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Buffalo Bills mock draft after the first wave of free agency

By Kendall Mirsky

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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TALLAHASSEE, FL – AUGUST 31: Defensive Back Hamsah Nasirildeen #23 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game against the Boise State Broncos at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on August 31, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. Boise State defeated Florida State 36 to 31. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – AUGUST 31: Defensive Back Hamsah Nasirildeen #23 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game against the Boise State Broncos at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on August 31, 2019 in Tallahassee, Florida. Boise State defeated Florida State 36 to 31. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Round 3

Next is another Buffalo Bills original draft pick which comes in the 3rd round at 93rd overall. With this pick, I decided to address a niche need on this roster, and that’s the big nickel position. The Buffalo Bills defense played a base nickel defense last year which means there are 3 cornerbacks on the field and 2 linebackers. This is opposed to the traditional 4-3 defense with 3 linebackers and 2 cornerbacks. This defensive personnel package makes slot cornerback Taron Johnson a pseudo linebacker on the defense.

In attempts to make the Buffalo Bills defense more multiple, I drafted Hamsah Nasirildeen who played safety for the Florida State Seminoles. After the bevy of moves the New England Patriots made in the first wave of free agency, the Bills will have to match their personnel changes to stay on top of the AFC East. The Patriots added two productive tight ends, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. Bills fans should know by now that defending against tight ends was not a strength of the 2020 Buffalo Bills defense.

By drafting someone like Nasirildeen who can play box safety or the pseudo linebacker role in the defense, the Bills will be multiple enough to defend against the pass and the run. At 6’4″ and 220 pounds, Nasirildeen has the versatility to be a matchup piece on the Bills defense in 2021. He can play in the box to support the run, but also has enough athleticism to defend tight ends in the passing game.

Leslie Frazier and the Bills defense could be content running it back with their base nickel personnel with Taron Johnson and Matt Milano responsible for defending against tight ends and running backs. However, Hamsah Nasirildeen would be an excellent piece for this defense as he could mitigate the production from opposing matchup nightmares, including tight ends like Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, Hunter Henry, or Jonnu Smith for example.

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