While we’re still way-too-far away from doing a massive breakdown of the 2021 NFL Draft, our friends at Draft Wire decided to do so anyway.
They went the extra mile, too.
Not only is there a Round 1 mock, there’s two rounds in this one for us to unpack for the Bills. Using the latest Super Bowl odds to peg the draft order, the Bills select playmakers for both sides of the ball.
At No. 19 overall, Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith is picked by Buffalo and then in the second round, then at pick No. 51, Oregon cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is selected.
In Smith, the Bills would add a potential strong complement for Stefon Diggs over the course of the next few seasons. Smith, a 6-foot-1 target, can stand to add size, but he’s a confident player in traffic with good hands. In 2019, Smith had 68 catches for 1,256 yards and 14 touchdowns for Alabama.
While some top stats right there, Smith could shoot up draft boards in 2021 after two of his teammates, Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy, both moved onto the NFL via the 2020 draft. More targets for Smith could be en route.
With Smith, the Bills could eventually be adding a replacement for a few veterans on their roster as well with Cole Beasley and John Brown already over 30 yards old. But interestingly, the Bills did add Gabriel Davis and Isaiah Hodgins at the recent draft, so much of Smith’s potential to the Bills depends on how much those two show as rookies.
In Lenoir, the Bills would add a player that might need to improve his zone coverage skills for Sean McDermott’s defensive scheme, but he’s shown an ability to find the ball during his college career thus far, notching five picks and 21 passes defended in three seasons. He also has solid defensive back size at 5-foot-11.
While the Bills currently have Levi Wallace, Josh Norman and EJ Gaines across from Tre’Davious White, Buffalo might move on from all three by next season.
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