The Buffalo Bills will have some options at pick 27 of the 2023 NFL Draft; however, there has been speculation of a possible trade-up scenario. We here at BuffaLowDown have discussed the possibility and some players they might be targeting in doing so.
What about a trade back though? Several mock drafts have been done with this scenario as well but rather than a mock draft, let’s take a look at a few players the Bills could target later in the first round or early in the second round if they choose to trade back.
I believe this is the more likely scenario for two reasons. We’ve heard many times that this draft only has about 15 – 18 players that are truly first-round worthy, so if the Bills are eyeing one of those, the cost to move up that high would be too great.
The second reason would be the Bills have only six picks in this year’s draft, so moving up would almost certainly mean losing one of those six picks. This is why it makes more sense to move back, where they could potentially still get a solid player that might be able to start right away and gain an extra pick in the process.
Three position groups in this draft are considered to be deep but don’t have a lot of top-end, first-round-grade players. Those being wide receiver, offensive line and tight end. At least two of these three positions are positions of need for the Buffalo Bills.
Before you say anything, I’m fully aware there are a couple of players within these positions that one could consider first-round talent but those are few and far between, while many scouts believe there to not be any at all. Besides, as I mentioned earlier, the Bills would have to give up far too much to move high enough to grab any of those players.
Buffalo Bills NFL Draft Target: Anton Harrison – Offensive Tackle – Oklahoma
The Bills organization seems confident in current right tackle Spencer Brown; however, you can never have too many legit starting offensive linemen and if you watched the playoffs, the Bills need to improve the line and protect their franchise quarterback. Harrison is 6’4″ and weighs 315 pounds.
It’s possible Anton Harrison is available for the Bills to draft at 27 overall; however, depending on how the draft falls ahead of them, they could potentially move back a few spots, pick up an extra third-round pick and still select Harrison. This would be an ideal scenario.
Anton Harrison played almost exclusively at left tackle for the Oklahoma Sooners, so if a team is considering him at guard, there could be a little bit of a learning curve initially. Most scouting sites have him listed as the second-best pass protector in the draft, behind only Peter Skoronski; however, his run-blocking needs work.
Throughout his collegiate career, he surrendered only four sacks, including just one last season in 862 snaps, which also included only eight total pressures and no quarterback hits. Harrison would be a great fit in Buffalo and gives them flexibility down the road as Dawkins ages and as a backup plan to Brown.
Buffalo Bills NFL Draft Target: Michael Mayer – Tight End – Notre Dame
Mayer is a player that could go higher or may drop as well. Fans and scouts alike seem to be split on where Mayer will go. Some even say tight end Dalton Kincaid is the better tight end as well. Where Mayer goes in this NFL Draft is one of the more intriguing storylines.
Mayer by some, is considered a can’t-miss prospect in the NFL. He brings athleticism, and pass-catching ability, and can block as well. He’s essentially the total package. He was even nicknamed “Baby Gronk” but most say the better comparison is to that of the Ravens’ tight end, Mark Andrews, or former Cowboy, Jason Witten.
If the Bills get a player comparable to either of them, paired with Dawson Knox and Stefon Diggs on the outside and either Gabe Davis or Khalil Shakir, the Bills would have a potent 12 personnel or two tight end set.
Mayer played three seasons with Notre Dame, playing 36 games, compiling 180 receptions, 2,099 yards, and 18 touchdowns. Not only was he highly productive in the passing game, but he’s also an asset in the blocking game, whether that be pass protection or run blocking.
Buffalo Bills NFL Draft Target: Broderick Jones – Offensive Tackle – Georgia
The Buffalo Bills could use some offensive line talent to push the current starters and create solid depth along the line as well. The Bills struggled on the line in 2022 and need to improve their protection of franchise quarterback, Josh Allen.
Jones is another one that could go earlier in the draft, but he’s been all over the place on mock drafts, even going early in the second round, so he could be a target if the Bills trade back or even out of the first round.
Jones scored an impressive 85 athleticism score based on Next Gen Stats, the third-best score among tackles at the combine. He’s 6’5″ and weighs 311 pounds and even at 300+, still ran a sub 5.0 forty time.
Jones didn’t play a ton at Georgia, so lacks some experience, playing in only 26 games, totaling 1,264 snaps, over 800 of those coming last year as the full-time starting left tackle. As a starting tackle, he gave up only eight total pressures, one quarterback hit, and no sacks. He was also an Associated Press All-SEC First-Team selection.
With limited experience, Jones struggles a little more in run blocking than pass protection. With more experience and coaching, he could become equally dominant and anchor a team’s left tackle position for years to come.
Buffalo Bills NFL Draft Target: Dawand Jones – Offensive Tackle – Ohio State
Dawand Jones is a very large human, weighing 374 pounds and at 6’8″, he brings elite size and length to the tackle position; however, limited athleticism makes him better suited on the right side, which is where he played for Ohio State and where he is needed with the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Bills need an additional offensive tackle to push Spencer Brown, just in case Brown struggles again this season, Buffalo would have the option to turn to the massive Jones, plus he could potentially be a solid swing tackle if Spencer holds down the fort as the starting right tackle.
Not many in the NFL are going to overpower Jones but he does struggle with quicker rushers, particularly with inside counter moves. Jones has also struggled with penalties the last couple of seasons, committing a staggering 16 calls against him during that span.
Even with those limitations and a tendency to create penalties, he did not allow a single sack during the 2022 season in 419 pass plays. Additionally, he’s incredibly powerful in run blocking, pushing defenders out of the way, and creating massive rush lanes, which could go a long way in helping the Bills run game become more efficient.
Buffalo Bills NFL Draft Target: Jack Campbell – Middle Linebacker – Iowa
I am a huge fan of Jack Campbell’s. He is 6’4″ and weighs 249 pounds, he is more of that traditional NFL linebacker that brings an aggressiveness with him every time he goes in for a tackle but can still cover some ground with a decent 4.65 in the 40. Many scouts and analysts have him projected in the late first to the early second round.
He’s not the coverage linebacker that Tremaine Edmunds was but even still, in Campbell’s senior year, he allowed a quarterback rating of only 70.6 when targeted, according to NFL Draft Buzz. He tallied 77 tackles for the Hawkeyes in 2022, with 47 stops.
He was the 2022 Dick Butkus Award winner, which goes to the Nation’s top linebacker. Here is a list of some of the previous winners, Roquan Smith, Devin White, Isaiah Simmons, Nakobe Dean, Luke Kuechly, someone McDermott is very familiar with, and the Bills’ very own Von Miller. The award certainly doesn’t guarantee NFL success, but it’s a good start.
Campbell also won the 2022 William V. Campbell trophy, which is awarded to the NCAA player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance. This kid is a McDermott culture type, no doubt, plus Campbell has been working out and training with Kuechly this off-season. I Guarantee McDermott is aware of that as well.
Buffalo Bills: Predicting the offensive depth chart before the 2023 NFL Draft
The Buffalo Bills added a number of free agents to their offense and before the 2023 NFL Draft this is what the depth chart could look like.