Mock Draft Roundup
I used to be a big fan of mock drafts. Over the past few years, that passion has waned with the oversaturation of every NFL analyst feeling the need to contribute (see below). Because of that, I chose to conduct two mock drafts: one without any Bills trades and one with. I also wanted to do them as close to the actual draft as possible to gain a more accurate picture. I used ESPN’s NFL Draft Simulator after testing a few other simulators and found this one to be the most up-to-date, with accurate player rankings, and it wasn’t behind a paywall (PFF). Let’s see how I did with my GM hat on.
Mock Draft No Trades
Bills Banter Mock Draft No Trades Results
I am a big fan of Kenneth Grant, so picking him was an easy choice, although I don’t expect he will be available at 30 when the actual draft takes place. I chose Grant over Trey Amos and Walter Nolen, who I would be happy to have, but I value Grant more. I have moved off of my Round 1 CB target slightly because of the recent Tre'Davious White signing. He is going to get every opportunity to start, and I believe he would beat out (this season) most of the cornerbacks the Bills would be choosing from at 30. My aim with my first seven picks was defense. I double dipped on DT and CB, the two most prominent positions of need, in my opinion. Adding an EDGE rusher, as well as a safety and a wide receiver to develop, was another priority of mine, given how the board fell. I could have added more EDGE rushers who were graded higher than my picks at 132 and beyond, but they most likely wouldn’t be able to make the roster.
My key takeaway from this was that I do not believe Buffalo will make their first-round pick at 30. The one positive to having all ten draft picks is that I was able to add some players later on at positions that the Bills need to address but are not their top priorities: a developmental interior offensive lineman, a depth linebacker, and a potential TE3. In reality, the Bills will not be able to roster ten draft picks, as Brandon Beane himself has said. Buffalo will need to make trades and prioritize quality over quantity.
Mock Draft With Trades
Bills Banter Mock Draft w/Trades Results
I decided to make one trade, and I made it right when the draft started after the New York Giants picked. I wanted to make four picks in the top 100 and acquire the 3rd round pick that the Bills don’t currently have. The Giants and Saints were the two teams I considered in this scenario. It also allowed me to immediately reduce my total selections from 10 to 7, so I knew what I had to use for the rest of the draft.
Again, Kenneth Grant was available, which I do not believe will be the case in the real draft, but I wasn’t going to pass. I selected a field stretcher in Jayden Higgins, who I think is a dark horse for the Bills in Round 1 if the board falls a certain way. Darien Porter is a CB with a lot of potential that wouldn’t need to start right away, and Joshua Farmer was a value pick, but I also feel the Bills need to double dip at the defensive tackle position. After that, I went for value at positions of need in EDGE and LB.
I believe seven picks is the path to take this year. Buffalo made ten selections last year, with eight of them making the 53-man roster. The Bills’ roster today is much better than it was heading into the draft last year, so it only makes sense to focus on the quality of the players over bringing in more bodies.
Nationwide Mock Drafts
Alaina Getzenberg NFL Nation Reporters ESPN - Bills select DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan at pick 30.
Bucky Brooks NFL - Bills select DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan at pick 30.
Chad Reuter NFL - Bills trade up with Minnesota and take EDGE Mike Green, Marshall at pick 24. DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio St, and WR Savion Williams, TCU, in round 2.
Charles Davis NFL - Bills select CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky at pick 30.
Chris Collinsworth PFF - Bills select EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee at pick 30.
Chris Simms NBC Sports - Bills select CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina at pick 30.
Chris Trapasso CBS Sports - Bills select DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan at pick 30.
Daniel Flick Sports Illustrated - Bills select CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss at pick 30.
Danny Kelly The Ringer - Bills select CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss at pick 30.
Eric Edholm NFL - Bills select CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss at pick 30.
Henry McKenna “Chaos” Mock Draft Fox Sports - Bills select OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio St at pick 30.
Jay Skurski Buffalo News - Bills select DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan at pick 30.
Joel Klatt Fox Sports - Bills select DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon at pick 30.
Mason Cameron PFF - Bills select CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss at pick 30.
Mel Kiper ESPN - Bills select CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky at pick 30. DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio St, and S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, in round 2.
Nate Davis USA Today - Bills trade out of pick with Chicago Bears. Bears select RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio St.
Pete Prisco CBS Sports - Bills select CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina at pick 30.
Peter Schrager ESPN - Bills select S Malaki Starks, Georgia at pick 30.
Rob Rang Fox Sports - Bills select S Malaki Starks, Georgia at pick 30.
Todd McShay The Ringer - Bills select CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina at pick 30.
Mock Drafts Summary
One out of the twenty nationwide mock drafts I reviewed had Buffalo selecting an offensive player, specifically a Guard.
A CB was mocked to the Bills 9 times (Amos - 4, Revel Jr. - 3, Hairston - 2 )
A DT was mocked to the Bills 5 times (Grant - 4, Harmon - 1)
A Safety was mocked to the Bills twice, both being Malaki Starks
I only saw one draft with the Bills trading up, and one with them trading out of the first round. Details on the trades were not included.
