In the bottom of the 5th round, you’re typically not trying to find the best overall talent, as much as you’re drafting guys who have specific traits or can fit specific roles.
Instead of wheeling and dealing like many expected, the Bills sat tight and let three hand-picked role players fall into their lap with the three picks they had between picks 170 and 177.
I honestly expected them to package picks together to move up to get the guys they want. Instead, they stand pat with all three picks and fill out the bottom of their rosters and populate their special teams.
Jordan Hancock – CB Ohio State
Jordan Hancock fits that pattern as he is not likely to start anytime soon, but is likely to give Cam Lewis some competition for the backup slot corner role behind Taron Johnson.
Jordan played mainly special teams during his first two seasons with Ohio State, but in his Junior year, he earned a starter role and the coaching staff found a way to utilize his skill set, leading the way to a National Championship. In those two years, Jordan took snaps at slot corner, outside corner, and Safety. This positional flexibility has always been something that McBeane has sought out. In his final two seasons, he logged:
- 89 total tackles
- 2.5 sacks
- 3 interceptions
- 13 passes defended
- 4 forced fumbles
Standing at 6’0″ and weighing in a 195 pounds, Jordan Hancock should compete for a final spot of the 53 man roster with Te’Cory Couch, Cam Lewis, Jamarcus Ingraham, Daequan Hardy, and (spoiler alert) Dorian Strong.
Jackson Hawes – TE Georgia Tech
Jackson Hawes is a fascinating match for the Buffalo Bills. He initially began his collegiate career as a 6’4 241lb reserve TE at Yale in the worst possible year to start a career, with the pandemic complicating the 2019 season.
In 2024, Hawes transferred to Georgia Tech, where he became a core piece of the run-first offense, not with receiving primarily, but with his blocking. He played in multiple positions including in-line, H-back, slot receiver, and fullback. He presents as a nasty blocker that reminds you of Spencer Brown, always seeking the finish his blocks by pancaking his assignment. No, he won’t challenge Dawson Knox or Dalton Kincaid for a starting spot, but as a break glass in case of emergency TE, and special teams contributor, in the bottom of the 6th round, you’d be hard pressed to find a better match for the Bills than Jackson Hawes. The second coming of Lee Smith, anyone?
Dorian Strong – CB Virginia Tech
The Bills invited Dorian Strong in for a Top-30 visit as their interest in bolstering the 25th-worst pass defense became readily apparent. Having 12 cornerbacks on the roster is a curious choice in roster construction, but it should lead to one of the biggest camp battles to watch this summer.
Coming into the NFL at 6’1″ 185 lbs, Dorian Strong’s calling card is simply being an outstanding overperforming zone corner. His measurables at the combine were severely lacking as he came out in the lowest 60% in all athletic tests.
However, on the field where it matters, he simply didn’t let his assignment get open. No, seriously.
His QB rating when targeted was 50.5. He is only the 2nd corner since 2014 who played more than 300+ coverage snaps and only allowed 10 receptions for less than 200 yards. I don’t know how the roster will play out come September, but I do know that taking a 6th round flier on a premium position who is a system match, has the potential for being the steal of the draft.
After all, since when does a slower corner picked late in the draft emerge as a top 5 performer in the NFL. Right Christian Benford?