utah
4.128: Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF
5.167: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
6.188: Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern
6.207: Isaiah Hodges, WR, Oregon State
7.239: Dane Jackson, CB, Pitt

Note: The Bills traded their first-round pick to the Vikings for WR Stefon Diggs

Bryan Perez

Bryan is the founder of Pro Football Draft. His work has been featured on The Draft Network, NBC Sports and USA Today. Former CFL scout.

Follow him on Twitter: @BryanPerezNFL