The news this week that the Buffalo Bills could be looking to trade up in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft isn’t overly surprising. General manager Brandon Beane has had a history of moving up when there is a player they believe in and want to ensure they have the opportunity to select.
This year, it seemed like a trade up was unlikely considering the Bills only have six draft picks but it would appear Brandon Beane has a specific player in mind and it may not be one that many expect.
The report by ESPN’s Matt Miller noted the Bills were looking for an offensive skill player or interior offensive lineman and these are four players that fit in that category that may be a surprise.
4 surprising picks the Buffalo Bills could trade up for in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft
Peter Skoronski
There are not many interior offensive linemen that would make sense to trade up for in the first round. The obvious choice might be O’Cyrus Torrence but he doesn’t fit the typical offensive linemen the Buffalo Bills target as he has average athleticism.
One interesting trade up candidate would be Peter Skoronski out of Northwestern. He is often discussed as an offensive tackle prospect but his best position could be inside at guard. The scouting report on NFL.com has this quote from an executive with an NFC team:
"“He’s a Pro Bowler at guard but just an average tackle if a team keeps him there.”"
The concern with Skoronski is that he doesn’t have great arm length which could create a challenge defending edge rushers out wide. However, inside at guard he has less area to cover and the arm length is not an issue.
Skoronski also has incredible athleticism and fits the profile more for what the Buffalo Bills look for. He has a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.30 out of 10 and elite composite explosion grade.
Peter Skoronski is expected to go somewhere in the middle of the first round and that is possibly why the Bills could be looking to trade up.