Buffalo Bills get a steal in the first round of the latest 7-round mock draft

The 2021 NFL Draft is less than one week away and the Buffalo Bills are finalizing their gameplan and Big Board ahead of the first round on Thursday night. The team currently has the 30th overall pick but general manager Brandon Beane has shown he is not afraid to trade up for players they feel can make an impact.

However, he has also shown an ability to be patient like in 2019 when the Bills saw Ed Oliver fall to them at ninth overall. At the time he was a player that looked like a perfect fit but was unlikely to be on the board when they were on the clock.

In this latest seven-round mock draft, using The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine, the Bills find themselves in a similar situation to 2019 where there is a player that falls to them at 30th overall that is a perfect fit but would be a surprise if he was still on the board.

Round 1, 30th Overall: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB (Notre Dame)

The linebacker position is not necessarily a great need for the Buffalo Bills but it would also not be fair to designate Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah as just a linebacker. He is a versatile player that can be used in a number of different ways that will improve this defense.

The biggest thing is that it now gives Sean McDermott and his staff a player who can allow them to play more in a traditional 4-3 defense but also still retain some of the positives of the nickel defense they have spent most of their time in the past. He is one of the best coverage linebackers in this class to the point where he not only will be able to line up against tight ends and running backs but even some slot receivers.

Another area that he helps is pressuring the quarterback, which is a priority for this team. While the focus is on the defensive end position to improve, a player like Owusu-Koramoah gives them a player who can bring pressure from the linebacker position and vary their looks with Matt Milano.