Below is my 8th annual NFL mock draft on Buffalobills.com. This is how I believe things could play out in round one Thursday night. This should help provide a better feel of 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 on Buffalobills.com/draft.
Try and predict the Bills pick yourself with the Draft Day Challenge!
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Team |
Top 3 Needs |
Possible Selections |
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1. Kansas City |
OL, LB, S |
Top choice:OT Luke Joeckel – Texas A&M |
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They franchised OT Branden Albert, but the Chiefs may move him on draft weekend for more picks. | ||
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2. Jacksonville |
DL, OL, DB |
Top choice:DT Sharrif Floyd - Florida |
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The Jags need help at cornerback, but this is just a bit too high to consider Milliner. | ||
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3. Oakland |
OL, CB, WR |
Top choice:OT Eric Fisher – Central Michigan |
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GM Reggie McKenzie has used free agency to overhaul the defense, so odds are his top pick addresses offense. | ||
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4. Philadelphia |
OT, WR, CB |
Top choice: QB Geno Smith – West Virginia |
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The Eagles will look long and hard at Milliner and Lane Johnson, but Chip Kelly wants his own signal caller to mold. | ||
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5. Detroit |
CB, OL, DE |
Top choice: DE Ziggy Ansah – BYU |
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The Lions get to address any one of their top three needs with a quality player. Johnson and Milliner are other possibilities. | ||
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6. Cleveland |
OLB, CB, DL |
Top choice:OLB Dion Jordan - Oregon |
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Cleveland adds another pass rusher in a division with durable opposing quarterbacks. | ||
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7. Arizona |
OT, QB, S |
Top choice:OT Lane Johnson - Oklahoma |
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The Cardinals were dead last in sacks allowed in 2012 with 58. Johnson is too good to pass up. | ||
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8. Buffalo |
QB, WR, CB |
Top choice: QB E.J. Manuel – Florida St. |
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You can't rule out QB Ryan Nassib, but the Bills take the signal caller that has more versatility and upside and the intangibles of a rare leader. | ||
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9. NY Jets |
CB, OLB, G |
Top choice:OLB Barkevious Mingo - LSU |
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The overwhelming need for a pass rusher trumps the value that Milliner would represent here. | ||
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10. Tennessee |
OL, CB, DE |
Top choice:CB Dee Milliner - Alabama |
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Milliner offers too much value and addresses a need in the process for the 26th ranked pass defense last season. | ||
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11. San Diego |
OL, DL, CB |
Top choice:CB Xavier Rhodes – Florida State |
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The Chargers need better protection for Philip Rivers, but San Diego's board could lead them to Rhodes. | ||
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12. Miami |
OT, CB, DE |
Top choice: OT D.J. Fluker - Alabama |
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If the Dolphins can't swing trade with KC for OT Albert they add a bookend to fill the void left behind by former number one pick Jake Long. | ||
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13. NY Jets |
OL, CB, TE |
Top choice:G Jonathan Cooper – North Carolina |
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Rex Ryan would love to add a press corner after trading Revis, but Cooper is the better value for an offense that needs help. | ||
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14. Carolina |
DT, CB, WR |
Top choice:DT Star Lotulelei - Utah |
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The Panthers need an interior presence on their defensive line. Lotulelei offers power and playmaking ability. | ||
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15. New Orleans |
OLB, DT, CB |
Top choice:LB Jarvis Jones – Georgia |
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New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan could use some pass rush help at linebacker. | ||
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16. St. Louis |
WR, RB, S |
Top choice: WR Tavon Austin – W. Virginia |
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The Rams cannot believe their good fortune and replace departed free agent Danny Amendola with Austin. | ||
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17. Pittsburgh |
OL, TE, LB |
Top choice:TE Tyler Eifert – Notre Dame |
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GM Kevin Colbert addresses a positional need and adds a playmaker in the pass game following loss of Wallace in free agency. | ||
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18. Dallas |
DL, G, S |
Top choice:G Chance Warmack - Alabama |
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Taking the safety from down the road at Texas is tempting, but the Cowboys need help on the O-line. | ||
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19. NY Giants |
LB, OL, CB |
Top choice:CB Desmond Trufant – Washington |
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The Giants would like to fill the void left by Umenyiora's departure, but more help is needed on the back end. | ||
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20. Chicago |
CB, LB, G |
Top choice:CB D.J. Hayden - Houston |
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The Bears wouldn't mind trading back, but if there is no one willing Chicago takes a defender. | ||
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21. Cincinnati |
CB, OLB, RB |
Top choice:LB Alec Ogletree - Georgia |
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Cincinnati needs more linebackers that can cover. Ogletree is a former safety with uncommon athleticism. | ||
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22. St. Louis |
DT, RB, CB |
Top choice: S Kenny Vaccaro - Texas |
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The Rams get great value here and add a playmaker to their secondary. | ||
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23. Minnesota |
WR, CB, LB |
Top choice:WR Cordarrelle Patterson - Tenn. |
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Patterson adds a bigger target outside and the return ability lost when Percy Harvin was traded. | ||
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24. Indianapolis |
OL, DL, LB |
Top choice:DT Sheldon Richardson - Missouri |
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The Colts added some vets on the defensive interior, but Richardson is a needed dose of youth. | ||
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25. Minnesota |
CB, LB, DL |
Top choice:DE Tank Carradine – Florida St. |
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Carradine might be too big an injury risk, but the Vikes need to get Jared Allen some pass rush help up front. | ||
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26. Green Bay |
S, TE, WR |
Top choice:WR DeAndre Hopkins - Clemson |
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Aaron Rodgers is the Pack's meal ticket, so adding another offensive weapon that's ready to contribute is essential. | ||
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27. Houston |
OT, OLB, ILB |
Top choice:ILB Kevin Minter - LSU |
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Minter would be a great combination with Brian Cushing, who returns from injury. | ||
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28. Denver |
RB, DL, DB |
Top choice: CB Jamar Taylor – Boise St. |
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The Broncos need an heir apparent to Champ Bailey to line up opposite Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. | ||
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29. New England |
DE, CB, G |
Top choice:DE Datone Jones – UCLA |
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Bill Belichick loves hybrid players and Jones offers DE, DT flexibility in a league where passing continues to increase. | ||
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30. Atlanta |
DL, OL, TE |
Top choice: DT Sylvester Williams – No. Carolina |
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The Falcons were 21st against the run last season and can't pass on a value like Williams at this point. | ||
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31. San Francisco |
DL, CB, S |
Top choice:S Jonathan Cyprien – FIU |
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The 49ers reload to fill the void left by the free agent loss of Dashon Goldson. | ||
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32. Baltimore |
OL, LB, S |
Top choice: LB Manti Te'o – Notre Dame |
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Rolando McClain's latest run-in with the law prompts the Ravens to pick a viable replacement. | ||
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