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The Buffalo Bills, once again in 2022, suffered a disappointing end to their season with a bitter playoff loss. They still have a roster capable of competing for a Super Bowl crown, but this year’s draft will be critical in adding pieces to get them over the hump. With no trading of picks allowed, and the Bills only owning picks through the sixth round, here are the predicted Buffalo selections by each of our pro football analysts – Connor Pohlman, Josh Pohlman, Scott Prelewicz and Ray Prelewicz:

Round 1, Pick #27

Connor Pohlman – Quentin Johnson, WR, TCU – his combination of size and speed make him an attractive option for Brandon Beane and company to add to Josh Allen’s arsenal of weapons.

Josh Pohlman – Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College – a quick, versatile receiver who can play outside or in the slot. He would be a younger, faster, better slot option for Buffalo than either Cole Beasley or Isaiah McKenzie.

Scott Prelewicz – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame – he may or may not be the best tight end in this year’s class, but his contested catch ability paired with above average blocking ability would make him an outstanding addition to the Bills’ already potent offense.

Ray Prelewicz – Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas – the Bills fill the hole left by the departure of Tremaine Edmunds with a high-motor, high production player.

Round 2, Pick #59

Connor Pohlman – Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa – a steady and dependable player who tackles well and was a captain for the Hawkeyes. That’s a trait the Bills look for, and they get their replacement for the departed Tremaine Edmunds.

Josh Pohlman – Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin – a big, quick run stuffer fills the need on the interior defensive line for the Bills, where they have no players signed beyond the 2023 season.

Scott Prelewicz – Cody Mauch, T, North Dakota State – the darling of this year’s Senior Bowl leaped up draft boards since the college season ended. His ability to play any position on the offensive line make him an absolute target for Buffalo.

Ray Prelewicz – Steve Avila, G, TCU – with an eye toward improving protection for Josh Allen and giving a boost to the run game, the Bills add a mean-tempered solid technician who projects to be a day 1 starter.

Round 3, Pick #91

Connor Pohlman -Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan – as a five year college player he brings plenty of experience to the team as they look for backup options behind Dawson Knox. He’s a big 6’5 target and an adequate pass blocker.

Josh Pohlman – Henry To’o To’o, LB, Alabama – a running back in high school, he made the switch to defense and is a high level NFL prospect now. He combines speed with good tackling ability and is a smart, instinctive player.

Scott Prelewicz – Matthew Bergeron, T, Syracuse – another offensive line gem who played college ball just up the thruway at Syracuse so the Bills should have a complete scouting report on him. He could easily slide inside to guard, where the Bills have a bigger need.

Ray Prelewicz – Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State – Buffalo goes with a sleeper in the underrated Reed, a productive wideout, with this pick mirroring the Gabe Davis selection a few years back, as far as untapped potential.

Round 4, Pick #130

Connor Pohlman – Christopher Smith, S, Georgia – the Bills look to add depth to their back end with this pick. They’ll get a player who tackles well and excels in coverage.

Josh Pohlman – Jon Gaines II, C/G, UCLA – a 5 year player with the trait the Bills covet, position versatility. He could eventually become the heir apparent to Mitch Morse at center.

Scott Prelewicz – Emil Ekiyor, G, Alabama – he may not have the size to play in the NFL so he’ll have to bulk up to be successful, but he is sound and was a gritty three year starter so he doesn’t lack for experience.

Ray Prelewicz – Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State – this is mostly a future pick but with both Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer surpassing 30 it’s a wise one. He should be an immediate special teams contributor as he develops into an NFL caliber safety.

Round 5, Pick #137

Connor Pohlman – Colby Wooden, DT, Auburn – quick and powerful, he will have to bulk up to play inside in the NFL, but his versatility will endear him to Buffalo’s coaching staff.

Josh Pohlman – SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pitt – Brandon Beane does love his later round Pitt prospects, and with this pick gets a player who excelled as a pass rusher, totaling 32 pressures and 11 sacks as a senior.

Scott Prelewicz – Olusegun Oluwatimi, C, Michigan – a technically sound player with good awareness and plenty of experience, playing at Virginia before transferring to Michigan.

Ray Prelewicz – Karl Brooks, DT/DE, Bowling Green – his position versatility will be what attracts him to the Bills, but lacking speed, he most likely will be an inside tackle in the pros. His 17.5 sacks in his last 2 seasons in the MAC are eye-popping.

Round 6, Pick #205

Connor Pohlman – Juice Scruggs, C/G, Penn State – a solid, consistent if not spectacular college player. He consistently wins at the point of attack against the run and pass, and moves well for a big man.

Josh Pohlman – Max Duggan, QB, TCU – a gritty athlete and team leader who would be an interesting option as Josh Allen’s backup. He could carve out a Taysom Hill-like role with the team.

Scott Prelewicz – Jalen Green, S, Mississippi State – he has good size at 6’1 and 203 lbs. and has good closing speed and ball skills that could translate well into the next level as a late round pick.

Ray Prelewicz -Payne Durham, TE, Purdue – a late round pick in a strong tight end class, he figures to fight for a backup spot opened up with the departure of Tommy Sweeney.

One thought to consider if you’re gauging the expertise of our analysts: Connor got 3 of the Bills’ actual picks correct in his 2022 mock draft – first rounder Kaiir Elam, second rounder James Cook (although he had him pegged for the third round) and the ill-fated selection of punter Matt Araiza.

GO BILLS!

With less than a week until the real thing commences, the 2023 Rayonsports NFL round one mock draft is here. There will only be 31 players chosen in the opening round this year, as the Miami Dolphins forfeited their pick due to some suspicious dealings. Compiled by expert analysts Connor Pohlman, Josh Pohlman, Scott Prelewicz and Ray Prelewicz, here are the choices, with trades not allowed:

1. Carolina Panthers-from Chicago (Connor Pohlman) – Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
2. Houston Texans (Josh Pohlman) – Will Anderson, Edge, Alabama
3. Arizona Cardinals (Scott Prelewicz) – Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech
4. Indianapolis Colts (Ray Prelewicz) – Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
5. Seattle Seahawks-from Denver (CP) – Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
6. Detroit Lions-from LA Rams (JP) – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
7. Las Vegas Raiders (SP) – Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
8. Atlanta Falcons (RP) – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
9. Chicago Bears-from Carolina (CP) – Paris Johnson Jr., T, Ohio State
10. Philadelphia Eagles-from New Orleans (JP) – Brian Branch, S, Alabama
11. Tennessee Titans (SP) – C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
12. Houston Texans-from Cleveland (RP) – Peter Skoronski, T, Northwestern
13. New York Jets (CP) – Broderick Jones, T, Georgia
14. New England Patriots (JP) – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
15. Green Bay Packers (SP) – Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
16. Washington Commanders (RP) – Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (CP) – Darnell Wright, T, Tennessee
18. Detroit Lions (JP) – Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (SP) – Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa
20. Seattle Seahawks (RP) – Nolan Smith, LB, Georgia
21. Los Angeles Chargers (CP) – Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
22. Baltimore Ravens (JP) – Jordan Addison, WR, USC
23. Minnesota Vikings (SP) – Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (RP) – Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
25. New York Giants (CP) – Joey Porter, Jr., CB, Penn State
26. Dallas Cowboys (JP) – Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
27. Buffalo Bills (SP) – Kalijah Kansey, DT, Pitt
28. Cincinnati Bengals (RP) – Will McDonald IV, Edge, Iowa State
29. New Orleans Saints-from San Francisco/Miami/Denver (CP) – Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
30. Philadelphia Eagles (JP) – Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
31. Kansas City Chiefs (SP) – Keion White, DT, Georgia

The national champion Georgia Bulldogs take the prize for the most first round players in our mock draft with 5, and they have a number of other prospects who could be considered first round material and will likely go high on day 2 of the draft. The power 5 conferences dominated  the mock draft, with Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio State having 3 each. Alabama’s trio were all picked in the top 10.

COMING SOON: Our draft experts submit their seven round mock drafts for the local NFL franchise, the three-time reigning AFC East champion Buffalo Bills.

The final section of the annual Buffalo Bills’ season review is a look at what the team needs to do to continue growing towards their ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl. I always look back to the previous season’s review prior to completing the newest one, and I thought I would re-enter my final thoughts from last year. I don’t think much has changed since then.

“One thing is for certain. Beane cannot stand pat with his current roster with the Bills smack in the middle of a huge Super Bowl window with Josh Allen as his quarterback. He can’t fall in love with certain players who have been here but haven’t reached their full potential. He and coach Sean McDermott must add the pieces necessary to strengthen this contending club even more. That may also mean taking a hard look at the coaching staff, and whether or not there are better position coaches/teachers available to push the young talent to a higher level.”

Yes, I believe all of that is still true. Here are my suggestions on the areas that need improvement:

Backup Quarterback

OK, this year I made it specific in the header. The need is at backup quarterback, certainly not starter. Veteran Case Keenum filled the role in 2022, but I think Josh Allen is past the point where he needs all these older mentors. He already has the offensive coordinator, QB coach and practice squad QB (that could be Matt Barkley again or maybe Davis Webb). It’s now time to draft a mid-to-late round prospect to groom as a permanent backup going forward. At 6’6 and 226 lbs. Stanford’s Tanner McKee would match Allen’s physical stature but is strictly a pocket passer. Max Duggan of TCU has Allen’s leadership qualities. He led the Horned Frogs to the college football playoff this season.

Running Back

Devin Singletary is a free agent who the Bills may decide to move on from, and whether Nyheim Hines fits in their plans is debatable too since he didn’t contribute much beyond kick returns after being acquired in a trade. So there is a need for probably more than one back to compliment James Cook. In the 2-3 round range, UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet and Jahmyr Gibbs of Alabama could add some juice to the offense, while TCU’s Kendre Miller is a pounder with the short yardage skills the Bills’ stable of backs has lacked. There are plenty of veteran free agent RBs hitting the market, but most are overpriced or over the hill. Josh Jacobs of the Raiders would be an immediate upgrade at the position but GM Brandon Beane couldn’t afford him unless the running back market is severely suppressed. Stealing a hidden gem like Jeff Wilson from a division rival (Miami) could be an option, but needing cheap labor to fill the roster the best option is the draft.

Receivers

I still believe Gabe Davis is a quality receiver, and Khali Shakir will have a much bigger impact next season, but the consensus is that Josh Allen needs more weapons. On the free agent market, a couple of potential targets could be Parris Campbell of the Colts, who could thrive playing with a top quarterback, and Jakobi Meyers of New England. Signing him would be that double whammy of strengthening the WR corps and weakening a division rival. In the draft, the receiver class isn’t as strong as some years, but some early-to-mid rounders who could help are Jalin Hyatt of Tennessee, SMU’s Rashee Rice, Marvin Mims of Oklahoma and North Carolina’s Josh Downs. If USC’s Jordan Addison should somehow drop to the Bills at pick 27, they should sprint to the podium to draft him.

Offensive Line

This is the Bills’ biggest area of need, especially the interior line. Again, if they don’t have to break the bank, they should target Baltimore’s Ben Powers or Denver’s Dalton Risner to upgrade the guard position. In the draft, there are always players with potential in all rounds. Early on, Peter Skoronski of Northwestern would be a great pick but he is moving into the top 10 on a lot of draft boards. Dawand Jones of Ohio State is an intriguing player who could be available in the second round. Both those players are tackles. There are more realistic prospects at guard who could be around when the Bills pick in almost every round. Those include O’Cyrus Torrence of Florida, Andrew Voorhees of USC, Notre Dame’s Jarett Patterson, Jaxson Kirkland of Washington and Cody Mauch of North Dakota State.

Defensive Line

The Bills have already spent a lot of draft capital in recent years here, but they may need to do it again. I would expect the team to move on from Jordan Phillips and Shaq Lawson so there will be openings. They signed Von Miller last offseason so any additions would likely be draft picks. My favorite edge rusher is massive 6’7 Andre Carter of Army. At interior tackle, Baylor’s Siaka Ika is a space-eater who would compliment DaQuan Jones nicely. Other tackle possibilities are Gervon Dexter of Florida, Lukas Van Ness of Iowa and Cory Durden of NC State.

Safety

The Bills plan to move Christian Benford to safety, and with Jordan Poyer likely departing, they will have to add some depth here. There really isn’t a player on the free agent market who would be an upgrade over Poyer, so the reinforcements would come from the draft. Georgia’s Chris Smith would be a great addition. Other possibilities include Rashad Torrence II of Florida, Jammie Robinson of Florida State and Louisville’s Kenderick Duncan Jr.

Part 3 of our annual Buffalo Bills’ season review deals with the defense, a unit that puts up impressive statistics and rankings each season, then has epic failures in the playoffs. Coordinator Leslie Frazier’s troops have put up these shocking numbers in their last 3 postseason defeats – 107 points and 1,403 yards allowed. That averages out to 36 points and 468 yards per game. Not exactly numbers that reflect a championship contender. Here is a position-by-position look at the defense and special teams:

Defensive Line

The play of this unit can best be described as inconsistent. GM Brandon Beane signed a big ticket item in Von Miller, and he delivered until an injury ended his season. The Bills were never able to deliver a consistent pass rush after he was gone. Greg Rousseau had 8 sacks and was stout enough against the run, and A.J. Epenesa chipped in a quiet 6.5 quarterback traps. You could argue that their production was limited by the Bills’ use of a heavy D line rotation. The other edge rushers on the roster are Shaq Lawson and Boogie Basham. Both played hard when they got their opportunities and Basham is still growing as a prospect, but it’s possible that the team isn’t in a rush to bring Lawson back. The interior line was boosted by the free agent signings of DaQuan  Jones and Tim Settle, especially Jones. He was solid in taking on double teams and freeing up Ed Oliver to make more plays. His absence in the playoff loss had a negative effect on the defense as a whole. It’s debatable whether Oliver has lived up to his draft status, but like Basham he still has room to grow. Does the team have time to wait for that growth? His contract will be an issue soon. The last interior defender is veteran Jordan Phillips. He flashed some good play during the season but is only on a one year contract and lacked the one ability that coach Sean McDermott insists is most important – availability. He missed considerable time due to injury.

Linebackers

For a team that regularly plays a scheme that uses only 2 linebackers, the Bills were awfully heavy on the roster at the position. Matt Milano is a bonafide All Pro and Tremaine Edmunds had his best season and is the leader of the defense. His contract is up and it’s not a certainty that the Bills are willing to cough up big dollars to keep him. There has to be a reason why they spent 2 draft picks on the position last year in Terrel Bernard and Baylon Spector. Both of those rookies made the squad but only played on special teams most of the year, as did veterans Tyler Matakevich and Tyrel Dodson. A.J. Klein was brought back as added depth during the season but it’s doubtful if he is back. My expectation for 2023 is that the team beefs up the roster at other positions and doesn’t carry 7 backers so there will be subtractions, the question is who will they be?

Defensive Backs

There are 13 players in the mix as this season ends on the back end of the defense. Let’s sort through them, starting with the safeties. Micah Hyde missed most of the season due to injury but was practicing and ready to play at season’s end. He was sorely missed and will be a welcome re-addition next season. However, the Hyde/Jordan Poyer tandem days may be over. Poyer, who was a warrior playing through injuries all year, is about to test the free agent waters and is likely to get an offer Buffalo won’t be willing to match. The depth behind these 2 veterans is full of question marks. Siran Neal is almost strictly a special teamer now, Damar Hamlin’s future as a player is in serious doubt after his horrific incident, Jaquan Johnson got his opportunity to start and never took hold of it, leading to the team bringing back Dean Marlowe as a stop gap who wound up starting. Marlowe played admirably but he is just that, a stop gap. That leaves Jared Mayden, a late-season signee who is a complete unknown. Post-season press conferences revealed that the team is considering moving impressive rookie Christian Benford from cornerback to safety. That move could work out but it’s really just more uncertainty. Cornerback is in good hands going into 2023. Tre’Davious White is back and should be even better, rookie Kaiir Elam looks like a keeper even though the coaches held him back in his development. Taron Johnson is arguably the best slot corner in the NFL, and Dane Jackson is solid. His play may have been better than White’s this year. Cam Lewis also dependable, one of the guys on the roster who is a valuable special teamer but also can actually play the position they’re listed at on the roster. Of course, Benford and Neal can also fill in here in a pinch.

Special Teams

The Bills put a premium on the special teams, maybe too much so. Veterans like Taiwan Jones, Matakevich, Dodson, Kumerow, Neal and Tommy Sweeney have contributed little at their respective positions. Maybe it’s time for younger players like Bernard, Lewis and Spector to infiltrate those spots, freeing up roster spots for important weapons elsewhere. The specialists are all good, solid pros. Long snapper Reid Ferguson, kicker Tyler Bass and punter/holder Sam Martin are a good unit that work well together. It is possible the team brings in competition for Martin, who is 30+. Beane’s trade for Nyheim Hines upgraded the return game also.

In part 2 of our annual Bills’ season review, we look at the offensive side of the ball. There were issues with consistency as the season progressed, some players had down years and once again, there was a failure to develop a sound ground game. Here’s a position-by-position look at the offense:

Quarterbacks

Josh Allen is a franchise quarterback, a true NFL superstar. He can’t, however, do it all on his own. He needs more help from the play callers and more support from the other 10 players around him, whether that means current players stepping up or new players added. Backup QB for this team is basically an extra coach and a clipboard carrier, so Case Keenum was the 2022 version of that. It may be time to start grooming a younger player for this role in 2023.

Running Backs

Devin Singletary is a hard working back who fights for extra yardage, but has never been much of a home run threat. His contract is up, and I don’t see the Bills paying him much unless he returns as a backup. James Cook shows a lot of potential but only was able to show flashes of that in 2022 with the Bills coaches’ maddening habit of over-nurturing their young prospects. Still, he is the lead dog as far as becoming the number 1 running back next season. Beane acquired Nyheim Hines at the trade deadline to add another offensive weapon, but he was mostly underutilized. His contributions in the return game made a difference. Taiwan Jones is on the roster for special teams only. He is up in age and his value in taking up a roster spot has diminished. Fullback Reggie Gilliam is valuable for his versatility. He can play fullback and fill in as a tight end, and is a regular on special teams also.

Receivers

Buffalo has one of the top # 1 targets in the NFL in Stefon Diggs, a fiery competitor who puts up consistent numbers each year. After him, the Bills need to figure it out. Gabe Davis had a bad year with dropped passes, but he’s a big game monster and has to be a major part of the offense going forward. A little off-season work to improve his consistency should help. The fact that John Brown and Cole Beasley were brought back to boost the passing game production was a sign that the club is in need of weapons. Bringing back Beasley wouldn’t be a terrible idea. Late season flashes from rookie Khalil Shakir put him in the conversation to be one of the top 4 next year. He’s one of many first year players who weren’t given ample opportunities to help when the team had struggles. Isaiah McKenzie may have seen his last days as a Bill. He also had drop issues and he no longer contributes on kick returns, so his is a prime spot for an upgrade in 2023. The team never got a good look at Jamison Crowder after he signed as a free agent due to injury, and Jake Kumerow, who has stuck around for his special teams value, is in the same boat. Dawson Knox has developed into a quality tight end. He made tremendous strides with his production late in the season. After him, he TE depth is slim. Quinton Morris is a good story as an undrafted player who fought hard to make it, but the team should look for better players at his position. Tommy Sweeney is another player who is on the roster but rarely active on game day. The receiving corps overall could use an infusion of new blood.

Offensive Line

This group is an enigma. The Bills have struggled badly in developing a run game outside of Allen’s runs, and the beating the QB took in the playoff loss to the Bengals is a sign that they need changes up front. Center Mitch Morse is solid, but the rest of the line leaves a lot to be desired. Both starting tackles, Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, looked good at times and struggled badly in other instances. Left guard Rodger Saffold showed signs of his age (34) as the season wore on, and I doubt if he is offered a contract to return. Ryan Bates was moved to right guard, and his play was decent, but he played much better on the left side in 2021. The depth behind the starters has one young player with some potential in Tommy Doyle, who spent much of the year on injured reserve. The rest of the backups are average journeymen – David Quessenberry, Bobby Hart, Greg Van Roten and Ike Boettger. There is a possible diamond in the rough on the practice squad in Alec Anderson, but again, an infusion of better talent is needed here.