1 - Micah Hyde was "ecstatic" to sign with Bills
March 9th will mark the two-year anniversary of safety Micah Hyde leaving Green Bay and signing with Buffalo. The Pro Bowler has helped lead a young secondary to the top marks in the league and only hopes to improve in years three, four and five.
Hyde went on One Bills Live to discuss his 'Imagine for Youth Foundation,' which helps to provide money or sporting equipment to less fortunate children and its recent expansion into helping facilities and academics, and his path to the Bills and what they can do better next season.
"My agent was talking to people at the combine and they were interested but wanted to see what was going to happen with me," Hyde said. "They were interested but not interested. As soon as Buffalo came along, they were interested. Everybody there welcomed me with open arms, and I was ecstatic to be there."
Hyde spent the first four years of his career in Green Bay. Since joining the Bills, Hyde has totaled seven interceptions and 140 tackles. When Hyde was looking for a new home in 2016, he wasn't motivated as much by money as he was motivated by how much a franchise would use him in the field.
"I can remember just going to Buffalo and everyone just showing me so much love and I just appreciate it so much," Hyde said.
Hyde was splitting snaps with Casey Hayward and wanted to be a starter in the league. Hyde, as a starter with the Bills, has helped the team become the number two defensive squad in the NFL but he feels there is still more work to be done.
"I feel like the goals and expectations for our team are way higher than anybody can give us," Hyde said. "We finished second in the league [defensively] and feel that we didn't play nearly as good of football as we could have. Same for me personally."
He has seen a change in consistency with the Bills. In his first season the Bills had a rough three to four game stretch where they were getting blown out. It was prevented this season, despite a few rough patches that he admits to, to practice habits instilled by head coach Sean McDermott. Hyde believes that the Bills can be the number one defense in the league.
The one concern for next season is finding a replacement for Kyle Williams. Williams was more than a great player on the field and was a leader in the locker room and in the community. Hyde says that "no one can fill Kyle's role," but will do his best to be the leader he has always been.
2 - Bills are "very interested" in this free agent
Matt Paradis has been considered the prized center in this year's free agent class and now he's being connected to Buffalo. According to NFL insider Benjamin Allbright, the Bills are interested in bringing in the former Bronco.
"I don't think Paradis financially is going to be back (with Broncos). I just don't. I had heard Buffalo is very, very interested in him," Allbright said on Orange & Blue 760.
Paradis has been the starting center of the Broncos since 2015 and started 57 games in a row before he fractured his fibula last season. He also has playoff experience, winning Super Bowl 50. Paradis is entering his age 29 season and was a sixth-round pick in the 2014 draft.
The 2021 NFL Scouting Combine is underway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Click through to see photos of current Bills players from when they performed at the Combine.
Jerry Hughes at the 2010 NFL Combine.
Safety Jordan Poyer at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine.
Poyer (Oregon) measured in at 6-0, 191 pounds, with a 31 3/4-inch arm length and 9 3/4-inch hands. He recorded a 11.51 seconds 60 yard shuttle, 118-inch broad jump and a 30.5-inch vertical jump.
Safety Micah Hyde at the 2013 NFL Draft.
Hyde (Iowa) measured in at 6-0, 197 pounds, with a 31.48-inch arm length and 9 3/8-inch hands. He recorded a 4.56 40 yard dash, 6.78 3 cone drill and a 33-inch vertical jump.
Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Cornerback Tre'Davious White at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.
White (Louisiana State) measured in at 5-11, 192 pounds, with a 32 1/8-inch arm length and 9 1/8-inch hands. He recorded a 4.47 40 yard dash, 32.0-inch vertical jump and 119.0-inch broad jump.
Tackle Dion Dawkins at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.
Dawkins (Temple) measured in at 6-4, 314 pounds, with a 35-inch arm length and 9 7/8-inch hands. He recorded a 7.30 3 cone drill, 26 reps on the bench press and a 106.0-inch broad jump.
Linebacker Matt Milano at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.
Milano (Boston College) measured in at 6-0, 223 pounds, with a 32-inch arm length and 9 3/8-inch hands. He recorded 24 reps on the bench press, a 126.0-inch broad jump and 35.0-inch vertical jump.
Quarterback Josh Allen at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.
Allen (Wyoming) measured in at 6-5, 237 pounds, with a hand measurement of 10 1/8 inches. He recorded a 70-yard throw.
Cornerback Taron Johnson at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.
Johnson (Weber State) measured in at 5-11, 192 pounds, with a 30 7/8-inch arm length and 9 1/8-inch hands. He recorded a 4.5 40 yard dash, 33-inch vertical jump and 118-inch broad jump.
Safety Siran Neal at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.
Neal (Jacksonville State) measured in at 6-0, 206 pounds, with a 31 1/8-inch arm length and 9 7/8-inch hands. He recorded a 4.56 40 yard dash, 40.5-inch vertical jump and 122.0-inch broad jump.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.
Edmunds (Virginia Tech) measured in at 6-5, 253 pounds, with a 34 1/2-inch arm length and 9 3/8-inch hands. He recorded a 4.54 40 yard dash, 19 reps on the bench press and a 117.0-inch broad jump.
Stanford defensive lineman Harrison Phillips runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 4, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver does the bench press drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Friday, March. 1, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Florida Alantic running back Devin Singletary runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mississippi tight end Dawson Knox participates in the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Miami defensive back Jaquan Johnson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Boston College tight end Tommy Sweeney runs a passing drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday, March. 2, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Central Florida wide receiver Gabriel Davis runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa runs the 40-yard dash during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Pittsburgh defensive back Dane Jackson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Utah running back Zack Moss runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
3 - 2019 All-Combine team
Buffalo's very own local prospect Tyree Jackson was the only quarterback to make the list. Jackson was mostly unknown nationally before the combine after playing at the University at Buffalo, but Western New Yorker's have been aware of the talent in its own backyard as he led UB to its first bowl game in years.
The second tier of quarterbacks in this year's draft was waiting for someone to separate themselves, and that's exactly what Jackson did at the combine. After measuring in at a massive 6-7, 249 pounds, Jackson showed off his impressive athleticism with strong testing results, including a 4.59 40-yard dash. He also put his elite arm strength on full display during positional drills, and showed some improvement in the accuracy department.
Andre Dillard, Kaleb McGary, Garrett Bradbury, Chris Lindstrom and Erik McCoy were the standouts from the offensive line. Lindstrom, from Boston College, was chosen as a player to watch for the Bills by NFL.com analysts Lance Zierlein and Daniel Jeremiah.
D.K. Metcalf was an obvious choice for the list after his performance and was picked to the Bills in Todd McShay's most recent mock.
