Buffalo Bills 3-Round Mock Draft: Finding the Championship Pieces

This is an in depth article of a 3 round mock draft for the Buffalo Bills. These picks are from a mock draft in which I controlled all 32 teams. I drafted according to what I believe are the team’s positional needs, how the prospects fit their scheme, and how the players are valued according to my own big board. Since it is early in the offseason, I did no trades. There will be a separate article published for each NFL team from this same mock draft.

Round 1, Pick 30: S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina

With Micah Hyde announcing his retirement, the Bills need to find a new leader in the secondary who can fill the void left by one of the most intelligent safeties in the league. Enter Nick Emmanwori, a highly athletic and versatile safety out of South Carolina. Standing at 6’4 with elite range, Emmanwori possesses the tools to thrive in Buffalo’s defensive scheme, which heavily relies on disciplined and high IQ safeties to control the deep field.

Emmanwori brings incredible playmaking ability, with the potential to line up in single high coverage, drop into the box as a run supporter, or match up against tight ends and slot receivers. His explosiveness and speed allow him to cover large areas quickly, which is crucial in Buffalo’s system. His presence would allow the Bills to maintain a strong defensive backfield, providing the necessary coverage and tackling ability to counter top opposing offenses. Pairing him with Cole Bishop makes for a very young and talented safety duo that can develop together in Buffalo over the years. Emmanwori has all the physical and mental traits necessary to become a long term difference maker in Buffalo’s secondary, and even the upside to become one of the best in the league.

Round 2, Pick 56: EDGE Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss

Buffalo’s defensive line has been productive but lacks a consistent and dynamic pass rusher opposite Gregory Rousseau. With Von Miller aging and the need for more edge depth, the Bills take Princely Umanmielen. He’s a high motor pass rusher who tallied 10.5 sacks for Ole Miss last season. At 255 pounds, Umanmielen may be slightly undersized for some schemes, but he compensates with great speed, bend, and length.

Umanmielen’s burst off the line of scrimmage and ability to win with finesse moves make him a dangerous threat off the edge. His long arms allow him to keep tackles at bay, and his agility makes him difficult to block consistently. The Bills’ defensive front thrives on generating pressure, and adding an athletic rusher like Umanmielen will give Buffalo another weapon to disrupt opposing quarterbacks. His presence will open up more opportunities for Rousseau and the interior pass rush to create chaos.

Beyond his pass-rushing ability, Umanmielen is a pretty strong run defender, using his agility and lateral quickness to shed blockers and pursue ball carriers. His versatility allows him to play in different defensive alignments, making him a valuable chess piece for Buffalo’s defensive front. If developed properly Princely has the potential to become a premier pass rusher in the NFL and McDermott will be looking to capitalize on that.

Round 2, Pick 62: WR Isaiah Bond, Texas

Buffalo rounds out its early draft selections by adding Isaiah Bond, an electrifying wide receiver out of Texas. With Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins set to hit free agency, the Bills need to inject a strong playmaker into their receiving corps. Bond is the perfect addition, bringing elite track speed and sharp route running ability to an offense that thrives on explosive plays. Standing at 5’11 and expected to run a sub 4.3 40 yard dash, Bond is very comparable to last year’s star Texas receiver Xavier Worthy.

Bond may seem like a slot receiver due to being undersized, but that is a strong misconception. Bond is best fit as an outside receiver on offense to take advantage of his speed as a deep threat, agility as a route runner, and versatility as a pure playmaker. His ability to stretch the field forces defenses to respect him and cover deep, opening up underneath routes for not just himself but other players like Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid. For Buffalo Keon Coleman will serve as the team’s X receiver, Khalil Shakir will man the slot as their Y, and Bond will complete the trifecta sliding in as the second receiver outside as their Z. This trio would give Josh Allen an exciting and well balanced receiving corps with plenty of big play ability.

Bond’s game isn’t just about speed though, he’s a sharp route runner who can separate from defenders with quick cuts and top tier acceleration. His agility allows him to make defenders miss after the catch, making him a threat on screens and short routes for a quick and easy gain. The addition of Bond would help replace lost production and create new dimensions in the Bills’ passing game. Getting Allen a much needed deep threat to take advantage of his cannon of an arm would prove to be a pivotal decision for the Bills who are looking to finally get to the Super Bowl.