Mock draft season

[Mat68]

22 hours ago, BisonBilly said:

has anyone else noticed how wildly different player rankings are this year? 
 

one player I like is Nick Emmanwori S from South Carolina.  He’s 6’4” and runs sub 4.4 40.

 

some mocks have him going 19-20-21.  Others have him as a 3rd rounder.  
 

There’s many other similar examples.  Why so crazy this year? 

Isiah Simmons.  Is he a linebaker?  Is he fluid enough to play safety?  With 2 high safety and light numbered boxes where does he play.  In college put him at wide side slot/baker and let him roam.  NFL, narrower hashes more 2 way go situations.  Can he guard a pro slot?  As with Bishop does he have the feel for deep safety and how is he at the point of attack.  Taller safeties seem like studs but none of them have exceeded expectations for the most part. 

[Bongo]

 

OK, the trades are probably cheesy but had to make sure we kept Jordan Philips on the team.

[OldTimer1960]

2 hours ago, gonzo1105 said:

I don’t think l would pass on James Pearce who he has falling out of the first due to character concerns. The Bills need high level defensive lineman though and can’t afford to let him get by them with two teams notoriously known for taking high level players with character concerns. 
 

I actually think that McMillian going between 10-20 makes sense as he was vastly overrated early in the process. Had him at 12 in my first mock but could see him going later 

That isn’t without risk.  They lost Rashee Rice to off-field criminal activity and had problems with Kareem Hunt, too.

[Richard Noggin]

If the first 5 picks fell like this, no trades...

 

 

(I haven't done much reading on Winston and Strong, tbh, but they were sticking out on the board.)

[Richard Noggin]

All 7 picks make the 53-man roster (assuming health and lack of outright busts). 

 

 

Choices at 56 weren't offering compelling value so I moved back a little and compressed my pick selections from 10 to 7. 

[ghostwriter]

Free Agency

Marquise Brown, WR, Chiefs

Amari Cooper, WR, Buffalo 

 

Draft

30: R1 P30 EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku - Boston College

 

56: R2 P24 DL T. J. Sanders - South Carolina

 

62: R2 P30 S Xavier Watts - Notre Dame

 

108: R4 P7 EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo - UCLA

 

131: R4 P30 EDGE Fadil Diggs - Syracuse

 

137: R4 P36 CB Mello Dotson - Kansas

 

169: R5 P32 CB Marcus Harris - California

 

176: R6 P1 S Dante Trader - Maryland

 

203: R6 P28 LB Cody Simon - Ohio State

 

205: R6 P30 DL Tim Smith - Alabama

 

[H2o]

If there was any way this could happen...

 

38. Nick Emmanwori / S / South Carolina

 

56. Donovan Ezeiruaku / EDGE / Boston College

 

62. Deone Walker / DT / Kentucky

 

69. TreVeyon Henderson / RB / Ohio State

 

77. Princely Umanmielen / EDGE / Ole Miss

 

108. Jamaree Caldwell / DT / Oregon

 

131. Mello Dotson / CB / Kansas

 

175. Jamon Dumas-Johnson / LB / Kentucky

 

179. Nohl Williams / CB / California

 

181. Bru McCoy / WR / Tennessee

 

208. Tyler Batty / EDGE / BYU

[ghostwriter]

31 minutes ago, H2o said:

If there was any way this could happen...

 

38. Nick Emmanwori / S / South Carolina

 

56. Donovan Ezeiruaku / EDGE / Boston College

 

62. Deone Walker / DT / Kentucky

 

69. TreVeyon Henderson / RB / Ohio State

 

77. Princely Umanmielen / EDGE / Ole Miss

 

108. Jamaree Caldwell / DT / Oregon

 

131. Mello Dotson / CB / Kansas

 

175. Jamon Dumas-Johnson / LB / Kentucky

 

179. Nohl Williams / CB / California

 

181. Bru McCoy / WR / Tennessee

 

208. Tyler Batty / EDGE / BYU

There’s a 0.0001% chance my friend. Nice draft though!

[Richard Noggin]

Only future asset traded to get up to 10 was next year's 2nd. Didn't surrender a 2nd this year (was 1st, 2 4ths, 2 5ths, and future 2nd). 

 

Hunter CAN play some WR in the NFL, yes? Give him a limited role on both sides of the ball in year 1 unless he proves capable of handling more?

 

 

final pick at #208 was Jalen Rivers, T Miami (could project as a stout LG). 

[MikePJ76]

The athletic has a mock draft this morning from all the beat writers.  

 

All of the defensive guys we all keep talking about were taken and Joe Buscaglia went with this.

 

30. Buffalo Bills: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

 

In case you’re wondering … yes, there were brief discussions with the Browns about Myles Garrett for this mock. While there was no deal this time, the Bills are a clear match in terms of team needs, winning environment and motivation. As for this selection, while the Bills have defensive needs, they also lacked receivers who could separate in the intermediate and deep areas of the field. They also didn’t have a true starter at Z-receiver in 2024. Drafting Golden gives them all those things they were missing, with a tremendous bargain at No. 30. This was the best need-meets-value option on the board, with two second-round picks on the way to address the defense and take advantage of the defensive line depth in this class. — Joe Buscaglia

[OldTimer1960]

5 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

The athletic has a mock draft this morning from all the beat writers.  

 

All of the defensive guys we all keep talking about were taken and Joe Buscaglia went with this.

 

30. Buffalo Bills: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

 

In case you’re wondering … yes, there were brief discussions with the Browns about Myles Garrett for this mock. While there was no deal this time, the Bills are a clear match in terms of team needs, winning environment and motivation. As for this selection, while the Bills have defensive needs, they also lacked receivers who could separate in the intermediate and deep areas of the field. They also didn’t have a true starter at Z-receiver in 2024. Drafting Golden gives them all those things they were missing, with a tremendous bargain at No. 30. This was the best need-meets-value option on the board, with two second-round picks on the way to address the defense and take advantage of the defensive line depth in this class. — Joe Buscaglia

I understand the pick under those circumstances, but I hope it doesn't come down to this.  Yet, I would go further than Buscaglia's comment that "They also didn’t have a true starter at Z-receiver in 2024" and would argue that they have only 1 true starting caliber WR - Khalil Shakir (assuming Cooper leaves in FA).  I am looking at Keon Coleman as anything that they get from him will be a bonus - he showed some flashes by mid-year, but he was a ghost after his injury vs. Miami.  

[GunnerBill]

On 2/18/2025 at 7:45 PM, Mat68 said:

Isiah Simmons.  Is he a linebaker?  Is he fluid enough to play safety?  With 2 high safety and light numbered boxes where does he play.  In college put him at wide side slot/baker and let him roam.  NFL, narrower hashes more 2 way go situations.  Can he guard a pro slot?  As with Bishop does he have the feel for deep safety and how is he at the point of attack.  Taller safeties seem like studs but none of them have exceeded expectations for the most part. 

 

Yea he looks too stiff to me to be a deep safety. A lot of folks LOVE him. I an not convinced.

[Augie]

On 2/19/2025 at 2:15 AM, ghostwriter said:

Free Agency

Marquise Brown, WR, Chiefs

Amari Cooper, WR, Buffalo 

 

Draft

30: R1 P30 EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku - Boston College

 

56: R2 P24 DL T. J. Sanders - South Carolina

 

62: R2 P30 S Xavier Watts - Notre Dame

 

108: R4 P7 EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo - UCLA

 

131: R4 P30 EDGE Fadil Diggs - Syracuse

 

137: R4 P36 CB Mello Dotson - Kansas

 

169: R5 P32 CB Marcus Harris - California

 

176: R6 P1 S Dante Trader - Maryland

 

203: R6 P28 LB Cody Simon - Ohio State

 

205: R6 P30 DL Tim Smith - Alabama

 

 

Please don’t be defensive, but you seem to be defensive.  😊

[RyanC883]

BUF

 

30.

Nick EmmanworiS South Carolina

56.

Elic AyomanorWR Stanford

62.

T.J. SandersDT South Carolina

108.

Jay HigginsLB Iowa

131.

Ricky WhiteWR UNLV

171.

Dylan SampsonRB Tennessee

175.

Aeneas PeeblesDT Virginia Tech

179.

Tim SmithDT Alabama

181.

Upton StoutCB Western Kentucky

208.

Patrick JenkinsDT Tulane

 

Attempted to solve issues in the secondary, interior DL (will need Edge help in FA with this mock), WR (also will need a FA here), and RB.  

[OldTimer1960]

2 hours ago, RyanC883 said:

BUF

 

30.

Nick EmmanworiS South Carolina

56.

Elic AyomanorWR Stanford

62.

T.J. SandersDT South Carolina

108.

Jay HigginsLB Iowa

131.

Ricky WhiteWR UNLV

171.

Dylan SampsonRB Tennessee

175.

Aeneas PeeblesDT Virginia Tech

179.

Tim SmithDT Alabama

181.

Upton StoutCB Western Kentucky

208.

Patrick JenkinsDT Tulane

 

Attempted to solve issues in the secondary, interior DL (will need Edge help in FA with this mock), WR (also will need a FA here), and RB.  

I really like TJ Sanders, but I think he will be picked in the early/mid-2nd and I’m not sure you could play Sanders with Oliver on anything except obvious passing downs.  With Sanders and Oliver together (both undersized) and two small LBs behind them in Bernard and Milano and playing a smaller nickel corner, I think they would get pounded into submission in the run game.

[BlueRed]

On 2/19/2025 at 10:15 PM, Richard Noggin said:

Only future asset traded to get up to 10 was next year's 2nd. Didn't surrender a 2nd this year (was 1st, 2 4ths, 2 5ths, and future 2nd). 

 

Hunter CAN play some WR in the NFL, yes? Give him a limited role on both sides of the ball in year 1 unless he proves capable of handling more?

 

 

final pick at #208 was Jalen Rivers, T Miami (could project as a stout LG). 

I’m intrigued to see how a team utilizes Hunter next year and although he is probably outside of the Bills range I can dream here with you for a minute. 😀
 

On the bills I think I’d put him on a rotation at boundary cornerback (rotate series to play 50% of snaps), use him as a returner on special teams, and give him maybe 30% WR snaps - not the blocking role though, just real route running. I think it’d be fun to have a weapon like that on the bills. 

[finn]

On 2/19/2025 at 2:15 AM, ghostwriter said:

Free Agency

Marquise Brown, WR, Chiefs

Amari Cooper, WR, Buffalo 

 

Draft

30: R1 P30 EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku - Boston College

 

56: R2 P24 DL T. J. Sanders - South Carolina

 

62: R2 P30 S Xavier Watts - Notre Dame

 

108: R4 P7 EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo - UCLA

 

131: R4 P30 EDGE Fadil Diggs - Syracuse

 

137: R4 P36 CB Mello Dotson - Kansas

 

169: R5 P32 CB Marcus Harris - California

 

176: R6 P1 S Dante Trader - Maryland

 

203: R6 P28 LB Cody Simon - Ohio State

 

205: R6 P30 DL Tim Smith - Alabama

 

Xavier Watt looks like he'll be a star. I'll take exceptional instincts and ball skills in a safety above speed and even tackling. We need more than just hitters back there. 

[MikePJ76]

This is a mock plus more of an overall potential offseason outlook from Joe Buscaglia at the athletic.

 

Here is the link.

 

Bills mock offseason: Free agents, draft plans, and trade markets

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6149415/2025/02/21/bills-2025-mock-offseason-free-agent/

 

I don't want to give the whole thing away but he has a great plan for the offseason.  I will just highlight the big things. I will say I wouldn't even pick up the phone and call hollywood brown let alone 2 years for 18 million.

 

Bills cap space to begin the exercise: -$10.13 million

The NFL informed teams that the 2025 salary cap would fall between $277.5 and $281.5 million, so for this exercise, we split the difference and put it at $279.5 million. The -$10.13 million hole is far smaller than what the Bills had to deal with last offseason before cutting all their big-name veterans to clear cap space.

 

on von miller - resigned

In this case, I had Miller taking a $10 million pay cut — meaning $10 million in cap savings. It would guarantee him over $7 million this season

 

Restructures to 
Josh Allen, Dion Dawkins and Ed Oliver

 

Release Sam Martin and trade Elam.

 

he has the team resigning Douglas, Hollins, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam, Ferguson and Quinton Morris

 

Trade for Myles Garrett

trade details
Buffalo receives: DE Myles Garrett, 2026 5th round, 2027 7th round
Cleveland receives: No. 30, 2026 1st round, 2027 4th round, DE A.J. Epenesa

 

Free agent signings

 

Hollywood Brown, Derek Barnett

 

Then this is his mock for the rest of the draft.

 

The pick at No. 56: CB Darien Porter, Iowa State

The pick at No. 62: DT Jordan Phillips, Maryland

The pick at No. 107: LB Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss

The pick at No. 130: EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA

Trade!

Bills receive Nos. 132 and 245 from Lions for Nos. 170 and 176.

The pick at No. 132: S Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma

The pick at No. 173: G Connor Colby, Iowa

The pick at No. 203: WR Ricky White III, UNLV

The pick at No. 205: QB Kurtis Rourke, Indiana

The pick at No. 245: P Jeremy Crawshaw, Florida

 

New Bills depth chart

 

[RyanC883]

1 hour ago, OldTimer1960 said:

I really like TJ Sanders, but I think he will be picked in the early/mid-2nd and I’m not sure you could play Sanders with Oliver on anything except obvious passing downs.  With Sanders and Oliver together (both undersized) and two small LBs behind them in Bernard and Milano and playing a smaller nickel corner, I think they would get pounded into submission in the run game.

 

agreed, he is Oliver’s rotation backup.  that’s why I added Peebles from VT later on. A couple other 1Ts later in the draft as well that look good.  

47 minutes ago, MikePJ76 said:

This is a mock plus more of an overall potential offseason outlook from Joe Buscaglia at the athletic.

 

Here is the link.

 

Bills mock offseason: Free agents, draft plans, and trade markets

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6149415/2025/02/21/bills-2025-mock-offseason-free-agent/

 

I don't want to give the whole thing away but he has a great plan for the offseason.  I will just highlight the big things. I will say I wouldn't even pick up the phone and call hollywood brown let alone 2 years for 18 million.

 

Bills cap space to begin the exercise: -$10.13 million

The NFL informed teams that the 2025 salary cap would fall between $277.5 and $281.5 million, so for this exercise, we split the difference and put it at $279.5 million. The -$10.13 million hole is far smaller than what the Bills had to deal with last offseason before cutting all their big-name veterans to clear cap space.

 

on von miller - resigned

In this case, I had Miller taking a $10 million pay cut — meaning $10 million in cap savings. It would guarantee him over $7 million this season

 

Restructures to 
Josh Allen, Dion Dawkins and Ed Oliver

 

Release Sam Martin and trade Elam.

 

he has the team resigning Douglas, Hollins, Ty Johnson, Reggie Gilliam, Ferguson and Quinton Morris

 

Trade for Myles Garrett

trade details
Buffalo receives: DE Myles Garrett, 2026 5th round, 2027 7th round
Cleveland receives: No. 30, 2026 1st round, 2027 4th round, DE A.J. Epenesa

 

Free agent signings

 

Hollywood Brown, Derek Barnett

 

Then this is his mock for the rest of the draft.

 

The pick at No. 56: CB Darien Porter, Iowa State

The pick at No. 62: DT Jordan Phillips, Maryland

The pick at No. 107: LB Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss

The pick at No. 130: EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA

Trade!

Bills receive Nos. 132 and 245 from Lions for Nos. 170 and 176.

The pick at No. 132: S Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma

The pick at No. 173: G Connor Colby, Iowa

The pick at No. 203: WR Ricky White III, UNLV

The pick at No. 205: QB Kurtis Rourke, Indiana

The pick at No. 245: P Jeremy Crawshaw, Florida

 

New Bills depth chart

 

 

still not sure about that WR room, may prefer Slayton if we can’t get Higgins, but otherwise looking good

[MikePJ76]

36 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

 

agreed, he is Oliver’s rotation backup.  that’s why I added Peebles from VT later on. A couple other 1Ts later in the draft as well that look good.  

 

still not sure about that WR room, may prefer Slayton if we can’t get Higgins, but otherwise looking good

Yea I have zero interest in Hollywood brown.  
 

jmo of course.