Buffalo Bills trade up in the latest mock draft for 2021 NFL Draft

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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JANUARY 11: Patrick Surtain II #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up before the College Football Playoff National Championship football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

Round 1

**TRADE** Buffalo Bills acquire 21st and 127th from Indianapolis Colts for 30th, 175th and 234th picks

With the 30th overall pick, it would be tough for the Buffalo Bills to climb into the Top 15 selections without losing pretty much all of their late round picks. With hopes of keeping some late round picks, I was targeting trades with the Cardinals at 16th, Washington at 19th, and eventually struck a deal with the Colts at 21st overall.

Running off the assumption that Matt Milano will not be on the Buffalo Bills next season, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was my initial trade-up target. However, things changed when I saw the big board after making the trade up with the Colts. Firstly, the trade included sending the Bills’ 30th, 175th, and 234th overall picks to the Colts in exchange for the 21st and 127th overall picks.

Now sitting at 21st overall, despite Notre Dame linebacker JOK still being available, the top player on the big board is Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II. All Bills fans know the struggles this defense has had finding a permanent solution to the cornerback position opposite of Tre’Davious White. It’s unlikely that Surtain will make it out of the Top 15 come draft time in April, but if he does I wouldn’t be shocked or upset if Beane decided to trade up for him.

Even if the Bills decide to tender Levi Wallace in free agency, adding Surtain to the cornerback room would be great for depth and from a competition perspective. General manager Brandon Beane went on the PFF Cris Collinsworth Podcast and actually praised last year’s 7th round pick Dane Jackson. Beane believes that Jackson could be a “future superstar” and expects him to compete for CB2 next year.

Surtain, Wallace and Jackson would be a great trio in terms of depth at CB2 heading into next year as well as training camp competition. Not to mention all three would be on relatively team-friendly contracts.

21st overall: Patrick Surtain II – Alabama (Cornerback)

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