No. 30 – LB Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
Buffalo solidifies the edge rusher position opposite Jerry Hughes. Azeez Ojulari is a really athletic player that needs to diversify his means of winning on the edge.
No. 30 – CB Greg Newsome II, Northwestern
Newsome is a smart, instinctual corner with natural ballhawk skills who's getting more buzz for a terrific combination of size and speed that can allow him to be consistent in outside coverage, especially in a defense with zone concepts. ...
No. 30 – DE Joe Tyron, Washington
Tryon could wind up being an outstanding value pick. He was a highly productive true sophomore in 2019 that opted out of the 2020 season. And the Bills really could use another edge rusher to give their defensive front some more juice.
No. 30 – DL Christian Barmore, Alabama
The Buffalo Bills made some moves in free agency to address their most glaring needs. After re-signing LB Matt Milano, bringing in WR Emmanuel Sanders and TE Jacob Hollister, they turn their attention to the defense in this 2021 NFL First Round Mock Draft.
Christian Barmore was one of Alabama's standout performers in the title game against Ohio State. He is an impressive presence that will make this Bills defensive line all that much better.
No. 30 – CB Greg Newsome II, Northwestern
The Bills re-signed cornerback Levi Wallace to a one-year deal, but they likely won't shy away from continuing to prioritize the position. Newsome is an ideal pick in that regard, as he has excellent length and high-end ball skills. He could excel opposite Tre'Davious White.
No. 30 – CB Asante Samuel, Florida State
The Bills don't have many holes on their roster, but I could see them improving their offensive or defensive lines through the draft. If they pass on the edge defender class in the first round of the draft, Samuel makes a ton of sense as a late Round 1 addition. It would finally give the team the quality bookend cornerback that they need across from Tre White, and Samuel also offers the competitive edge that Buffalo loves in their defensive players. This could be a great fit if the Bills front office is willing to look past Samuel's smaller stature this early in the draft.
No. 30 – DB Elijah Molden, Washington
If the Bills want to add another Swiss Army Knife to the secondary, Molden could be the ideal pick as a hybrid safety/corner with a high football IQ and natural playmaking ability.
No. 30 – TRADE with the Chicago Bears
Bills trade No. 30 for picks No. 52, 83 and 202
No. 30 – Edge Jaelan Phillips, Miami
Buffalo's offseason has been largely focused on retaining their own. Matt Milano? Back. Daryl Williams? Also back. Buffalo did lose WR John Brown, but the opportunity to peg a top-flight pass rusher to the Bills here at No. 30 is too good to pass up. Jaelan Phillips is the most refined pass rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft, and when you account for how good the Bills' roster is and how late in the first-round this pick comes in the queue, this is too good of value to pass up for a team that boasts Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, and A.J. Epenesa as the starring rushers.
No. 30 – RB Najee Harris, Alabama
I'm just a big fan of Harris. He runs hard -- he led the FBS in forced missed tackles last season -- and adds value as a pass-catcher. He will improve the team that drafts him. Buffalo doesn't have many clear needs, but it has to create better balance on offense to take some of the pressure off quarterback Josh Allen. Harris is an every-down back who can share the load. Offensive line and wide receiver are two more positions that the Bills could target.
No. 30 – IOL Landon Dickerson, Alabama
The ACL tears are concerning, but without them, Dickerson is a top-20 pick. The Bills don't need him Week 1; they need him come playoff time. Dickerson has played every offensive line position over his college career, and there's no more NFL-ready interior lineman in the class. He was the highest-graded center in the country last season.
No. 30 – CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia
Both Campbell and Georgia teammate Eric Stokes had a strong pro day performance and could be in consideration here, as the Bills search for a viable CB2 who can play early.
No. 30 – RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
While I don't personally subscribe to taking a running back in the first round, it seems one or more always tend to be taken. The Bills could use a homerun threat at the position as Devin Singletary and Zack Moss, who were their two top RB's last year, combined for only seven runs of 20 yards or more. Compare that to Derrick Henry, who had 16 such runs on his own last season. Etienne confirmed his home run speed at his recent pro day, clocking a 4.41 40 while weighing in at 215 lbs and would add another dynamic to an already potent Bills offense.
