It hasn’t fully set in that the Buffalo Bills are done with the season just yet, but looking ahead to the offseason is a crucial step in fans attempting to get over a playoff loss like the one suffered in the AFC Divisional Round.
In the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, the Bills have some work to do. While they came in as preseason Super Bowl favorites a year ago, the Bills do have some areas they have to improve.
One of those areas is in the run game, which the Bills just can’t seem to solidify. Drafting James Cook last year looked to be the move, but Buffalo didn’t quite trust him as a rookie.
Maybe, pairing Cook with someone he knows well could provide a little extra motivation, and quite a bit more excitement to this offense. Let’s give it a shot in our latest mock draft.
To begin this 2023 mock draft, the Buffalo Bills pull off a surprising trade for Dalvin Cook
If the Vikings cut or trade Cook before June 1, they would save about $8 million. Minnesota’s run game was no where near their focus last season under Kevin O’Connell, and with the offense looking more and more dependent on the pass, Minnesota could use this money elsewhere; eh em, defense.
Buffalo getting Cook would be a dream for he and his brother James, who would get to play together at the highest level. Buffalo would get a huge weapon in Dalvin, one they would actually use. Believe it or not, the Bills were a top-10 rushing attack last season, despite not having a true number one running back.
With the Cook brothers and Josh Allen’s rushing threat, this offense becomes almost unstoppable, so long as they add a couple other necessary pieces.
Cook’s contract might be an issue, but if he would agree to restructuring — something Brandon Beane is savvy at doing — then the Bills should be fine, cap-wise.
Alright, let’s dig into the mock.
One of the Bills’ biggest offseason needs is along their offensive line. Despite attempting to fill the holes over the last few seasons, Beane has missed on both draft picks and free agent signings. The fact is, Josh Allen needs better protection. For that reason, Buffalo spends its very first pick in the draft on an offensive lineman.
Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence is widely regarded as the top interior offensive lineman in the draft, but will go later in the first due to other positions being far superior. There is going to be a run on quarterbacks, and we could see four of them go in the first. Edge rusher is also a big position to watch in the first round.
Torrence could see himself drop a bit, which would be ideal for the Bills, who need a strong interior presence. Torrence transferred from the Sun Belt Conference to the SEC last year and didn’t miss a beat. Playing just as well against top-tier competition, he solidified himself as a surefire pick in this year’s draft.
The Bills are getting a massive man at 6-foot-5, 345lbs. Torrence has legitimate strength and anchor to play on the inside and protect the quarterback. He handles bull rushers well and has proven to be dependable in the run game, also. The Bills get a Day 1 starter and a no-brainer selection here at no. 27 overall.
Last year, the Bills signed All Pro pass rusher Von Miller in a move that looked to put this team over the top. With Miller on board, this defense looked to be a completely different beast. He’s a true game changer.
However, when Miller went down, the Bills’ pass rush went from potentially-elite to almost non-existent and inconsistent at best. The Bills clearly need to find another edge rusher to compliment Miller, as this is another position Beane has yet to find a real game-wrecker at. The Bills have guys like AJ Epenesa and Gregory Rousseau, but neither one have proven to be able to take over when needed.
Because the Bills continue to lack another top-tier pass rusher, they go with Ohio State’s Zach Harrison here in the second round. This pick may worry some fans, mostly because Harrison is one of those players with tremendous ceiling, yet hasn’t been able to fully hit that ceiling just yet.
At 6-foot-5 and 272lbs, Harrison offers great size and is an explosive pass rusher. Most of his inconsistencies can be attributed to the mental aspect of the game. If he gets the right coaching and sets his mind to becoming a dominant pass rusher, Harrison can absolutely do that. Last year with the Buckeyes, Harrison tallied 3.5 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss.
Staying with the Buckeyes, the Bills go back to Ohio State in the third round and select offensive tackle Dawand Jones. Fans will be thrilled to know that the Bills are taking this weakness seriously, going offensive line with two of their first three picks.
Not to mention, overall, Buffalo is building the trenches early in the draft, which is going to be crucial to their future success.
Because Josh Allen found himself under pressure more and more toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, this area is highly important to address.
Looking at his athletic profile, Jones is a monster. Standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 350lbs, Jones possesses rare size. He also moves well for a man his size, being able to handle quicker rushers off the edge.
The main reason he’ll be taken near the third round is due to needing improvement with his overall lateral movement. Scouting reports say he is a bit tighter in his lower half, which is something he’ll have to work on as a pro. But, he’ll still come in with a real chance to start right away, giving Allen better protection against those elite pass rushers he faces on a regular basis.
The Bills very well could lose safety Jordan Poyer this offseason, depending on whether or not they can afford to keep him. Whether or not they keep him, addressing safety for the future is a great idea, especially since Micah Hyde was lost last season to injury.
Here at pick no. 91, the Bills get one of the better safeties in the draft in Georgia’s Christopher Smith. It’s always a good plan to snag a defender from Georgia over the last few years, regardless of position. But, Smith comes to the Bills with very few weaknesses.
Smith is great at processing plays before they unfold. His anticipation is on another level, which allows him to do a little bit of everything. Whether it’s coming up with a quarterback pressure, a pass deflection, interception or even an occasional defensive touchdown, Smith does it all.
He is a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, but Smith is an athlete. He has above average speed and quick feet, allowing him to match many receivers across the middle and even deep. Smith excels in both the pass and run game, and is a physical and willing tackler. He’s unafraid of contact, and he’ll make sure the ball carrier feels his presence.
In Round 4, the Bills finally go out and get another wide receiver to pair with Stefon Diggs. At pick 119, Buffalo selects Oklahoma wideout Marvin Mims. This late in the draft, the Bills will be looking as though they stole a playmaker like Mims.
The Oklahoma product stands just 5-foot-11 and weighs around 180 pounds, but Mims is as explosive a player as you’ll find in this draft. His best trait is just that: explosiveness. He is able to win deep and track the football well, but also does a good job at the point of catch. He can win on those contested catches if need be, but more often than not he’s beaten his man down field and has gotten himself open.
Over the past two seasons, Mims has averaged over 20 yards per reception, proving to be a big play machine. Not only can he beat you deep, though, but Mims wins after the catch too. He is a YAC monster when he needs to be, making moves after the catch and getting downfield in a hurry.
Again, his biggest concern is his size. But, his explosiveness is something this Bills offense could really use. Getting another big-time playmaker at wide receiver would make Buffalo’s offense into the thing of nightmares for opposing defensive coordinators.
With their second pick in the fourth round, the Bills go back to the offensive line, trying hard to get this position right. At pick 130, Buffalo drafts Notre Dame’s Jarrett Patterson, an interior lineman. Coming into the pros, Patterson can play either guard or center, giving the Bills some flexibility which is nice.
He’s a bigger, stockier build and thus doesn’t offer the most athleticism, but Patterson’s best traits have to do with his football IQ. He knows how to sustain a block when he gets control. He has a good base with plenty of power, although Patterson does best when he’s working combo blocks.
He’d have have a chance to compete as a starter, and potentially become a versatile piece for this offensive line.
Here in Round 5, the Bills simply go best player available. LSU cornerback Mekhi Garner offers the Bills excellent size at 6-foot-2 and brings knowledge to the table. He’s a smart player who does well to read the quarterback’s eyes and play a bit more free when allowed.
His size is his biggest strength, being able to hang with receivers and go disrupt at the point of catch. In three straight seasons, Garner has tallied at least seven passes defensed and has experience being a nuisance for opposing wideouts.
In Round 6, the Bills try to find a diamond in the rough and pair another tight end with Dawson Knox. The 6-foot-5 tight end out of Michigan comes to Buffalo as a great blocker, first and foremost. He is unafraid to get his hands dirty and takes pride in blocking, which will certainly help in the run game and when it comes to protecting Josh Allen.
He didn’t make as much of an impact in the passing game, but Schoonmaker does show the ability to get open and find the weaker spots in zone coverages. That’s something that the best tight ends can do, and he’s got the ability to do it.
Lastly, the Bills once again go wide receiver. This time, with their last pick in the draft, Buffalo selects Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed.
You’ll notice a theme, here, with the two wide receivers the Bills drafted. Like Mims, Reed is a phenomenal run-after-catch talent. He possesses similar size to Mims at 5-foot-11, and between the two of them, they could easily replace guys like John Brown, Cole Beasley or Jamison Crowder.
Adding youth and the ability to get up field after the catch is a big win for the Bills, who need to overhaul the position. Reed finished last season with 55 receptions for 636 yards and five scores for the Spartans.