Latest Mel Kiper Jr. mock: Buffalo Bills draft linebacker, cornerback

We’re now less than a month away from the 2018 NFL Draft. As April 26th approaches, it seems that national draft analysts are less and less confident that the Buffalo Bills will be able to land a franchise quarterback, without further trading up in the first round. An inability to get into the top seven picks may prevent the team from taking one of Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, or Baker Mayfield. ESPN draft devotee Mel Kiper Jr.’s mock draft that came out Wednesday included such a scenario for the Bills. Instead of having the team “settle” for Lamar Jackson or Mason Rudolph, Kiper decided that the Bills should try to draft other needs instead.

12. Buffalo Bills

*Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

The Bills are trying to move up even more to draft a quarterback; four could be off the board by the time they select at 12, the pick they received from the Bengals in the trade for offensive tackle Cordy Glenn. So with no trades in my mock draft, I’m going with a need here, as Buffalo lost leading tackler Preston Brown in free agency and doesn’t have much depth at the position. I see Edmunds’ best fit as an inside linebacker in a 3-4, but there are teams that like him as an outside linebacker and edge rusher. The versatility is a plus, and he could play inside or outside in the Bills’ 4-3.

22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City Chiefs)

*Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

The Bills signed veteran Vontae Davis last month to start at corner opposite 2017 first-round pick Tre’Davious White, but it’s a one-year deal. This is a team desperately in need of quality depth in the secondary. Alexander was a new addition to my latest Big Board because of how he performed at the combine; he ran a 4.38 40 and his numbers in the drills ranked near the top of his class. At 5-foot-10, 196 pounds, Alexander is undersized, and he could play in the nickel.

Grif’s take:

With Kyle Williams coming back for one more year and the signing of Star Lotulelei, inside linebacker is now the Bills most glaring defensive need. Edmunds, despite not being the most cerebral or instinctual player at the position, may have the highest ceiling at the position in this year’s draft. His athleticism and versatility is truly rare and Edmunds could potentially become a top-ten linebacker in the NFL.

As Kiper notes, despite signing Vontae Davis, Buffalo still could use long-term stability at the cornerback position. Alexander is the type of physical, feisty corner that Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier seem to covet. Alexander would likely begin his Bills career at the third corner in the rotation, but would be able to grow into an outside starting corner role eventually.