Bills’ Nick Broeker: ‘Hoped for Buffalo’ during 2023 NFL draft
The Bills addressed the offensive side of the ball with four of the team’s first five picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, but the fifth one saw some fireworks out ahead of it.
On the third day of selections, Brandon Beane demonstrated his draft maneuvering abilities yet again by trading the Bills late-round picks three times to move back, which netted two additional 2024 sixth-round picks in the process. This now gives Buffalo 10 picks in 2024.
The dust had barely settled when the GM continued his quest to fortify the teams’ offensive trenches by adding 6-foot-4, 305-pound lineman Nick Broeker, a three-year starter out of Ole’ Miss.
The Bills prioritize versatility when evaluating linemen, and they have that in Broeker, who also played right guard at the Senior Bowl.
“Played left tackle and left guard at Ole’ Miss, played right guard at Senior Bowl,” Broeker shared with ease via video conference. “Snapped all through my time at Ole’ Miss, snapped a bit at Senior Bowl, snapped a bit at Pro Day.”
“Really thrilled with the guys we’ve added – some beef up front,” Beane said in his post-draft press conference. “Broeker was clearly the best player on our board when he went.”
The GM also noted Broeker will start off as a guard for the Bills, and will also get some practice time at tackle
Like the Bills second-round pick O’Cyrus Torrence, Broeker did not give up a sack in 2022, and he was durable not missing a single game in college. But did have 13 blown run blocks last season which was tied for sixth most in the FBS, and will be an area he’ll need to work on as he develops behind the current starters.
Among those starters on offense, is a familiar face that he’ll be joining as a teammate for the first time.
“I know Dawson Knox pretty well, so that’ll be cool to get back with him as well,” “I actually played with his younger Brother Luke at Ole’ Miss, and Dawson would come back and visit, and some of the guys I played with were really good friends with Dawson.”
Broeker even said that he really hoped Buffalo would take him off the board.
“Yeah, definitely really kind of hoped for Buffalo, just seeing all the success they’ve had lately and how many games they’ve won, definitely on the Super Bowl trend so definitely a really cool call to get.”
