NFL Mock Draft: Bills Find Von Miller Replacement?

With the Buffalo Bills in dire need of cap space, could they target a pass rusher in the first round to replace Von Miller?

With the Buffalo Bills strapped for cap space, hitting in the draft is more important than it has been in recent memory for a franchise looking to finally get over the hump and win the Super Bowl. 

Chop Robinson / Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo may need to find immediate contributors in the draft to replace veterans who become casualties, and pending free agents it can't afford to re-sign. In NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah's second mock draft, he had the Bills drafting Von Miller's potential replacement in Penn State pass rusher Chop Robinson.

"The production won’t wow you, but the traits are there," Jeremiah writes. "The Bills could suffer some losses off the edge in free agency with contracts expiring for Leonard Floyd and A.J. Epenesa. Robinson could be the new pass-rushing partner for Greg Rousseau."

Robinson transferred to Penn State in 2022 after beginning his collegiate career at Maryland. Robinson's sophomore season in Happy Valley was his best, as he set career highs in sacks (5.5), tackles (26), tackles-for-loss (10) and passes defended (2) in 12 games.

The 6-foot-3 pass rusher had a solid junior season, though he didn't match his numbers in 2022. Robinson had four sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss in his final collegiate season. Before the 2023 season, Robinson was named a second-team All-American and added to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

Bills Have a Von Miller Problem; Trade Incoming?

Buffalo could potentially have an exodus at pass rusher with Leonard Floyd, who led the team with 10.5 sacks, and Epenesa, who was third on the team with 6.5 sacks, set to hit free agency. Miller's less-than-stellar 2023 season could also lead to the Bills choosing to cut ties by cutting or trading him to make more cap space. 

Given the uncertainty surrounding the Bills' pass rushers, Robinson would be a solid pick, though, an argument could be made that adding a weapon for quarterback Josh Allen should be the top priority. If Buffalo chooses to move on from Miller this offseason, Robinson would have an opportunity to step right in and make an immediate impact.