The 2023 NFL Draft is one week away for the Buffalo Bills and the rest of the NFL. The Bills presently have six draft picks in this year’s draft starting with the 27th overall pick.
However, the picks the team has now is almost certain to change with Brandon Beane’s history or trading over the three day event. On Tuesday, Brandon Beane met with the media and indicated it is more likely that they trade back in the first round than trade up.
With that in mind, this is a mock draft that accomplishes that while adding a former All-Pro wide receiver in the process.
Buffalo Bills 2023 Mock Draft: Trade back in first round, add DeAndre Hopkins
For most of the offseason, the Buffalo Bills have been connected to former All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Those rumors will likely persist until Hopkins is traded, which could come during the NFL Draft.
Recently, DeAndre Hopkins hinted at his desire to play for the Buffalo Bills and Von Miller confirmed that on Tuesday during his press conference. While a trade back doesn’t add any additional draft picks, it addresses a big need for the team with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins.
Based on the draft pick value chart, a trade back from 27th to 34th roughly equals a late third or early fourth round pick, which seems like fair value for DeAndre Hopkins based on some other trades this offseason like the Dallas Cowboys trade for Brandin Cooks.
The Buffalo Bills have to wait until Day 2 to make their first draft pick of the 2023 NFL Draft but end up with a player that should make an immediate impact for this offense in Darnell Washington.
The former Georgia Bulldogs tight end has incredible potential with a unique combination of size and athleticism. At the NFL Combine, he was 6’7″ and 264 pounds with an athleticism score of 91, which was the second highest grade among tight ends.
The addition of Darnell Washington gives the Buffalo Bills a tight end that is essentially another offensive lineman on the field that should help the run game, either for Josh Allen or James Cook.
However, his athleticism will also make him a threat in the passing game, which is where his potential really lies in the NFL. It will allow offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey to lean into more two-tight end sets and bring more versatility to the playbook.
The Buffalo Bills turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball with the second pick in the second round. While it might be a little wishful thinking, the selection of Jack Campbell out of Iowa would be a great fit at middle linebacker.
The Bills have most of their starters returning for the 2023 season but they have a glaring hole at middle linebacker with the departure of Tremaine Edmunds. The front office has done a good job of giving themselves options by bringing back A.J. Klein and Tyrel Dodson along with their draft picks from last year in Terrel Bernard and Baylon Spector who could compete for the starting job.
However, there is no question that Jack Campbell would be the best option out of all of these players. Sean McDermott has been fortunate to have some great linebackers on his defense like Edmunds and Luke Kuechly when he was defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers.
The connection to Kuechly is worth noting as Jack Campbell has been working out with the former All-Pro ahead of the NFL Draft. Sean McDermott was asked if he has talked with Kuechly about Campbell and gave a sly answer, according to The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia.
If the Buffalo Bills were to draft Jack Campbell, he has the talent to step in right away as the starting middle linebacker and give the defense stability at the position for the foreseeable future.
The Buffalo Bills have significant questions at defensive tackle after this season with no players under contract past the 2023 season. While it isn’t a pressing need currently, it could become a concern, and rebuilding the entire position in one offseason could be tough.
That is why Gervon Dexter out of the University of Florida would be a great pick here in the third round for this defense. In three seasons with the Gators, Dexter had 125 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss.
The scouting report on The Draft Network describes a player with high upside due to his athleticism. He has the ability to create penetration from the interior of the defensive line, similar to Ed Oliver.
"Dexter’s 6-foot-6, 300-pound frame combined with his athletic upside gives him a natural physical advantage that helps him dominate offensive linemen when he is put in position to attack upfield and get penetration."
At a minimum Gervon Dexter would be a key part of the rotation for the Buffalo Bills and relied upon to play 30% of the snaps but with a year of development could be a starter for this defense.
In the fourth round of this mock draft, the Buffalo Bills move to the offensive line and add Luke Wypler out of Ohio State. Similar to defensive tackle, the Bills don’t presently have a need at either center or guard but Luke Wypler gives them good insurance past the 2023 season.
The biggest question will be whether or not Mitch Morse is entering the final year with the Bills this season when considering the sizable cap hit in 2024. He is getting older and the coaching staff may want to make a change after this season.
Wypler is an athletic offensive lineman and had the second-highest athletic score among centers at the NFL Combine. He certainly has the athleticism that the front office values for their offensive linemen.
While Luke Wypler may factor into the competition at right guard, the best plan for him would be to back up Morse this season at center and focus on that position to give him the best chance to step in as the starter in 2024.
While the Buffalo Bills added DeAndre Hopkins with their trade earlier in the NFL Draft, it would make sense for them to add more depth at the position with the selection of Parker Washington. Currently, the most likely players to step into that role on the roster would be either Khalil Shakir or Trent Sherfield but Washington has the ability to be a starting slot receiver in the NFL.
The Bills could certainly line up DeAndre Hopkins in the slot this season with Gabe Davis still a part of the offense but if they want to keep him outside, it makes sense to add more competition to this position.
In three seasons at Penn State, Parker Washington was a good second or third option in their offense and was productive with 146 receptions, 1,920 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. He would step into a similar role and could be a reliable pass catcher for Josh Allen when they need a first down on a quick throw.
The Buffalo Bills do not have a seventh round pick so their final selection in the 2023 NFL Draft is currently in the sixth round. This mock draft addresses a number of needs on the roster for the Bills and they use this final pick for added depth at offensive tackle.
Warren McClendon was a starting right tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs for most of the past three years with 28 career starts. While McClendon is unlikely to compete with Spencer Brown for the starting right tackle spot, it gives the Buffalo Bills another player to add depth at a key position.
The reason the Bills need that depth is that Tommy Doyle is returning from a season-ending injury suffered in Week 3. If he is not able to return right away, then it leaves only David Quessenberry as the experienced backup for both left and right tackle.
The addition of McClendon would allow David Quessenberry to be the primary backup at left tackle with McClendon at right tackle while Tommy Doyle continues to rehab from his ACL injury.
Buffalo Bills 2023 NFL Draft: Ideal wide receiver to target in each round
The Buffalo Bills will want to add at least one wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft and this is the ideal WR to target in each round.