1. Bleacher Report gives the Bills 2019 draft class this grade
Bleacher Report graded all 32 teams' 2019 draft class and gave the Bills an A.
2019 Class: DT Ed Oliver (No. 9 overall), OT Cody Ford (No. 38 overall), RB Devin Singletary (No. 74 overall), TE Dawson Knox (No. 96 overall), LB Vosean Joseph (No. 147 overall), CB Jaquan Johnson (No. 181 overall), DE Darryl Johnson (No. 225 overall), TE Tommy Sweeney (No. 228 overall)
Grade: A
Bleacher Report explains a reason why Buffalo received such a high grade was because the top four picks played important roles on the team in their first season.
Ed Oliver displayed his pass-rushing prowess with five sacks on the interior. He started slow but came on strong in Weeks 11 to 13, recording four sacks. The Houston product plays in a rotational role, yet he's shown the ability to line up on all three downs.
Singletary became a key weapon on offense after he healed from his hamstring injury.
The Bills traded LeSean McCoy to the Kansas City Chiefs. Eventually, Frank Gore yielded the featured position to Devin Singletary while T.J. Yeldon served as a low-volume backup. The Florida Atlantic product listed fifth in yards from scrimmage (969) among all rookies.
2. Tre'Davious White receives more postseason praise
Tre'Davious White continues to receive postseason praise as he was named to the PFWA All-NFL Team. White is the first Bills to be selected to the PFWA team since Marcell Dareus and Mario Williams in 2014. White is also the first Bills defensive back to earn the selection since safety Henry Jones in 1992.
Other honors from this year include White's first spot in the Pro Bowl, being named AFC Defensive Player of the week twice during the season and being named a first team All-Pro by Associated Press.
White finished his third season in the NFL with six interceptions which tied for most in the NFL, 17 passes defensed and per Next Gen Stats an opponent QBR of 38.9
3. McQuaid Jesuit coach Bobby Bates nominated by Bills for this award
The NFL announced the nominees by all 32 NFL teams for Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award. Buffalo's nominee comes from a school in Western New York.
These coaches were recognized by their local NFL club for the prestigious award – named after Pro Football Hall of Famer DON SHULA, the winningest coach in NFL history – for their character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success.
The Bills nominated Bobby Bates who is the head coach of Rochester's McQuaid Jesuit. Bates was named Coach of the Year for Western New York high schools and was honored at the Week 17 Bills game against the Jets. The varsity team, coached by Bates, earned two titles in 2019—Section V Champions and Western New York Region Champions.
All of the Don Shula Award nominees are invited to the 2020 Pro Bowl and will be recognized in different ways throughout the week.
Two finalists will each receive $15,000 from the NFL Foundation, $10,000 of which will go to their high school's football program. They will also attend Super Bowl LIV in Miami as special guests of the NFL.
The Don Shula Award winner will be announced during the 2020 Pro Bowl, airing Sunday, Jan. 26 at 3 PM ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, and simulcast on ABC and Disney XD – the third time the game will be available on both broadcast and cable networks. The winner will also be recognized and walk the red carpet at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on Saturday, Feb. 1 on FOX, the night before Super Bowl LIV.
