2021 NFL Draft day is here and some of the best in the business are drying the ink on their final mock drafts in anticipation of Thursday night’s first-round picks. The Buffalo Bills have long been a head-scratcher to pick for with a limited amount of needs and a back end of the first round selection to add for even more difficulty. Long-time ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper tabbed his final mock draft with a corner you don’t often see mocked into the first round.
Pick 30: Tyson Campbell, CB, Georgia
Kiper’s take: “I thought hard about putting a third first-round running back here—North Carolina’s Javonte Williams would be the guy—but Buffalo also has to get some help at corner. Asante Samuel Jr. could be in consideration too.”
Max’s take: Campbell is a very traits-based former five-star who brings length and athleticism to the table. Campbell’s biggest weakness is finding the football in the air. If the Bills get that piece patched up, he could be a super high-end CB2 in this defense.
Other players selected ahead of the Bills
17 - LB/S Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
18 - EDGE Kwity Paye
21 - EDGE Jaelan Phillips
22 - CB Greg Newsome
23 - RB Najee Harris
24 - RB Travis Etienne
28 - CB Caleb Farley
Overall
This isn’t the most favorable board for the Bills who miss out on a recent buzz name in Etienne at running back and the corners don’t fall to them. There are some pretty enticing names available at edge rusher in this mock with Jayson Oweh, Joe Tryon, and Azeez Ojulari remaining on the board. Peter King of NBC Sports recently mentioned a common first-round selection in Ojulari possibly slipping due to knee concerns. If Campbell is the pick at 30, it’s a bet on traits at the position by the organization. Asante Samuel Jr., while undersized, is an intriguing name to keep an eye on due to head coach Sean McDermott’s ties to his father whom he coached as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles.