The Buffalo Bills’ right tackle play has been subpar at best as of late, and the team not making any big moves there in free agency leaves many to wonder if they will draft one this year. With plenty of tackles available throughout the draft, the Bills can find good talent in just about any round.
Buffalo needs to be prepared to have a Spencer Brown replacement if Brown has another underwhelming season. They love versatile tackles, so if Brown happens to play better this season, they could have a prospect that they can kick inside to guard to fill that hole.
Let’s take a look at some of those prospects.
Peter Skoronski (Northwestern)
A big, 6’4″, 313 pound OL, Peter Skoronski can play any position on the offensive line. He came into college as a center, but later moved to RT when Northwestern had one of their tackles opt out. Skoronski is big enough where he can make the move to guard if needed. That kind of flexibility is what Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane love from their OL. Skoronski will be an NFL starter from day one, no matter what position he lines up at. He finished 2022 with a 79.1 PFF run-blocking grade, which ranked fifth among all qualifying Power 5 tackles.
Darnell Wright (Tennessee)
Standing at 6’5″, 333 pounds, Darnell Wright has the ability to play either inside or outside on the line, and can develop into a nice starting tackle in the league. Wright is fantastic in pass protection, and when he’s on his A game, opposing defenders won’t be able to get past him. Wright’s build would seem to indicate that he’ll fit best in a run blocking scheme more than pass protection, but one of the top reasons for concern is actually his range in the run game. In 42 collegiate starts, Wright made 27 of them at RT, 13 at LT, and two at RG.
Dawand Jones (Ohio State)
Standing at a whopping 6’8″, 374 pounds, Dawand Jones has what some call rare length in the league, but limited athleticism. Drafting Jones would be fantastic for Buffalo’s lackluster run game, considering his size helps him engulf opposing linemen as a run blocker. Jones relies on his power in the passing game, which has led to some defenders figuring out how to get past him at the point of attack. The projected first-rounder was a two-year starter for the Buckeyes at right tackle.
Paris Johnson Jr. (Ohio State)
Another player with guard/tackle flexibility and another former Buckeye, Paris Johnson probably lines up best as a LT as he was converted from a right guard to a left tackle going into the 2022 season. Unlike Darnell Wright, Johnson has exceptional range in the run game, according to Joe Marino (formerly of The Draft Network). His size, athleticism, and explosiveness, mixed with the fact that he put up great film during a short timeframe, will make teams fall in love with him quickly. But, that team might not be the Buffalo Bills since they already have their starting LT.
Matthew Bergeron (Syracuse)
Projected to be a Day Two pick, Matthew Bergeron has the flexibility to play both tackle and guard, and has starting experience at both tackle spots. He emerged as Syracuse’s starting RT during the back half of his freshman year and then played there the front half of his sophomore year, but then finished the rest of his college career as a LT. Pass blocking is a reason for concern for the 6’5″, 318 pound lineman, as he has modest functional strength, according to Marino. But if you are fine with working on that, he works very well in the run game. With his limited footwork and range at tackle, a move to guard in the NFL may suit him the best.
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