Even before free agency, the Bills did not have any glaring holes. Following the work the team did there, mostly in regard to retaining their own players, any holes on the roster were just… small potholes in the road, at best.
Still, those can cause damage and Pro Football Focus recently took a mock-draft swing at the Bills and the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft.
In a three-round projection, Buffalo addresses their pass rush, secondary, and depth in the trenches as the team has one pick in each of those rounds as things currently sit. Those three spots make perfect sense for the Bills, but we’ll let PFF start with their breakdown of the three selections:
Pick 30: EDGE Ronnie Perkins, Oklahoma
Perkins is going to be an asset right away in the NFL, even if it’s just on third down. The Bills need to see if they can get generate pressure opposite of Jerry Hughes in 2021, and the hope for them is that they luck into finding their next great pass rusher.Pick 61: CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia
The Bills ended up re-signing Levi Wallace, but Tyson Campbell is a completely different type of corner to both Wallace and Tre’Davious White. The latter two don’t score as highly in the “athleticism” category as Campbell, and sometimes you need that type of changeup on your roster. Campbell wouldn’t be coming for White’s job, but he might be for Wallace’s. The Bills would be able to see if any of them can move inside and man the slot, a place of slight weakness for the team.Pick 93: G Kendrick Green, Illinois
With Green, Buffalo is getting someone who has played both center and guard, and his athleticism can work in the Bills’ predominantly outside zone scheme. Green earned a 92.3 grade on outside zone plays compared to a 58.7 mark on all gap scheme plays in 2020.
Pass rush is clearly the biggest need for the Bills heading into the draft. With Hughes still around it’s no hole, but a short and long term solution is needed. Mario Addison couldn’t cut it last season and that’s why the team pursued the likes of JJ Watt and other pass rushers this offseason.
On Perkins himself, the junior had 5.5 sacks last season in only six games played. If that can translate to third-down success as PFF suggests, Buffalo will take it. However, other analysis of Perkins, including some from The Draft Network, calls Perkins more of a project prospect.
Of all three picks, Campbell is the most exciting to consider. That’s because plenty of mock drafts this offseason have had Campbell as a pick to Buffalo… but in the first round. If he’s there in Round 2, he could make a lot of sense.
Finally in Green… sure, why not?
Included in the Bills’ re-signings this offseason were Jon Feliciano and Daryl Williams, both offensive linemen. Despite bringing them back and adding other veteran depth pieces such as Forrest Lamp, Buffalo does lack a bit of youthful depth on their line. Green’s versatility is also something the Bills would not be shy about loving.
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