8 recent Bills draft picks stand out in first preseason game

Plenty of young Bills stood out in the preseason win over the Colts

The Bills picked up a win on Saturday to begin their preseason, defeating the Colts 27-24 on a walk-off, 46-yard field goal from Tyler Bass. It was their ninth consecutive preseason victory under the direction of head coach Sean McDermott.

But, what’s even more important than winning in the preseason is seeing your young players, of which you’ve drafted, perform well going up against real competition. The Indianapolis Colts not only provided a tough opponent to start the year for the Bills, but they chose to play the majority of their starters into the second quarter while the Bills started their second-stringers and relied heavily on their third-stringers down the stretch.

We know the Bills have one of the best rosters in the NFL, but as age and money begin to factor in down the road in a couple years, they’ll need their younger crop of talent to perform… and it seems as if the coaching staff has groomed them to be ready quicker than Bills fans imagined. Below are eight Bills draft picks since 2020 that performed well in the win.

Cornerbacks Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford

Elam, the first-round pick from Florida, and Benford, the sixth-round pick from Villanova, came from largely different circumstances but both rookies found their way to starting for the Bills in the first preseason game of 2022. Both made exceptional plays early on to stall the Colts’ first-string offense.

First, Elam shut down Colts WR and fellow rookie Alec Pierce on a third down slant to force the Colts into a three-and-out to start the game. Elam was physical at the line and had the quickness and ball skills to knock it away and force a Colts’ punt:

Next, it was Benford’s turn. He was tasked of guarding Michael Pittman one-on-one on a fourth down in Bills territory, and he delivered. Pittman tried to bully the smaller defender, but Benford stood his ground and made a play on the ball to force the turnover on downs:

The rookie cornerback duo held Pittman and Pierce (likely the Colts top two WRs) to just two catches apiece. Benford also made a nice tackle in the run game. Elam was evaluated for a head injury during the game but was medically cleared to return.

Punter Matt Araiza

It quite possibly only took Araiza one punt in the NFL to end any talks of a punter battle in Buffalo. His first-ever punt in the league went for a whopping 82 yards, flipping the field position and leaving Bills fans in attendance and watching at home in awe. It also drew praise from all the national networks. Backed up at his own 17-yard line, Araiza booted it all the way for a touchback on just a couple bounces. This is definitely something Bills fans aren’t used to seeing, especially from a rookie:

Wide receivers Khalil Shakir and Isaiah Hodgins

Fifth-round rookie Khalil Shakir and 2020 sixth-round pick Isaiah Hodgins served as reliable targets throughout the day for the Bills. Shakir looked like a skilled veteran a lot of the time at his first training camp, so it wasn’t much of a surprise to see him connect with the veteran QBs. Hodgins, on the other hand, has been a bit of a wildcard in the eyes’ of Bills fans. He’s had injury history but has always had the potential. It seems as if he’s healthy and has developed into someone who could be productive at the position.

Shakir caught five passes (on five targets) and racked up 92 receiving yards working with QBs Case Keenum and Matt Barkley. He averaged 18.4 yards per target in his first NFL action. He had a pair of catches go for 25 yards, but this play here showcases the attention to detail that he already possesses as a rookie:

Hodgins caught 9 balls on 11 targets for 77 yards. His blend of size, speed, and lateral agility is finally paying dividends for the Orgeon State product. He’s a player to watch moving forward. Him and Jake Kumerow are most likely battling for a final receiver spot. Kumerow caught two balls on two targets Saturday – one went for three yards and the other went for 17 yards but resulted in a fumble and a turnover.

I’m not even sure the majority of Bills fans were aware that Hodgins had the type of skillset to make a play like this, which drew national attention:

Linebacker Baylon Spector

Seventh-round rookie Baylon Spector made a strong first impression on Saturday. He led the team in total tackles with ten and he also had one of the Bills’ six passes defensed on the day.

Spector was listed as the third-string strongside linebacker behind Matt Milano and Andre Smith in the Bills’ first depth chart of the season last week, but Smith being suspended for the first six games of the season due to PEDs may leave a roster spot open for Spector earlier than expected. He also had special teams experience at Clemson, which should help his case.

Honorable mentions

Zack Moss: Moss looked explosive and healthy in his limited action Saturday. He had a couple catches and he ran the ball three times for 37 yards. His longest run was a 27-yard scamper where he reversed field after being stood up in the backfield. Moss is proving he deserves not just a spot on the roster, but snaps as well, especially given the way he can pass protect.

Boogie Basham: Basham was the highest-rated Bill in the win over the Colts (according to PFF), with a grade of 91.7. In the second quarter, Basham beat his defender off the edge and forced a sack fumble on backup QB Nick Foles which was returned 69 yards for a touchdown by rookie linebacker Terrel Bernard. It was a big splash play that largely affected the outcome of the game. The second-year DE may have had a helping of the gasoline and gunpowder that Von Miller has been serving up.

The Bills preseason continues on Saturday, August 20 when they host the Broncos at 1PM EST. They will travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers on Friday, August 26 at 7PM EST to wrap up the preseason.