OXFORD, MS – SEPTEMBER 8: D.K. Metcalf #14 of the Mississippi Rebels catches a pass during a game against the Southern Illinois Salukis at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Salukis 76-41. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
The Bills took Josh Allen in the first round last year and now they want to give him a prime time weapon. D.K. Metcalf could be just that guy for Buffalo.
In last year’s draft, Josh Allen was the immensely athletic prospect with obvious holes in his game that still went in Round 1. This year that prospect looks like D.K. Metcalf. It shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that the Bills are one of the teams most interesting in drafting the former Ole Miss wideout.
Allen had a really weird year for Buffalo as a rookie. He was predictably erratic throwing the football en route to a completion percentage of just 52.8% on 320 attempts. On the other hand, he ran the ball better than anyone could have reasonably predicted. No one saw him carrying the football 89 times for 631 yards and eight touchdowns.
Bills coach Sean McDermott knows they can’t afford for Allen to carry the ball that often in 2019. He’s a big guy, but no quarterback needs to take that kind of pounding. The team’s coaching staff also knows that one of the best ways to improve Allen’s completion percentage is to give him a big wideout to go to in the passing game.
That’s precisely where Metcalf comes into play. There’s no question about his size or speed. He left the NFL Combine up when he ran a 4.33 40-yard dash. That’s an eye-popping time for a receiver who checks in at 6-foot-3, 228 pounds.
It wasn’t a perfect combine for Metcalf though. Some of his agility testing came in well below what NFL scouts see from average offensive and defensive lineman. This is not a prospect who looks like he can create separation laterally. Metcalf’s lack of fluidity as a route runner will drop him way down a lot of team’s draft boards.
It’s not something that will bother the Bills a great deal. Allen isn’t accurate with the football, but he’s got one of the strongest arms in the NFL. That means Buffalo can place a greater value on big receivers with elite speed. Having a guy like Metcalf who can take a top off a defense and make big plays down the field in the air plays perfectly with what Allen can do well. In many ways, those two guys are a match made in football heaven.
Not every team should consider taking Metcalf in the Top 10, but the Bills are the team who can best utilize his particular set of skills. Don’t be surprised if Buffalo pounces on him at No. 9.