Mocking The Bills: What if Buffalo trades out of the first round?

If you’ve been following Mocking The Bills each week, you know that i’ve been presenting different scenarios each installment. The draft is still months away, and this gives me an idea of how each of these instances could play out for general manager Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills.

This week I have the Bills trading completely out of the first round, as the Carolina Panthers traded up to pick 22 to select quarterback Jordan Love. The specifics of the trade are below, with some rationale to follow:

• The Buffalo Bills receive picks 38 (second round) and 69 (third round) from the Carolina Panthers
• The Carolina Panthers receive picks 22 (first round) and 169 (sixth round) from the Bills.

In 2019 the Atlanta Falcons moved up from pick 45 to number 31 by making a trade with the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams included pick 79 to move up, and received a sixth-round pick from Atlanta. Draft trade values are always helpful, but I prefer to use real-life examples as a basis for the conversation.

In full disclosure, I do not love the idea of trading down this far. The top four wide receivers were off the board, with Yetur Gross-Matos as the player I was most likely to draft. The players drafted could all help the Bills in 2020, but it lacks any sense of excitement in adding an immediate difference maker in my opinion.

This mock draft was once again conducted using the mock draft simulator from The Draft Network.

Second Round - Pick 38 - Tee Higgins - WR, Clemson

Drafting Higgins adds a big-bodied receiver to the Bills’ offense, standing 6’4” and weighing in at 215 lbs. Higgins has plenty of upside, and just celebrated his 21st birthday after a productive junior season at Clemson. Joining the Bills could be an ideal situation for Higgins, as being a third option behind John Brown and Cole Beasley could give him additional time to develop early in his rookie year.

Second Round - Pick 54 - Cameron Dantzler - CB, Mississippi State

The Bills look to make an upgrade at cornerback this week with the selection of Dantzler. The top-rated corner left on the board, the 6’2” Dantzler adds size across from Tre’Davious White. While I am not convinced that the Bills will look to re-sign Kevin Johnson, adding a second-round corner adds some competition for Levi Wallace.

Third Round - Pick 69 - Denzel Mims - WR, Baylor

With the addition of Higgins and the 6’3” Mims, I do not think anyone will call the Bills receivers the Smurfs much longer. The Baylor product is known for his catch radius and jump-ball skills, and would add talent and depth to the receiving corps.

Third Round - Pick 86 - Cam Akers - RB, Florida State

This is not the first time I have mocked Akers to the Bills, and it likely will not be the last. Buffalo is in need of a more physical back to pair with Devin Singletary, and this duo could provide the necessary 1-2 punch this season.

Fourth Round - Pick 118 - Alton Robinson - EDGE, Syracuse

Waiting until the fourth round to draft a defensive end was not ideal in this mock, and in retrospect I should have addressed the position sooner. Robinson is not a bad consolation prize in the fourth round, as a rotational player who could have an impact as a pass-rush specialist.

Be sure to share your thoughts, and your mock draft picks, in the comments section below.