Draft grades: Buffalo Bills select 'enormous human being' and experts are obsessed
The Buffalo Bills haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2017. Josh Allen hopes to take less hits. Adding a 6-foot-5, 330-pound behemoth is a solid start.
Buffalo selected Florida offensive guard O'Cyrus Torrence with the No. 59 overall pick in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday.
Torrence played 48 games in college for the University of Louisiana and University of Florida and never allowed a sack. He was a first-team All-American last season.
Buffalo Bills draft picks 2023: Round-by-round selections and analysis
Draft experts loved the pick and gave the Bills straight A's:
CBS Sports
Enormous human being who actually plays with more foot quickness than his size would indicate. Masher in one-on-one scenarios. Must utilize his length better at next level but already very good anchoring skill. More help for Josh Allen is smart for Buffalo.
Grade: A
SB Nation
This is a nice spot to get Torrence, as he had a real shot at going in the first round. His athleticism is somewhat average, but his size and strength will win the day more often than not.
Grade: A
Sporting News
The Bills make up for their questionable first-round offensive pick of tight end Dalton Kincaid by getting the much-needed powerful road grader for their running game as a needed upgrade over the “other” Connor McGovern.
Grade: A+
Sports Illustrated
General manager Brandon Beane should take a bow. After landing great value with tight end Dalton Kincaid in the first round, Beane found Torrence to beef up the interior of his offensive line a full round after many thought he’d be gone. The Bills are having one of the league’s best drafts.
Grade: A
Fox Sports
Big, physical and nasty, Torrence followed his head coach, Billy Napier, to Florida from Louisiana and starred in 2022, dominating the SEC's line of scrimmage with his girth and power, just as he did in the Sun Belt.
Pro Football Focus
Like the Giants just a few picks ago, this could have easily been the Bills’ first-round pick. A mountain of a man at the position, he can still move better than his size would suggest. After starting his career at Louisiana, he made the move to the SEC with ease, finishing 2022 with an 89.9 PFF run-blocking grade, which was the best in the Power Five last season.
Grade: Elite
Bleacher Report
Two types of blocking schemes exist: zone and man (gap) principles. All teams employ both, though they're often more reliant on one more than the other. An understanding of the system helps in the evaluation and fit for a prospect.
In the case of Florida's O'Cyrus Torrence, he's a mauler. He's not going to be the most athletic option, though he can excel in simple zone schemes. The 6'5", 330-pound guard is an old-school bulldozer with the size and power to consistently win at the point of attack.
Interestingly, Torrence started his career with the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns before transferring to Florida. While there, he became the best blocker for an SEC program and a first-team all-conference performer.
Immediate adjustments are important when making the leap to the professional ranks. Torrence told reporters when asked about the transfer:
"It showed teams that I could switch and be in a different environment and also compete at a higher level. But also be able to flip the switch faster, being able to get to know new people, new teammates and being able to get comfortable in a new spot and being able to still perform under a lot of pressure in a different area that I'm maybe not used to. I feel like it helped out a lot."
An argument can be made in Torrence's favor as the class' best pure guard prospect. His size and power immediately bring a different dynamic to the Buffalo Bills offense. The team needs to make sure Josh Allen is properly protected, and Torrence immediately solidifies the interior.
Grade: A
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills expert draft grades for 2nd round pick O'Cyrus Torrence
