WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 08: A.T. Perry #9 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons celebrates after catching a pass against the Army Black Knights in the first quarter at Truist Field on October 08, 2022 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
NFL Draft season is an exciting time for every team. It doesn’t matter if you lost in the Super Bowl or had the worst record in the league, everyone is starting fresh. New faces are ready to create new excitement. Whether you’ve listened to analysts or watched tape for the past few months, you’ve most likely been counting down the days until draft day. Well, it’s finally here.
For the Buffalo Bills, it’s a crucial day. Arguably the biggest draft for the franchise since 2018, and there’s a million directions they could go. It’ll depend on how the board looks and how willing the Bills are to move up or down. They have holes at many spots such as linebacker and offensive line depth. Will they draft best player available or by need?
While final touches are being made inside One Bills Drive, let’s take a final look at what the Bills draft could look like:
Pick No. 27: Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver, USC
The Bills added Deonte Harty and Trent Sherfield to the roster this offseason, and while they should be great pieces to the offense, the team should look to add at least one more weapon. Jordan Addison would be the perfect fit. He can play the slot and gets open on all three levels. A trio of Diggs-Davis-Addison would open up the field and be heaven for Josh Allen. The only issue: Addison could be gone by 27. He wasn’t taken by pick 27 in this scenario, and he’s the easy choice in the first round.
Pros:
- Excellent route runner on all levels; creates separation easily.
- Slippery with the ball in his hands.
- Nice footwork and releases with solid speed and balance.
Cons:
- Needs to build strength so he doesn’t get pushed around against press coverage.
- Down season in 2022 compared to 2021.
- Had some concentration drops at the University of Pittsburgh.
Pick No. 59: Keeanu Benton, Defensive Line, Wisconsin
The Bills currently have no interior defensive linemen under contract for the 2024 season so it’s a position they should be looking at. There are plenty of mid-to-late round options, but if Keeanu Benton falls to 59, he has to be the pick. The 309-pound Wisconsin product is a monster in the run game while improving his pass rush the past two seasons. He’s got the strength and power to get past any offensive lineman and could take on double teams to allow his fellow defensive linemen to get pressure.
Pros:
- Raw strength and excellent size.
- Good hands and absorbs contact with legs.
- Doesn’t get pushed around easily.
Cons:
- Needs to continue to improve pass rush.
- Doesn’t possess elite athleticism.
- Quickness off the ball is an area for improvement.
Pick No. 106 (From Indianapolis): A.T. Perry, Wide Receiver, Wake Forest
I know, I know… some of you might say, “why another receiver? They took Addison in round one.” Well, A.T. Perry was an underrated high school prospect, and now he’s an underrated draft prospect. At 6’3″, Perry provides size and a big catch radius. He has a basketball background that shows when he goes up to get the ball. While it’d make for a big receiving room in Buffalo, I believe Perry is worth it at this position in the draft as having too many weapons is never an issue.
Pros:
- Elite size and catch radius.
- Has the ability to make contested catches; gets in good position.
- Pure downfield receiver and touchdown machine.
Cons:
- Drops were an issue in college.
- Size makes it tough to maintain speed on cuts.
- Below-average run blocker.
Pick No. 130: Ivan Pace Jr., Linebacker, Cincinnati
It’s the fourth round and the biggest need still isn’t selected. While Pace isn’t a true middle linebacker, he can still be impactful. It appears the Bills are comfortable with their linebackers, but they should still add a body to the room. Ivan Pace Jr. has a knack for making plays and he makes up for the lack of coverage skills with a high motor. He can help the pass rush and finds the ball with incredible instincts. I’d love to see him learn from Matt Milano and I believe Sean McDermott could use him in a multitude of ways.
Pros:
- Incredible instincts rushing the passer and against the run.
- Knows when to counter with certain pass rush moves.
- Works off blockers well and finds the ball no matter where it is on the field.
Cons:
- Struggles in coverage.
- Shorter and lighter than the average linebacker.
- Not a pure middle linebacker.
Pick No. 137 (From Arizona): Andrew Vorhees, Guard, USC
It will be interesting to see where Andrew Vorhees lands since he recently tore his ACL at the NFL Draft Combine. He’s a very experienced player as he’s played over 3,000 snaps in his college career and that experience can help him be comfortable in any scheme. While he recovers from the injury, he could take time to learn and be mentally ready once fully healthy. It’s definitely a risk to take a player who is injured in the fifth round, but I believe Vorhees is worth it.
Pros:
- Versatile; played everywhere but center in college.
- Terrific size at 6’6″.
- Very consistent all throughout college.
Cons:
- Small arms could cause problems when defenders extend with longer arms.
- Tore ACL at draft combine.
- Pad level needs to improve at the next level.
Pick No. 138 (From Indianapolis): Olusegun Oluwatimi, Center, Michigan
Back-to-back offensive linemen in the fifth-round, and its another player with plenty of experience. Oluwatimi was a four-year starter at Michigan and helped lead them to two straight Joe Moore Awards (best offensive line in college football). He can be a future leader and learn from Mitch Morse, who is now 31-years old with past concussion problems. Olusegun would be a steal in the fifth round and two straight offensive linemen could leave the Bills with plenty of future options.
Pros:
- Great instincts from experience being the leader of the line.
- Very good power and drive.
- Active/quick hands in both pass protection and the run game.
Cons:
- Needs to improve his pad level; gets caught upright.
- Feet get caught planted and not moving.
- Speed and quickness is below-average.
Pick No. 167 (From Los Angeles): Payne Durham, Tight End, Purdue
With Dawson Knox under contract, the Bills already have their TE1 for the foreseeable future. However, they’ve been looking for their TE2 for a while. This is evident by the O.J. Howard signing last offseason and attempted usage of Quintin Morris. One of the most underrated players in this draft, Payne Durham won’t ‘wow’ you with his athleticism, but Durham could be a big body used in the red zone. If he can improve on strength, he could be a phenomenal blocker as well. In any other draft Durham would be picked earlier so getting him at this spot is amazing and he could be the TE2 behind Knox.
Pros:
- Boxes out defenders in the red zone; uses his size to his advantage.
- Solid impact blocking.
- Great hands and able to win contested catches.
Cons:
- Lacks speed to outrun defenders.
- Will need to add some strength at the NFL level.
- Athletically outmatched by many opponents.
Pick No. 189 (From Los Angeles): Keaton Mitchell, Halfback, East Carolina
While the Bills seem to have their backfield set for the 2023 season, they could look to add Keaton Mitchell late as insurance and for the future. He would be a great back for Allen in the passing game and is a home-run hitter. While his size is a concern, along with his blocking, Mitchell could become a solid depth back for the future. At this point in the draft, there aren’t many standouts and I believe he’s worth taking a chance on in case Hines or Cook go down with an injury.
Pros:
- Elite speed and agility; forces a lot of missed tackles.
- A threat in the receiving game.
- Always looking for the big play; 31 carries of 15+ yards.
Cons:
- 5’8″ and 179 lbs.
- Needs to improve physicality as a runner; tries to do too much sometimes.
- Doesn’t appear to be an every-down back.
