Pro Football Focus used their hindsight of the 2019 NFL draft to redo the entire first round in a look back.
With that, we have two things to look at.
At the event, the Buffalo Bills held the No. 9 overall pick. The selection there was defensive tackle Ed Oliver.
In the redo from the football analytics outlet, Oliver is not the selection for Buffalo. Instead, the Bills pass on Oliver and opt for a player some were clamoring for the team to take at the time: wide receiver DK Metcalf.
First, here’s why PFF changed the selection:
The Bills could have kick-started their offensive juggernaut with a Metcalf selection back in 2019. If you look at the team’s receiver room on draft night, it’s not that crazy to think it could’ve happened if they believed in the class enough. Though hindsight is heavily involved here, imagine Josh Allen of today with Metcalf, Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis to headline their receiver room heading into 2022.
At the time of the 2019 draft, Metcalf would’ve been interesting add by the Bills. First off, Diggs was not yet in the fold, Buffalo did not trade for him until March 2020.
That means Metcalf could’ve had an ample opportunity to become Allen’s No. 1 target, and in hindsight, the Bills would not have had to deal a first-round pick for Diggs.
Still, the way things worked out in the end, it wasn’t all bad for Buffalo.
Plus, Metcalf didn’t even get taken in Round 1 back in 2019. He fell to the late-second round where the Seattle Seahawks drafted him at No. 64 overall.
But how about the other end of the ledger? Oliver has actually turned out to be a promising player for the Bills after finally breaking out in 2021.
The Bills pass on him in this re-draft, but he’s still a first rounder. Oliver falls to the No. 24 pick where the Las Vegas Raiders take him.
For those curious, here’s PFF’s breakdown of that move:
Actual pick: RB Josh Jacobs
Josh Jacobs has been good for the Raiders, especially given the turmoil their offense…
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