After a long wait to start the third day of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills stayed at their selection and picked yet another player at a position of need. With the 163rd selection, the Bills used it on Boston College linebacker Matt Milano.
A 6-foot, 223-pound linebacker, Milano appeared in a total of 50 games at Boston College and was named the team's Most Valuable Player in 2016. He was also named as an honorable mention to the All-ACC team this past season.
Milano had a total of 140 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, six passed defensed, two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, one interception, and 14 sacks over the course of his college career.
Joe B's Take
With their fourth total selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Bills selected a player in Milano that can ideally cross off a few boxes for head coach Sean McDermott.
Listed as a linebacker, his size indicates his likely fit at that level of the defense is at weakside linebacker. Although he has taken some reps as a safety in college, Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that Milano would play linebacker for the Bills.
When watching him play, you could see a player that feels very comfortable in space and moves fairly well, but even though he's a quick mover, he can get caught in coverage with a little bit of tightness. He is, however, an explosive player that can help bridge the gap in some coverage woes he may have.
Against the run, he has longer arms for his height, and when he gets them fully extended against a blocker he has the strength to disengage and get back in the play. He does show the tendency to let defenders get in his pads, though, which will challenge him in the NFL.
Special teams will be everything to Milano if he wants to make the roster outright in 2017. He's been a strong participant in that phase of the game in his past, and it will be vital to his success early on in his career.
Could he challenge Ramon Humber to be the starting weakside linebacker?
I think it might be a stretch and the Bills might favor experience, but the opportunity will be there for someone to grab the starting job. It certainly isn't set in stone.
