Below is my 10th annual NFL mock draft on buffalobills.com. This is my first in which the Bills do not have a first-round pick, so at the bottom I made sure to include my choice for Buffalo in round two with the No. 50 selection. This is how I believe things could play out in round one on Thursday night before the Bills pick in round two on Friday.
While I do expect there to be some movement again this year in the top half of round one, I'm not going to predict trades. My mock draft should serve to provide a better feel for what other teams will be looking to address in terms of position need.
Enjoy the draft, Bills fans, and follow our wall-to-wall draft coverage at buffalobills.com!
Team |
Top 3 Needs |
Possible Selections |
| 1. Tampa Bay | QB, OL, DT | Top choice: QB Jameis Winston - Florida St. |
| QB Marcus Mariota - Oregon | ||
| The Bucs have interviewed more than 100 people connected to Winston's past. They're sold on him. | ||
| 2. Tennessee | QB, DL, OL | Top choice: QB Marcus Mariota - Oregon |
| DL Leonard Williams - USC | ||
| Many think Mariota isn't a fit for Ken Whisenhunt's offense. Titans will try move out of this pick. | ||
| 3. Jacksonville | RB, LB, C | Top choice: DL Leonard Williams - USC |
| OLB Dante Fowler - Florida | ||
| The Jags will be tempted to take the pass rusher in Fowler, but Williams is the best on the board and more versatile. | ||
| 4. Oakland | WR, DL, DB | Top choice: WR Amari Cooper - Alabama |
| OLB Dante Fowler - Florida | ||
| The Raiders need reinforcements for their defensive line, but weapons on offense for Derek Carr is the more pressing need. | ||
| 5. Washington | OLB, ILB, OL | Top choice: OLB Dante Fowler - Florida |
| OL Brandon Scherff - Iowa | ||
| Washington wants to move out of this spot, but if they stay here Fowler is a good answer for the Brian Orakpo vacancy. | ||
| 6. NY Jets | OL, OLB, RB | Top choice: WR Kevin White - West Virginia |
| OT Andrus Peat - Stanford | ||
| The value doesn't match New York's positional needs, but White is the best on the board at this spot. | ||
| 7. Chicago | OL, DL, S | Top choice: OL Brandon Scherff - Iowa |
| DE Arik Armstead - Oregon | ||
| The lack of an elite OT in the draft hurts, but Scherff is a likely pick unless they're high on Armstead. | ||
| 8. Atlanta | OL, RB, OLB | Top choice: OLB Vic Beasley - Clemson |
| DE Arik Armstead - Oregon | ||
| The Falcons have to beef up their pass rush and Beasley is cleaner than Shane Ray or Randy Gregory. | ||
| 9. NY Giants | OL, DE, CB | Top choice: OT Andrus Peat - Stanford |
| OT Ereck Flowers - Miami | ||
| The Giants need to improve their 23rd ranked run game and Peat comes from a power offense that excels at run blocking | ||
| 10. St. Louis | OL, CB, DT | Top choice: CB Trae Waynes - Michigan State |
| OT Ereck Flowers - Miami | ||
| The Rams could easily go OT if they like Flowers enough. I just think Waynes is higher on their board. | ||
| 11. Minnesota | CB, RB, LB | Top choice: DE Arik Armstead - Oregon |
| WR DeVante Parker - Louisville | ||
| If Waynes is off the board, Vikes may look to move back and land the best RB on board, but best option here is a DE. | ||
| 12. Cleveland | QB, WR, DT | Top choice: WR DeVante Parker - Louisville |
| DT Danny Shelton - Washington | ||
| The Browns bolstered their DL signing FA DT Randy Starks. That allows them to land a No. 1 WR | ||
| 13. New Orleans | OL, DT, LB | Top choice: DT Danny Shelton - Washington |
| OT La'el Collins - LSU | ||
| The Saints need help on both lines, but Shelton is an easy choice to fortify the NFL's 29th ranked run defense. | ||
| 14. Miami | DE, OLB, CB | Top choice: DE Bud Dupree - Kentucky |
| CB Kevin Johnson - Wake Forest | ||
| Cameron Wake is 33-years old. A replacement pass rusher must be brought in with Dion Jordan not the answer. | ||
| 15. San Francisco | OL, LB, CB | Top choice: CB Kevin Johnson - Wake Forest |
| DT Malcom Brown - Texas | ||
| The 49ers will wait on the right value for fits at their holes on offensive line and at linebacker. | ||
| 16. Houston | WR, ILB, OL | Top choice: WR Breshad Perriman - Central Florida |
| OL La'el Collins - LSU | ||
| The Texans signed Cecil Shorts, but Perriman has potential to create special combo with DeAndre Hopkins. | ||
| 17. San Diego | RB, OLB, WR | Top choice: DT Malcom Brown - Texas |
| RB Todd Gurley - Georgia | ||
| Getting the top back in the draft will be tempting, but the Chargers need to fix their 26th ranked run defense | ||
| 18. Kansas City | WR, DL, LB | Top choice: WR Jaelen Strong - Arizona St. |
| DT Eddie Goldman - Florida State | ||
| The Chiefs desperately need an answer outside for their passing game. Strong is the big, physical presence they need. | ||
| 19. Cleveland | QB, DT | Top choice: DT Eddie Goldman - Florida St. |
| RB Todd Gurley - Georgia | ||
| After addressing their receiver position they go defense to strengthen their run front. | ||
| 20. Philadelphia | G, S, WR | Top choice: SS Landon Collins - Alabama |
| OT La'el Collins - LSU | ||
| The Eagles need a hitter at safety and Collins offers versatility to play subpackage LB. | ||
| 21. Cincinnati | G, OT, LB | Top choice: OT La'el Collins - LSU |
| CB Marcus Peters - Washington | ||
| There are more pressing needs like a pass rusher to pair with Michael Johnson, but best on the board have drug issues. | ||
| 22. Pittsburgh | DB, LB, OL | Top choice: CB Byron Jones - UCONN |
| OT Ereck Flowers - Miami | ||
| A pass rusher would be great here, but Pittsburgh isn't taking Shane Ray or Randy Gregory. Not the Rooney's style. | ||
| 23. Detroit | RB, OL, DT | Top choice: RB Todd Gurley - Georgia |
| OT Ereck Flowers - Miami | ||
| The Lions just can't pass up the chance to land the most dynamic back in the draft. | ||
| 24. Arizona | RB, LB, CB | Top choice: RB Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin |
| CB Marcus Peters - Washington | ||
| The Cardinals need a back that can be a bellcow. Gordon fits the bill. | ||
| 25. Carolina | OT, WR, DL | Top choice: OT Ereck Flowers - Miami |
| WR Devin Smith - Ohio State | ||
| The could go tackle or receiver here, but Cam Newton's blind side needs protection first and foremost. | ||
| 26. Baltimore | CB, WR, DL | Top choice: WR Devin Smith - Ohio State |
| OT D.J. Humphries - Florida | ||
| The Ravens have some holes to fill, but the best deep threat in the draft pairs well with Flacco's arm. | ||
| 27. Dallas | RB, DL, CB | Top choice: CB Marcus Peters - Washington |
| LB Eric Kendricks - UCLA | ||
| Dallas will miss out on the running back run with the clubs in front of them. A CB, even with baggage, works here. | ||
| 28. Denver | OL, DL, S | Top choice: OL Cameron Erving - Florida State |
| OT D.J. Humphries - Florida | ||
| Based on the value left on the board, offensive line makes the most sense for a team in need of help inside. | ||
| 29. Indianapolis | OT, DE, CB | Top choice: OT D.J. Humphries - Florida |
| OT T.J. Clemmings - Pitt | ||
| Andrew Luck hid a suspect offensive line last season. It's time to pay him back with better protection. | ||
| 30. Green Bay | OT, DL, CB | Top choice: CB Jalen Collins - LSU |
| OT T.J. Clemmings - Pitt | ||
| The Packers lost both Tramon Williams and Davon House from their secondary. The back end needs help. | ||
| 31. New Orleans | OL, LB | Top choice: OT T.J. Clemmings - Pitt |
| OLB Eli Harold - Virginia | ||
| Zach Strief is in the twilight of his career. Clemmings would be a solid heir apparent at right tackle. | ||
| 32. New England | DL, CB, WR | Top choice: DE Preston Smith - Mississippi State |
| OLB Randy Gregory - Nebraska | ||
| As tempting as the value is for Gregory, they go with the safer pick and get more versatility in Smith. | ||
ROUND 2 - BILLS PICK AT 50 | ||
| 50. Buffalo | OL, LB, TE | Top choice: OT Donovan Smith - Penn State |
| DE/OLB Nate Orchard - Utah | ||
| Buffalo has just three OT on their roster. Smith can push Henderson and Kouandjio for a starting job. | ||
