NFL Mock Draft: Bills Select LB; Tremaine Edmunds Replacement?

In ESPN's latest mock draft, the Buffalo Bills select defensive players with their first three picks.

Having recently filled a need along the offensive line with the signing of David Edwards, the Buffalo Bills are likely turning their attention to the defensive side of the ball as the NFL Draft draws near.

This offseason, general manager Brandon Beane has already kept a strong defense mostly intact by extending the contracts of linebacker Matt Milano and star safety Jordan Poyer. But when linebacker Tremaine Edmunds bolted to the Chicago Bears, the Bills suddenly had a new hole to fill.

Help may be on its way in the draft.

In ESPN's new seven-round mock draft, the Bills attempt to replace Edmunds by selecting Arkansas' linebacker Drew Sanders with their first-round pick (27th overall).

Writes ESPN:

The loss of Tremaine Edmunds in free agency is big for the Bills. General manager Brandon Beane already has reiterated that he wants to keep Matt Milano at weakside linebacker. This could be a sign the team will be aggressive with addressing middle linebacker in the draft. If Beane wants to add a player with Edmunds' length, frame and versatility, he could turn to Sanders, who is 6-5, 235 pounds. Sanders has value on all three downs as a second-level defender, and he can be used off the edge -- he has an uncanny ability to create edge pressure. The Alabama transfer had 9.5 sacks and 103 total tackles last season.

In the mock draft's second and third rounds, the Bills stayed with defense. At No. 59th, they take Georgia Tech edge rusher Keion White and with the 91st pick they select Alabama defensive tackle Byron Young.

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