Defensive linemen continue to dominate the mock drafts, but quarterbacks and wide receivers are beginning to make some appearances in Mock Draft Watch 8.0 presented by M&T Bank.
No. 19 – Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
No. 49 – Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
No. 80 – Willie Beavers, G, Western Michigan
Mario Williams might have been a disappointment last season, but it's not as if the roster was packed with pass-rushers who could keep him in the sidelines, and Ogbah comes in with tremendous upside (and college production) at a position of need. The defense was the reason we weren't in the playoffs last season, and he can see the field and help that unit. Thomas is a tremendous physical talent at wide receiver and could be the No. 2 wideout I need behind Sammy Watkins. That's another need position filled. Beavers is more upside than polish as a tackle, but in Round 3 that's what you're going to find, and we need another offensive tackle.
No. 19 – Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
They could take a QB like Paxton Lynch in this spot, but their defense has been hurt up front by free agent defections, terminations, and injuries. Reed is a solid and safe pick; an interior player who can anchor, but has more pass rush ability than most people realize. ROUND 2: Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh. ROUND 3: Roberto Aguayo, PK, Florida State (the Bills missed 6 extra points last season).
No. 19 – Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Lynch could come in right away and battle it out with Tyrod Taylor for the top spot while allowing the Bills to cut bait with former first-rounder EJ Manuel. There are better "right now" options for this pick, but if the Bills aren't all-in with Taylor, Lynch could get serious consideration here.
No. 19 – Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
In a draft lacking three-down pass-rushers, Spence may end up the best of the bunch. I love his hustle and tenacity. He could be a factor in either a four-man line or as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. Shilique Calhoun is quicker, but Spence should be a better run defender, and his energy will lift an NFL defense. Drug concerns knocks him down the list, but he hasn't had any issues since leaving Ohio State.
No. 19 – Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Rex Ryan is always looking for ways to improve his beloved defense. Lawson would bring the effort and investment that departed
did not in 2015.
No. 19 – Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
This is a homerun selection for the Bills. It crosses off an immediate need by adding a starting defensive end that can play both there, and on the inside of a four-man front as a defensive tackle. Rankins, in a word, is explosive as an athlete. As a 6-foot-1, 299-pound player, Rankins registered a 34.5-inch vertical jump, the second-best for defensive tackles, and a 118-inch broad jump -- the top mark for players at his position. Why are those important? It shows just how disruptive Rankins can be by generating enough speed and power in his lower half to give blockers a tough time. Despite his smaller frame, he's quite good against the run, and can get after the passer as well as anyone from an interior line position.
No. 49 – Su'a Cravens, LB, USC
This pick came down to four players: Cravens, Florida safety Keanu Neal, Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry, and LSU linebacker Deion Jones. In the end, I landed on Cravens because of the type of versatility he could bring to Rex Ryan's defense. You can envision a specific role for Cravens in Ryan's defense, who has the ability to cover, sniff out plays with his instincts, and even provide heat on the passer when called on to blitz. He'll be a hybrid player, and the Bills could certainly use one of those to cover tight ends and running backs alike. Although, if the board played out this way, Neal and Jones would be intriguing options as well, while Perry could take over for Manny Lawson after 2016.
No. 80 – Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State
Some of you are going to love this pick, and plenty of you will end up hating it, too. Cardale Jones is one of those prospects that everyone has an opinion on because of his story at Ohio State. He's got everything you want as a 6-foot-5, 253-pound quarterback prospect from a size, speed, and raw skills standpoint -- and most important, the Bills are clearly interested. Jones has one of the biggest and strongest arms in the draft. The trouble is, his accuracy is not where it needs to be at this point, making him a major project. However, in the right situation and with the right people coaching him, Jones could develop into something.
No. 19 – Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
The Bills definitely will consider one of myriad DT options here, as recent mocks have hinted. They also, at some point, must find another edge presence to help Jerry Hughes. Spence has top-10 potential, plus could work as a DE or as a 3–4 OLB.
No. 19 – A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
Is there a more perfect Rex Ryan player in the draft?
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April 12 – ESPN.com, Todd McShay](http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2016/insider/story/_/id/15181986/mock-draft-nfl-draft)
No. 19 – Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
No. 49 – Jonathan Bullard, DE, Florida
No. 80 – KeiVarae Russell, CB, Notre Dame
I tried to get Buffalo an edge rusher in Round 1, but there wasn't great value available by the time it was their turn to pick. I went with Ragland instead, who would help improve a Bills defense that allowed 4.4 yards per carry last season (25th overall). He was a tone-setter in the middle of Alabama's championship defense last season, and he has the toughness to excel as a downhill linebacker. Ragland would be a good fit with Bullard, who makes a ton of effort plays on tape. The Florida product also would be a movable piece along the D-line for Rex Ryan, having played both inside and outside in college.
No. 19 – Laquan Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Treadwell remains the top wide receiver on most boards, but his slower forty time (4.63) has teams in the top-20 looking for a number-one wideout shy away. The Bills don't need a number-one. They need a number-two, and with the latest reports that Percy Harvin has decided not to play next season, Treadwell makes a lot of sense and is the perfect complement to Sammy Watkins for that role.
Treadwell finished last season with 83 catches for 1153 yards and 11 touchdowns, was a Biletnikoff Award finalist, second-team All-American (Walter Camp), third-team AP All-American, and first-team All-SEC selection.
He has good size at 6-2, 221 pounds that allows him to beat smaller corners one-on-one and uses his size and strength well when he goes up for the ball no matter who is covering him. He's also very good at running after the catch, partly because he's tough to bring down and plays with the determination to get to the end zone after he catches the ball.
Treadwell could not only play the number-two WR role for the Bills, but could also be a very good slot wide receiver to start his career. He's smooth and has very good footwork when it comes to working underneath routes. He also may have to work on getting off the line of scrimmage better at the NFL level, so being in the slot will give him more room.
