Buffalo Bills go cornerback in first round of 2021 mock draft

COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 02: Defensive back Israel Mukuamu #24 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 2, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 02: Defensive back Israel Mukuamu #24 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 2, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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The Buffalo Bills add a cornerback in the first round in a recent mock draft done by WalterFootball.com.

While the 2021 NFL Draft is still over nine months away, it is never too early to start looking at mock drafts and what the Buffalo Bills might do next offseason. Charlie Campbell at WalterFootball.com recently did a mock draft of the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and Campbell had the Bills selecting cornerback Israel Mukuamu out of the University of South Carolina.

"27. Buffalo Bills: Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina  The Bills could consider adding a corner to go with Tre’Davious White.Mukuamu was very good in 2019, collecting four interceptions, nine passes broken up and 59 tackles. The sophomore produced a huge game against Georgia, shutting down the Bulldogs’ passing attack to lead the Gamecocks to a huge upset win. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Mukuamu is a big corner who fights and competes. The question to get answered during his junior year will be if he has enough speed to be an early-rounder."

Mukuamu had a breakout season last year for the Gamecocks and he finished the year with 59 total tackles, two sacks and four interceptions. As Campbell notes, Mukuamu is a big corner at 6’4″ and playing in the Bills defense a lack of speed isn’t too big of a concern since they primarily play zone.

Why a cornerback makes sense early for the Buffalo Bills

This offseason the Buffalo Bills brought in competition for the starting cornerback position opposite Tre’Davious White by signing Josh Norman and E.J. Gaines in free agency to compete with Levi Wallace. While the moves are enough to get the team through this season, neither player is really a long term answer at the position.

If the Buffalo Bills were to use a first round pick on cornerback then it would give them that long-term solution at the position. However, it also provides the Buffalo Bills some added insurance at the position because Tre’Davious White is only under contract through the 2021 season.

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The Bills star cornerback is likely looking for a massive contract and while the Buffalo Bills wouldn’t want to see him leave, when negotiations for these big deals take place there is certainly a lot of unknowns. If the Buffalo Bills draft a cornerback like Israel Mukuamu it gives them a good fallback option that could step in as their top cornerback on this defense.