Bills trade down, pick CB White

Bills rookie head coach Sean McDermott filled a need in Buffalo’s backfield and added two valuable picks in overseeing his first NFL draft.

In using the 27th pick to select LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White on Thursday, McDermott also believes he addressed the issue of character he’s been attempting to instill in what had been an undisciplined team in the three months since replacing Rex Ryan.

McDermott noted White’s background as a high school valedictorian and team leader at LSU. Over the past two seasons, White wore No. 18, which is awarded to the Tigers player who best exemplifies the program on and off the field since 2003.

“There’s a lot of unknowns in the draft, there’s a lot of unknowns in life in general. And so you try to close that gap as much as much as you can,” McDermott said. “And certainly with the character in this case that Tre’Davious White has, we felt good about that person off the field.” White can also play. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, he was a three-plus-year starter who finished with six interceptions in 48 games. He showed a capability of playing both inside and outside positions, and had added versatility as a punt returner.

The Bills had such confidence in the 22-yearold White that they took the calculated risk of passing up a shot to select Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore with the 10th pick and instead move down 17 spots in making a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. In exchange, Buffalo acquired the Chiefs’ thirdround pick, 91st overall, and their first-round pick next year.

For McDermott, the trade addressed a shortterm goal in allowing Buffalo to increase its number of selections to eight in this year’s draft. And it filled a longerterm objective in providing the Bills two firstround picks next year, which could prove to be valuable assets.