'Runs as hard as shit:' What the scouts say about the Buffalo Bills' Day 3 picks
Ray Davis leaves defenders in bruises. Get the unfiltered good, bad and ugly on the rest of the Bills' draft picks from NFL scouts inside.
By Bob McGinn
Here is what personnel people told me before the NFL draft about some of the Buffalo Bills’ selections in the final four rounds Saturday.
Here’s what they said about the Bills’ picks through the first three rounds, icymi.
Is there another prospect you want to know more about? Email Go Long at golongtd@gmail.com.
RAY DAVIS, RB, KENTUCKY
Rd. 4/Pk. 128.
Height: 5-8 ½.
Weight: 208.
40: 4.52.
Hometown: San Francisco.
Fact/Stat: In a five-year career he led Temple in rushing twice, Vanderbilt once and Kentucky once. One of 15 children, he spent much of his youth in homeless shelters and foster care. Finished with 746 carries for a 4.9-yard average and 29 touchdowns.
AFC scout: “Third round. He’s got good feet, quickness and his production was extremely good this year. He’s a patient, instinctive, savvy runner. It enables him to either hit the hole full speed and get up to the second level or make the first guy miss and then generate yards after contact. He shows good balance and strength to run through arm tackles but also the lateral quickness and agility to avoid smaller defenders out in space. In the pass game, he’s got reliable hands. He’s dangerous in terms of being a threat out of the backfield. He’s not a guy you’re going to put in the slot and have him featured in the passing game. This is a starting-caliber running back who could initially win a job.”
NFC scout: “I like him way more than (Jaylen) Wright. Tough, tough, determined, competitive, strength, explosiveness. Third or fourth round.”
AFC scout: “Really good player. Really well-rounded. He’s one of the few backs that has true third-down value. He can run the ball. He’s good and willing in pass protection. He’s got really good hands and feel as a route runner. It’s hard to find guys that excel in all three. He’s got a unique skill set.”
NFC scout: “That (bleep) runs as hard as shit. He’s a f--king load. He’s productive, and they (Kentucky) never have offensive linemen. NEV-ER. I don’t know where he goes but every time I saw him on tape he was making yards.”
AFC scout: “Three transfers. I didn’t want to like the guy because of all the transfers. The difference between him and (Blake) Corum is this guy is more explosive. Catches the ball well. He made some one-handed catches. Height is the only problem. That and he does take a little punishment. I would rather have Corum because I know what he does play after play, but this guy is tough and more explosive. He’ll be 25 (Nov. 11).”
AFC scout: “I love the way Ray Davis runs. He doesn’t have great testing numbers and skill but I love the way he finishes his runs. He is a little smaller.”
SEDRICK VAN PRAN-GRANGER, C, GEORGIA
Rd. 5/Pk. 141.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 301.
40: 5.19.
Hometown: New Orleans.
Fact/stat: Logged 44 career starts and owns two national championship rings. Didn’t run a fast 40 and his arms measured 31 3/8, the shortest of the top 12 centers. Hands were 9 1/2.
AFC scout: “He’s a pretty good player. Third or fourth (round).”
NFC scout: “Four-year starter (actually three), athletically gifted. Great locker-room guy. He’s late three, early four.”
AFC scout: “He’s down deep in the draft.”
AFC scout: “Like him. I love his wiring and makeup, his size, his strength. Foot speed and overall athletic ability have some limitations. He’s a little tight in the hips and gets off balance at times. His arm length causes a little bit of that just being matched up in pass pro. I think he’s going to start Year 1. His makeup is true starter. He’s a leader. He’s exactly what you want in a profile for that position. If he snuck into the bottom of the second round it would not surprise me, especially how the run went last year on centers. I would say more high third round.”
NFC scout: “Played a lot of football for them. He’s probably at least a fourth-rounder, maybe third. Smart as shit and he’s a great kid. He could be a starter. He played a long time; you can’t overlook those guys.”
AFC scout: “He’s really a good zone player. His time (5.19) surprised me. I thought he’d be at least a 5-flat guy. He’s not a real physical player but, boy, is he quick and can he get to the second level and block downfield. He needs to get stronger and be more physical. His time shocked me.”
EDEFUAN ULOFOSHIO, LB, WASHINGTON
Rd. 5/Pk. 160.
Height: 6-0 ½.
Weight: 237.
Wonderlic: 17.
40: 4.54.
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska.
Fact/Stat: Began career as a walk-on in 2018. Was awarded a scholarship after the 2019 season. Underwent surgery to repair a torn biceps in October 2021 and another for a torn ACL in early 2022. Started just 27 games over six years, and 15 came for the national runnerup in 2023.
AFC scout: “He’s a green dot guy. He’s a traditional, old-school, three-down middle linebacker. I think he can do a little bit of everything. He’s functional in the passing game and he’s a good run player. He’s got good enough speed. He’ll start early. Third round.”
NFC scout: “He’s an overachiever type player that has all the right makeup stuff. He’ll be a steady, try-hard player. Could be a starter. More of a depth backup.”
NFC scout: “They just call him Eddie. He worked out well. Didn’t see that as much on the film. High character guy. Kid’s always in the building. Has aspirations of going to medical school. When you interviewed other Washington players and asked them who’s the most disciplined or the hardest worker they say this kid. He’s instinctive and competitive. He plays with effort. Above average athlete. I kind of questioned his play speed but he ran (well). Bit of an overachiever. He’s wired right. He’ll make a team as a backup and play special teams. He’s a green dot. I’d say before he tested well he was fifth or sixth round. Now, who knows? He could go fourth round.”
AFC scout: “Two years ago, I thought he was going to be a top prospect. Then he missed all the ’22 season (played five games). This year he came back. He has speed and range but he didn’t play very good this year. As the season progressed he did play better and better. The first part of the year he was a big disappointment. I still gave him a late-round grade. He’s from Alaska. How many players do you know have come out of Alaska?”
NFC scout: “I kind of like him. I always have.”
AFC scout: “Eddie will run and test and look better on paper than maybe the way he played. He can flat-out run. He’s going to help you on special teams. He’s a great young man. His instincts are a little off but he’ll die trying. He would be a candidate to do it (wear the green dot) but I don’t know how well he’d do it. As far as getting the (call) out, yeah, but making adjustments would be (for) another player.”
NFC scout: “He’s an outstanding leader. He was a total program guy and would do anything to help the team. High effort, fights to finish every snap. He’s slightly bow-legged with some tightness in his hips. Tough kid. Hates to miss (time), plays through bumps and bruises.”
JAVON SOLOMON, EDGE, TROY
Rd. 5/Pk. 168.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 246.
40: 4.76.
Hometown: Tallahassee, Fla.
Fact/stat: Largest hands (10 ¾) of the top 25 edge rushers. Arms were 33 7/8, and his 27 reps on the bench press ranked third. Started 25 of 53 games over five seasons. Played considerably from a three-point stance. Established a school record for sacks with 32 ½.
AFC scout: “He’s a better player than testing athlete. He didn’t run very fast. I think he lacks upside. He’s got a low ceiling. Rotational rusher. He’ll be on the fringe. He may get drafted but it’ll be close because of how poorly he ran at the combine.”
TYLAN GRABLE, T, CENTRAL FLORIDA
Rd. 6/Pk. 204.
Height: 6-5 ½.
Weight: 308.
40: 4.93.
Hometown: Gordon, Ga.
Fact/stat: Arms were 33 5/8, hands were 10 1/8. Ran the second- or third-fastest 40 among tackles at the combine. A high-school quarterback, he walked on at FCS Jacksonville State as a tight end. Spent four years there, including two as the starting left tackle. Started at UCF in 2022’-23. Declined to bench press at the combine. Three weeks later, he again refused to bench at pro day.
DAEQUAN HARDY, CB, PENN STATE
Rd. 6/Pk. 219.
Height: 5-9 ½.
Weight: 182.
40: 4.38.
Hometown: Pittsburgh.
Fact/stat: My second-best return specialist in the draft. Didn’t return until 2023. Averaged 14.6 on 17 returns with two touchdowns against UMass. Also returned three kickoffs. Played in 48 games over five years, starting five as the nickel back in 2023. His vertical jump of 42 ½ tied for the best at the position. Charged with marijuana possession in 2020.
NFC scout: “That (returning punts) is what he does best. He’s a nickel and a punt returner. Very good punt returner. He has very good balance and body control. Doesn’t have a lot of shake. He has good vision. What he does, he looks for a seam, and then once he hits that seam then he just has to run through the first tackle and then get his speed up from there. I don’t think people would even be talking about him if not for his return ability. He’s OK as a nickel, but he’s not the biggest guy. He doesn’t make nearly the same amount of plays at nickel that he does as a returner.”
NFC scout: “He’s too small.”
NFL special-teams coach: “He can really run. He had just one year doing that but it was really good. Scored twice against UMass and had a third one called back against Indiana. Some guys run fast but you don’t see the explosion on tape. This guy, you see the explosion. He jumped out of the gym, too.”
AFC scout: “Good football player. He was their only player in the back end that played respectably against Ohio State. Kind of a s------. Sixth, seventh round.”
AFC scout: “Didn’t like him. Free agent.”
TRAVIS CLAYTON, G, ENGLAND
Rd. 7/Pk. 221.
Height: 6-7.
Weight: 303.
40: 4.81.
Hometown: NA.
Fact/stat: Rugby player and boxer from England who has never played football. Participated in the NFL International Pathway Program, which was started in 2017 to assist foreign players with interest in playing pro football. He spent 10 weeks training in Florida before being invited with others from IPP to test March 20 at the South Florida pro day. Besides running a great 40, he managed a weak 19 reps on the bench press and a 26-inch vertical jump. Long arms (35), adequate hands (10).
Interesting comparing the scouts' comments between the Packers and Bills. Based on them, I would feel pretty good about the Bills' picks, and not so much about the Packers. Obviously will be interesting to see how that plays out.
Packer fans have known for years how cool Bob's work on the draft is, and now getting to compare scouts' comments between one team's picks and another's adds another dimension to it. Love it.