Rookie Lineman Makes Strong Case for Bills' Roster Spot

When the Buffalo Bills selected Tylan Grable in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, it was clear the pick was geared toward the future rather than immediate impact. The 6’5”, 306-pound offensive tackle, coming off a strong season at UCF where he allowed zero sacks, was recognized for his athleticism and coordination, though he lacked refinement and technicality. These areas of needed development were evident in his early preseason performances.

Grable’s initial outing against the Chicago Bears in Week 1 of the preseason highlighted his need for more power in his punches and better placement. He also struggled with lunging in both pass protection and the run game, showing inconsistency in his set angles. However, the rookie tackle took those lessons to heart and steadily improved from Week 1 to Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and capped it off with his best performance in the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers .

In the matchup against the Panthers, Grable delivered what was arguably his most technically sound performance of the preseason. He effectively utilized a “snatch and trap” technique on several plays—a maneuver that requires precise hand usage, placement, and timing. This technique involves disrupting a defender’s balance by chopping at their wrist, forearm, or elbow, then collapsing them to the ground after breaking contact.

For a rookie known to need development, executing this move cleanly multiple times is a strong indication that the teachings of Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer are starting to take hold.

Related: Could Samuel and Valdes-Scantling Be Ready for Week 1?

While Grable’s performance wasn’t flawless, and there remains room for improvement in his technique and processing, his display of technical growth combined with his natural athleticism could be enough to secure him a spot on the Bills’ 53-man roster.