As the offseason shifts into its next phase, there is little doubt that the Buffalo Bills are under a lot of pressure to do the right things to build a winning product, and of course, make the playoffs for the first time since the Music City Miracle.
The Bills' biggest asset of the 2016 offseason to find impact players will be through the NFL Draft. After a disappointing 2015 season, the Bills have the task of fixing up the defense with players that more specifically fit the scheme of Rex Ryan.
One day before the NFL Combine is set to begin, how might things shake out? The first of many mock drafts from 7 ABC this offseason:
Round One
1) - OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
2) ? - QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State
3) ? - DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State
4) ? - DB Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
5) - DE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky
6) ? - OT Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
7) ? - QB Jared Goff, Cal
8) - LB Myles Jack, UCLA
9) - CB Vernon Hargreaves, Florida
10) - DE DeForest Buckner, Oregon
11) - DT A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
12) - CB Mackensie Alexander, Clemson
13) - DE/OLB Shaq Lawson, Clemson
14) - HB Ezekiel Elliot, Ohio State
15) - WR Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
16) - LB Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
17) - DE Kevin Dodd, Clemson
18) - OT Taylor Decker, Ohio State
19) - LB Leonard Floyd, Georgia
- With Noah Spence, Shaq Lawson, and Kevin Dodd all off the board, the Bills are in a spot where the value of a more prototypical pass rusher for their scheme does not fit where they're picking, so instead they get themselves a super versatile player in Leonard Floyd. In his time at Georgia, Floyd was used to rush the passer, but more than anything, he was an inside backer in a similar defensive scheme to Ryan. The reason why Floyd is a near perfect fit for Ryan's scheme: he can fill in that weakside inside linebacker role next to Preston Brown, he's better in coverage -- specifically on tight ends -- than what Nigel Bradham did in 2015, and he can offer impressive speed on the blitz. If he builds up some strength ahead of next season, he could be an immediate starter. Some will ask, why Floyd and not Alabama's Reggie Ragland or Ohio State's Darron Lee? Ragland has too similar a skill-set to Preston Brown, and Floyd offers more of a pass rush ability than Lee -- and the ability to rush the passer usually wins out. That's why Floyd is the pick in this scenario.
20) - OT Jack Conklin, Michigan State
21) - DT Andrew Billings, Baylor
22) - DE Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
23) - OL Ryan Kelly, Alabama
24) - LB Darron Lee, Ohio State
25) - CB Eli Apple, Ohio State
26) - OT Shon Coleman, Auburn
27) - LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama
28) - DL Jarran Reed, Alabama
*** Forfeited
29) - S Miles Killebrew, Southern Utah
30) - OT Jason Spriggs, Indiana
31) - G Cody Whitehair, Kansas State
Round Two
32) - DL Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
33) - HB Derrick Henry, Alabama
34) - QB Paxton Lynch, Memphis
35) - WR Corey Coleman, Baylor
36) - DE/OLB Kamalei Correa, Boise State
37) - LB Su'a Cravens, USC
38) - CB Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech
39) - DE Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State
40) - WR Michael Thomas, Ohio State
41) - DE/OLB Bronson Kaufusi, BYU
42) - G Vadal Alexander, LSU
43) (from PHI) - QB Connor Cook, Michigan State
44) - S Darian Thompson, Boise State
45) - S Jeremy Cash, Duke
46) - WR Josh Doctson, TCU
47) - DL Kenny Clark, UCLA
48) - DE/OLB Kyler Fackrell, Utah State
49) - DE Jonathan Bullard, Florida
- The Bills have a bit more wiggle room with their second round pick, whereas with the first round pick they need to add an impact defender. They could opt for an offensive player with this pick, and I genuinely considered Ohio State wide receiver Braxton Miller as well as Texas Tech offensive tackle Le'Raven Clark. But, the talent of Bullard wins out at another position of need on the defensive line. Bullard can fit both odd and even man fronts at defensive end, and can fill in seamlessly at left defensive end for the soon-to-be released Mario Williams. With this pick, the Bills would likely be getting two starters for a defense that needs some additional talent.