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Buffalo Bills: 3 players who could be surprise picks in first round

By Brandon Croce

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Offensive Lineman Creed Humphrey #56 from Oklahoma of the National Team during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Offensive Lineman Creed Humphrey #56 from Oklahoma of the National Team during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Offensive Lineman Creed Humphrey #56 from Oklahoma of the National Team during the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

The Buffalo Bills are entering the 2021 NFL Draft in a great position in terms of where their roster currently stands with the players they brought back and the additional free agents they signed. Since they don’t have any glaring needs, this creates more possibilities with what they do with their pick at 30th overall.

The consensus seems to be that the Bills would take a running back, cornerback, or defensive end with this pick. However, these are three players that could be selected that make sense but might come as a surprise.

Creed Humphrey, IOL (Oklahoma)

The interior of the offensive line is one of those sneaky needs that the Buffalo Bills could address both the guard and center position with the selection of Creed Humphrey. The team did bring back Jon Feliciano this offseason and did also sign free agent guard Forrest Lamp.

However, the depth is certainly a concern with the only other starting-caliber guard on the roster is Cody Ford, who saw his season cut short last year due to a knee injury. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that Humphrey could come in and compete as a rookie for a starting guard this year.

The value, and why this makes sense for the Bills, is they also don’t have much depth at center behind Mitch Morse. If he were to go down with an injury, then the likely plan would be to replace him with Feliciano, similar to what the Bills did last year. However, Morse only has two years left on his current deal and there isn’t a player on the roster who could replace him long-term.

If the Bills were to add Humphrey, it gives them a player at either guard or center right away as a rookie in the need arose while he is positioned to be the starting center after Morse’s contract is up.

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