Buffalo Bills: Final Grades for 2020 NFL Draft
By Ed Stein
Round 6, 9th pick, 188th overall
Tyler Bass, kicker, Georgia Southern Eagles
When a team drafts a kicker, the first thing fans want to know is how well he can put the ball through the uprights from long-range. Tyler Bass didn’t have many opportunities from far away. He was however very accurate mid-range. He missed just two extra-point conversions in 166 career attempts.
Bass is another player who had a better season in 2018. He was 45-of-45 in extra points and made 19 of 21 field goal attempts. In 2019, the Georgia Southern product only connected on 20 of 28 field goal tries.
I’m generally not a fan of drafting kickers, period unless they have something special. I also liked Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship a little better, but Mel Kiper of ESPN had Bass as his top kicker this year. It will be an interesting three-person competition in training camp between Bass, Steven Hauschka, and Kaare Vedvik.
Grade: C. As in wait and see.
Round 6, 28th pick, 207th overall
Isaiah Hodgins, wide receiver, Oregon State University Beavers
This might turn out to be the value pick of the draft. Isaiah Hodgins has game, the fact he lasted until pick 207 is a mild surprise. His ball skills and hands are as good as any other receiver in this stacked draft class. He’s got great size at 6-4 and 36.5-inch vertical leap. Hodgins can get up high to catch a ball. He also has a big catch radius and can make some highlight-reel acrobatic receptions.
Now for the downside. Hodgins isn’t very fast, he doesn’t run away from anyone. Don’t be surprised to see him at the bottom of yards-after-catch stats. Also, he isn’t very strong, either. Press coverage will give him fits initially. Good news players get stronger in the weight room, and technique can be taught.
Grade: B-
The OSU product has plenty of potential. Get Hodgins the ball. He won’t drop it. But at this stage of his development, he won’t get very far after he has it.