Draft Coverage
The 10 most recently mocked players to the Bills for No. 27 pick in 2023 NFL Draft
Scroll to see photos and bios of the prospects that have been most recently linked to the Bills in the latest Mock Drafts.
Clemson DT Bryan Bresee
Michael Renner (PFF): General manager Brandon Beane isn't going to stop investing in his defensive line anytime soon. Bresee was a former No. 1 overall recruit but never quite bounced back in 2022 after tearing his ACL the year before. Still, his tools are undeniable.
USC WR Jordan Addison
Danny Kelly (The Ringer): If the Bills are going to get over the hump in the AFC, Josh Allen needs more firepower around him. Grabbing Addison here is a great start. The former Pitt and USC star is such a three-level target with savvy route-running skills and run-after-the-catch talent. He's a perfect complement to Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis.
UNC WR Josh Downs
Peter King (NBC Sports): Getting picked ahead of Quentin Johnston of TCU and Jalin Hyatt of Tennessee would be an upset, and I can't predict with certainty this happens. But I know the Bills like him, and scouts think he can be a day-one starter in the slot, which would fit with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis outside. Imagine this production over the last two seasons in a per-game average: 8.1 receptions, 98.5 yards, 0.7 TDs. That'll play in a Buffalo offense that fizzled toward the end of the 2022 season.
Clemson LB Trenton Simpson
Todd McShay (ESPN): I'm breaking my rules a little bit because I don't have a first-round grade on Simpson. The Bills just don't have many starting spots open, but they need a replacement inside for Tremaine Edmunds, who signed with the Bears. Simpson could fill that need; he has the coverage traits to play on third downs.
Boston College WR Zay Flowers
Rick Spielman (The 33rd Team): Besides his size (5-foot-10, 172 pounds), Flowers is one of the most complete receivers in this draft. He's an excellent route runner, good after the catch for a smaller receiver and he makes plays down the field. He was the only playmaker at Boston College, and even with shoddy quarterback play, teams still could not stop him from being a productive receiver. Flowers can help the Buffalo Bills as a returner and a receiver, and he would give Josh Allen another offensive weapon in the passing game.
Texas A&M Safety Antonio Johnson
NFL.com scouting report: Big, athletic safety with versatility to line up over the slot or inside the box for additional run support. Johnson has a strong passion for sticking his nose into whatever is going on near the line of scrimmage.
TCU WR Quentin Johnston
Albert Breer (MMQB): I really did want to put North Carolina's Josh Downs here, a player whom I think is a really nice Day 2 sleeper, and one who'd settle the need for a reliable slot that the Bills struggled to fill last year (hence bringing back Cole Beasley). But Johnston falling this far would give Buffalo a top-20 quality pick, and someone who could easily grow into Gabe Davis's role in the offense, with Davis set to become a free agent a year from now. Also, you can find a slot later on.
Tennessee OL Darnell Wright
Charles Davis (NFL.com): Buffalo continues to fortify the offensive line. Wright provides immediate competition for Spencer Brownat right tackle.
Arkansas LB Drew Sanders
Vinnie Iyer (The Sporting News): The Bills need to replace Tremaine Edmunds next to ace coverage man Matt Milano. Sanders is a natural pass rusher and upfield disruptor against the run to complement what Milano does well at a high level.
Alabama Safety Brian Branch
Charles Davis (NFL.com): I suspect that OT Anton Harrison from Oklahoma and a slot receiver (perhaps Josh Downs of North Carolina) will be discussed here, but with coach Sean McDermott taking over the defensive signal-calling, Branch's versatility gets the nod.
