Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on Buffalo Bills No. 59 Reggie Ragland

If you’re reading this, chances are that you’re a huge NFL fan. Well as each day goes by, we get closer and closer to Kickoff 2016. Today, 59 days away from that Thursday night, let’s look at No. 59 for the Buffalo Bills rookie linebacker Reggie Ragland.

Here at NFLSpinZone.com, we started our Countdown to Kickoff series with a look at the newest San Diego Chargers defensive end in No. 99 Joey Bosa, and we’ve profiled one player everyday since (find all of the profile’s here).

With less than nine weeks to go until the NFL’s annual Thursday night kickoff, we’re inching ever closer to the start of the season. Today we’re going to profile number 59 for the Buffalo Bills, – rookie linebacker Reggie Ragland.

Related Story: Player Profile: Bills No. 77 Cordy Glenn

In 2015, Football Outsiders ranked the Bills’ defense 24th overall, while their run defense was ranked 30th.

Judging simply by the numbers, the Bills only gave up the 16th most rushing yards in the league, but they ranked 25th in rushing yards allowed per attempt.

Those stats were from a team that included defensive end Mario Williams and linebacker Nigel Bradham, now both of those players are elsewhere.

So going into the 2016 NFL draft, it was clear that the Bills needed to address their defense.

After an unpredictable first round, the Bills were ecstatic to find Clemson defensive end/outside linebacker Shaq  Lawson available at 19 overall. “We never thought he’d drop to us at 19” Doug Whaley told the Buffalo News after the round one concluded in late April.

Lawson fell right into the Bills’ lap, but if he hadn’t, Buffalo had another player targeted. Even more, that player ended up being available on day two of the draft.

Seeing a first round target available on day two, Whaley started working the phones, in an attempt to acquire an earlier second round pick. The Bills, originally sitting at the 49th pick, managed to make their way to 41 in order to take their guy Ragland.

Ragland has been compared to New York Jets’ linebacker David Harris, who played an integral role in the Jets’ journey to back-to-back AFC Championship games in 2009 and 2010 .

This is what NFL.com Draft Analyst, Lance Zierlein, had to say about Ragland prior the the 2016 draft:

"Thumping inside linebacker with throwback size and tone­setting mentality. Ragland is a confident and capable early starter in league who has the temperament to become one of the premier run­-stopping inside linebackers in the pro game. Ragland has some coverage and speed limitations, but his instincts and overall awareness should be able to mask those issues."

Ragland’s strength defending the run was widely reported by draftniks prior to the draft but Doug Whaley’s insistence that Ragland can be a force at both Mike and Will linebacker positions for Buffalo is somewhat surprising.

Bills fans have to go back to Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher to remember a time when they had a truly elite linebacker.

More nfl spin zone: Player Profile: Bills No. 64 Richie Incognito

It remains to be seen if Reggie Ragland will become a dominant linebacker for Rex Ryan like David Harris was in New York but if he can, this pick may be the one that can turn the Bills playoff drought into a distant memory.