2015 NFL mock draft: Buffalo Bills Mock Draft 1.0

With less than two weeks to go before the 2015 NFL Draft, the time was right for our first mock draft of the year. Without a first-round pick, fans haven't been champing at the bit, so you didn't miss any. This mock is done in a "what I would do" fashion, rather than a "what I think the Buffalo Bills will do."

To do this mock, I used the Fanspeak On the Clock draft simulator. It allows me to run through a simulated draft based on a consensus big board from over a dozen rankings, without knowing which players will be drafted after each pick. The simulator doesn't allow me to make trades, so I'll only be operating with the six picks Buffalo has today. Let's see who we got!

50. Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest

When I made this pick, there were still several good options on the board, including Iowa's Carl Davis and UCLA's Brett Hundley. While I'd love to upgrade at quarterback, and there was some thought given to adding an immediate starter, I ultimately went with Johnson, who is one of my favorite cornerback prospects in this year's draft. He's long and athletic enough to play on the outside in Rex Ryan's defense, but his best trait is his outstanding awareness on the field, which helps him play an active role in run support and breaking up shorter passes. He gives the Bills a lot of depth in their secondary, and gives them flexibility when negotiating Leodis McKelvin and Stephon Gilmore's future contract details.

78. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

I can't really figure out why Hundley has been dropping down boards, but I was happy to see him on the board in the third round. In my opinion, he has more natural talent than either Bryce Petty or Garrett Grayson, and I don't buy the "project" label that's been applied to him. He's a pocket passer with athleticism who is capable of operating with a refined pocket presence. He's prone to occasional lapses in judgement, and wasn't allowed to make audibles in his offense, which led to unnecessary sacks and thrown-away passes. But his potential is first-rate, and I see a much better chance of him panning out than I did when EJ Manuel was a prospect.

156. Arie Kouandjio, OG, Alabama

In the fifth round, I continued sticking to my board, picking someone with a higher grade who also addressed one of the team's needs. The elder Kouandjio gets reunited with his brother in Buffalo, where he can develop his footwork as a backup. He has starter's upside, much like Cyril Richardson, Buffalo's 2014 fifth-round pick.

188. DeAndre Smelter, WR, Georgia Tech

Smelter is one of my sleeper receiver prospects in this draft. The 6'2", 226-pound receiver with huge hands is a punishing, physical receiver who does a great job of using his body to box out defenders for catches. He plays with great awareness, following the quarterback when the play breaks down and finding openings for extra yards after the catch. Factor in that he's an excellent run blocker, and there's a lot to like about him as a prospect. He's still raw in his route tree, coming from Georgia Tech's run-option offense. He's also coming off an ACL tear that will likely sideline him for most of the 2015 season. Still, if he can build his speed up again, this player looks like an intriguing option for Buffalo to add to their offense for the future.

194. Shaquille Riddick, ER, West Virginia

The Bills keep addressing their developmental depth in later rounds, adding the long, explosive Mountaineer. Riddick is nearly 6'6" and 245 pounds with great upfield burst, but not much power right now. He was a juco transfer to West Virginia, and played out of position as a five-technique defensive end in their 3-3-5 scheme. He needs to bulk up, and has a lot to develop in his pass rushing game, but the athletic upside is there. He gives the Bills depth with potential behind Jerry Hughes and Mario Williams.

234. Josh Robinson, RB, Mississippi State

With our last pick, we draft a small, powerful running back to add to our special teams and back up the other guys. Robinson is small, and packed together like a bowling ball. He has a relentless motor, and doesn't ever go down with the first hit. If he gets some space, he's capable of putting highlight-reel runs together. That being said, Robinson's burst isn't great, and he might have difficulty separating from defenders in the NFL. He's very one-dimensional as a back, but as an injury replacement for Boobie Dixon or Fred Jackson, he might come in handy.

With this draft, the Bills didn't emerge with any starters, but they became deeper and more talented. Johnson would push McKelvin in his rookie year, and should start by his second season. Hundley is an instant upgrade over Jeff Tuel, and could push for a starting job against Manuel and Matt Cassel with the potential to be a top-20 quarterback in the league. Kouandjio, Smelter, Riddick, and Robinson probably won't contribute as rookies, but each one has significant upside to work with. You can see the full results of the mock draft here. What would you think of this draft, Bills fans?