NFL
By: Randall Slifer
Buffalo Bills have an important NFL Draft this cycle, as this begins our “second run” to a championship with Josh Allen. As I always say, last year we overachieved with our roster which was a good thing in terms of urgency to win another championship. The Buffalo Bills need starting quality help in a couple of positions, and depth in a lot of other positions. I will do three Buffalo mock drafts before draft day, and this first one I will do no major trades, but one trade in day 2/3. I am a firm believer that we should not draft ten prospects, as we had a high number of players still under contract or extended, and we picked up a good number of players during the first leg of free agency. Let’s get into who I believe Buffalo could take with each pick:
Round 1 pick 30 – DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
I know, boring right? Kenneth Grant has grown some fatigue for Buffalo in this draft process because once the season ended, it was Bills Mafia’s first draft crush in this NFL Draft cycle. Buffalo’s run defense and ability to rush the Quarterback were below average for a team that reached the AFC Championship. Brandon Beane talked to the media about getting guys who can do two things on the field in their position, whether it be a cornerback who needs to be able to tackle well or a defensive tackle who can rush the passer and stop the run. At 6’3 and 331 pounds, Kenneth Grant racked up 32 total tackles, 18 solo tackles, and 6.5 tackles for loss in his final year at Michigan. He also had 27 pressures with 3 sacks and QB hits. Grant will allow Ed Oliver to be 1 on 1 more often, and Ed can play at his best, which is all we asked for throughout the end of the season. Let’s ensure that happens with Kenneth Grant.
Round 2 pick 56 – CB Darien Porter, Iowa State
Our second outside cornerback is a big question mark leading into the 2025 season. Buffalo balked a little bit in the cornerback market this year when the deals were getting hot. We ended up signing Dane Jackson back from Carolina. That sets the cornerback floor very well but leaves more desire for a better starting Cornerback opposite of Christian Benford. Darien Porter is a lengthy, athletic monster standing at 6’2, 195 pounds, with over 33-inch arms. He ran a 4.30 (!!) forty with a 1.51 10-yard split while excelling in every other testing metric. His speed and ability to leverage wide receivers outside make him efficient in man coverage, and his IQ and instincts have him excel in zone coverage. In 2024, he was only thrown to 17 times and allowed 5 receptions for a passer rating of 4.7! He is a high upside cornerback who can compete for the starting role and has one of the highest ceilings of the corners in this class. Darien Porter does bring a lower floor, and he needs to work on his tackling, but Buffalo swings for the ceiling with this dynamic cornerback.
Round 2 pick 62 – Bradyn Swinson, LSU
Bradyn Swinson is one of my favorite Edge prospects, that I believe will be a value pick. I believe he is a top 50 talent, and Buffalo gets him here at pick 62. Bradyn Swinson will not get a full bulk of snaps in his rookie year, but he will be able to learn from Joey Bosa and Greg Rousseau while getting some action on the field. Bradyn Swinson brings a do-it-all mentality to the front line and has a motor that won’t quit. In run support, he sets the edge well while accounting for 58 total tackles, 30 solo, and 13 tackles for loss. He also has some decent bend and speed to get around the outside of tackles, power for a good bull rush, and inside moves to beat a tackle quickly during a kick slide. He has accounted for 60 pressures with 8.5 sacks and 12 QB hits. Bradyn Swinson makes plays in the backfield, and we need that! Bradyn is a steal at pick 62.
*Trade with the Minnesota Vikings*
Buffalo Sends: Round 4 Pick 109 and Round 5 Pick 173
Minnesota Sends: Round 3 Pick 97
Round 3 pick 97 – WR Tai Felton, Maryland
Tai Felton is an athletic wide receiver who is versatile on all levels of the field. He has the speed Buffalo needs, running a 4.38 forty time with a 1.54 10-yard split. His explosive testing was off the charts, hitting a 39.5-inch vertical and over a 10-foot broad jump. He can run a full route tree and can perfect each route in Buffalo’s system. A little light at 183 pounds, he has some issues with press man lined up outside. Joe Brady can immediately use Felton in trip sets or duo sets to create confusion and allow him to stay clean while using his blazing speed as a vertical threat. Lining up Tai Felton, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer in a trip set would leave defenses panicked not knowing who is running what route. This is what Joe Brady loves and prefers to run his offense. Great value pick here.
Round 4 pick 132 – S Billy Bowman Jr, Oklahoma
Billy Bowman Jr is a free safety out of Oklahoma who started since 2022 and is a true free safety in that backfield. Our safety room is filled with good, hard-hitting safeties in Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp. Cole Bishop was designated as a safety who can do it both, but I believe he is better at being in the box more than being single high in the backfield. We added Darrick Forrest, who Buffalo is very excited for, but I believe Billy Bowman is a perfect competition piece for that position and a possibility of Bowman taking the position over in 2026. He is undersized just over 5’9 and 192 pounds, but he has the speed to cover, and McDermott does great things with defensive backs.
Round 5 pick 169 – CB Mello Dotson, Kansas
Mello Dotson is a zone-based cornerback who has great instincts and IQ to attack the ball. In the last two years, he has accounted for 10 turnovers (9 interceptions, 1 forced fumble) while racking up 39 solo tackles and 1 tackle for loss. He is a good Rasul Douglas replacement, as he can play physically at the line of scrimmage and is not afraid to jump routes to create havoc. Buffalo plays heavy zone and can contribute to a zone 3 scheme. He is a little slower with a 4.60 forty time, which doesn’t bode well for man coverage in the NFL. He can sit as a depth piece and learn the game more to be more efficient and can be a good backup cornerback for the beginning of his career and possibly become a CB2 in the future if he puts it all together.
Round 5 pick 170 – WR Andrew Armstrong, Arkansas
Andrew Armstrong is a true X-style receiver who can go on the boundary year 1 into the NFL. Andrew Armstrong is impressive in both man and zone as the only wide receiver in this class for PFF to grade over an 80 against both man and zone defense. At over 6’3 and 202 pounds, he can be physical in press man and has 4.4 speed to be able to separate on go routes. He has late hands for deep shots but can also decelerate well and has good stem work for intermediate throws. Buffalo needs a true X in this draft to be able to move Keon into more of a power slot role and open up his versatility in his run after the catch and intermediate routes. Andrew Armstrong is a steal at pick 170.
Round 6 pick 177 – LB Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
Shaun Dolac was on the end of some snubs in some bowl game invites and especially the combine. Dolac leads the nation with 159 tackles while racking up 16.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and 5 interceptions. He was named MAC defensive player of the week five times and earned the MAC defensive player of the year. He blew his explosive and agility testing out of the water while running a 4.55 forty. He has a good command and leadership that shows his maturity on the field. Buffalo just restructured Matt Milano’s deal to turn it into a one-year “prove it” type deal, to where it may seem this is Matt Milano’s final year. Dolac can start as a weakside linebacker depth piece and then move into a Mike linebacker role when positions start opening on the team. One thing we do know is that Buffalo has had their eye on Dolac since it is a measly $40 Uber drive in between Buffalo’s stadium and the University of Buffalo’s campus.
Round 6 pick 206 – LeQuint Allen Jr, Syracuse
Buffalo does not need a running back in 2025, but we sure will need one in 2026. James Cook is more than likely out the door in 2026 unless by some miracle, Buffalo and James Cook work out a deal. LeQuint Allen Jr is a rangy running back who excels in both the running and the passing game. He eclipsed 1000 yards the past two years with 25 touchdowns and only 3 fumbles. Almost 70% of his yards come after contact, and averages a solid 4.5 yards per carry. He is very good in the blocking game, which makes all three of our running backs in 2026 help disguise if we are running or passing on each play. While Buffalo gets a local guy in Shaun Dolac in the previous pick, they get another local guy in Allen just a couple hours away with the final pick of this NFL Draft.
How did I do in this mock draft for Buffalo? Let me know your thoughts here or reach out to me on Twitter/BlueSky @RandallSlifer. Go Bills.
