Bills Three-Round NFL Mock Draft: Buffalo Addresses Free-Agency Concerns
The Buffalo Bills are at an inflection point after yet another heartbreaking playoff defeat.
With several long-time Bills heading to free agency, Buffalo will be forced to get younger and cheaper at several positions. General manager Brandon Beane already asserted that high-end free agents shouldn’t be expected this offseason, meaning the 2024 NFL Draft will be paramount to keeping Buffalo’s Super Bowl window open.
In SI.com’s latest three-round mock draft, Buffalo looks to the future, replacing free agents and preparing for potential departures from the 2025 offseason, too.
Nov 18, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins tight end Hudson Habermehl (81) scores a touchdown against USC Trojans safety Calen Bullock (7) during the fourth quarter at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
With the 28th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, SI has the Bills taking Louisiana State receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
This is one of the most commonly mocked first-round targets for Buffalo, and for good reason. Thomas was outshined by fellow LSU star Malik Nabers, but his downfield acumen shouldn’t be discounted. Few receivers in any class are as explosive as Thomas, but doing so while measuring at around 6-4 helps separate him.
With receiver Gabe Davis all but gone due to his expiring contract, Buffalo would net themselves a receiver of the same archetype. He’d fit the vertical-heavy boundary receiver role well but looks to provide more consistent production than Davis, even if neither is particularly polished.
Thomas’ ability to dominate after the catch and stretch the field is lucrative given the target share he may find as a rookie in a Josh Allen-led offense.
In the second round, the Bills take USC safety Calen Bullock. The long-time safety duo of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer have almost certainly played their last snaps together. Hyde is a pending free agent, and Poyer has just one year left, though he too could be a cap casualty.
As such, there are vacated snaps in the defensive backfield.
Bullock is a physical, aggressive safety whose potential is tied to his strong athleticism. He’s a work-in-progress while playing close to the line of scrimmage, but plays the run well to the boundary. Some team is going to bank on his processing and athleticism turning him into a legitimate contributor, and Buffalo’s roster turnover could land the California kid in Western New York.
The Bills traded their third-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for cornerback Rasul Douglas, who played well in the blue and red. However, they are projected to recoup a late-Day 2 compensatory pick – 99th overall – in this mock draft.
Here, Easterling selects Missouri offensive tackle Javon Foster. This could be considered curious, given that starting left tackle Dion Dawkins and right tackle Spencer Brown are under contract for 2024. However, both are free agents after next season.
Neither is necessarily expected to leave, and Buffalo will be right to get creative with the cap space to bring them back, but Foster is a developmental option who acts as insurance in the event one departs.
Foster has experience at both tackle spots as well as the build, athleticism, and strength to provide optimism in his development. He has improved year-over-year and should continue to, despite being a fifth-year senior.
The SEC product would give Buffalo an option to turn to in 2025 as well as a decent depth piece, should either tackle get hurt next season.
