Ideal team-prospect fits for the 2021 NFL Draft

NFL Team: Buffalo Bills – Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State

Asante Samuel Jr.

The Bills offense was elite last season, but their defense really took a step back, until they started settling back in once Matt Milano returned from injury.

The linebacker is about to become a free agent and reportedly test the market, but I’m working under the assumption that Brandon Beane finds a way to bring him back.

One of the two areas they may look to address is a true alpha pass-rusher, since J. Hughes may age gracefully but can’t play at that level forever. Moreover, they would have many complementary guys, depending on how last year’s second-round pick AJ. Epenesa could grow.

For me, what makes more sense – since I don’t see anybody available at 30th overall that can fit that mold – is finding that number two outside corner alongside Tre White.

Josh Norman, other than a few turnovers that he stumbled into, was pretty much a disaster last season, and Levi Wallace will always be an overachiever, who should really be a nice CB3 option.

When I look at this zone-heavy scheme Buffalo runs, another instinctive guy who can anticipate patterns and make plays on the ball is what they should be looking for. The name that comes to mind here is Asante Samuel Jr., out of Florida State.

The son of the former Eagle and Patriot has inherited that natural ability to match patterns, with very light feet and fluid hips. He would allow the Bills to play some more man-coverage, but I think his skill-set in terms of quickness and anticipation could also translate really well to play their field-side corner role.

The late first-round may seem a little high, but I think fit must be considered here. They could be a team that trades back a few spots with a team that is desperate to upgrade on the offensive line, especially with the Chiefs right behind them, who a lot of people may expect to target that group after what happened in the Super Bowl.