2023 Buffalo Bills Mock Draft: Round 5

We are now 10 days away from the NFL Draft. The anticipation is mounting. Teams are wrapping up their Top-30 visits. And the mock drafts continue to come in fast and furious, including here at Buffalo Fanatics. So let’s dive in (for the second to last time)!

“With the 137th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select…”

Iestyn Harris

Round (#)	Selection
1 (27)	WR Zay Flowers (Boston College)
2 (59)	DT Siaki Ika (Baylor)
3 (100); via LV	OT Blake Freeland (BYU)
4 (130)	LB Ivan Pace Jr. (Cincinnati)

Pick #137 (via ARI): RB Kendre Miller – TCU

The Buffalo Bills are still in a privileged position during the 2023 draft, and it allows them to attempt to solve the RB issue long-term. Kendre Miller already had a top-30 visit with the Bills, so there’s definite interest, and his likely availability to start Round 5 might make them pull the trigger.

At 6’ even and just under 220lbs, he has the mass necessary to work in the NFL as a power back. He’s a patient runner behind the line, who attacks the gap with ferocity. Miller isn’t agile, but he has great contact balance and can bounce off defenders to stay upright.

His inadequacies are largely athletic issues, as he doesn’t have the speed or escapability to break off the big plays. 

His role would be that of an inside power or zone runner with little to give in the passing game. The move would likely relegate Damien Harris to RB3/4, making him expendable, but Miller provides greater long-term upside and a mitigated injury risk.

Pick #141 (via LV): IOL Jarrett Patterson – Notre Dame

Buffalo Bills Scouting Report (2023): OL Jarrett Patterson

The Bills round out their draft nicely with a fifth round masterclass on success maintenance. Patterson has the potential to be a starting guard right out of the gate, and is rosterable at bare minimum from day one.

At 6’5” and 305 lbs, he’s more than just a physical threat. His intelligence and vision pre-snap has saved more than his fair share of blitzes from hitting home, and might be something the Bills need to look for if they ever intend to part ways with the oft-injured but still valuable Mitch Morse. Patterson played guard last season with great success, but had three solid years as a centre prior to that.

He’s got good size and excels in run-blocking, an area the Bills sorely needed last season. As a pass-blocker, his timing is excellent, and he takes contact with great balance.

Patterson’s weak point is his lateral game, where he can be a little slow out of the gate. It leaves him susceptible to speedy pass-rushers or DTs who get out of the gate quickly, and he isn’t athletic enough to combat that issue with pure force. Still, he’s technically apt and a more than capable NFL starter.

Bryce Martino

Round (#)	Selection
1 (27)	LB Jack Campbell (Iowa)
2 (59)	OT Darnell Wright (Tennessee)
3 (91)	S Jammie Robinson (Florida State)
4 (130)	WR Jonathan Mingo (Ole Miss)

Round 5: TE Payne Durham - Purdue

The Bills met with the 6’6”, 253 pound TE recently, meaning they could be looking to improve behind Dawson Knox. The Bills have tried to do it in the past with OJ Howard and Tyler Kroft, but have found no success. Drafting somebody of his stature should be the move for Buffalo. Durham is known as a blocking TE, but don’t let that distract you from his receiving skills. Last year he totaled 560 yards and eight TDs on 56 receptions, leading him to Second Team All-Big Ten honors.

Andrea Simon

Round (#)	Selection
1 (27)	WR Zay Flowers (Boston College)
2 (59)	RB Bijan Robinson (Texas)
3 (91)	LB Trenton Simpson (Clemson)
4 (130)	IOL Steve Avila (TCU)

Round 5: QB Stetson Bennett - Georgia

For my fifth pick in the Buffalo Fanatics Mock Draft, my selection is... Stetson Bennett. As a Dawgs fan since birth, I always love seeing the Bills draft anyone from Georgia. From Isaiah McKenzie to Jake Fromm, Georgia Bulldogs always bring a special talent to the team. While Bennett may be an unpopular choice, and may even go undrafted, I thought it would be fun to throw him into the mix. Maybe the Buffalo Bills could use a rookie QB, even if on their practice squad - and Bennett has potential that he could definitely bring to the team.

As a Heisman finalist with an extremely impressive record, the 25-year-old led the Bulldogs to two consecutive College Football Championships. Bennett threw for a Georgia record-breaking 4,127 yards and accounting for 37 total touchdowns last season. He also turned heads and captured the intention of scouts at the NFL Combine this year, with his 4.67 40-yard dash time, and outstanding performance in passing drills. Like it or not, Bennett could be a solid choice as a backup weapon for the Buffalo Bills.

Kevin Siracuse

Previous Trade

BUF Receives:	SEA Receives:
2 (37), 4 (123), & 5 (154)	1 (27)

Previous Picks

Round (#)	Selection
2 (37); via SEA	LB Jack Campbell (Iowa)
2 (59)	DT Siaki Ika (Baylor)
3 (91)	WR Jonathan Mingo (Ole Miss)
4 (123); via SEA	OL Nick Saldiveri (Old Dominion)
4 (130)	TE Luke Schoonmaker (Michigan)

Pick #137 (via ARI): OG Andrew Vorhees - USC

Assuming the Seahawks accept this trade offer, the Bills will get two extra draft picks to help build their team, specifically their lines. With their first fifth-round pick, I have them taking OG Andrew Vorhees out of USC.

Vorhees is recovering from a torn ACL, so this move is to simply build the IOL for the future as Ike Boettger, David Edwards, and Kevin Jarvis all signed one-year deals. Vorhees was projected to be a second-round pick before tearing his ACL at the NFL Combine, but now will most likely slip due to his injury. The question is, how far will he slip? If he’s still there at #137, the Bills should take the 6’6”, 320 pound guard who plays with a ton of power, specifically in the run game.

Pick #154 (via SEA): DE Thomas Incoom - Central Michigan

With their second fifth-round pick, I have the Bills selecting DE Thomas Incoom from Central Michigan. Defensive end is not as pressing of a need now that Shaq Lawson re-signed, but it could still get addressed as Lawson and A.J. Epenesa will be free agents following the season, and Von Miller recently turned 34 years old.

In two years at Central Michigan (24 games), Incoom recorded 85 tackles, 27.5 TFLs, and 15.5 sacks. He played his first two years at Valdosta State (Div. II), where he had 13 sacks in 25 games (12 starts). Incoom is described as more of a developmental pass rusher who plays with a ton of strength and a high motor, but the Bills can ease him in now with six DEs already on the roster.

Jenna Carlson

Round (#)	Selection
1 (27)	OT Darnell Wright (Tennessee)
2 (59)	LB Jack Campbell (Iowa)
3 (91)	WR Marvin Mims (Oklahoma)
4 (130)	TE Luke Schoonmaker (Michigan)

Round 5: RB Roschon Johnson - Texas

The Buffalo Bills are going to draft a University of Texas running back—no, not that University of Texas running back. Of course Bijan Robinson would be an excellent grab in the first round, but there are plenty of serviceable running backs who can be taken later on Day 3. Luckily, he is in the same room as Bijan. 

Enter Roschon Johnson, an every down player who is one of the taller backs in this year’s draft. If the Bills want to add more size to their running back room, Roschon would be their guy. At 6’0”, 219 lbs (NFL.com), “RoJo” entered his Freshman year at UT Austin in 2019 as a quarterback, but soon transitioned into a RB role after a string of injuries plagued the position. He is certainly no bell-cow, but he offers a tenacious running-style. Oftentimes, he will look to fight for every yard — and he gets better as the game goes on. According to his ESPN splits, he averaged 9.1 yards per attempt in 2022 and 6.4 yards per attempt in the second and fourth quarters respectively, compared to 4.9 yards per attempt and 3.7 yards per attempt in the first and third quarters, respectively.

Roschon was also tasked with pass protection and fared very well as a blocker. As an added bonus, much to the liking of Bills Mafia, he is quite the hurdler. Check out his hurdles against UTSA (1:57 to 2:19 in clip) and Baylor!

Zach Vaughn

Previous Trades

BUF Receives:	LAR Receives:
2 (36) & 3 (69)	1 (27)

BUF Receives:	CHI Receives:
4 (103) & 5 (136)	3 (91)

Previous Picks

Round (#)	Selection
2 (36); via LAR	LB Jack Campbell (Iowa)
2 (59)	DT Siaki Ika (Baylor)
3 (69); via LAR	WR Jonathan Mingo (Ole Miss)
4 (103); via CHI	TE Luke Schoonmaker (Michigan)
4 (130)	OL Nick Saldiveri (Old Dominion)

Pick #136 (via CHI): IOL Olusegun Oluwatimi - Michigan

I did have Oluwatimi going to Buffalo in the fourth round last week. However, I am listing him again because I found two other players I liked better who probably won’t fall into the fifth round (fellow Wolverine Luke Schoonmaker and Old Dominion OL Nick Saldiveri).

*See my excerpt from last week for why I think they should take him.

Pick #137 (via ARI): S/LB Marte Mapu - Sacramento State

Want to kick start the safety succession plan without using premium draft capital? Enter Marte Mapu. Not only does the Sacramento State product have the size (6’3”, 221 lbs) to theoretically play both box safety and linebacker, he has the stats to prove it. In two years as a full-time starter (2021 and 2022), Mapu racked up 141 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 20 passes defended (PDs), six interceptions (INTs), and one sack. He also led his team in INTs in ‘21 and ‘22 as well as PDs (‘21) and blocked field goals (‘22). His performance earned him First (‘22) and Second Team (‘21) All-Big Sky Conference honors as well as First Team All-American honors and Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year (both ‘22).

In addition, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, “all 32 NFL teams are looking for long, explosive athletes who can play the run and cover… Mapu has shown those traits as a potential matchup weapon. With his ability to identify as either a linebacker or “big” safety, he is scheme diverse with the talent to be a core special-teamer”. And we all know how much Sean McDermott loves his special teamers.

What do you think the Buffalo Bills should do in the fifth round #BillsMafia? Let us know on Twitter (Zach/@zvaughn2712, Kevin/@kevin_siracuse, Jenna/@cookedbyshakir, Andrea/@heyitsandreah, Bryce/@BillsByBryce, Iestyn/@IestynTHarris)!!!

Featured Image: University of Texas Athletics