Buffalo Bills address potential needs in 4-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft

In the fourth and final round of this mock draft, the Buffalo Bills address the interior of the line on the other side of the ball by selecting defensive tackle Jacob Slade from Michigan State.

The Bills essentially overhauled the defensive tackle position this offseason by adding DaQuan Jones, Tim Settle, and Jordan Phillips to join Ed Oliver. This should help improve this position for 2022 but it remains to be seen if any of the new additions are long-term answers, combined with the fact that Oliver is only under contract currently through the 2023 season.

Jacob Slade meanwhile has been a key part of the Spartans’ defense for the past three seasons. During that stretch, he has 66 total tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, and 3.5 sacks with a majority of those stats coming last season with 40 total tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks.

Pro Football Focus graded Slade last year as the third-best defensive tackle among the Power 5 teams and third against the run.

The Bills’ run defense was an issue last year and Jones and Settle should help this season but a player like Slade could be a great player to pair with Oliver and help strengthen the position for the foreseeable future if the Bills are able to extend Oliver before his contract is up.