No. 27 – T Dawand Jones, Ohio State
PFF Big Board rank: 31
Bottom line in PFF's 2023 NFL Draft Guide: He has to be put in a certain role, but in that, he could dominate. If you have a mobile quarterback, this is the guy you want at right tackle.
"Josh Allen did lead the league in touchdowns, etc., but it did feel like it was too much. Maybe you might want to dial it back and give him just a little bit more protection… Jones had the longest wingspan ever measured at the combine, just a monstrous offensive tackle from Ohio State… He made Mekhi Becton look small." – Monson
No. 27 – WR Rashee Rice, SMU
The Bills opt with Rice over Jordan Addison because of size and explosiveness. Rice can win on the perimeter and after the catch. Plus he stars in combat-catch situations.
No. 27 – WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
If one thing was apparent in the Bills' playoff loss to the Bengals, it's that Buffalo needs to add more game-breaking talent around Josh Allen. Hyatt has field-tilting speed and a knack for the big play, making him a perfect fit for the big-armed Allen. He'll take some pressure off Stefon Diggs and could change the way teams have to line up and defend the Bills.
No. 27 – RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Robinson is really a top-10 talent, but the value of running backs probably slots him back here, closer to the end of the first round. He would take pressure off Josh Allen and the passing game. The Bills need a more effective and consistent run game to get in the Super Bowl mix.
No. 27 – S Brian Branch, Alabama
Brian Branch opted to work out with the cornerbacks at the combine, which didn't bode well for the Alabama standout, who did not test as well as some of the other top prospects. Where Branch separates himself, however, is in his versatility. He can play anywhere, come up and stuff the run, and make sure Buffalo's defense continues to play at a high level, even with Pro Bowler Jordan Poyer set to hit free agency.
No. 27 – RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Bijan Robinson is special, and while he is probably one of the best players in this class, he could still be around late in Round 1 because he's a running back. And yes, we know, the Bills used a second-round pick on James Cook a year ago. But Cook isn't an every-down back, and more than that, Nyheim Hines is the only other RB currently on the roster ahead of free agency. Adding a Saquon Barkley-type talent to this offense? There are worse things.
No. 27 – OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
The Bills need help on the defensive side of the ball, but guard is a position they may not pass up on in the first round if a body-mover like Torrence makes it to this spot.
No. 27 – LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas
There is a good chance the Bills get a deal done with Tremaine Edmunds. If the two sides are unable to reach an agreement, though, this pick could be a potential contingency plan. In a lot of ways, Sanders is very similar to Edmunds as a prospect: big, athletic and versatile with the skill set to play SAM, MIKE or rush the passer.
No. 27 – OLB Keion White, Georgia Tech
Buffalo's roster doesn't have many holes, so it might be "best player available" -- and White is a steal at this point in Round 1. The 6-5, 285-pounder posted 7.5 sacks in 2022, had a great Senior Bowl week and then looked good at the combine. The Bills used a first-rounder on Greg Rousseau in 2021 and then signed Von Miller last offseason, but adding White to the pass-rush mix helps build out a really good group. Buffalo was 14th in sacks (40) and pressure rate (30.0%) last season, and White can contribute off the edge early in his career.
Alternatively, the Bills could shore up the offensive line since both starting tackles are entering their final two years under contract. Oklahoma tackle Anton Harrison or Florida guard O'Cyrus Torrence might make sense.
No. 27 – RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Bijan Robinson's pairing with the Buffalo Bills at this particular slot has become boring. Perfect pairings usually are. They're so obvious that all of the excitement fades. However, Robinson actually playing in the Bills' offense can be truly electric.
"The Bills offense would benefit greatly from a real three-down back," Klassen said. "As a runner, Robinson is special. He sports a thick yet flexible frame that allows him to bounce and weave through the line of scrimmage before brushing off tackles at the second level. He also has the speed to threaten the perimeter very effectively.
"On passing downs, Robinson brings value both as a blocker and a receiver. He displays reliable hands and offers more receiving ability than simple check-downs. The Doak Walker Award winner is also as chippy as they come in pass pro."
Basically, quarterback Josh Allen has been the Bills' primary running threat since he became the starter. But even a 6'5", 237-pound quarterback doesn't need to take the type of hits that Allen regularly does. Robinson makes Buffalo's offense more complete by adding a true threat out of the backfield.
Some may groan seeing the standout back slotted here yet again, but the general excitement he can create in an already top-shelf offense brings a potential Offensive Rookie of the Year impact.
No. 27 – OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Torrence left little doubt that he's the purest interior blocker in the draft with polished position drills. The Bills could really use him to upgrade their work against the run inside.
No. 27 – IOL John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
John Michael Schmitz was a star at the Senior Bowl and would be a phenomenal addition to the interior of the Bills' offensive line. Schmitz probably starts at guard if he goes to Buffalo, but he's a center by trade and has the versatility to move throughout the interior.
No. 27 – RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
A three-down back with his talent and speed – Robinson clocked a 4.46 40 on Sunday – would have been a surefire top-five selection 20 years ago. This has to be the year Buffalo pulls the trigger on a guy who averaged 7 yards per touch for the Longhorns in order to reduce the rushing load on QB Josh Allen, right? Especially with Devin Singletary's contract expiring? Quite the workhorse, Robinson had more than 3,300 yards from scrimmage over the past two seasons.
No. 27 – OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Torrence isn't the most specifically athletic guard in this draft class, but he knows how to blow guys up in the run game, and he allowed no sacks, one quarterback hit, and four quarterback hurries on 395 pass-blocking reps when protecting Anthony Richardson.
No. 27 – LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas
Tremaine Edmunds is a potential free agent this offseason so this selection is really dependent upon what happens with him later this month. Drew Sanders has the versatility to fit run gaps or provide some spot pass rush as well.
No. 27 – WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
The Bills jump at the value pick here with Njigba, who almost assuredly would've gone higher had he played a full season in 2022 at Ohio State. He's not a freaky athlete but glides after the catch.
No. 27 – S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
The potential loss of Jordan Poyer in free agency might force the Bills to take a playmaking safety early in the draft.
No. 27 – RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Robinson is a top-10 prospect just based on talent in this draft, but it was tough finding a perfect fit for him. Teams (rightly) aren't taking running backs in the top 10 anymore, choosing instead to find values in the middle and late rounds. While I agree with that strategy, there comes a point in Round 1 in which it does make sense to snag a running back as talented as Robinson, and that's here. The Bills could get a complete back -- Robinson is stellar between the tackles and has great hands as a pass-catcher -- and a player who can make quarterback Josh Allen's life easier. This is a way for the Buffalo offense to take the next step.
If general manager Brandon Beane passes on Robinson, keep an eye on the offensive linemen. Guard O'Cyrus Torrence (Florida) is a mauler in the run game who could start immediately.
No. 27 – OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
The Bills' current regime has a long history of picking magnificent athletes in the draft, especially on the first two days. Jones isn't a finished product but has monstrous upside because of how springy he is at his size. He could even start at guard if need be.
No. 27 – RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
The Bills have to get over the hump in the postseason and make it to the Super Bowl at some point, right? One way to speed up this process to be able to play in the elements. This is an outdoor team but plays like a dome team on offense—there is no real threat to run the football. Bijan Robinson is the best RB prospect since Saquon Barkley. Robinson on the field with Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs is something I would love to see.
No. 27 – OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Buffalo could also entertain the idea of adding a slot receiver. Fans saw how much more effective the offense was with a valuable slot receiver. However, the Bills choose to invest in Josh Allen's protection instead.
No. 27 – S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
Johnson isn't my No. 1 safety in the class, but that's more about Brian Branch than Johnson. He's undoubtedly one of the most interesting prospects in the class because, like Branch, he did a lot of different things at A&M. His ability to play different roles effectively show off how smart he is, and that, combined with his athleticism, makes me think Johnson will be a productive player if placed in a defense creative enough to take advantage of his abilities.
No. 27 – OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
2022 PFF Grade: 88
PFF Big Board Rank: 34
The Bills must get more reliable along the interior offensive line. In his first year as an SEC player, Torrence showed he was one of the best interior players in the country against the best competition.
PFF Draft Guide Bottom Line: Torrence is a plug-and-play guard who's best suited for gap schemes, but he doesn't need to be pigeonholed.
No. 27 – RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Gibbs would be an ideal fit in this offense because he brings Alvin Kamara to mind as a back who can break through tackles, create explosives runs, and add a ton in the passing game. This is not a team that is going to build everything around the run game, the Bills need a complementary force who can amplify everything around him. Gibbs is such a player.
No. 27 – WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
The Bills need more receiver weapons in 2023. Although Zay Flowers (5-foot-9) doesn't have the height teams usually look for, the Bills have favored separation, yards after catch and competitiveness far more than anything else since 2019, and that's Flowers in a nutshell. He would likely immediately walk in as a top-three receiver and is a supercharged version of what the Bills wanted Isaiah McKenzie to be but with more versatility to play the boundary in the Bills' scheme. I also considered a guard/center prospect, but the Bills should be able to get one in the second round. — Joe Buscaglia
No. 27 – S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
Buffalo has more needs than you might think for one of the league's best teams, and while it's tempting to get Josh Allen some help here, the need at safety needs to be addressed first. Johnson is a plug-and-play starter who could immediately step in if Jordan Poyer isn't back next season.
No. 27 – S Brian Branch, Alabama
The Bills have some potential key departures on the defensive side of the ball this year and one of them is more than likely to be safety. The safety position for the Bills' defense is such an important position so it's important that replace talent with talent. That's why I believe they draft SAF Brian Branch.
No. 27 - IOL Luke Wyler, Ohio State
The Bills need a little more force up front to help take the load off of Josh Allen. Here's a young, talented interior lineman from Ohio State that can help with that.
No. 27 - OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Buffalo could use some upgrades in front of Josh Allen. The Bills must continue to protect their most valuable asset by steadily investing in the O-line. Torrence will also help this offense in the ground game.
