Bills Mock Draft Roundup: Where is Buffalo Trending?
In a normal year, the Buffalo Bills would have the 28th overall pick in the NFL Draft, following their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Round.
However, the division-rival Miami Dolphins lost their first-round pick -- which would have been No. 21 overall -- as part of the penalties for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
So as they try to fend off the Dolphins -- and also the New England Patriots and New York Jets -- the Bills will pick 27th in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Here's where a variety of experts currently believe general manager Brandon Beane and the Bills will go with their first-round pick:
Jack McKessy of The Draft Network: Drew Sanders - LB, Arkansas
McKessy opines that Sanders would be an excellent replacement for Tremaine Edmunds, who left Buffalo to sign a four-year/$72 million deal -- which guarantees him $50 million -- with the Chicago Bears. Sanders was both First-Team All-SEC and a First-Team All-American in 2022 for the Crimson Tide, recording 9.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles.
Charles Davis of NFL Media: Brian Branch - S, Alabama
Branch is listed as a safety, but Davis notes that he is "a stud on tape who makes plays from multiple positions." Branch had 90 total tackles in his final season at Alabama, also adding 14 tackles for a loss and two interceptions.
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports: Dalton Kincaid - TE, Utah
There was a real feeling that Dawson Knox would emerge as an elite pass catching tight end after a breakout 2021 season. Instead, Knox essentially replicated his 2021 production in 2022, catching 48 passes for 517 yards. Kincaid -- listed at 6-foot-4, 242 pounds -- would give Josh Allen another major target to throw to, perhaps alleviating some of the pressure of Stefon Diggs.
Bleacher Report NFL Scouting Department: Jordan Addison - WR, USC
Speaking of not being so reliant on Diggs to always carry the load as the top pass catcher, Addison would be another selection towards that end. After transferring from Pitt to join Lincoln Riley at USC, Addison caught 59 passes for 875 yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games for the Trojans. Mind you, his best collegiate season came in 2021, when he finished with 100 receptions, 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns with Kenny Pickett at quarterback for Pitt.
Rhett Lewis of NFL Media: Cody Mauch - OT, North Dakota State
Mauch was part of three FCS Championship teams at North Dakota State, and was a consensus FCS All-American in his final year playing for the Bison. As Lewis notes, Mauch has tremendous versatility, so he could play guard, tackle, center or some combination in the coming years for the Bills.
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