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Fernando Schmude’s Bills Mock Draft 3.0 | Post-free agency edition

Erik Turner
04/09/2020
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The main free agency moves are done and the 2020 NFL Draft quickly approaches. With two weeks to go, the Buffalo Bills are in a very different situation from my mock draft 2.0. Gone is the first round pick, plus a fourth and a sixth. However, Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane don’t need to worry about a No. 1 target for Josh Allen anymore.

Yet again, Beane did his homework in the offseason, fulfilling all the major holes in his roster. There’s competition for the No. 2 cornerback spot, the defensive line has been revamped, and the offensive line is even deeper than a year ago. With his remaining selections, what should the Bills’ general manager do? Here’s my guess:

Round 2, Pick 54: Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne

Really good players should be available when the Bills pick with the 54th overall selection. Without glaring holes on the roster, Beane can select the best player available. In this case, it’s Kyle Dugger from Leonir-Rhyne.

Dugger is a physical specimen. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 217 pounds, he’s perfectly capable of playing the weak-side linebacker and the big nickel roles in McDermott and Leslie Frazier’s schemes. His long arms (32 7/8 inches) paired with exceptional athleticism (4.49 40-yard dash, 42-inch vertical, 134-inch broad jump) would make him a sort of Tremaine Edmunds of the Bills’ secondary.

The former Division II standout is a perfect fit with his versatility, size, athleticism, and production. He can be utilized in a lot of different ways and become a Swiss army knife weapon in this already great defense. Long-term, he can become a starting safety or even a full-time linebacker. The upside there is huge, and the risk is really minimal, a pretty good combination.

Round 3, Pick 86: Lucas Niang, OT, TCU

A big (6’6″ and 315 pounds ) and athletic offensive tackle with long arms (34 1/4 inches), Niang offers a great value at this pick after falling because of medical concerns. Buffalo’s top-notch training facilities should help him there, and he has potential to become a long-time starter. He would hugely benefit from some time learning behind the Bills’ veteran options in year one.

Running back has been a popular choice there, but it isn’t a position as important as tackle, and the Bills already have a potential high-end starter in Devin Singletary, allowing them to search for a complementary back later in the draft or even in free agency.

On the other hand, Dion Dawkins’ contract will be up soon and he will want top money. It would be nice to keep him, but with a lot of talented players needing new deals soon, some difficult decisions must be made. Also, there are a lot of questions about Cody Ford’s best position, whether it’s tackle or guard, making tackle an underrated need.

Round 4, Pick 128: Michael Ojemudia, CB, Iowa

McDermott loves him some Iowa defensive backs, and Ojemudia hasn’t come just with this pedigree. He’s a big (6’1″ and 200 pounds) and long (32 1/4-inch arms) cornerback who excels in zone coverage.

He has good ball skills and tackling ability, looking like a perfect fit for McDermott and Frazier’s defense. He certainly can compete for the No.2 cornerback spot early and become a great long-term answer at the position.

Round 5, Pick 167: Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty

A talented and physically imposing wide receiver (6’4″ and 223 pounds) who dominated inferior competition and is a bit raw but can become a force in time, Gandy-Golden would be in a perfect position in Buffalo.

Starting his career as a No. 4 receiver, at best, he could sit behind a top trio in Diggs, John Brown, and Cole Beasley and watch and learn as he develops into a future starter. The 2020 NFL Draft is a special receiver class and Gandy-Golden is a nice project.

Round 6, Pick 188: Joshua Kelley, RB, UCLA

Maybe I’m really waiting a bit longer than I should to take a running back, but Kelley is really interesting in the sixth round. He was impressive during his week at the Senior Bowl and, with his 5-foot-11, 212-pound frame and 4.49 40-yard dash time, could become a nice between-the-tackles runner to complement Singletary.

Round 6, Pick 207: Trevon Hill, EDGE, Miami

Hill isn’t a big defensive end (6’3″ and 248 pounds) or an every-down edge rusher at this point. However, he just find ways to get to the quarterback, and those types of players always are going to have value. He would come to Buffalo as a long-shot to make the roster, but sitting and learning behind the likes of Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison can make a big difference in his career.

Round 7, Pick 239: Bryce Perkins, QB, Virginia

Another long-shot, Perkins would come in to compete alongside Davis Webb for a roster spot as a developmental passer. He’s an athletic, dynamic, and electrifying play-maker who struggles with consistency. His mobility and capacity to deliver the ball from different arm angles and on the run makes him an interesting developmental prospect, especially this late in the draft.

 

 

 

 

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Erik Turner

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