No. 30 – RB Javonte Williams, North Carolina
The Bills use their first pick to add to their stable of running backs. A bruising runner who averaged 7.3 yards per carry last season, Williams joins forces with current Buffalo backs Devin Singletary and Zack Moss.
No. 30 – CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
There are concerns over Farley's back surgery but some teams are in a position to compete now and might be willing to take on more of a risk. Buffalo is a team that makes sense to bring Farley in and plug him opposite Tre'Davious White. He is a top 10 caliber player.
No. 30 – Edge Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
No. 30 – DT Christian Barmore, Alabama
Only the Bengals have allowed a higher explosive run rate than the Buffalo Bills since the start of 2019. Plugging up the interior starts with Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore, but make no mistake: This beast of a man is also going to create a ton of interior pass rush for the Bills defense.
His 91.5 pass-rush grade in 2020 led the country among interior defensive linemen.
No. 30 – DB Elijah Molden, Washington
Molden is a do-it-all defensive back who would do exactly that for the Bills. He can play safety, cornerback or nickleback for Buffalo. Think of him as an even more versatile K'Waun Williams.
No. 30 – CB Kelvin Johnson, Kentucky
With an offense that appears loaded, defense has to be a priority for the Bills. They could look to upgrade their pass rushers, but corner is also a need, and Kelvin Joseph is a player that could contribute immediately.
The Bills do not currently have a clear starter opposite Tre'Davious White, which would be an ideal role for Joseph. Conversely, it can often take corners time to develop, so the Bills may look to add a player that can help them push for the Super Bowl in 2021.
No. 30 – CB Asante Samuel Jr.
Samuel can play multiple positions in the defensive backfield and had an outstanding season in 2020, giving up just 179 yards in eight games, per PFF. He also had an impressive pro day to back up the solid career in Tallahassee.
No. 30 – DB Greg Newsome II, Northwestern
The Bills go with the long, athletic, zone-specialist in Newsome.
No. 30 – Edge Joe Tyron, Washington
I could see Buffalo addressing the linebacker position, but finding another edge rusher to complement Jerry Hughes is a bigger priority.
No . 30 – LB Joseph Ossai, Texas
Bringing in Matt Breida -- when the Bills already have Devin Singletary and Zack Moss-- doesn't necessarily keep them from drafting a running back, but it certainly should in the first round. So the pivot is from speed on offense to speed on defense. Penn State's Jayson Oweh fits the mold, but Ossai could be a big-time impact player for Buffalo. He is disruptive off the edge and flies around the field in run defense. Jerry Hughes is turning 33 before the 2021 season, so the pass-rush would benefit from depth.
One thing to know: Ossai -- who led Texas in tackles for loss (20), sacks (5) and forced fumbles (3) in 2020 -- first saw a football game when he was 10 years old after arriving to the United States from Nigeria.
No. 30 – Edge Jaelan Phillips, Miami
There is a real argument to be made that Phillips should be the top edge defender in this class. Like all of the players competing for that title, Phillips isn't the Nick Bosa– or Chase Young-level prospect who comes with almost no red flags. The cause for concern with Phillips is that he medically retired from football before the 2019 season due to a history of concussions.
The former No. 1 overall recruit coming out of high school opted to return to the field with Miami in 2020 and showcased his talent in that return. Phillips came away from last season with PFF grades of 83.0 or higher as a run defender and pass-rusher. This would be a strong addition for Buffalo to add some more youth behind what is currently an older edge rusher rotation with Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison penciled in as starters.
No. 30 – CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia
Tre White is one of the best CBs in the NFL, but there's not much depth behind him. Taron Johnson is coming off a good season but has just one year left on his current deal and Campbell would add a long, physical playmaker to a secondary that improved over the course of the 2020 season.
No. 30 – OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
GM Brandon Beane has discussed a desire to improve the run game, and hinted that the path to achieve that goal was improving the blocking. Alijah Vera-Tucker played both guard and tackle at USC but would likely shift inside if he landed in Buffalo.
