The Bills announced today that all eight of their 2022 draft picks have all signed their rookie contracts.
Kaiir Elam
Elam was Buffalo's first-round pick (23rd) in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Florida. The 2020 All-SEC First Team, 2020 AP All-SEC second team, and Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist played in 35 games throughout his time at Florida. Elam had six interceptions, 79 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 26 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in three seasons. Both Elam's father (Abram) and uncle (Matt) played in the NFL.
James Cook
Cook was selected by the Bills in the second round (63rd) of the 2022 NFL Draft. The former Georgia running back appeared in 50 games during his collegiate career and totaled 1,503 yards and 14 touchdowns on 230 carries. In the passing game, Cook had 67 receptions for 730 yards and six receiving touchdowns. Cook is following in his older brother's footsteps. Dalvin Cook is the lead running back for the Minnesota Vikings. The Cook brothers and Devin Singletary have been working out together in the offseason.
Terrel Bernard
Bernard was the Bills' third-round pick (89th) in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Baylor. The linebacker who has been modeling his game after Matt Milano will now get to practice and learn from the Bills' starting linebacker. Bernard earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors in his sophomore and junior seasons, and he was named First Team All-Big 12 as a senior. He was also a team captain and was the MVP of Baylor's Sugar Bowl victory. He played in 45 games during his collegiate career at Baylor. He totaled 320 tackles, 22.5 TFLs, 12 sacks, three interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and three fumble recoveries.
Khalil Shakir
Shakir was selected by Buffalo in the fifth round (148th) of the 2022 NFL Draft. A two-time First Team All-Mountain West Conference receiver, Shakir led the Broncos in receiving each of his last two seasons. The team captain ranked fifth all-time at Boise State in receptions (208), fourth in receiving yards (2,878), and sixth in career 100-yard receiving games (10). The speedy receiver averaged 121.5 all-purpose yards during his junior and senior seasons, which was tops in the Mountain West Conference.
Matt Araiza
Araiza was the Bills' first of three sixth-round picks (180th) in the 2022 NFL Draft. The "Punt God" out of San Diego State finished the 2021 season with an average of 51.19 yards per punt, breaking the NCAA record. Araiza had 79 punts and 4,044 punt yards that season. He was also named the winner of the Ray Guy Award for the nation's best collegiate punter in 2021. Araiza is the first punter selected by the Bills since John Nies in the sixth round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
Jersey numbers for Buffalo's eight selections in the 2022 NFL Draft have been announced! Scroll through to get a look at each of Buffalo's draft picks.
Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam (5) covers a play against Samford during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Georgia's James Cook breaks away during the second half of the College Football Playoff championship football game against Alabama Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Baylor linebacker Terrel Bernard celebrates after being named most valuable player in the team's Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game against Mississippi in New Orleans, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Boise State wide receiver Khalil Shakir (2) runs with the ball against Oklahoma State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Boise, Idaho. Oklahoma State won 21-20. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)
San Diego State place kicker Matt Araiza (2) kicks a field goal during an NCAA football game against New Mexico Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Penn State wide receiver Parker Washington (3) looks to elude Villanova defensive back Christian Benford (41) during an NCAA college football game against Villanova in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Sept.25, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Virginia Tech offensive lineman Luke Tenuta (69) plays against Pittsburgh in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Clemson linebacker Baylon Spector (10) celebrates after a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wake Forest, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Christian Benford
Benford was Buffalo's sixth-round pick (185th) in the 2022 NFL Draft. The former Villanova corner and 2021 first team CAA All-conference team selection played in 36 games over his four-year collegiate career. Benford racked up 137 tackles, three tackles for loss, 14 interceptions, and 47 pass breakups.
Luke Tenuta
Tenuta was selected by the Bills in the sixth round (209th) of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech. He started in 11 games at left tackle in 2021 and nine games at right tackle in 2020. In his career, he started in 12 games at left tackle, 14 games at right tackle, and played in 34 total games. Tenuta earned All-ACC honorable mention in 2021 and was named to the All-ACC Third Team in 2020.
Baylon Spector
Spector was the Bills' final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The seventh-round pick (231st) out of Clemson played in 53 games and started 20 of them. Throughout his four-year collegiate career, Spector racked up 193 total tackles, 22 TFLs, nine sacks, one interception, four forced fumbles, and three pass breakups. In 2021, Spector was voted as a permanent team captain and an All-ACC Academic Team selection
