Astro’s “Pick-Six” – September 2022

I used to do a “Beane-Seen Dream Team”, but I’ve combined the B-SDT with my Pick-Six this month. Every player listed below has been seen by Brandon Beane either last year or this year. The number before the player name is his current position on my BuffaloFAMBase Big Board, and there is a lot of links for you to click on. I’ve cued up a play for you to watch, a key moment in an interview for you to listen to his “Billsy” demeanor, and their career stats. If you don’t see your pet cat here, it might be a poor interview or a poor fit for what the Bills like to do; let me hear about it in the comments.

ROUND 1, #32
15 Isaiah Foskey EDGE Notre Dame (Beane + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #7
STATS
6-4 257 4.77
Foskey started in all 13 games for the Irish last season, and led the team with 11 sacks –the third-most in a Notre Dame single season. He was consistent, recording a sack in nine of the 13 contests, including two multi-sack performances, and finished T-11th with 0.85 sacks per game. Foskey is disruptive, having tallied six of his team’s 13 forced fumbles on the season and collected two fumble recoveries. He’s among the leaders in overall pressures with 12.5 TFLs to lead the defense. Foskey’s effort and size make up for his relatively-normal speed.

16 Noah Sewell ILB OLB Oregon (2 Beane Visits + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #1
STATS
6-2 251 4.58
A solidly-built linebacker with Milano’s speed, Sewell’s last name should sound familiar; his older brother, Penei, was selected by the Lions with the No. 7 pick in 2021. Sewell has been a tackling machine for the Ducks, with 3.9 tackles per game up to this point –more tackles per game than my #1, Will Anderson. I see him as able to play either ILB or OLB, and Beane values versatility.

17 Joey Porter Jr CB Penn State (Beane + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A++
WATCH #9
STATS
6-2 193 4.48
Porter, a redshirt sophomore CB, has all the attributes, including DNA up the wazoo. Joey’s father, Joey Sr., played 13 seasons for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, going on to be their assistant coach. His cousin, Jason Gildon, played football at Oklahoma State (1990-94) and played 10 years for the Steelers and one season for the Jacksonville Jaguars. One of my pet cats, Porter has volunteered feeding the homeless, has my major in special education, and wants to take over his Mom’s Jasmine Nyree Day Center business some day. It’s Terry Pegula’s alma mater.

18 Michael Mayer TE Notre Dame (Beane + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A++
WATCH #87
STATS
6-5 251 4.62 24 10.3
Mayer is inarguably the best TE in the draft. He led the team with 71 receptions, and he will likely put up similar numbers in 2022, barring injury. There was a reason the Bills went shopping for another TE in free agency. Mayer’s similar in size to OJ Howard, who was drafted #19 in 2017 by the Bucs and played for the Bills in preseason. I think the Bills would love a dual-threat TE group where it wouldn’t matter which guy Josh threw the ball to –either one could take it to the house.

27 B.J. Ojulari EDGE LSU (Beane and Schoen + 1 Scout Visit Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #8
STATS
6-2 244 4.59
While I have Ojulari 27th on my board right now, a final draft position of 7th wouldn’t surprise me either. EDGE rushers aren’t a dime a dozen, and they usually follow the QBs and LTs on Day One. Ojulari has a Top 5 forty among rushers and he’s top 4 in production. He also has the versatility. He was OLB in 2020, and a DE in 2021 coming in on money downs. I have no doubt he’ll be the leading tackler on the LSU defense. Ojulari is actually a prince of Nigeria, and has royal character to go along with his title. I’ll be hoping he is drafted by the Hurricanes’ Mitchell Agude, who raises money for kids in Nigeria. Except for #7 Kayshon Boutte, Ojulari is the second LSU Tiger on my board.

33 Tony Grimes CB North Carolina (Beane + 3 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A++
WATCH #1
STATS
6-1 195 4.4
Brandon Beane loves his ACC players, and Tony Grimes is that guy this year. He left HS early as a two-way player (albeit 170 pounds), and had to face Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown in practice, so there was a huge learning curve. At first, it didn’t seem like he could be fast enough for the college game. He wanted to redshirt his first year, but his dad, along with his CB coach Dre Bly, counseled him to persist. His dad and coach were right, and he should have a RD1 kind of year. After a few weeks, he started to emerge. You know what McBeane says: You can never have too many cornerbacks.

ROUND 2, #64
37 Jordan Battle SS Alabama (2 Beane + 4 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year)
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #9
STATS
6-1 206 4.42
First, read my Deep Dive on this guy from last year and see why Beane went twice and sent scouts to four games. A South Florida guy who I doubt has ever seen snow, Battle is the consummate Bills Safety: a communicator and wrap-up tackler, an experienced and quick diagnostician in the 4-2-5 that the Bills frequently use. He ably covers TEs and Slot WRs without surrendering runs. His interview, despite the stammer and word-finding difficulties in his delivery, exudes passion, past coaching, and character. “Battle” is a perfect name. I’ve talked before about the fact that the Bills need a Tight End Killer to dominate in the AFC East. Battle should be on your radar screen. FIT FOR BILLS: A+…. Mac Jones talks about him here.

38 Gervon Dexter DT3T EDGE Florida (Beane + 4 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #9
STATS
6-5 303 5.04
Pronounced “jer-VONN”, Dexter is a versatile nightmare with speed and agility, He is the Boogie Basham type, a DT3T/EDGE chameleon who gives Leslie Frasier a sweet chess piece in that mix. Beane sent scouts to 4 games and went to one himself. Remember: every time Big Baller saw Kaiir Elam, he saw Gervon too.

42 Arik Gilbert WR TE Georgia (Beane + 3 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #14
STATS
6-5 248 4.64
Gilbert was a TE who transferred to Georgia from LSU, did not play last year, and switched to WR this year. Gilbert does everything pretty well. He catches, blocks, high-points, and produces (of his 35 catches, 24 resulted in either a first down or a touchdown). He was even a 2-way player on a team with one of Football Outsiders’ Top Run-Blocking AND Pass-Blocking Grades in 2021. Here’s how he’ll be used this year. Sounds to me like what the Bills hoped they were getting in OJ Howard.

44 Christian Gonzalez CB Oregon (Beane + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #0
STATS
6-1 201 4.36
I admired Gonzalez’s size and speed when he was a QB playing for Colorado, so I thought this was a misprint. A CB playing for the Ducks? Turns out it’s the same guy. He realized that his athletic gifts weren’t enough at the next level, and he has taken up the “practice how you want to play” adage. As you see in the cued-up video, there will be no hurdling Christian Gonzalez out there.

50 Jarrett Patterson OC OG OT Notre Dame (Beane + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A++
WATCH #55
STATS
6-5 305 4.97
Morse wants to retire a Bill, and has a two-year contract. I’m betting a RD1-3 priority will be a Center. One of the draft’s 5 fastest Centers, Patterson has also played some Guard and Tackle on one of Pro Football Focus’ top-rated offensive lines in 2020 and 2021 –a regular Rick Bates. He’s been a big reason that LA Rams’ RB Kyren Williams had so much success for the Golden Domers. Patterson pulls well, stays engaged until the whistle, and can seek and destroy at the second level. Patterson is a mix of size and technique, has Kromer-esque handwork and leverage, and can play multiple positions, that versatility that the Bills covet on the offensive line. In 2021, I think he’ll add a good year on tape this year to put him in the early Day 2 conversation. The drawbacks? He missed most of the 2020 season due to injury, and, perhaps most important, Patterson’s eyebrows are distracting. Notre Dame was producing the highest-combined pass-block grades of any offensive line in 2020 and a top rushing offense (231 yards per game) against some of the ACC’s and FBS’s best rush defenses. He allowed 11 QB hurries, one QB hit, and no sacks while playing at Center.

ROUND 3, #96
83 Robert Scott Jr. LT Florida State (Beane + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; Beane and 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #52
STATS
6-5 312 5.43
If the Bills are looking for a LT to develop instead of a big RT like Dawand Jones (below), they might like Robert Scott Jr. In fact, Beane’s visit this year already indicates interest in the Seminole’s top-ranked player. Scott is a personable, smart, and experienced lineman. He’s a regular on the All-ACC Academic Team and a Seminole Scholar. Scott is versatile; he has played both Tackle positions effectively. He blocked for an offensive line that helped FSU convert 32 consecutive Red Zone trips into points, the longest active streak nationally and still ongoing to end last season. The Bills are looking to continue their domination in the red zone, and Scott helped Florida State rank first in Beane’s back yard, the ACC, with a Red Zone touchdown percentage of 73.8%. Overall, Football Outsiders has FSU’s O-Line in the highest third ( #45) of 130 teams they track, but Scott is the bright spot.

89 Mazi Smith DT1T Michigan (Beane + 5 Scout Visits Last Year; Beane, Fisher Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #58
STATS
6-2 326 4.96
The role DaQuan Jones plays, the 1-tech, occupier of two blockers, is not a stat-stuffer by any means. It’s the same for Mazi Smith. Yes, there are 1-techs on Day 3 that I like almost as well, but Mazi’s crazy fast, and if he’s singled on any play, he can chase down the quarterback faster than you can say “Wolverine”. I hope you get a chance to watch him this year. Mazi is the top Michigan player on my board (out of 30!), and Beane has been at a game already this year. Track this guy.

90 Dawand Jones RT OG Ohio State (2 Beane Visits + 5 Scout Visits Last Year; 4 Scout Visits This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #79
STATS
6-8 360 5.57
The. Biggest. Buckeye. Ever. He’s not as quick as former OSU OTs like Petit-Frere in the past, but very earnest. He’s working on consistency and showing up on every play. If you watch four plays here, you see the good, the bad, and the ugly. That’s why he’s lower on my board than some. Jones was a basketball star in HS, so he had a choice to make, and after committing to football, he worked hard enough to start at RT in training camp. Mindset was a big piece of that –he no longer sees himself as a basketball player playing football. Listen to that cued-up part of a recent interview. He’s fantastic in pass blocking, but due to high pad level, he’s just too big in order to run block effectively. That can be taught, though; we have Kromer. But make no mistake; Jones is going to a passing team. Know of any? Dawand’s OL had one of Football Outsider’s Top Run-Blocking AND Pass-Blocking Grades in 2021. Very nice laterally. Here, Jones’s down-block springs Williams for a big gain.

91 Akeem Dent FS CB Florida State (Beane + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; Beane Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A++
WATCH #27
STATS
6-1 191 4.45
Fastest draftable CB in the ACC. Listed as a sophomore on ESPN, but he’s a redshirt soph. He spent the offseason of 2019 recovering from a foot injury. Dent is one of the bright spots on an up and down Seminoles team. He’s versatile and quick enough to play any of the defensive backfield spots.

92 Antoine Green WR North Carolina (Beane + 3 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A++ WATCH #3 *** ACC *** STATS https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/antoine-green-1.html 6-2 205 4.39 25 17.9 WR second on the team in receptions (31), receiving yards (612) and receiving TDs (5) • Ranked second in the ACC (12th nationally) averaging 19.7 yards per reception. YPR: 2021 19.7 (#2) ACC. 5th in FBS in highest % of catches for 20 or more yards. (min. 30 total catches)…

93 Jared Verse EDGE Florida State (Beane + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; Beane Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++ WATCH #96 *** ACC *** STATS https://www.footballdb.com/players/jared-verse-verse0003 6-3 247 4.76 15 36 2.4 EDGE xfer Albany, Top 1 in production…appeared in 15 games over two seasons at Albany, recording 74 tackles, including 21.5 for loss with 14.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and one pass breakup…was first-team all-conference selection and FCS Freshman All-American in fall 2021 after registering 53 tackles, 11.5 for loss with 10.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one pass breakup…earned CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in spring 2021, Jan 7, 2022: Transferred to the Seminoles.

ROUND 4, #127 (Sorry; only a Pick-5 this month, but some new names will fall here in the coming months).
117 Trey Dean III FS CB NCB Florida (Beane + 4 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A++
WATCH #0
STATS
6-3 199 4.42
How about an heir to Taron Johnson’s position? Trey Dean began this year with 45 games and three potential positions under his belt, so experience at three different positions isn’t an issue. He’s a cornerback turned safety who played with Kaiir Elam. Dean has ideal size and length (I love saying that), and his move to the back end for the Gators allows him to maximize his athleticism and free-range playmaking ability. The only drawback is distraction. Trey has developed his own clothing line, TD3, and has launched a website to sell it.

131 Olusegun Oluwatimi LG OC Michigan (Beane + 5 Scout Visits Last Year; Beane, Fisher Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #55
STATS
6-3 310 5.12
Say it with me, now: “Oh-loo-shah-GOON Oh-loo-wuh-TIM-me” (there is also a DT from Maryland Oluwaseun Oluwatimi, but he’s 5’11” and may not get a UDFA invite). Brandon Beane has scouted Michigan for two years in a row, and he’s already paid a visit to the Wolverines with Brian Fisher, the Bills’ Area Scout. One major reason for his interest is the Michigan offensive line, which in 2020 ranked No. 1 in the ACC and in 2021 was one of Football Outsider’s Top Run-Blocking AND Pass-Blocking OLs. Moreover, in 2021, Michigan was #5 in OVD, the percentage of offensive drives that conclude with a drive-end value greater than the drive-start value based on field position (Ohio State, the other most-visited school by the Bills, was #1). Oluwatimi loves our early music, so he’ll fit right in. On the field, O-O turns his man here.

141 Keidron Smith CB FS Kentucky (Beane, Hickey + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A++
WATCH #20 (2 Views)
STATS
6-2 200 4.4
Keidron transferred to Kentucky from Ole Miss, where he spent four seasons and 45 games, never missing one. His tackles per game there was almost three. The versatile defensive back was named the winner of the 2021 Chucky Mullins Courage Award earlier in the fall, presented annually to an Ole Miss upperclassman defensive player that embodies the spirit of Mullins: courage, leadership, perseverance, and determination. In presenting the award, Lane Kiffin said, “Keidron has provided tremendous leadership and dedication for our program….His willingness to embrace any role necessary to help the team is remarkable”. He reminds me of Levi Wallace both in stature and movement. PBU: 2020 6 (#9) SEC, FF: 2019 3 (#2) SEC, 2021 2 (#5) SEC.

ROUND 5, #145 and ROUND 5, #159 (PICK TWO)
142 Ventrell Miller ILB Florida (Beane + 4 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A++
WATCH #51
STATS
6-1 230 4.73
Miller returned for a sixth and final season after a lost 2021 due to injury. He said it didn’t feel right to leave his teammates. I adore his aggression and passion, but also his football smarts and leadership. Only 3 reasons I can think of why the Bills won’t take Miller: Edmunds, Dodson, and Spector.

149 Ronnie Hickman FS CB Ohio State (2 Beane Visits + 5 Scout Visits Last Year; 4 Scout Visits This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #14
STATS
6-1 205 4.5
Rocket Ronnie Hickman. Ball radar. A tackling machine (3.7 solos per game thus far). First Buckeye to play the “Bullet” hybrid linebacker/safety position. The kid who, as a HS junior in South Orange NJ, caught the game’s only touchdown vs DePaul, then went back on defense and made the game-saving pass deflection. Hickman, a high school All-American in lacrosse, relied on his speed in that sport, but opted for the more physical fit at football. An ACL injury prevented him from playing freshman year for the Buckeyes, but watch for the Rocket in the Buckeye backfield this season.

150 Brenton Cox Jr. EDGE Florida (Beane + 4 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A++
WATCH #1
STATS
6-4 247 4.62
Brenton Cox Jr. has played 36 entering this season, and has 39 pressures to show for them. The Bills have always taken EDGEs with a pressures-per-game ratio higher than 1. Brenton is long and athletic; watch this tipped ball. Here, he sniffs out the razzle-dazzle for a big TFL He’s so focused and aware on this fumble recovery. Why not go back to the Gators for another defender besides Kaiir Elam?

158 Ali Gaye EDGE LSU (Beane + Schoen Last Year; Beane This Year).
INTERVIEW A++
WATCH #11
STATS
6-6 262 4.73
I doubt Ali Gaye will be declaring for this year’s draft as he’s likely out for the season with only 14 games played in college. In those games, he registered the Bills-required 1 pressure per game. His size, long arms, and athleticism jump off the screen. He’s quiet and humble until he steps across that sideline. Just keep the name in mind.

155 Matthew Jones RG OC Ohio State (2 Beane Visits + 5 Scout Visits Last Year; 4 Scout Visits This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #55
STATS
6-3 310 5.09
Jones played both RG and OC, and to find a player with Jones’s size (6-foot-4, 315) and mobility needed to play both positions would be perfect for the Bills. The Buckeye OL has one of the draft’s Top Run-Blocking AND Pass-Blocking Grades. Jones is one of Ohio State’s highest-graded offensive linemen. To find a player with Jones’s size (6-foot-4, 315) and mobility needed to play both Center and Guard is a huge bonus, and the Bills would be in the market soon. Effective as a blocker in the run game too. As mentioned before, Ohio State’s O-Line was #5 in OVD, the percentage of offensive drives that conclude with a drive-end value greater than the drive-start value based on field position, per Football Outsider. He’s played in 16 games for the Buckeyes, including all eight games of the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Effective as a blocker in the run game (2 views showing a potential hold). He’s also an effective down-blocker.

159 D.J. Turner CB Michigan (Beane + 5 Scout Visits Last Year; Beane, Fisher Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #5
STATS
5-11 181 4.53
This is not the DJ Turner who’s a WR on the Raiders. This Turner is a CB who’s familiar with the chameleon-look defenses that the Bills disguise so well. He’s a scheme fit who also plays on Special Teams. Watch his concentration on this PBU which he turns into an INT.

160 Erick All TE Michigan (Beane + 5 Scout Visits Last Year; Beane, Fisher Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A++
WATCH #83
STATS
6-4 245 4.61
This past year, All appeared in 13 games both as a TE and a special team contributor. If the senior becomes a reliable blocker, he’s got the tools to play in the bigs. Erick plays on a line with one of Football Outsider’s Top Run-Blocking AND Pass-Blocking Grades in 2021. All’s 4.61 forty is top five in his TE class (Baylor Cupp, Jaheim Bell, Zack Kuntz, and Michael Ezeike are the others), and almost hits Knox’s 4.58 forty time. It shows up on film as speedy; I remember this play.

ROUND 6, #191
162 Jammie Robinson FS Florida State (Beane + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; Beane and 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #10
STATS
5-11 203 4.49
First-Team All-ACC Free Safety Jammie Robinson has been a prolific solo tackler over his 34-game career (so far): 134 solos averages out to 3.9 per game, second among draftable DBs. Pronounced “JAY-me”, Jammie appeared in all 12 games last year with 11 starts, and led the team with 85 tackles, including 7.0 for loss, plus a team-high (and tied for ACC’s highest) four interceptions, 3 PBUs and 2 forced fumbles. His four consecutive games with a takeaway was also a ACC high.

178 Cam Hart CB Notre Dame (Beane + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #5
STATS
6-2 205 4.53
Over 6-2 in height, so he has the length required. In 2021, he was featured in 13 games and made 10 starts; Finished tied for eighth on the team with 42 tackles (25 solo, four TFL), nine pass deflections and two INTs. He’s continuing on that same pace in 2022.

203 P.J. Mustipher DT1T Penn State (Beane + 2 Scout Visits Last Year; 1 Scout Visit This Year).
INTERVIEW A+++
WATCH #97
STATS
6-3 326 5.06
Like DaQuan Jones, and Mazi Smith above in RD3, Mustipher attracts double-teams, and will attract McBeane with his personality. Nagy: “Have heard great things from staff about DT P.J. Mustipher’s character. At 6041v, 323v he’s also one of the top big run-stuffers on our @seniorbowl board.” He returned to school.

Editor’s babble: We can’t thank Dean Kindig enough for his many vital contributions to our blog. You can also find Dean on Twitter @TCBILLS_Astro.