Buffalo Bills Officially Host Florida State RB for Draft Visit

Florida State running back Trey Benson posted a picture from the Buffalo Bills' facility, revealing that his pre-draft visit has officially occurred.

Florida State Seminoles running back Trey Benson (3) makes his way down the field. The Florida State / Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA

The Buffalo Bills grew frustrated with running back James Cook early in 2023. Fumbling concerns paired with troubling inconsistencies between the tackless to make a mess of Buffalo’s backfield, and the mounting losses only added more pressure.

The Bills would catch fire, though, finishing the season winning six of seven. Cook, after fumbling twice against the Denver Broncos, stepped up to the occasion down the stretch. In the final seven games of the season, Cook averaged 72 rushing and 32 receiving yards per game, helping complement Josh Allen on the way to a division title.

Now Buffalo may look to optimize Cook by putting him in position to win – and getting him the ball in space – rather than relying on him for the lion’s share of the carries.

Dec 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Trey Benson (3) / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

To take the load off of Cook, the Bills could pick a back in the middle or late rounds of the NFL Draft.

On Monday, they took a step in that direction, hosting Florida State Seminoles running back Trey Benson on a top 30 visit, per the prospect’s Instagram.

Benson offers similar big-play ability to Cook thanks to his blend of size, speed, and proclivity for breaking tackles. In 2022, he forced the fifth-most missed tackles in the FBS – with 140 fewer carries than anyone ahead of him.

He also offers more size than Cook, weighing in at 216 pounds compared to Cook, who failed to crack 200 pounds during his pre-draft process. Thus, there’s reason to believe that Benson would take precedence in short-yardage situations, the red zone, and many between-the-tackles concepts. He scored 14 rushing touchdowns in his final collegiate season.

Benson’s 4.39-second 40-yard dash stands out at his size and helps showcase his ability to hit the home run. Like Cook, some fundamental mishaps are bound to rear their head, but explosive plays are imperative and his proficiency in that department should make him a worthwhile addition to most backfields.

At this point, the top few running backs in this class seem destined for the Round 2/3 turn. Thus, rolling the dice on one at No. 60 may give them the pick of the litter. Without a third-round pick, it’s possible the Bills trade back with one of their picks to accumulate more Day 2 dart throws, too.

Benson’s visit should simply be viewed as due diligence. He’s a potential target, and a strong fit at that, but with needs at more pressing, high-value positions, Buffalo may opt to ride Cook’s home stretch into next season and make him a true feature back.