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!
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. |
|
| 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. |