Things are starting to slowly ramp back up in the NFL. A majority of the Bills' players returned for Phase 1 of Offseason Training Activities (OTAs) and the 2022 NFL Draft is just one week away.
For general manager Brandon Beane and the rest of the Bills' front office staff, that means it's time to start figuring out what players on their board will still be available when they pick at No. 25. On Wednesday, Beane and Sean McDermott spoke to the media for the first time since the NFL combine. Beane explained they really won't have a clear picture of what players will be there until about 10 spots before the Bills' selection but that there is a lot of work they can do to prepare for it.
"We'll do mocks next week, and we're going to try our best to put ourselves in as many scenarios as we can," Beane said. "I'm hopeful that when I'm sitting on the clock Thursday night that it won't be the exact scenario, but it'll be something similar that we've discussed, which makes it really easy."
Making a selection at the bottom of round one usually indicates that the team did well the prior season. But with 10 minutes between each pick, the first night of the draft can be very long. Beane uses the free agency period to make sure that he can be as patient as possible in the draft and not be forced to make any impulsive decisions.
"I'm probably my own worst enemy with patience," Beane shared. "So, I think that's why you see sometimes, when I say aggressive, aggressiveness in free agency, not dollar value, but my aggressiveness to fill as many holes as I can. Signing Von was different, but we were definitely gonna try and add to the front and fill a lot of needs so that I don't have to feel the pressure, 'I cannot leave the first round or the second round without player x or position x."
"So that's really where it lies. But knowing your board, having a feel too of how the draft is going to fall, I think this year is gonna be a little harder. In past years we've kind of known where some of these quarterbacks were going and where some other guys might fall. It seems like a crapshoot right now to where the quarterbacks will fall which will ultimately decide what position players get pushed down to 25."
Sean McDermott is one of the more hands-on head coaches when it comes to the draft. He was influential in selecting Tre'Davious White with his first selection back in 2017. He works very closely with Beane during the draft process. He watches players' game tape and sits in on the visits the players have with the team. But when it comes to draft day, the Bills' head coach fully trusts Beane to make the best call for the team.
"I think every head coach is different," McDermott said. "Every staff is different. That way I'm very involved. Obviously, Brandon's the point person. Our staff is very involved probably as much as most coaching staffs in that process leading up to the draft. That said, that's Brandon's primary role and his staff's (primary role). So, we have to trust his staff that the information that they've gathered during the fall when we're coaching is accurate, which we do.
"At the end of the day, Brandon makes the call there, which I'm extremely comfortable with. And I think we have a good dialogue leading up to and including on draft day. And I trust, like I've said before, him and I trust the work that he puts in, and I think we have a good dynamic there."
Scroll through to view photos of the top prospects that draft analysts have projected the Bills to take with the 25th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
The Bills could opt for a CB here, but Burks would be too tempting as a big addition to their offensive firepower. (NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah)
LB Devin Lloyd, Utah
We've typically had the Bills targeting the secondary in recent mocks but it may be hard to pass on a player of Lloyd's talents here. Every linebacker not named Matt Milano has just one year left on their contracts -- including Tremaine Edmunds and A.J. Klein, and while Buffalo will no doubt re-up some of them, Lloyd has a chance to be special. (CBS Sports, Ryan Wilson)
CB Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson
Swap in Booth for impending free agent Levi Wallace, and the Bills secondary will be even better in 2022. (CBS Sports, Kyle Stackpole)
DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
The Buffalo Bills have made it clear that they prioritize investing in the defensive line and as things currently stand, Buffalo has two defensive tackles under contract for the 2022 season. Considering how much Sean McDermott likes to rotate his players up front, more talent is needed. Devonte Wyatt is an explosive penetrator that would wreak havoc next to Ed Oliver and provide the versatility needed to play over the center and as a three-technique. (The Draft Network, Joe Marino)
DE Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State
He had eight sacks among 52 QB pressures in 2021. Buffalo's aging D-line is poised to be stripped of its depth in free agency, but Ebiketie and 2021 rookies Greg Rousseau and Boogie Basham could form a next-gen nucleus up front. (USA Today, Nate Davis)
WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State
With 32-year old Cole Beasley getting a bit old for the position and 34-year old Emmanuel Sanders slated for free agency (and also getting old), the Bills opt here to upgrade their already strong pass catcher corps. Dotson can play all over the formation, runs sharp routes, and perfectly complements the team's Stefon Diggs-Gabriel Davis duo. Getting more playmakers for Josh Allen can't be a bad thing. (The Ringer, Danny Kelly)
S Daxton Hill, Michigan
Hill is part of a Wolverines defense that could end up seeing three players go in Round 1 next spring. He's underrated nationally, but watch him play and it becomes clear pretty quickly that he's in the running for one of the best defensive backs in this class. He's listed as a safety but he can line up anywhere. (CBS Sports, Ryan Wilson)
WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
Jameson Williams has no business being available at No. 25, but after tearing his ACL in the National Championship Game he could go later than his talent level suggests. Should that be the case, his floor should be the Bills' pick.
I believe the Bills' biggest needs remain at the defensive line, but what Williams brings at receiver is exactly what Buffalo needs to keep its fastball and provide Josh Allen another dynamic weapon in the passing game. Williams is a sure-handed receiver with the ability to play outside and from the slot and features a dynamic vertical receiving skill set. He creates separation down the field and he pairs that with exceptional ball skills. (The Draft Network, Joe Marino)
OT Trevor Penning, UNI
Having had success in selecting fellow Northern Iowa lineman Spencer Brown, the Buffalo Bills tack on another one in Trevor Penning. Though he plays a violent game, the Bills can harness Penning's vicious nature with some coaching, and he would immediately improve their line. Penning gets after it in the run game, pancaking anyone in sight, while he also provides a relatively immovable base in pass protection. (Pro Football Network, Cam Mellor)
DT Jordan Davis, Georgia
Davis could very well go higher in the actual draft come April, but the 6-foot-6, 340-pounder's lack of pass-rushing prowess ultimately drops him to the back end of the first round in this mock. He managed only 30 career pressures in college and totaled just 14 in the 2021 season. Of course, his ability to two-gap and positively affect the run game every time he takes the field should ultimately draw interest in the first round. (PFF, Austin Gayle)
CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
Levi Wallace led Buffalo's corners in snaps played and will be an unrestricted free agent next month. Meanwhile, the team's top cornerback (Tre'Davious White) is recovering from a torn ACL. While you can never have too many talented cornerbacks, McDuffie could be off the board much earlier than this and would be a wise choice for the Bills. (SI.com, Kevin Hanson)
CB Kaiir Elam, Florida
The Bills lost Tre White to injury last season, and everything on defense looked a little bleaker afterward. Granted, this is still an excellent unit even without a stud opposite White. But Elam's size and physicality in Buffalo's scheme just makes sense. He'd give Buffalo more upside at the CB2 spot than they've had under Sean McDermott. (The Pewter Report, Jon Ledyard)
OG Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
Back-to-back Aggies see the Bills getting some interior line help. Green played every position on the offensive line this past season out of necessity, but his true position in the NFL is inside. A powerful blocker, Green can develop into a top-tier guard and help tremendously in the run game — assuming the Bills can find a way to stop relying so much on Josh Allen's legs. (SB Nation, James Dator)
EDGE Travon Walker, Georgia
The Bills need improvements along their offensive and defensive lines, and after drafting Greg Rousseau in Round 1 in 2021, they could go back to the D-line this year. Walker is a 6-foot-5, 270-pound project edge rusher who oozes talent. He has physical traits and length that NFL scouts look for, though he's still learning how to put everything together. He played mostly as a tight 5-technique for the Bulldogs, which means he didn't have many opportunities to rush the passer, but he has a high ceiling. He had six sacks last season. (ESPN, Jordan Reid)
CB Kyler Gordon, Washington
The Buffalo Bills were a coin flip in their favor away from hosting the AFC Championship Game but their defense could not secure a stop. Tre White's on-field presence was missed.
Kyler Gordon is a dynamic athlete with nice measurables. He can play inside and out with a versatile matchup profile. The Bills need a true CB2 and Gordon fits the bill (pun intended)! (The Draft Network, Damian Parson)
IOL Zion Johnson, Boston College
Johnson is one of my absolute favorite prospects in the entire 2022 NFL Draft. He looks like he was created in a lab to combat Aaron Donald. He's a monster. On the field, Johnson is an athletic freak who has the strength, flexibility, footwork, and range to be one of the best guards (or centers) in the league within his first few seasons. (The Draft Network, Bryan Perez)
CB Roger McCreary, Auburn
The Bills are a good football team without many glaring weaknesses. That said, Buffalo has an opportunity at No. 25 to consider a few players who might have the goods to walk into a great situation and still add value.
McCreary doesn't necessarily represent an immediate need for Buffalo, but he's an experienced player who held up well in the SEC. He's another player who had a nice Senior Bowl and could be on the rise. (The Athletic, Nick Baumgardner)
Even though most of the attention is on the first round, a GM makes their living on days two and three of the draft. For them, it's all about getting the most value for those picks – something Beane has succeeded at during his tenure with the Bills. The Bills have gotten talented players like Taron Johnson (2018) and Gabriel Davis (2020) in the fourth round, Matt Milano (2017) and Siran Neal (2018) in the fifth round, Tyler Bass (2020) in the sixth round, and Dane Jackson (2020) in the seventh.
Hitting on those late-round picks is crucial for teams like the Bills who have given big extensions to Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, and signed Super Bowl MVP Von Miller. Finding talent late in the draft is a big factor in the team's continued success and Beane knows it's on him to deliver the value picks on day three.
"… I feel like this is a deeper draft, in the back end of the draft because of Covid and all that," Beane said. "So, I think it's my job and our staff's job to analyze each draft and find out what positions have depth and then where is the depth in the rounds. Like, where are you getting the best value? …"
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, college athletes got an extra year of eligibility if they so choose to try and raise their draft stock. That's why Beane believes this year's draft will be so deep. For the past two seasons, the pandemic also affected the draft process and how the front office could meet with and evaluate players.
With Covid protocols dropped this year, it's made it a lot easier on Beane and his staff to get to know the players on a personal level. You can only tell so much by seeing them through a computer screen.
"This process through the spring was great," Beane told the media on Wednesday. "30 visits, we had our last player in this week. Just that part alone, adding the ability to bring 30 players in, meet a lot of our staff, just get a feel for 'em for a day, take 'em out to dinner, whatever the case may be.
"And then again, we sent a lot of our scouts and some coaches out on some pro days and privates. We haven't been able to do that much. Last year the pro days came back, but you really couldn't do the privates. And I feel like we know this crop of players definitely better than two years ago and still better than last year."
Scroll to see photos of the Buffalo Bills first workout back at One Bills Drive.
Dion Dawkins (73). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Josh Allen (17). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Mitch Morse (60). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Dawson Knox (88). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Ed Oliver (91). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Spencer Brown (79). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
O.J. Howard (8). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Bobby Hart (68). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
On A Mission. The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Dawson Knox (88). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Gabriel Davis (13). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Spencer Brown (79). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Josh Allen (17). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Andre Smith (9). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Devin Singletary (26). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Taiwan Jones (25). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Tommy Sweeney (89). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Jake Kumerow (15). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
DaQuan Jones (92). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Spencer Brown (79). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Devin Singletary (26). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Tyler Matakevich (44). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Dawson Knox (88). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Tommy Sweeney (89). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Greg Rousseau (50). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Josh Allen (17). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Matt Milano (58). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Dion Dawkins (73). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Jake Kumerow (15), Reggie Gilliam (41), and Tommy Sweeney (89). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Josh Allen (17). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Gabriel Davis (13). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Reggie Gilliam (41). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Spencer Brown (79). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Case Keenum. The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Zack Moss (20). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Damar Hamlin (31). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Von Miller (40). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Tyler Matakevich (44). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Spencer Brown (79). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
A.J. Epenesa (57). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
DaQuan Jones (92). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
DaQuan Jones (92). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Von Miller (40). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Von Miller (40). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
DaQuan Jones (92). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Von Miller (40). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Siran Neal (33) and Cam Lewis (47). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
DaQuan Jones (92). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Greg Rousseau (50). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Siran Neal (33). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Dane Jackson (30). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Von Miller (40). The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
The Buffalo Bills train at One Bills Drive for the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Josh Allen (17). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Josh Allen (17). The Buffalo Bills workout at One Bills Drive on the first day of OTA's on April 19, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Having in-person meetings with the prospects is an advantage for every team around the league because more informed decisions can be made. For the Bills, one other advantage they have is continuity. This will be Beane and his staff's fifth draft together. From a head coach's perspective having that stability with the front office is extremely valuable, especially around the draft.
"The continuity has been great," McDermott said. "He knows what I expect. I know what he expects from my staff because the two sides really try and come together this time of year more than any time of the calendar year. And it's the dialogue, it's the trust, it's being able to debate and sometimes walk away with a disagreement still intact and the trust still intact.
"We're all in this for one reason and that's to win and win it all. So, with that in mind, with that one purpose in mind, we can all come together and work and hopefully put a good product out there in terms of what we get next week here."
