The 2017 NFL Draft is coming into shape, now with only three weeks to go until the first round begins.
The Buffalo Bills still have plenty of different ways they could go in the first round, which puts them both at an advantage and a disadvantage if you think about it. It's an advantage because no one can really nail them down as to what position they're going to target in the first round, making it harder for teams to move ahead of them and taking the player they covet.
Though, the disadvantage is that they have a big number of needs and not a lot of picks to fill them. How will they go about it on April 27? A new look at how it could all shake out, going all the way up to the Bills final pick in the second round.
(*Note: Mock Drafts are, and always should be, for entertainment purposes only.)
Round One
1) 
- EDGE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
- The cement seems to be drying with this pick and player combination.
2) 
- DE Solomon Thomas, Stanford
- Though they might look to trade down, finding a willing partner to move all the way up to No. 2 can be a daunting task given the cost. If they stand pat, Thomas fits the need for an edge rusher.
3) 
- S Malik Hooker, Ohio State
- The range he shows makes him into a potential game-changing player, and this early in the draft, that's what you're looking for.
4)
- DL Jonathan Allen, Alabama
- The Jaguars could also go with Fournette or even O.J. Howard here according to some, but Tom Coughlin built his team in New York around the defensive line, and this would be another blue-chip piece.
5) **TRADE 
(from LAR via TEN) - S Jamal Adams, LSU
- With the New York Jets being a bit unpredictable and needing several pieces to add to their secondary, the Chargers move up two spots to secure getting one of the top two safeties in the draft in Jamal Adams. For Tennessee, GM Jon Robinson improved one of his picks by 73 spots, only at the cost of two spots.
Trade Details: Chargers get 5th overall, 124th overall. Titans get 7th overall, 71st overall.
6) 
- RB Leonard Fournette, LSU
- The Jets don't have a long-term option at quarterback just yet, but Fournette seems as though he's got all the potential to become a star in the league, and that could even come quicker heading to a team that will have to feature the run game by necessity.
7) 
(from LAC) - CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State
- Lattimore slides down slightly due to his hamstring concerns, but for the Titans, they're getting the clear-cut top cornerback in the draft.
8) 
- TE O.J. Howard, Alabama
- A bit of an odd pairing, but it would give Cam Newton another target, and also can help pave the way for the next great tight end in their offense. Greg Olsen is 32 years old and has only two years left on his current contract, and with how important the position is to this team, it's better to build their top flight replacement now than wait until it's too late.
9) 
- OT/G Forrest Lamp, Western Kentucky
- This may be considered high by some, but Lamp's name keeps getting tossed around as the "best offensive lineman" in this year's draft. He played offensive tackle in college, but some even believe he can line up at all five spots. Versatility is king in the NFL Draft, especially for a Bengals team that has needs all over the line.
10) **TRADE 
- QB Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina
- That's right, for the second straight time, I have the Buffalo Bills trading out of 10th overall. With how many needs they have and how little picks they currently possess, it makes a great deal of sense for them to move out -- especially considering the oncoming craze for quarterbacks. This seems to be right around the time when the quarterback madness will begin, with New Orleans, Cleveland, and Arizona all on deck after the Bills. Houston, who missed out on Tony Romo, doesn't wait and gets their QB1.
Trade Details: Texans get 10th overall, 2018 5th-round pick. Bills get 25th overall, 57th overall, 130th overall, 2018 3rd-round pick.
11) 
- LB Haason Reddick, Temple
12) **TRADE
(from PHI) - LB Reuben Foster, Alabama
- With the Saints opting for Reddick, the linebacker-hungry Dolphins pounce on Reuben Foster and send picks to the pick-hungry Browns.
Trade Details: Dolphins get 12th overall, 175th overall. Browns get 22nd overall, 54th overall, 2018 4th-round pick.
13) 
- WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan
14) 
(from MIN) - RB Christian McCaffery, Stanford
- Lacking a true No. 1 running back on the roster, the Eagles ignore the need for a cornerback for the time being to add one of the more explosive runners in this year's draft.
15) 
- OT Garrett Bolles, Utah
16) 
- EDGE Derek Barnett, Tennessee
17) 
- RB Dalvin Cook, Florida State
18) - WR Mike Williams, Clemson
- The Mike Williams selection can help Marcus Mariota evolve, giving the Titans a jump-ball element to their offensive passing attack.
19) 
- CB Tre'Davious White, LSU
20) 
- DL Malik McDowell, Michigan State
21) 
- S/LB Jabrill Peppers, Michigan
22) (from MIA) - QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson
- The Browns move down and still get the extremely productive Deshaun Watson as their potential franchise quarterback. Hue Jackson would be able to do quite a bit with a skill-set like Watson's, while also developing him in the areas of the game that he's lacking.
23) 
- TE David Njoku, Miami (FL)
24) 
- WR John Ross, Washington
25) 
(from HOU) - S Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut
- Rather than taking a cornerback, with their first selection, I have the Bills going with Obi Melifonwu -- a safety that oozes both potential and versatility. He stood out during the Senior Bowl week in Mobile and flashed versatility to line up a little of everywhere for a team -- whether it be safety, linebacker, or even cornerback. At 6-foot-4 and 224-pounds, Melifonwu has the length and strength to battle in coverage with some of the bigger receivers and tight ends, while also showing a great deal of range to his game when lining up as the centerfielder of a defense. Given his ability, versatility, and fit into Sean McDermott's scheme, this makes for a dynamic pick that can give the Bills a lot of options defensively.
26) 
- RB Joe Mixon, Oklahoma
27) 
- QB Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
28) 
- CB Gareon Conley, Ohio State
29) 
- CB Adoree Jackson, USC
30) 
- EDGE Takkarist McKinley, UCLA
31) 
- EDGE Jordan Willis, Kansas State
32) (from NE) - QB DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame
Round Two
33) - S Justin Evans, Texas A&M
34) - OT Cam Robinson, Alabama
35) - RB Alvin Kamara, Tennessee
36) - OT Antonio Garcia, Troy
37) 
- G Dion Dawkins, Temple
38) - OT Taylor Moton, Western Michigan
39) - CB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
40) - CB Kevin King, Washington
41) - EDGE Taco Charlton, Michigan
42) - DT Caleb Brantley, Florida
43) - CB Quincy Wilson, Florida
44) - LB Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
- Even with the addition of Melifonwu in the first round, the Bills are still without a speedy outside linebacker that has ability in coverage and someone that can work in unison with the middle linebacker (Reggie Ragland appears to be the favorite at the moment). Zach Cunningham can step in and help as the immediate starting weakside linebacker, relegating Ramon Humber to more of a backup and special teams role -- one that suits him best, anyway. The 6-foot-3, 234-pound Cunningham was ultra productive last season, racking up 125 tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss. Even if they don't use him every down defensively, he's also a noted special teams player and can contribute in that way as well.
45) - CB Sidney Jones, Washington
46) - EDGE T.J. Watt, Wisconsin
47) - WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC
48) 
- LB Jarrad Davis, Florida
49) - QB Nathan Peterman, Pittsburgh
50) - RB D'Onta Foreman, Texas
51) - TE Adam Shaheen, Ashland
52) (from TEN) - TE Evan Engram, Ole Miss
53) - DT Larry Ogunjobi, Charlotte
54) (from MIA) - WR Zay Jones, East Carolina
55) - QB Davis Webb, Cal
56) - LB Tyus Bowser, Houston
57) (from HOU) - WR Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington
- With their selection from the trade down with Houston, the Bills finally address the wide receiver position with Cooper Kupp, who is an incredible route runner and showed terrific ability in gaining separation because of it. Kupp checked in at 6-foot-2 and 204-pounds and was the darling of the Senior Bowl. However, a slower time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine seems to have thwarted the thoughts that he could push into the first round. He's still an explosive player that can win against cornerbacks, and dominated play while in Mobile. The production and ability are there if you can overlook the timed speed. This would be a terrific pickup for the Bills, and he would immediately become a favorite to take a lot of snaps for the Bills at wide receiver in 2017.
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