I ran the FanSpeak draft simulator with my BuffaloFAMBase Big Board to get the menu of players at each pick below. The RD3 is a comp pick for Tremaine Edmunds, and the first RD5 is our kickback in the trade for Rasul Douglas (larceny).
18: R1 P18
LT J.C. Latham – Alabama
This very well could be WRs Keon Coleman or Rome Odunze, or DBs Cooper DeJean (“di-ZHEEN”) or Kamren Kinchens, but it’s a very deep class at WR and S. It was surprising to see my third-best left tackle, available, so I grabbed him to provide Dawkins and VanDemark some elite competition on the ultra-important blind side of Josh Allen. Latham is the draft’s fastest OT weighing over 330. Draftnik Ian Cummings: “Uncommon frame density and power capacity. Explodes off the snap with violent energy. Well-leveraged, patient in pass protection. He’s the full package.” He made the PFF All-SEC First Team going up against SEC pass rushers. Other possibilities: WRs Keon Coleman or Rome Odunze, CB SS FS KR Cooper DeJean, FS CB Kamren Kinchens. There are 46 draft-eligible safeties with a faster 40 than Hyde’s 4.52, and 25 equal or better than Poyer’s 4.5.
50: R2 P18
DT1T DT3T Tyleik Williams – Ohio State
Williams is my top 1-technique, and he’s on the Bills’ most-scouted school in 2023. Coincidence? The draft’s fastest interior defensive lineman, Tyleik had been playing behind Michael Hall at DT3T, so he’s been lost in the shadows a bit. When COVID hit, he ballooned out to 360 pounds –so much for the shadows, except the gigantic one he was casting on the coaching staff. A nutrition plan seemed to help a little, but he was tiring, especially late in games. Nevertheless, Tyleik persisted, and his program has yielded noticeable results. I have Williams at 318 pounds right now, and it’s giving Tyleik an even-more-impressive get-off. Tyleik has seen his productivity break out like acne on a 14-year-old: he’s leading the Buckeye defense in pressures. He required double-teams against Michigan, and that’ll be a problem against the Bills, because he’ll be next to Ed Oliver. DaQuan Jones turns 32 on Dec. 27. Other possibilities: DT3T-DT5T Kris Jenkins (McDermott on staff when his father was drafted by Carolina), RB Trey Benson of Florida State. Benson averaged an FBS-leading 0.51 missed tackles per attempt, the highest mark in college football in at least 10 years.
98: R3 P34
S Cole Bishop – Utah
If the Bills get a FA Safety, they could wait until RD3 and still get another very good replacement for Hyde-Poyer. Cole Bishop was 4th in Lowest Passer Rating Allowed, and tied for 2nd in fewest YPC allowed in pass coverage in 2022. He can cover against the pass, but even more, I like Bishop’s willingness to stick his nose in the fan, as it were. He’s unafraid to dish out the (legal) big hit. Bishop is second among active Pac-12 secondary players with 5.7 tackles per game in his career. With PFF’s #2 of Returning FBS Safeties by Total Points in 2022, the Bills will get a sure tackler with active and violent hands who plays forward and back. He’s physical yet explosive over the top. Other possibilities: Roman Wilson WR Michigan (Wilson: ““I really like watching Stefon Diggs….people who are very sudden with their releases”), Dontay Corleone DT1T DT3T Cincinnati (because BillsMafia needs a Don Corleone).
118: R4 P18
Mike Sainristil CB NCB Michigan
The Bills have had plenty of injuries in the back of their defense, so I think they’ll add new blood back there sooner rather than later. The Bills scouts have sniffed around Michigan more than any other team, but your guess is as good as mine which player(s) they like. Sainristil is as speedy as Kaiir Elam, and as opportunistic as they come. He had a Pick Six 71-yarder vs Rutgers, a scouted game. He’s a Swiss Army knife who first played on defense after starting his career as a receiver. He’s been everywhere back there, reminding Jim Harbaugh of Dax Hill with the way he’s played the nickel position, where we’ve had an injured Taron Johnson backed up by an injured Siran Neal and an injured Cam Lewis. Sainristil has a good understanding of defense due to his time on offense, and has been successful when it comes to executing his position. “He’s doing veteran things,” Defensive Coordinator Clinkscale said. “He’s out there anticipating the issues and doing a very good job of disguising and in understanding what they’re trying to do to attack us. And like I say all the time, he’s doing his job, which makes him a really good player.” I added Sainristil the Saturday after Thanksgiving when #6 did this. Other possibilities: Beaux Limmer C Arkansas (600 pounds bench and 700 pounds squat), Johnny Dixon CB Penn State (INT in the scouted game vs Illinois, 3 solos-sack-TFL in scouted game vs Rutgers).
145: R5 P9
Jacob Cowing WRS-PR Arizona
I was looking for a playmaker with a high catch rate. He has to be reliable out of the slot like Shakir has been, and Jacob Cowing has shown that: 61% over his career. He has to come up big in big games, and Cowing has outplayed himself in those, averaging over 19.6 YPC vs AP-ranked teams. He has to be good at Yards AFTER catch, and most of Cowing’s yards have come from run after the catch. He has an impressive ability to get loose after making catches. Cowing transferred to Arizona where as a senior in 2022 he played 12 games and had an outstanding 85 catches for an outstanding 1034 yards for an average of 12.2 yards per catch, 7 TDs, and an excellent QB rating when targeted of 100.9. Other possibilities: Zach Frazier C West Virginia (4x HS wrestling champion), Javion Cohen LG -> LT Miami (best interview, 2022 All-SEC Guard now in ACC, as of this writing has not given up a single sack in his collegiate career, accounted for 21 knockdown blocks … played 1,073 snaps over 14 games…Top 6 forty time among Guards).
154: R5 P18 S Jalen Catalon – Texas
Why two Safeties? You saw the Eagles game, right? We have to prepare for life after Hyde-Poyer, and that’s going to take two safeties at minimum. Rapp and Hamlin are around 26 years old, but neither one is heir-apparent, and you need depth at the very least. Catalon’s an Arkansas transfer who to date has amassed 176 tackles, 96 solo stops, 4.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 14 passes defended, and three forced fumbles. His season was unfortunately cut short due to shoulder surgery, and that’s the only thing keeping him from being a Day 2 player. I had him as the best safety in the country two years ago, but I haven’t forgotten him. Catalon will walk on Senior Night but can return for the 2024 season as a medical redshirt. Jalen was the only FBS freshman to post 95+ tackles and at least 3 interceptions during the regular season except for Tennessee’s Eric Berry (2007). Number One is a heavy hitter. Other possibilities: Trey Zuhn III LT Texas A&M, Brenden Rice WR USC (son of Jerry Rice), Rylie Mills DT3T 4-3 Notre Dame (made The Athletic’s Freaks List because he possesses a rare combo plate of elite strength, size, and explosiveness).
188: R6 P13 WR Ricky Pearsall – Florida
I’d like one more wideout, maybe a reliable ‘Y’ receiver who blocks well, to give Trent Sherfield and Company some competition. I’m fond of Ricky Pearsall who seems to be doing all he can to attract the Bills. Start with a 69% career catch rate. He’s 29 for 409 (14.1) against AP-ranked teams in 2023. Stir in the fact that he was the leading WR in a Bills-scouted game vs Utah (8 catches for 92 yards including a 40-yarder), and was the leading WR with a 10-166-16.6-1 TD stat line in a Bills-scouted game vs SCAR. Think of a smaller but sure-handed Gabe Davis. He can block, too; watch and listen for #1’s block at the bottom of your screen. Other possibilities: Ajani Cornelius RT Oregon (PFF’s highest OL Grade in the PAC-12 at 90.1), Jaylin Simpson S Auburn (last I checked, leads the SEC in interceptions), Tony Grimes CB Texas A&M (insane Adjusted Catch Rate Allowed of -21.5% vs Explosive Routes per SIS, dad is Dre Bly).
193: R6 P18 EDGE Davin Vann – NC State —2023 ACC Total Sacks Leader through Week 2, tallied 5 tackles, 2 solo, and 1 sack in the scouted game. Other possibilities: Cornelius Johnson WR Michigan, LaDarius Henderson LG Michigan.
201: R6 P26 C Bryan Hudson – Louisville —Watch #61, the Center for Louisville in their win over Notre Dame. I’ve cued it up for you. Nice hand use.
Other possibilities: Jaylen Harrell EDGE Michigan (2tkl (both solo)-2 sacks-2TFL-2 run stops in a scouted game), DeWayne Carter DT3T EDGE Duke.
237: R7 P18 LB Ben Bywater – BYU —Beane always takes a LB on Day 3; here’s mine. Shoulder injury took Ben out for the season. He has one more year of eligibility, but he is first to lead BYU in tackles in back-to-back seasons since current San Francisco 49er Fred Warner (2016-17). Other possibilities: Kendall Milton RB Georgia (9.0 YPC vs AP, 11.38 YPR vs AP), Jalen Green LB James Madison (Led the entire nation in sacks AND TFL’s (21.5 TFLs and 15.5 sacks in just nine games), knee injured, no eligibility left).
Editor’s babble: We can’t thank Dean Kindig enough for taking our minds off this crazy NFL season. You can also find Dean on Xwitter @TCBILLS_Astro.
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And yet again, the bills don’t draft the much needed wr. Diggs has a few years left and gabe is gone, yet you don’t draft a wr in top 2 picks. Jesus Christ.