Bills Draft Tracker

Kaiir Elam (pronounced kai-ear ee-lam) is the nephew of former Florida and NFL safety Matt Elam, who was drafted by the Ravens in the first round in 2013. His father, Abram, played at Notre Dame and Kent State before playing in the NFL for seven years. Kaiir showed pro potential as a true freshman for the Gators, intercepting three passes (four total pass break-ups) while making 11 tackles in 13 games (five starts). The Riviera Beach, Florida product started all 12 games in 2020, leading the team with 11 pass breakups (also collecting 39 tackles and two interceptions) to grab first-team All-SEC honors from league coaches. Elam missed three games with a knee injury in 2021 but still started 10 contests (29 tackles, 1.5 for loss, one interception, five pass breakups). -- by Chad Reuter

Cook signed with the Bulldogs from Miami, where the top-50 overall recruit nationally played at both Central and Northwestern High Schools, earning first-team All-Dade honors as a senior in his only year at Northwestern. He contributed as a true freshman (41-284-6.9, two TDs rushing; 8-89-11.1 receiving in 13 appearances) before earning the team's Most Improved Offensive Player Award in 2019 (31-188-6.1, two TDs rushing; 16-132-8.3 receiving; 4-57-14.3 kick returns in 14 games, three starts). The brother of former Florida State and current NFL running back Dalvin Cook had his best year statistically in 2020 while playing in eight games as a reserve (45-303-6.7, three TDs rushing; 16-225-14.1, two TDs receiving). He missed the Peach Bowl, however, because their father, James, passed away at the age of 46 due to complications from diabetes. Cook did his father proud in 2021, helping the Bulldogs win their first national title in over 40 years as a runner (113-728-6.4, seven TDs) and receiver (27-284-10.5, four TDs) in 15 games with three starts. -- by Chad Reuter

Bernard committed to then-Houston head coach Tom Herman after earning all-state honors at La Porte High School in Texas. After Herman left for Austin, however, Bernard decided to join new head coach Matt Rhule at Baylor. He played in two games (no statistics) as a true freshman but redshirted the season after suffering a foot injury. Bernard contributed heavily on defense in 2018 (47 tackles, three for loss, one interception) while starting two of 11 games played. He became a team leader on the field the following season, garnering second-team All-Big 12 accolades after leading the Bears with 112 tackles, 9.5 for loss, with 4.5 sacks, one interception, two pass break-ups and three fumble recoveries. Bernard was a second-team All-Big 12 selection again in 2020 (55 tackles, 6.5 for loss, with 3.5 sacks, one interception, two pass break-ups) despite playing only five games because of a season-ending shoulder injury (torn labrum, fracture). He started 13 games in 2021 and ascended to first-team all-league status by leading BU with 106 tackles and 7.5 sacks (among 12.5 tackles for loss) and breaking up four passes. Bernard was the 2022 Sugar Bowl MVP after recording 20 tackles, including two sacks, and a pass break-up in the team's win over Ole Miss. -- by Chad Reuter

In 2019, Shakir performed like the four-star prospect that recruiting services labeled him coming out of Vista Murrieta High School in California. He was an honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference selection as a sophomore, leading the Broncos with 63 receptions that covered 872 yards (13.8 per rec.) and scoring six times on the year. Shakir was a first-team all-conference selection as a junior team captain, ranking 13th in the FBS with 7.4 receptions per game in seven starts (52-719-13.8, six TDs). He contributed in one of 10 games played as a true freshman (16-170-10.6, one TD) before a knee sprain ended his season prematurely. Shakir was limited in spring 2021 practices after having surgery on a lower body injury, but that did not affect his play in the fall, as he led the Broncos with 77 receptions, 1,117 receiving yards (14.5 per catch) and seven scores in 12 games (11 starts) to once again land first-team all-league honors. He also rushed for 130 yards on 21 carries (6.2 per att.) and returned kickoffs (3-80-26.7) and punts (9-115-12.8). -- by Chad Reuter

Araiza (pronounced ah-RIZE-ah) grew up in San Diego, earning the local Section Kicker of the Year Award three times at Rancho Bernardo High School. Mountain West coaches named him honorable mention all-conference his redshirt freshman season after he made a school-record 22 field goals (26 tries, 84.6 percent, one blocked; 28-28 on extra points) and ranked sixth in the FBS with 78.5 percent of his kickoffs going for touchbacks. Araiza was an honorable mention selection again in 2020 (10-14-71.4 FG; 23-24-95.8 XP; 28 touchbacks on 41 kickoffs, two tackles). Araiza gained national attention with his punts in 2021, setting an NCAA single-season record by averaging 51.2 yards per attempt (79-4,044, 17 fair catches, 37 inside the 20, 15 touchbacks) including two covering 80-plus yards. He won the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter and was a first-team Associated Press All-American while nabbing Mountain West Conference Special Teams Player of the Year and all-conference honors. Araiza showed his strong leg by creating 62 touchbacks on 73 kickoffs during the year, and he also served as the placekicker (18-28 FG, 6-15 from 40-plus yards, long 53; 45-45 XP in 14 games). -- by Chad Reuter

Benford was an All-Maryland and All-Baltimore Metro pick as a senior at Randallstown High School. It did not take him long to make an impact on the Wildcats' defense, garnering Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Rookie of the Year and third-team all-conference honors after tying for ninth in the FCS with five interceptions as a true freshman (also making 49 tackles, two for loss, six pass breakups in nine games, eight starts). He started seven of 10 games played in 2019 (31 tackles, one interception, five pass breakups) before again receiving first-team All-CAA notice in the shortened spring of 2021 (18 tackles, one interception, team-high four pass breakups in four starts). Benford started all 13 games for Villanova last fall, accumulating 39 tackles, leading the FCS with 18 pass breakups and ranking second with seven picks to earn first-team All-American and all-conference recognition. -- by Chad Reuter

Tenuta comes from an athletic family. His father, Jon, played football at Virginia and is the defensive coordinator for the USFL's New Orleans Breakers. His mother, Dori, played hoops at Virginia. As a redshirt freshman, Tenuta made five starts in 13 appearances at right tackle. In 2020, he started nine games at right tackle. He started 10 games at left tackle and one on the right side in 2021. -- by Chad Reuter

Clemson football is in the Spector family blood. Baylon's father, Robbie, played for the Tigers from 1988 to 1990, while his brother, Brannon, is currently a receiver and his sister, Blair, is a former Clemson cheerleader. Spector grew up in Calhoun, Georgia, earning all-state honors as a senior quarterback and linebacker. He played in all 15 games as a reserve and on special teams (10 tackles, one for loss, one forced fumble) as a redshirt freshman in 2018 for the national champions, as well as in 2019 -- though his contributions on defense greatly increased (42 tackles, six for loss with two sacks). Spector became a leader on defense in 2020, topping the squad with 72 tackles and 4.5 sacks among 10.5 tackles for loss while forcing two fumbles. He started 10 of 12 games played in 2021 and recorded a career-high 75 tackles, 4.5 for loss with 2.5 sacks and one interception, before missing the team's bowl game with a hand injury. -- by Chad Reuter