The 2023 NFL Draft begins on April 27 and we’ve already seen tons of mock drafts for the Buffalo Bills. So, what’s one more, right? Ok, let’s be honest, I’ll probably be doing more than just this one. I mean the draft landscape is constantly changing and ever-evolving, so a mock draft 2.0 seems very likely shortly before the real thing.
Other teams that might trade up or down can completely change how the player selections fall. Or when, not if, teams sign free agents or trade players, such as the Bills possibly trading for a star wide receiver, can also completely change how the draft falls.
The Buffalo Bills have added some key pieces already on the offensive side of the ball while signing several of their own on the defensive side. Does this indicate they might at least go all defense in the draft or the majority? Maybe, but maybe not. I think the team will be looking to the future, which could include a wide receiver again, or perhaps a safety to brace for the loss of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, likely in the next one to two years.
Both Nyheim Hines and Damien Harris are on one-year deals, could they go with another running back that can pair with James Cook on rookie deals for the next four years? What about linebackers? With the loss of Tremaine Edmunds, they might be looking for his long-term replacement via a rookie in this year’s draft. I know Brandon Beane has already said they are comfortable with Terrel Bernard, Terrel Dobson, or Baylon Spector competing for the role. Are you as a fan comfortable with that or is that nothing more than coach/GM speak?
Ok, enough of all that, let’s get into the Bills draft picks for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Harrison is 6’5″ and weighs 315 pounds. PFF has him rated the third best tackle in the draft and the 23rd overall prospect. If he falls to the Bills at pick number 27, this is a solid pick and someone that could push Spencer Brown as the starting right tackle.
Harrison played in 34 games for the Oklahoma Sooners, starting at left tackle his entire career. He is not someone seen as an option to move inside at guard but can play at the NFL level at either tackle spot, which is perfect for the Bills.
Buffalo just signed two new guards, Connor McGovern and David Edwards, both of whom can potentially take over as starters and I believe are upgrades on the interior of the line. Selecting Harrison to challenge for the right tackle spot is what the Bills need.
Harrison is largely considered one of the best pass blockers in this draft, only Peter Skoronski is considered the better pass protector. Harrison allowed only four sacks throughout his collegiate career. He would make a great addition to the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line at right tackle and if he beats out the aforementioned Brown, perhaps he could make a move inside to one of the guard positions.
Nathaniel Dell, AKA Tank, comes in as the Bills’ second-round selection. Dell brings 4.49 speed but his number one attribute is his “twitchiness”. His movements are very sudden and explosive, as we saw in his 10-yard split drill, clocking a 1.49 second time, falling into the 92 percentile.
One concern I have with Dell is his size or lack thereof, he is 5’8″ and weighs 165 pounds. He’s essentially another Isaiah McKenzie and after signing Deonte Harty, I’m not sure how Dell would fit into the offense, with two very similar players.
At this point in the draft, this became a value pick and perhaps Dell outperforms Harty and assumes the number four role behind Diggs, Davis, and Shakir. Dell brings electric skill to the return game as well. As I said, he and Harty are very similar players, both in skill set and stature.
In all honesty, I would have loved either a bigger receiver at this point in the draft or maybe another offensive line. But when the Bills pick came around, Dell was at the top of the “best player available” and we know Beane will typically go this route. On the flip side, he could decide to trade up or back and collect an additional third-round pick.
Either way, Dell was the second selection and could be a weapon on a rookie deal that could make Harty expendable and get released from the team, saving them on the 2023 cap.
Moro Ojomo addresses a need in the middle of the Bills’ defensive line. He’s 6’3″ and weighs 292 pounds, a little undersized but just 21 years old, and at his height, he has room to grow and the frame to put on a few more pounds.
His athleticism for a man his size was impressive, scoring a 78 rating per Next Gen Stats, putting him 5th among all defensive tackles in this year’s draft. One concern might be his production at the collegiate level wasn’t what you would typically like to see but there is potential here to develop him into a solid defensive tackle at the NFL level.
Ojomo is a three-year started and brings a lot of experience to the table. Some see him as a possible end but would probably need to trim down a bit to fit that role. There are concerns with his ability to get pressure if he’s lined up inside due to below-average quickness but has a ton of upper-body strength.
He also brings a motor on every down and it’s that second effort that results in making plays at times. As a fifth-year senior in 2022, he recorded 19 stops, with 24 total pressures, including five sacks.
The Bills re-signed Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde should be fully healthy and ready to go for OTA and other off-season programs. Additionally, all signs are pointing to Damar Hamlin making a return to the field in 2023. However, Hyde is signed through next season and Poyer for the next two years and Hamlin is far from a certainty.
Enter Ronnie Hickman as the Bills’ fourth-round pick. Hickman has good size to play the safety position at the NFL level, at six foot and 203 pounds. Some scouting reports indicate some concerns with his ability to recognize plays as they develop and his physical skills seem somewhat average at best, such as his ability to change direction and body control; however, some scouts don’t seem to be worried about his physical skills. He does have excellent speed though, posting a 40-time of 4.45.
On the plus side, with the Bills starting safeties returning, this could be a great opportunity for Hickman to sit back, contribute in some fashion on special teams and learn from the best safety tandem in the NFL, as he prepares to potentially take over the starting role in a year or two.
Chandler Zavala is a 6’5″, 325-pound guard out of North Carolina State. He has excellent pass-blocking skills, with decent run-blocking ability. He’s somewhat inexperienced, not just as a guard but in football in general. He played only one year of high school football and played the majority of his college football at Fairmont State, a division II school.
He transferred to North Carolina State in 2021 but played only five games due to a back injury. He later earned a medical waiver and was granted a sixth year of eligibility and he made the most of it.
In his final year at NC State, he allowed only one quarterback hit and zero sacks on 422 pass attempts but despite the impressive numbers and his performance at the East-West Shrine game, he did not receive an invite to the NFL Combine.
Some believe Zavala could become a very good starting guard in the NFL sooner than later. If so, this could be another solid addition to the Bills’ offensive line and push Bates, McGovern, and Edwards for a starting role for the 2023 season. You can never have too much talent or depth along the offensive line.
Will Mallory is a 6’4″ tight end coming from the Miami Hurricanes and weighs 239 pounds. This tight end class is considered to be one of the best classes in several years. Mallory is one of those players.
The Bills brought in O.J. Howard a season ago, even after giving Dawson Knox a hefty contract. That did not work out, but they tried to utilize two tight end sets early in the season with Maurice Morris. This appears to be something the Bills would like to employ and if so, Mallory could fit the role.
Some scouts question his run-blocking ability, calling him not physical enough but with his height, he could possibly add a few pounds to this frame and not sacrifice his speed. He has the potential to be a solid pass-catching tight end, with a very good 40-time of 4.54 and Next Gen Stats awarding him an athleticism score of 84, fifth best among all rookie tight ends.
For a kid the Bills could draft in the sixth round, he has the potential to become a solid tight end at the next level. The run-blocking concerns can be coached up and improved over time as well.