Buffalo Bills: Mock Draft 3.0 after Free Agency

Brandon Beane has been a very busy man! Free Agency hasn’t been as crazy as many would suspect, but the Super Bowl isn’t won in March. The NFL Draft is 27 days away, and we have no clue what Beane is thinking. The best guess is Best Player Available.

Beane has done such a good job at signing talent to fill holes so he has fluid going into the draft. This week we’re on to round three! The meat and potatoes of the draft. So many players who would have gone higher if not for a quarter back hungry draft will be waiting! 

Round One (Pick 30): Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL – USC

Round Two (Pick 61): Brevin Jordan, TE – Miami 

Round Three (Pick 93): Trill Williams, CB – Syracuse 

Williams is a player that has been utilized all over the back end for a crazy good Syracuse back end. Williams has the speed and quickness to fall in the CB2 slot in Mcdermont’s defense. 

Williams comes flying in at 6’2 and 198 pounds. A long-ranging cornerback that can easily lock down the opposite side of the field!

Most people want a Cornerback in the first or second round, but if Williams falls to 93 and the Bills don’t have a Corner drafted yet, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them pounce!

Erich Schmidt

Round 1: Zaven Collins, LB/DE – Tulsa

Round 2: Quinn Meinerz, OL – Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Round 3: Tyler Shelvin, IDL – LSU

Everyone knows the ubiquitous flex seal meme, or at least, most do. That is exactly what Shelvin is and can be for the Bills ailing Defensive Line. This line is and has been in a state of flux and now finds itself extremely unstable and uncertainties abound for the coming season.

Ed Oliver, as a 3-technique IDL, needs a prodigious 1-technique IDL playing next to him in order to maximize the potential of both players. With the status of Bills IDL Star Lotulelei uncertain, and comparable unknowns for the remainder of the Bills defensive line, a surefire solution is needed to solidify the inside of the line in order to shore up the run defense, create opportunities for rush, and push the pocket back. 

Tyler Shelvin can accomplish all of this. He is a massive force in the center of the line that is a problem for offenses on a consistent basis. He plays with a hyper-aggressive mentality and displays the athleticism to make plays in a multitude of situations. The Draft Network estimates he is limited to running downs but I, frankly, disagree with this. It’s not entirely wrong but is too simplistic. The play of Shelvin could be an enabler for more capable rushers working around him. In 2019, Ed Oliver showed the most growth and his highest performance when Star was playing well next to him. He is an excellent target in Round 3 if on the board when the Bills select. 

Zach Vaughn

Round One: Trade #30 & #236 to Chargers for #47 & #77

Round Two (Pick 47 via LAC): Joseph Ossai, Edge – Texas

Round Two (Pick 61): Hamsah Nasirildeen, S/LB – Florida State

Round Three (Pick 77 via LAC): Quinn Meinerz, G/C – Wisconsin-Whitewater

While he may not be the most polished offensive line prospect, he could come in and compete with Feliciano, Ike Boettger (if he re-signs), and Cody Ford on day one. Worst case scenario, he serves as the backup center and guard in 2021 and replaces Feliciano or Ford next year. For an in-depth profile of Quinn Meinerz, including his background and attributes, check out “The Draft Spies Volume VIII”.

Round Three (Pick 93): Trade Down with Jaguars

• Bills Receive: #106 & 130 (4th)
• Jaguars Receive: #93 (3rd) & #174 (5th)

I did not intend for this to be the #TeamTradeDown mock draft, but I couldn’t decide among all the players I was interested in. (I won’t say who, but I got one of them in the fourth round.) According to the Over The Cap Trade Chart, the Bills gained +81 value points in this trade. Furthermore, as you will see next week, this deal worked out pretty well for Buffalo.

Jeramy Allen

1st Round: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

2nd Round: Levi Onwuzurike, IDL, Washington

3rd Round: Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston

I like the addition of Efe Obada, but Buffalo still needs youth in the defensive end room. Turner sustained a high school injury that limited scholarship offers. He is a versatile lineman with the ability to play all over the line. Turner sounds like he has the tools to be a force on the d-line and hopefully, McDermott can develop him and take his game to the next level.

Pete Rubinstien

Round 1 (Pick 30): Jaelan Phillips

Round 2 (Pick 61): Ifeatu Melifonwu

Round 3 (Pick 93): Tyler Shelvin

One thing the Buffalo Bills have lacked since they traded away Marcell Dareus and the legendary Kyle Williams retired has been a dominant defensive tackle. One that could stop the run, apply pressure, and really change the game. Although Ed Oliver still has the potential to be one, he hasn’t necessarily proved it, simply because he’s been out of position. 

At pick #93, I have the Bills addressing that issue by selecting none other than LSU nose tackle, Tyler Shelvin. Shelvin, a true one-technique, has been a favorite prospect of mine to watch dominate on Saturdays. He has great size, excels in run defending, and brings a lot of overall power, which the Bills have lacked for a while. Adding Shelvin to the mix will help the Bills’ defense tremendously for years to come.

He was my third-round pick in the first wave of Fanatics mock drafts, and he remains my third-round pick in this wave.