2022 Buffalo Bills Mock Draft: Round 6

I could write a fluffy introduction for this piece, but it’s the sixth round. Even the NFL gives up the theatrics by this point in the draft. So, let’s see what the BF writers think the Buffalo Bills will do with their two sixth round picks.

Bryce Martino

Previous Picks

Round	Player	College
1	WR Treylon Burks	Arkansas
2	CB Roger McCreary	Auburn
3	OG Ed Ingram	LSU
4	RB Jerome Ford	Cincinnati
5	P Matt Araiza	San Diego State

Round 6 (Pick 185): S Reed Blankenship – Middle Tennessee

The Bills will look to load up on talent in the secondary, and safety shouldn’t be overlooked either. Blankenship made his money as a tackler in college, totaling 106 tackles and 10 tackles for loss last season. The talent and versatility Blankenship brings would make him an elite ST player, with the potential to start at safety down the road.

Round 6 (Pick 204): CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart – USC

It’s no surprise the Bills are drafting multiple corners this year. With Tre White coming off of a torn ACL, and losing Levi Wallace to free agency, the Bills depth is depleted. Taylor-Stuart’s size (6’2”) and speed are both something the Bills need in this defense. Taylor-Stuart still has room to grow his game, but landing him in the sixth round is a great grab for the Bills as they look to rebuild their secondary depth. He totaled 39 tackles and three passes defended last season.

Trish Patel

Previous Picks

Round	Player	College
1	WR Treylon Burks	Arkansas
2	RB Breece Hall	Iowa State
3	CB Joshua Williams	Fayetteville State
4	TE Jelani Woods	Virginia
5	OT Kellen Diesch	Arizona

Round 6 (Pick 185): LB Mike Rose – Iowa State

Rose has a very high football IQ but lacks in athleticism, so he would do well as a MIKE. He would be a great depth option should Edmunds depart after this season.

Round 6 (Pick 204): S Leon O’Neal – Texas A&M

O’Neal is an aggressive and physical player, with good QB reads. He also plays well in the red zone. O’Neal can provide depth no matter the outcome of Poyer’s situation, especially with Hyde coming to the end of his contract too.

Jon Witt

Previous Picks

Round	Player	College
1	CB Andrew Booth Jr.	Clemson
2	WR George Pickens	Georgia
3	LB Channing Tindall	Georgia
4	WR Justyn Ross	Clemson
5	CB Cordale Flott	LSU

Round 6 (Pick 185): P Matt Araiza – San Diego State

Many people compare a QB’s arm to a cannon, well Araiza’s leg is a bazooka. He is a flashy punter who booms punts, pins defenses deep in their own zone, and is still developing his skills… sign me up for that.

Round 6 (Pick 204): Trade Out

The chances of a sixth rounder making this roster are low, let alone two. So the Buffalo Bills trade pick 204 for a future fifth rounder.

Iestyn Harris

Previous Picks

Round	Player	College
1	CB Andrew Booth Jr.	Clemson
2	TE Trey McBride	Colorado State
3	WR Skyy Moore	Western Michigan
4	P Matt Araiza	San Diego State
5	CB Montaric Brown	Arkansas

Round 6 (Pick 185): RB Tyler Goodson – Iowa

Goodson reminds me of would-be Buffalo Bills running back J.D. McKissic. A willing special-teamer and a real threat as a pass-catcher, he provides an option that neither of our other running backs do. This offense preaches versatility and Tyler Goodson opens up the playbook, especially on third downs. In the run game, he consistently follows his blockers and has the vision to find new holes when pressure off the edge blows up a play. He does lack some power and explosiveness, but those areas aren’t ones we lack in. His positives at this level of the draft far outweigh the negatives, and week one contributors are rare in round six.

Round 6 (Pick 204): Trade Down with Rams

Teams	Picks Received (Round)
Buffalo Bills	#238 (7th), 2023 6th
Los Angeles Rams	#204 (6th)

Brandon Beane has scored extra draft capital for the next season every single year he’s been in charge, and this is no exception. With most of their needs met, the Buffalo Bills trade back down. The L.A. Rams have a wealth of late-round picks coming up next season, and will need to be aggressive now in their pursuit of another title.

Alex Lucci (Thigh Doctor)

Previous Picks

Round	Player	College
1	WR Jahan Dotson	Penn State
2	CB Tariq Woolen	UTSA
3	IOL Dylan Parham	Memphis
4	LB Jesse Luketa	Penn State
5	P Matt Araiza	San Diego State

Round 6 (Pick 185): CB Josh Thompson – Texas

A fifth-year senior who can tackle and played in a zone scheme? Sounds about right for McDermott.

Round 6 (Pick 204): RB Ty Chandler – UNC

A RB that returns kicks and is a receiving threat? Sounds like someone we targeted in FA that fell through. Chandler is the cheap version.

Kevin Siracuse

Previous Picks

Round	Player	College
1	CB Ahmad Gardner	Cincinnati
2	WR Jalen Tolbert	South Alabama
3	RB James Cook	Georgia
4	WR Kyle Phillips	UCLA
4	LB Terrel Bernard	Baylor
5	P Matt Araiza	San Diego State

Round 6 (Pick 185): S Tycen Anderson – Toledo

With Jordan Poyer’s future up in the air, it’s probably a good idea to draft a safety. I don’t think the Buffalo Bills should take one too early because you don’t want to anger Poyer and because I think the two sides will eventually be able to reach an agreement. However, you do want to draft one at some point, just in case. Round six is a perfect spot with Tycen Anderson.

Anderson is a physical safety who’s a hard hitter, has good instincts, good awareness, and strong hands, just like Poyer. He has great size (6’2”, 210 pounds) and speed (4.36 40-time). According to Pro Football Network, his Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.69 ranks 24th out of 778 safeties who have tested at the Combine since 1987. On top of all this, Anderson can play multiple defensive positions and is a big contributor on special teams, two aspects the Bills always look to address.

Round 6 (Pick 204): ILB Aaron Hansford – Texas A&M

Speaking of replacements, I found a potential Tremaine Edmunds replacement for the 2023 season. Even if the Bills do re-sign the soon-to-be 24-year old, it’s good to have depth. As of now, Matt Milano is the only linebacker under contract after this season.

Aaron Hansford is an athletic inside linebacker who’s rising up the charts after having a strong pro day. He’s a great tackler and has good range as he can cover sideline to sideline. Oddly enough, CBS says he “does a good job of avoiding blocks and can get off of them when engaged”. He led the Aggies in tackles last season with 89 and was teammates with Bills LB Tyrel Dodson in 2017 and 2018, his last two seasons as a wide receiver before switching to linebacker.

Alex Spencer

Previous Picks

Round	Player	College
1	WR Treylon Burks	Arkansas
2	CB Kyler Gordon	Washington
3	CB Cam Taylor-Britt	Nebraska
4	IOL Lecitus Smith	Virginia Tech
5	S Markquese Bell	Florida A&M

Round 6 (Pick 185): P Matt Araiza – San Diego State

He is the Punt God. This is self explanatory.

Round 6 (Pick 204): WR Charleston Rambo – Miami (FL)

Rambo had an inconsistent collegiate career, having three up and down seasons at Oklahoma before finishing strong in Miami last year. He is already a solid route runner but had drop issues and other inconsistencies. If Rambo can refine his game, he will be a solid addition for the Bills at 204.

Pete Rubinstein

Previous Picks

Round	Player	College
1	WR Jahan Dotson	Penn State
2	CB Roger McCreary	Auburn
3	LB Troy Andersen	Montana State
4	TE Jelani Woods	Virginia
5	IOL Thayer Munford	Ohio State

Round 6 (Pick 185): P Matt Araiza – San Diego State

Why not make one of the most talented rosters in the league complete with the best punter available? Araiza blew scouts away at the combine and his pro day. Despite Matt Haack still being on the roster, Araiza could very well beat him out for the starting role.

Round 6 (Pick 204): CB Josh Thompson – Texas

This is another year where the Bills double down on a position lacking serious depth. Thompson is a physical corner who can play the outside and slot. He also met with the Bills during the Combine.

Zach Vaughn

Previous Picks

Round	Player	College
1	CB Andrew Booth Jr.	Clemson
2	RB Breece Hall	Iowa State
3	TE Jelani Woods	Virginia
4	P Matt Araiza	San Diego State
5	IOL Luke Fortner	Kentucky

Round 6 (Pick 185): CB Josh Thompson – Texas

Doubling up at a position of need is nothing new for Brandon Beane. Furthermore, the Bills have drafted at least one defensive back every year since Sean McDermott took over, four of whom were taken in round six or seven. McDermott also likes fifth-year seniors and runs a primarily zone defense. Thompson fits that bill. (Pun intended.)

Round 6 (Pick 204): WR Tyquan Thornton – Baylor

Speaking of McBeane draft trends, the Bills have drafted five WRs since 2018 (Beane’s first draft); all Day 3 picks. Three of them (McCloud, Hodgins, and Stevenson) were sixth rounders. I could see the Bills continuing this trend as well with Thornton. The 6’2”, 177 lb. speedster had a tremendous senior season, racking up 62 receptions, 948 yards, and 10 touchdowns with mediocre QB play. Imagine what he could do with Josh Allen.

What do you think the Buffalo Bills will do? Leave a comment below!!