The Buffalo Bills appear to have expressed a desire to move away from Tyrod Taylor as the franchise quarterback. Even if Buffalo wants to build around Taylor, the coaching staff may have alienated him to the point of no return with his seemingly unjustified benching.
For as intriguing as drafting a quarterback would be, the Bills have to be mindful of the fact that their defense is nowhere near where it should be.
Even before he broke out under the bright lights of the College Football Playoff, Roquan Smith had the reputation of being a sure tackler. He wraps players up, drives hard with his hips, and focuses more on making the smart play than finding himself on the highlight reel.
That may not make him the most attractive of options for a team that seemingly needs a quarterback, but Buffalo needs to improve on defense.
The Bills finished the 2017 regular season ranked No. 29 in both rushing yards allowed and sacks recorded. By selecting Smith, Sean McDermott would be equipped with a thumping linebacker who has proven capable of both stuffing the run and getting after the quarterback.
In a zone-heavy defense, Smith’s combination of speed and physicality could be what rounds the Bills into form in 2018 and beyond.