Top-30 visit tracker: Which prospects do the Bills have their eyes on?
As we inch closer to the 2023 NFL Draft at the end of April, the Bills will take an additional look at 30 draft prospects that have caught their eye. The top-30 visits will consist of in-house meetings and physicals to better familiarize the team with players who may be contributors to the team’s quest for a Lombardi Trophy.
Last year, the Bills’ first two draft picks (CB Kaiir Elam and RB James Cook) were both top-30 visits prior to the 2022 NFL Draft, and they also signed TE Jalen Wydermyer (another top-30 visit) as an undrafted free agent following the draft.
Be sure to check back here as we track every top-30 visit as they are reported for the Bills.
Steve Avila, IOL, TCU
The 6’3”, 332-pound senior has experience starting at both center and guard in his Horned Frogs career. In 2022, he jumped over to left guard from his center position, and with over 1,000 pass-blocking snaps, he didn’t allow a sing sack and posted a PFF pass blocking grade of 83.6. The best part of his game is his anchor in pass protection due to his thick frame. He should be a reliable pass protector at the next level, something the Bills could always use. He is projected to be an early day two pick.
Visit reported by Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network.
Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
The 6’3”, 330-pound senior is a monster on the interior d-line. Smith has tremendous upper body strength, which allows him to push pockets and shed blocks easier than most. One of the strongest players in his class, he is projected to be a nose tackle at the next level. According to PFF, he accounted for 19 hurries in 2022 while posting an overall grade of 79.9. Smith should be a first rounder or second rounder in the draft.
Visit reported by NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
Brian Branch, S, Alabama
The 6-foot, 190-pound junior is widely recognized as the top safety in the year’s class. He played the majority of his 2022 snaps in the slot which is a pressing need for many NFL teams. Not only can he cover but he can tackle downhill with a full head of steam. Over his college career, he has incredibly only missed a total of four tackles. His awareness and play recognition is at an elite level, something you need to play primarily in the slot. The only knocks in him are that he hasn’t had much experience at deep safety and he could add a few pounds to play consistently towards the line of scrimmage at the next level. He has a first round projection.
Visit reported by Aaron Wilson of KRPC 2 Houston.
Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
The 6’6”, 250-pound junior is perhaps the most athletic tight end in the class. If the Bills are looking for a downfield, receiving-type tight end to potentially play more 12 personnel, then he fits the bill. Unfortunately, he only played two games last year before a knee injury cost him his season. But, in those two games he posted 80 and 89 yards receiving and showed NFL teams a glimpse of what he’s capable of with jaw-dropping speed for a tight end and a pro-ready physical frame. He’s projected to be drafted in the first couple rounds.
Visit reported by Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network.
Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
The 5’9”, 182-pound senior is one of the best route runners in the class. He wins with quickness and separation. In his senior year at BC, he caught 78 balls for 1,077 yards, most while lined up outside but he has the capability and skillset to play in the slot at a high level, too. PFF compares him to T.Y. Hilton — a speedy guy who can cut on a dime but also has a smaller catch radius because of his tighter frame. He is projected to go in round one or two in the draft.
Visit reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Jordan Addison, WR, USC
The 5’11”, 173-pound junior has one of the highest ceilings in the draft due to his veteran-like route running ability and his athleticism. In 2021 Addison won the Biletknoff Award for the most outstanding WR in the nation before transferring to USC in 2022. Over the past two years he has racked up 2,468 receiving yards and 25 TDs. He has experience being a team’s main slot receiver (‘20 and ‘21) and also playing mostly out wide (‘22). If there is one aspect he should look to improve it’s adding some muscle and physicality to his game. He should be drafted in round one or two.
Visit reported by NFL.com’s Ian Rapaport.
Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
At 6’7” and nearly 270 pounds, Washington is a freak at the tight end position. He posted a top-ten run blocking grade at the tight end position and also averaged 7.5 yards after the catch and broke 14 tackles. PFF describes him as “an offensive tackle who can also run routes and make guys miss after the catch.” Certainly an intriguing prospect, Washington can come in and immediately be an inline TE2 with a carved role in an offense and take over the TE1 role soon. He is projected to be drafted in the first couple rounds.
Visit reported by Aaron Wilson of KRBC 2 Houston.
Justin Shorter, WR, Florida
At 6’4”, 229, Shorter is actually one of the taller prospects at WR. His size and length are his strengths. His wingspan of 82 4/8” is in the 98th percentile at the position. His long strides and long arms make him a useful weapon deep down the field. Last year, he posted 19.9 yards per catch and was 12th at the position in average depth of target. But, because of his long frame he lacks the suddenness to have an expanded route tree underneath. He’s projected to go late in the draft.
Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
The 5’11”, 215-pound junior averaged a whopping 6.7 yards a carry in his career with the Horned Frogs. PFF projects Miller to be a bellcow in the NFL, saying that he “has the size, speed and burst to handle a full workload in the league.” He has an ability to cut on a dime which helps him bounce off tacklers and remain balanced, but he lacks the home run speed. He is projected to be a late day two or middle-of-the-draft guy.
Visit reported by NFL.com’s Ian Rapaport.
Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan
At 6’5”, 250 pounds, Schoonmaker is a senior that is NFL ready in terms of size and experience for a tight end. He has a wide range of skills for a young tight end, including the knowledge of creating run gaps as a blocker and the athleticism to run a pretty diverse route tree. He wasn’t targeted much in the passing game in college and he could work on his ability to catch in traffic. According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, his pro comparison is Dawson Knox.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
At 6’0” and 196 pounds, JSN is widely considered to be the top WR prospect in the class. He missed almost all of last season with hamstring issues, but as a sophomore in 2021 he was the Buckeyes’ leading receiver, outproducing teammates Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave who both were drafted in the top 11 picks in 2022. He spent the majority of his time in the slot last year and is a polished route runner who has a great feel for defensive leverage. He’s projected to be the first WR off the board in round one.
Visit reported by NFL.com’s Ian Rapaport.
Marte Mapu, S/LB, Sacramento State
The 6’3”, 216-pound senior played safety at Sacramento State, but because of his physical play style and tackling ability, some NFL teams are considering him as a hybrid linebacker. He played coverage in the slot mostly (he only allowed 1 TD and had 2 INTs), but his 85.8 run defense grade from PFF highlights his ability to play downhill and make stops. In the modern NFL, more and more teams are eyeing these types of hybrid players (Matt Milano was a safety at Boston College). Mapu is projected to go somewhere in the middle of the draft.
Visit reported by the Sacramento Bee.
Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
At 6’0” and 176 pounds, Hyatt has the speed to impact the NFL game right away. He can run every vertical downfield route with best of them and averaged a whopping 18.9 yards per catch last year. The glaring downside to his game at this point is, because of his smaller frame, he tends to get bullied at the line of scrimmage in press coverage. If he is given any space, he can be a nightmare to cover. Because of his explosiveness, he is projected to go early day two.
Visit reported by Jordan Schultz of The Score.
Zacch Pickens, DL, South Carolina
At 6’4” and 291 pounds, Pickens is one of the most athletic interior defensive linemen in the draft. He has quick feet and quick hands at the snap which helps him get in the backfield and also disrupt running attacks. But, because of his average frame for a DT, he tends to get pushed back when can’t get a quick jump which leads to inconsistencies. He is a projected 4th round pick.
Visit reported by Jordan Schultz of The Score.
Jordan Battle, S, Alabama
The 6’1”, 209-pound senior has started in the secondary for four years under HC Nick Saban and he is as steady as they come as a prospect. His athleticism isn’t off the charts but he is fundamentally sound and knows the game inside and out. He is best suited to play in a heavy zone scheme because of his impressive instincts and play recognition. He is a high-floor safety who is NFL ready from day one. He is projected as a day two pick.
Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
Wright, at 6’5” and 333 pounds, was a four-year starter with experience at both right and left tackle. His biggest success came last year starting 13 games at right tackle, where he specialized in his power in the running game. He is one of the most experienced tackles in the draft and is battle tested having played in the SEC. His foot quickness seems to be his only downside at this time. Still, he’s widely projected as a top-3 tackle in the class and is predicted to go mid-to-late first round. He is a day one starter in the NFL.
Visit reported by NFL.com’s Ian Rapaport.
Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston
Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, listed at 5’8”, 165 pounds is a shifty junior receiver who spent most of his time in the slot in 2022. Dell’s suddenness and quickness in his routes is what has many teams eyeing him, as route running and quickness translates well to the NFL. He has posted over 1,300 receiving yards in each of the last two years. His 928 yards from the slot ranked tenth in the nation in 2022. Due to his size, or lack thereof, he is projected as a mid day-two pick.
Visit reported by Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network.
O’Cyrus Torrence, OL, Florida
Torrence, standing at 6’5” and weighing 330 pounds, is widely considered the best guard in his class. According to PFF, Torrence was “built in a lab to play guard.” At right guard, he moves defensive tackles easily and was a steady force in the middle of the Gators’ o-line, posting at least an 88.0 PFF grade over the last two years. He has never allowed a sack in his three-year college career. He’s projected to go in the first round and is a day one starter.
Visit reported by Justin Melo of The Draft Network.
Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
Dexter is a 6’6”, 310 pound junior who has a raw skillset as a defensive tackle. He’s explosive and extremely athletic for his position, but needs some fine tuning to be more consistent. He’s most likely a day two pick, and the team selecting him is banking on his untapped potential coming to fruition in the coming years.
Visit mention by Dexter in the Stadium and Gale Podcast.
Jaquelin Roy, DT, LSU
The 6’3”, 305-pound junior was consistent and reliable at the front and center of the Tigers’ defense. “There are really no holes to poke in Roy’s game,” says PFF. He’s a reliable player who is assignment-sound and has a good physical frame, but he seems to have a limited ceiling. He lacks instinct and urgency to make plays. He’s projected to be picked somewhere in the middle of the draft.
Visit reported by Erik Turner of Cover 1.