Buffalo Bills: New Year’s Day mock draft brings new playmakers
By Randy Gurzi
Round 5, Pick 1 (via Cleveland): Benito Jones, DT, Ole Miss
The Bills have two picks in the fifth round of this draft, the first of which comes courtesy of the Cleveland Browns. Buffalo sent guard Wyatt Teller to the Browns and ended up with this pick as well as Cleveland’s sixth-round selection.
With this pick, Buffalo lands a massive nose tackle in Benito Jones out of Ole Miss. When Sean McDermott came to Buffalo, he ended up bringing Star Lotulelei with him — who worked with McDermott in Carolina. So far, that move hasn’t generated the results they expected.
That leads to Jones coming in to push Lotulelei for his job. Jones is a mountain at 329-pounds and has shown he can contribute as a pass rusher for the Rebels — but that likely won’t transfer to the NFL.
Instead, he looks to be a two-down player who has one job — eat up blocks and get penetration in the run game. There’s always a role for a player who can do that.
Round 5, Pick 2: Lamical Perine, RB, Florida
Don’t sleep on this kid. Lamical Perine didn’t rack up the stats for the Gators but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a weapon in the NFL. He’s a capable runner inside but also can contribute as a receiver.
For the Bills, he would provide a solid change of pace back who is known best as a power runner. Veteran Frank Gore might not be back, but Perine would be a solid replacement and a steal at this point in the draft.