It's day three of the 2022 NFL Draft and the Bills have a whopping six selections left. Buffalo picked up a couple sixth-round picks when they traded back twice to draft running back James Cook out of Georgia. No fourth-round pick for Buffalo today but they do have a fifth, four sixths and a seventh.
Buffalo's remaining picks
Round 5, No. 168 (pick 25)
Round 6, No. 180 (via Jacksonville and Tampa Bay) (pick 1)
Round 6, No. 185 (via Carolina) (pick 6)
Round 6, No. 203 (pick 25)
Round 6, No. 209 (via Cincinnati) (pick 31)
Round 7, No. 231 (via Atlanta) (pick 10)
The Bills will have to wait a bit for their day to get started without a pick in the fourth round, but it will definitely pick up once they are on the clock in the sixth. Bills general manager Brandon Beane said he's not sure if they will use every sixth but having those four picks gives them assets to decide their plan of attack for the final day of the NFL Draft.
Beane was asked if they are eyeing a punter and how early one could go off the board. The GM said regardless of position, if there's a player they want, they'll go after him.
"We have to see who's on the board tomorrow," Beane explained. "Like any position, if there's one that we think is worth drafting, obviously we don't have a fourth, but if there's one worth drafting in the fifth, we'll see what position players are there. And if he was worth it, we'd do it. If not, we've got four sixths right now if there's one worthy. But we'll make sure to compare that to what position players are available."
Draft grades from Day 2
Grade: A-
Draft 2 draft picks
o Georgia RB James Cook (No. 63 overall)
o Baylor LB Terrel Bernard (No. 89 overall)
Day 1 grade: A
Analysis: They addressed their defensive need in the first round (corner Kaiir Elam) and then found Cook in Round 2. I had projected the Georgia RB to Buffalo in my seven-round mock because of his speed and receiving ability, something that separates him from the other backs on the Bills' roster. Bernard missed some time with injuries at Baylor but was ultra-productive when on the field. He meets a major need for the Bills, who are replacing A.J. Klein.
No. 63 – RB James Cook, Georgia
Grade: B
Cook (5-foot-11, 199) carried 230 times for 1,503 yards (6.5 YPC) and 14 touchdowns during his college career. He also caught 67 balls for 730 yards. Per PFF, Cook had zero drops and zero fumbles last season.
Cook ran 4.42 and is a home-run hitter who can produce explosive plays as a runner or as a pass-catcher. This is a fun addition for an already explosive Bills offense.
No. 89 – LB Terrel Bernard, Baylor
Grade: B
In 45 games for Baylor, Bernard (6-foot-1, 224) had 317 tackles (31.5 for loss), 16.5 sacks, 12 passes defended and three interceptions.
He was a captain last year but battled through a number of injuries in his career, including (per Brugler) a fractured shoulder, a torn labrum, a broken right hand and a broken foot.
Bernard is undersized, but he has the potential to develop into a starter if he can stay healthy.
Day 3 Mock Draft Watch
No. 168 – TE James Mitchell, Virginia Tech
No. 180 (From Jaguars through Buccaneers) – TE Derrick Deese Jr., San Jose State
No. 185 (From Panthers) – RB Ty Chandler, North Carolina
No. 203 – CB Akayleb Evans, Missouri
No. 209 (From Bengals) – DL Jayden Peevy, Texas A&M
No. 231 (From Falcons) – CB Ja'Quan McMillian, East Carolina
No. 168 Buffalo - OG Lecitus Smith, Virginia Tech
No. 180 Buffalo (from Jacksonville) - C Dohnovan West, Arizona State
No. 185 Buffalo (from Carolina) - OT Austin Deculus, LSU
No. 203 Buffalo - WR Jaivon Heiligh, Coastal Carolina
No. 209 Buffalo (from Cincinnati) - DE Daniel Hardy, Montana State
No. 231 Buffalo (from Atlanta) - RB Max Borghi, Washington State
