Buffalo Bills: 5 teams to watch in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft

The Buffalo Bills currently find themselves near the very end of the first round at 30th overall. The direction they take with that pick, and potentially the decision to trade up or down, will likely be dictated by the players taken ahead of them.

As the first round unfolds on Thursday night, the Bills front office should be watching these five teams very closely. These are teams that could be targeting similar players as the Bills but if they go in another direction it certainly would be a win for this team.

Starting about midway through the first round, these are the teams that Bills fans should be paying extra attention to in terms of who they pick.

Arizona Cardinals (16th overall)

This list starts with the Arizona Cardinals at 16th overall due in large part to their need for help at cornerback. They lost Patrick Peterson this offseason and the starters currently are expected to be Malcolm Butler and Robert Alford. The concern is that Butler and Alford are too older veterans and the depth behind them isn’t great.

It would certainly make sense that they would take a long look at players like Caleb Farley or Jaycee Horn and both would be great fits. However, they do have other needs, specifically along their offensive line with veterans like former Buffalo Bills’ guard Brian Winters projected as a starter at right guard.

Even with the addition of J.J. Watt, the defense as a whole is a work in progress and the Cardinals know that they will only go as far as Kyler Murray is able to take them. The focus in the first round could be protecting their franchise quarterback and if they go with a pick on the offensive line that should be a win for the Bills.