NFL Draft: Bills Select Tulane LB Dorian Williams in Round 3

The Buffalo Bills are addressing the linebacker position towards the end of Day 2 by taking Tulane's Dorian Williams.

The Buffalo Bills are filling a big need with their third-round pick, selecting Tulane linebacker Dorian Williams with the No. 91 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

"Williams is a leader for Tulane’s defense who combines his high motor with a good closing burst, but he struggles to shed blocks and hasn’t mastered how to handle assignments in man coverage," SI Draft Bible writes.

After trading up to take Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid in the first round and selecting Florida guard O'Cyrus Torrence in the second, the Bills take their first defensive player of the draft class in Williams.

The Bills needed a linebacker after losing standout linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in free agency. Edmunds signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Chicago Bears, so replacing him with a developmental player should be on Buffalo's to-do list.

Williams may not be at Edmunds' caliber right away, but the Bills hope that he can develop under Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. The benefit that probably enticed the Bills with Williams' game is his ability to play multiple spots on the defense.

"Williams plays weakside linebacker for Tulane, but he has some experience filling other roles," SI Draft Bible writes. "Tulane will occasionally line Williams up along the line of scrimmage in a 7-tech role on third and long situations. He’s an experienced special teams player with roughly 700 snaps under his belt split between the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units."

The Bills are back on the clock tomorrow in the fifth round with pick No. 137. 

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