It’s pure madness. MADNESS I TELL YOU! For a long time I have done a full mock draft and outlined the Buffalo Bills picks. Last year my podcast co-host Nick and I translated that effort into a pod and prior to that, I took the first round and put it on the old Buffalo Bills Message Board for some lively discussion.
For the first time ever, all 255 picks are here for your consumption. For full explanations of many of the picks made, make sure to listen to this week’s Wednesday and Thursday episodes of “The Nick & Nolan Show” on the Buffalo Rumblings podcast network.
(Note: all trades were completed using approved compensation from the model in the mock draft simulator at TheDraftNetwork.com).
Let’s get after it folks:
ROUND 1
1. Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow QB LSU
2. Washington - Chase Young EDGE Ohio State
3. Detroit Lions - Jeffrey Okudah CB Ohio State
4. New York Giants - Isaiah Simmons LB Clemson
5. Miami Dolphins - Justin Herbert QB Oregon
6. Los Angeles Chargers - Tua Tagovailoa QB Alabama
7. Carolina Panthers - C.J. Henderson CB Florida
8. Arizona Cardinals - Javon Kinlaw IDL South Carolina
9. Jacksonville Jaguars - Derrick Brown IDL Auburn
10. Atlanta Falcons - K’Lavon Chaisson EDGE LSU (Atlanta trades 1/16 and 3/78 to Cleveland for 1/10)
11. New York Jets - Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama
12. Philadelphia Eagles - CeeDee Lamb WR Oklahoma (Philadelphia trades 1/21, 2/53 and 4/146 to Las Vegas for 1/12)
13. Denver Broncos - Henry Ruggs WR Alabama (Denver trades 1/15 and 4/118 to SF for 1/13)
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Andrew Thomas OT Georgia
15. San Francisco 49ers - Tristan Wirfs OT Iowa
16. Cleveland Browns - Mekhi Becton OT Louisville
17. Dallas Cowboys - Cesar Ruiz IOL Michigan
18. Miami - Jedrick Wills OT Alabama
19. Las Vegas Raiders - A.J. Terrell CB Clemson
20. Jacksonville - Kristian Fulton CB LSU
21. Las Vegas - Patrick Queen LB LSU
22. Minnesota Vikings - Jeff Gladny CB TCU
23. Indianapolis Colts - Jordan Love QB Utah State (Indianapolis trades 2/34, 4/122 and 6/193 to NE for 1/23)
24. New Orleans Saints - Justin Jefferson WR LSU
25. Minnesota Vikings - Denzel Mims WR Baylor
26. Miami - Xavier McKinney S Alabama
27. Seattle Seahawks - Yetur Gross-Matos EDGE Penn State
28. Baltimore Ravens - Kenneth Murray LB Oklahoma
29. New England Patriots - A.J. Epenesa EDGE Iowa (New England trades 2/34 and 5/172 to Tennessee to 1/29)
30. Green Bay Packers - Josh Jones OT Houston
31. San Francisco - Jaylon Johnson CB Utah
32. Kansas City Chiefs - DeAndre Swift RB Georgia
ROUND 2
33. Cincinnati - Ezra Cleveland OT Boise State
34. Tennessee Titans - Isaiah Wilson OT Georgia
35. Detroit - Marlon Davidson IDL Auburn
36. NYG - Austin Jackson OT USC
37. LAC - Noah Igbinoghene CB Auburn
38. New England - Zach Baun EDGE Wisconsin (Patriots trade 3/87, 3/98, 4/122 and 6/193 to Carolina for 2/38)
39. Miami - Jonathan Taylor RB Wisconsin
40. Houston Texans - Terrell Lewis EDGE Alabama
41. Cleveland - Grant Delpit S LSU
42. Jacksonville - Antoine Winfield Jr. S Minnesota
43. Chicago Bears - Trevon Diggs CB Alabama
44. Indianapolis - Jalen Reagor WR TCU
45. Tampa Bay - Clyde Edwards-Helaire RB LSU
46. Denver - Lloyd Cushenberry IOL LSU
47. Atlanta - Neville Gallimore IDL Oklahoma
48. NYJ - Damon Arnette CB Ohio State
49. Pittsburgh Steelers - Raekwon Davis, IDL, Alabama
50. Chicago - Jonah Jackson IOL Ohio State
51. Dallas - Kyle Dugger S Lenoir-Rhyne
52. LAR - Jeremy Chinn S Southern Illinois
53. Las Vegas - K.J. Hamler WR Penn State
54. Buffalo - Cam Akers RB Florida State
I’m not buying the T.J. Yeldon hype quite yet. General manager Brandon Beane said what kept Yeldon off the field last year was the “downhill” ability of Frank Gore, and Akers gives you that in a much more exciting package. Brandon Beane has brought up Christian McCaffrey as a “sleep good at night pick” when discussing his best draft picks ever. Here are CMC’s athletic measurements:
- 5’11”, 202 lbs
- 30 1/8 inch arm length
- 9 1/8 inch hand size
- 4.48 40 yard dash
- 4.22 20 yard shuttle
- 6.57 3 cone
- 37 1⁄2 inch vertical
- 10’1” broad jump
- 10 bench press reps of 225 lbs
- Here are the measurements for Cam Akers:
- 5’10”
- 217 lbs
- 30 5/8 inch arm length
- 9 inch hand size
- 4.47 40 yard dash
- 4.42 20 yard shuttle
- 35.5 inch vertical
- 10’2” broad jump
- 20 bench press reps of 225 lbs
I do have the Bills picking Cam Akers over J.K. Dobbins. I think the competitive spirit that Akers showed behind a bad offensive line this past year and his willingness to test this offseason while Dobbins chose to sit out might put them over the edge in the favor of Akers. He finds himself available at 54 and Beane/McDermott get the combo backfield they’ve been looking for since DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.
Although the acquisition of wide receiver Stefon Diggs has expectations high for Josh Allen, Beane and McDermott saw Cam Newton win the NFL MVP award while attempting 495 passes in 2015. Allen attempted 461 in 2019. I think there are deep-rooted run-game principles in this organization and I don’t think the Bills would be willing to pass on a prime example of the “touchdown maker” in whom they have already expressed a desire to field.
55. Baltimore - Brandon Aiyuk WR Arizona State
56. Miami - Josh Uche EDGE Michigan
57. LAR - Jordyn Brooks LB Texas Tech
58. Minnesota - Davon Hamilton IDL Ohio State
59. Seattle - Ross Blacklock IDL TCU
60. Baltimore - Justin Madubuike IDL Texas A&M
61. Tennessee - Cole Kmet TE Notre Dame
62. Green Bay - Michael Pittman Jr. WR USC
63. Miami - Laviska Shenault WR Colorado (Dolphins trade 3/70 6/185 and 7/227 to Kansas City for 2/63)
64. Seattle - Ashtyn Davis S California
ROUND 3
65. Cincinnati - Matt Hennessy IOL Temple
66. Buffalo - Curtis Weaver EDGE Boise State (Buffalo trades 3/86 and 5/167 to Washington for 3/66)
Curtis Weaver isn’t a fit for everyone. He has an unusual body type and his method of pass rushing doesn’t fit the bendy and explosive archetype that seems to permeate the pass-rushing tastes of the current NFL.
Good thing Sean McDermott has shown a propensity for players of Weaver’s type. Mario Addison and Charles Johnson both fit the Weaver mold of good athletes who are stockier and win with power and hand usage. Kony Ealy fit the mold as well. As a converted interior player, Weaver also has the inside/outside versatility that mirrors that of Quinton Jefferson. The EDGE room in Buffalo has only Darryl Johnson Jr. and Mike Love to look to for youth, and with Trent Murphy in the last year of his contract and a potential release candidate, the Bills prepare for the future with a player they jumped in front of Detroit to get.
67. Detroit - J.K. Dobbins RB Ohio State
68. NYJ - Lucas Niang OT TCU
69. Carolina - Chase Claypool WR Notre Dame
70. Kansas City - Willie Gay Jr. LB Mississippi State
71. LAC - Prince Tega Wanogho OT Auburn
72. Green Bay - Malik Harrison LB Ohio State (Green Bay trades 3/94, 5/175 and 7/242 to Arizona for 3/72)
73. Jacksonville - Jalen Hurts QB Oklahoma
74. Cleveland - Robert Hunt IOL Louisiana
75. Indianapolis - Adam Trautman TE Dayton
76. Tampa Bay - Donovan Peoples-Jones WR Michigan
77. Denver - Cameron Dantzler CB Mississippi State
78. Cleveland - Akeem Davis-Gaither LB Appalachian State
79. NYJ - Julian Okwara EDGE Notre Dame
80. Las Vegas - Terrell Burgess S Utah
81. Las Vegas - Jordan Elliott IDL Missouri
82. Dallas - Jonathan Greenard EDGE Florida
83. Denver - Matthew Peart OT UConn
84. LAR- Darell Taylor EDGE Tennessee
85. Detroit - Tee Higgins WR Clemson
86. Washington - Bryce Hall CB Virginia Tech
87. Carolina - Antonio Gibson RB Memphis
88. New Orleans - Darnay Holmes CB UCLA
89. Minnesota - Damien Lewis IOL LSU
90. Houston - Rashard Lawrence IDL LSU
91. Jacksonville - Jabari Zuniga EDGE Florida (Jacksonville trades 4/116 and 5/165 to Las Vegas for 3/91)
92. Baltimore - Saahdiq Charles OT LSU
93. Carolina - Logan Wilson LB Wyoming (Carolina trades 3/98 and 5/152 to Tennessee for 3/93 and 7/224)
94. Arizona - Ben Bartch OT St. John
95. Denver - Troy Dye LB Oregon
96. Kansas City - Amik Robertson CB Louisiana Tech
97. Cleveland - Bryan Edwards WR South Carolina
98. Tennessee - Troy Pride Jr. CB Notre Dame
99. NYG - Van Jefferson WR Florida
100. New England - Brycen Hopkins TE Purdue
101. Minnesota - Khalid Kareem EDGE Notre Dame (Minnesota trades 3/105 and 6/205 to Seattle for 3/101)
102. Pittsburgh - Bradlee Anae EDGE Utah
103. Philadelphia - K’Von Wallace S Clemson
104. LAR - Thaddeus Moss TE LSU
105. Seattle - Netane Muti IOL Fresno State
106. Baltimore - Alex Highsmith EDGE Charlotte
ROUND 4
107. Cincinnati - K.J. Hill WR Ohio State
108. Washington - Albert Okwuegbunam TE Missouri
109. Detroit - Kenny Willekes EDGE Michigan State
110. NYG - Alohi Gilman S Notre Dame
111. Houston - Nick Harris IOL Washington
112. LAC - Eno Benjamin RB Arizona State
113. Carolina - Larell Murchison IDL NC State
114. Arizona, Darnell Mooney WR Tulane
115. Jacksonville - Quartney Davis WR Texas A&M (Jacksonville trades 4/137 and 6/206 to Cleveland for 4/115)
116. Las Vegas - Jake Fromm QB Georgia
117. Tampa Bay - Jacob Eason QB Washington
118. San Francisco - Gabriel Davis WR UCF
119. Atlanta - Michael Ojemudia CB Iowa
120. NYJ - Rodrigo Blankenship K Georgia
121. Las Vegas - Tyler Biadasz IOL Wisconsin
122. Carolina - Logan Stenberg IOL Kentucky
123. Dallas - Reggie Robinson II CB Tulsa
124. Pittsburgh - Zach Moss RB Utah
125. New England - Lynn Bowden WR Kentucky
126. LAR - Shane Lemieux IOL Oregon
127. Philadelphia - Alton Robinson EDGE Syracuse
128. Buffalo - John Simpson IOL Clemson
I am of the opinion the Bills think Cody Ford is a tackle. They choose to provide competition for the spot next to him with this pick. Simpson is a long, powerful, and heavy-handed guard, fitting the mold the team has outlined with their previous offensive line acquisition. Heavy-footed and lacking in space doesn’t seem to be a problem for a team that doesn’t ask their linemen to do that much work in space. Jon Feliciano is in the last year of his contract, Spencer Long is on team options, and Daryl Williams and Evan Boehm are on one-year deals. Having a longer contract provides stability for 2021 while creating the competition on the OL that the Bills and OL coach Bobby Johnson crave.
129. Baltimore - Anthony McFarland RB Maryland
130. New Orleans - Evan Weaver LB California
131. Arizona - Jonathan Garvin EDGE Miami
132. Minnesota - Kenny Robinson S West Virginia
133. Seattle - Hakeem Adenji OT Kansas
134. Baltimore - Ben Bredeson IOL Michigan
135. Pittsburgh - Jack Driscoll OT Auburn
136. Green Bay - Nick Coe EDGE Auburn
137. Cleveland - Leki Fotu IDL Utah
138. Kansas City - McTelvin Agim IDL Arkansas
139. Tampa Bay - Anfernee Jennings EDGE Alabama
140. Jacksonville - Darrynton Evans RB Appalachian State
141. Miami - Josiah Scott CB Michigan State
142. Washington - Terence Steele OT Texas Tech
143. Atlanta - Joe Bachie Jr. LB Michigan State
144. Seattle - Devin Duvernay WR Texas
145. Miami - Michael Onwenu IOL Michigan (Miami trades 5/153 and 7/251 to Philadelphia for 4/145)
146. Las Vegas - Hunter Bryant TE Washington
ROUND 5
147. Cincinnati - Derrek Tuszka EDGE North Dakota State
148. Carolina - Josiah Deguara TE Cincinnati
149. New England - Markus Bailey LB Purdue (New England trades 6/195 6/204 and 6/213 to Detroit for 5/149 and 7/235)
150. NYG - Harrison Bryant TE Florida Atlantic
151. LAC - Collin Johnson WR Texas
152. Tennessee - Jason Strowbridge IDL North Carolina
153. Philadelphia - Harrison Hand CB Temple
154. Miami - David Woodward LB Utah State
155. Minnesota - Justin Strnad LB Wake Forest
156. San Francisco - James Lynch IDL Baylor
157. Baltimore - Devin Asiasi TE UCLA
158. NYJ - Davion Taylor LB Colorado
159. Las Vegas - Trevis Gipson EDGE Tulsa
160. Indianapolis - Tyler Bass K Georgia Southern
161. Tampa Bay - Kyle Murphy IOL Rhode Island
162. Washington - Tyre Phillips IOL Mississippi State
163. Chicago - James Morgan QB Florida International
164. Dallas - Braden Mann P Texas A&M
165. Las Vegas - James Proche WR SMU
166. Detroit - Brandon Jones S Texas
167. Washington - Isaiah Hodgins WR Oregon State
168. Philadelphia - Shaq Quarterman LB Miami
169. New Orleans - Khalil Davis IDL Nebraska
170. Jacksonville - Colby Parkinson TE Stanford
171. Houston - Javelin Guidry CB Utah
172. Tennessee - Malcolm Roach EDGE Texas
173. Miami - Isaiah Coulter WR Rhode Island
174. Tennessee - A.J. Dillon RB Boston College
175. Arizona - Jacob Phillips LB LSU
176. San Francisco - Ketih Ismael IOL San Diego State
177. Kansas City - Cameron Clark OT Charlotte
178. Denver - Broderick Washington Jr. IDL Texas Tech
179. Dallas - Dalton Keene TE Virginia Tech
ROUND 6
180. Cincinnati - Trajan Bandy CB Miami
181. Denver - Geno Stone S Iowa
182. Detroit - Anthony Gordon QB Washington State
183. NYG - D.J. Wonnum EDGE South Carolina
184. Carolina - J.R. Reed S Georgia
185. Kansas City - John Hightower WR Boise State
186. San Diego - Mykal Walker LB Fresno State
187. Cleveland - Lamical Perine RB Florida
188. Buffalo - Tanner Muse S Clemson
First-year special teams coach Heath Farwell’s unit was not up to snuff in 2019, and the Bills have given him some different faces to work with in 2020. Linebacker Tyler Matakevich was brought in to spearhead a group that will likely look quite different this year. Tanner Muse is an exceptional athlete who can contribute on teams immediately, but look out for him as a hedge against a Matt Milano departure in 2021; his run-and-chase abilities would serve him well as a weak-side linebacker in Sean McDermott’s scheme.
189. Jacksonville - Justin Herron OT Wake Forest
190. Philadelphia - Cole McDonald QB Hawaii
191. NYJ - Antonio Gandy-Golden WR Liberty
192. Green Bay - Javaris Davis CB Auburn
193. Carolina - Quintez Cephus WR Wisconsin
194. Tampa Bay - Lamar Jackson CB Nebraska
195. Detroit - Francis Bernard LB Utah
196. Chicago - Julian Blackmon S Utah
197. Indianapolis - Raekwon Williams IDL Michigan State
198. Pittsburgh - Solomon Kindley IOL Georgia
199. LAR - Madre Harper CB Southern Illinois
200. Chicago - Joshua Kelley RB UCLA
201. Minnesota - Ke’Shawn Vaughn RB Vanderbilt
202. Arizona - Dane Jackson CB Pittsburgh
203. New Orleans - Antoine Brooks S Maryland
204. Detroit - Alex Taylor OT South Carolina State
205. Seattle - Patrick Taylor Jr. RB Memphis
206. Cleveland - Essang Bassey CB Wake Forest
207. Buffalo - Jauan Jennings WR Tennessee
Another player who can walk off the bus and show his worth on special teams. Any Bills fans unfamiliar with Jennings will quickly become fans after watching some confirmation clips of him after this pick. Jennings is an absolute beast with the ball in his hands and his physicality and frame will allow him to compete for the WR4 spot and provide and completely different dynamic in the WR room that is currently populated with smaller separation receivers. He’s here on the board at this point because he ran a 4.72 40-yard dash and won’t be able to consistently separate on the outside, which limits his potential, but if special teams and WR4 is a win for a pick at 207, then a win this would be.
208. Green Bay - Bravvion Roy IDL Baylor
209. Green Bay - Charlie Taumoepeau TE Portland State
210. San Francisco - Tyrie Cleveland WR Florida
211. NYJ - Raymond Calais RB Louisiana
212. New England - Neville Clark CB UCF
213. Detroit - Yasir Durant IOL Missouri
214. Seattle - Dante Olsen LB Montana
ROUND 7
215. Cincinnati - Tyler Clark IDL Georgia
216. Washington - Myles Bryant CB Washington
217. San Francisco - Sewo Olonilua RB TCU
218. NYG - Kindle Vildor CB Georgia Southern
219. Minnesota - Trey Adams OT Washington
220. LAC- Jake Hanson IOL Oregon
221. Carolina - A.J. Green CB Oklahoma State
222. Arizona - Michael Turk P Arizona State
223. Jacksonville - Kalija Lipscomb WR Vanderbilt
224. Carolina - Colton McKivitz OT West Virginia
225. Baltimore - Kamren Curl CB Arkansas
226. Chicago - Binjimen Victor WR Ohio State
227. Kansas City - Charlie Heck OT North Carolina
228. Atlanta - DeeJay Dallas RB Miami
229. Washington - Darius Anderson RB TCU
230. New England - Dominik Eberle K Utah State
231. Dallas - Tyler Johnson WR Minnesota
232. Pittsburgh - Austin Mack WR Ohio State
233. Chicago - Trevon Hill EDGE Miami
234. LAR - Benito Jones IDL Ole Miss
235. New England - J.J. Taylor RB Arizona
236. Green Bay - Darron Daniels IDL Nebraska
237. Tennessee - Kevin Dotson IOL Louisiana
238. NYG - Michael Divinity Jr. EDGE LSU
239. Buffalo - Jaron Bryant CB Fresno State
I am not of the opinion that Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane are as concerned about CB2 as I am. Their history doesn’t show they believe in investing a ton of resources in the position opposite their main CB, but if you’re taking a player in the seventh round, having a 6’1” frame and being a fierce tackler are a good place to start. Bryant once blocked two field goals in one quarter, and his energy and competitiveness is exactly what you’re looking for in a late-round pick.
240. Houston - Jared Pinkney TE Vanderbilt
241. New England - Scott Frantz OT Kansas State
242. Arizona - Shyheim Carter S Alabama
243. Tennessee - Aaron Parker WR Rhode Island
244. Cleveland - Kendall Coleman DL Syracuse
245. San Francisco - Kamal Martin LB Minnesota
246. Miami - Joe Reed WR Virginia
247. NYG - Nate Stanley QB Iowa
248. Houston - Omar Bayless WR Arkansas State
249. Minnesota - Jake Luton QB Oregon State
250. Houston - Calvin Throckmorton OT LSU
251. Philadelphia - Darryl Williams IOL Mississippi State
252. Denver - Stephen Montez QB Colorado
253. Minnesota - Jeff Thomas WR Miami
254. Denver - Mike Danna EDGE Michigan
255. NYG - Rico Dowdle RB South Carolina