The Buffalo Bills elect to bolster the defensive line for the second time in the 2021 NFL Draft with the selection of defensive end Carlos “Boogie” Basham Jr out of Wake Forest.
This pick comes after the Bills selected defensive end Greg Rousseau with the 30th overall selection in the first round of the NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-3, 274-pound edge rusher has a ton of experience playing for the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest. In four years playing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Basham Jr. notched 20.5 sacks, 173 tackles, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 45 games.
Basham made quite an impact in 2020. Basham registered five sacks and 28 tackles in the 2020 season. His most notable game came against Clemson where he notched two tackles, a pass defended, and one sack of No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Trevor Lawrence.
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein projects Basham Jr. to as a marquee run-stopper of the edge in the NFL.
“[Basham Jr.] is a three-year starter at defensive end with burly frame, heavy hands and an ability to take on physical rigors of the NFL,” Zierlein said. “His rush attack is more technical and explosive, using active hands, spin counters and a thoughtful approach. His lack of suddenness and edge speed could get him pegged as an early-down end while moving inside to become an interior rusher on passing downs. He needs to become comfortable handling the heavy lifting as a run defender, as he's much more likely to be a worker bee than playmaker in that regard. He's strong and plays heavy at the point of attack with leverage to sit down and battle for his space of turf. He's unlikely to produce headline-making production, but should be a good pro.”
Basham Jr. joins a defensive end group that includes Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, A.J. Epenesa, Efe Obada and Rousseau, among others.
Where’d Basham Jr. get the nickname “Boogie,” you ask? According to Chad Reuter of NFL.com, it came as a result of his childhood love of dancing.
The Bills' next draft pick comes with the 93rd overall pick in the third round.