Buffalo Bills make changes to their defense in the seven-round mock draft for 2024.
The Bills need to fill a few gaps on the defensive line. While some of those holes may be filled through free agency, the defensive depth needs to be replenished and strengthened with young players. I realize that many Bills supporters will be offended by this news. Of Buffalo’s twenty-one pending free agents, fourteen are players on defense. include, to mention a few, well-known figures like Tyrel Dodson, DaQuan Jones, Leonard Floyd, and A.J. Epenesa.
I’ve written about some of the free agents Buffalo is likely to lose and which ones I hope come back to the Bills in 2024. But by using the draft to construct the defense, I want the Bills to rely on some rookies in 2024 while also bringing back a few veterans. Though rookie errors are inevitable, get them onto the field early to shorten the learning curve. It is hoped that these young players will be ready for the second half of the season and the postseason. Let’s begin by going over my seven-round draft.
Troy Franklin
Many draft analysts and fans have made fun of Troy Franklin for going to the Buffalo Bills in the first round. Fans of the Bills now adore Franklin, and draft night is still two months away. Franklin is rated as the 24th overall prospect and the fifth-best wide receiver in this draft class by NFLDraftbuzz.com. Based on reports, he can sprint 4.35, 40 seconds, and is 6’3″ and weighs 187 pounds. In 2023, Pro Football Focus rated him with an 84.9, placing him as the class’s fifth-best receiver and 24th overall prospect.
Franklin had an incredible 14 touchdowns, 1,383 yards, and 81 receptions in 2023—his last year of college football. His remarkable 17.1 yards per reception on average demonstrated his ability to make big plays. Franklin demonstrates exceptional route-running abilities and is regarded as one of this class’s best deep-threat receivers. Franklin can play in the slot or outside, adding to his versatility.
Calen Bullock
Calen Bullock helps the Buffalo Bills with a critical need. Given that Jordan Poyer is uncertain and Micah Hyde is probably going to retire, Buffalo will need to find an answer or two at the safety position. Bullock, who stands 6’3″ and weighs 190 pounds, has excellent size. He is expected to be selected in the second round by NFLDraftbuzz.com and will be a fantastic addition to the Bills’ defense. Bullock was graded 71.5 by Pro Football Focus, which also placed him as the class’s fourth-best safety and 60th overall prospect.
He is one of the finest man/press coverage safeties in the draft with a reported 40-time of 4.55. He started all two seasons at USC and saw 2,102 snaps of action. He has 54 tackles, eleven assists, and two interceptions in the previous campaign. In 2022, he recorded 41 tackles, 12 assists, and five interceptions in his debut season as a full-time starter. To be clear, Bullock is ranked higher on most draft boards than Kamren Kinchens, despite the fact that Kinchens is well-liked by Bills supporters.
Javon Solomon
Javon Solomon talks about another Bills need. Regardless of whether they can re-sign some of their pending free agents, Buffalo will need to find some answers along their defensive line. They also need to get younger and bring in fresh talent to develop. That is the role of Solomon. With 36 stops, 20 QB hurries, nine QB hits, and an incredible 16 sacks for a total of 45 pressures, he had a tremendous 2023 campaign.
Solomon is projected to go in the fourth round by NFLDraftbuzz.com, however he is listed as a third-round pick on several other websites. He is ranked 93rd overall and 13th best edge defender by Pro Football Focus. Solomon, who is said to have a 4.48, 40-time, provides exceptional speed to the role. I plan to observe him during the NFL Combine to see if he can demonstrate that this is accurate or even faster.
Maason Smith
Maason Smith is a big man; at 6’6″ and 315 pounds, he might be a great run-stuffer in the middle of the Bills defensive line, helping his colleagues take up blocks. Maason is ranked number twelve on Bruce Feldman’s Freak List. This is what Bruce stated:
“The former five-star prospect is among college football’s most talented players. Smith’s GPS speed during the off-season was 19.5 mph, and he can jump up to 11 feet in the air.”
Maason is ranked 16th in his position and is listed as a third-round pick by NFLDraftbuzz.com. He was ranked 13th and 133rd overall by Pro Football Focus. Maason, who spent his collegiate career playing a variety of defensive line spots, adds versatility to the line as well.
Drake Nugent
If the Buffalo Bills decide to move on from Mitch Morse after the upcoming season, Drake Nugent might be the team’s long-term solution. At 31, Morse is about to enter the last year of his contract, and it is unclear if the Bills will decide to extend him. Regardless of whether Morse remains with the team after 2024, I believe Buffalo needs to start preparing for the future at center today by selecting a center in this draft. Nugent weighs 302 pounds and is 6’2″. He did not permit a single sack while playing for Michigan in 2023.
James Williams
James Williams is a physical safety who isn’t hesitant to hit someone with a box. At 6’4″ and 230 pounds, he is a great size for the role. Additionally, his reported 40-time is 4.46. Although I am aware that this mock draft only includes one safety chosen, I still think the Bills should have two players at the position. Buffalo should take advantage of this excellent safety course and start preparing for their future partnership right away. The duration of Jordan Poyer’s life is unknown.
Zion Logue
Georgia native Zion Logue is a 6’5″, 310-pound defensive tackle. During his collegiate career, he only recorded two sacks; nonetheless, pass-rushing is not his forte. Logue’s strength is run defense, and he would be a valuable addition to the Bills defense line, adding depth in the middle.
Frank Gore Jr.
Depending on what happens with the Bills’ pending free agency backs, Ty Johnson, Latavious Murray, and Damien Harris, Frank Gore Jr. may be the team’s number two back. Nyheim Hines is still under contract with the organization, but releasing Hines may result in a cap savings of around $5 million in 2024. With the Golden Eagles, Gore played one season where he amassed an astounding 1,119 yards, 4.9 yards per rush, and 10 touchdowns. For 224 yards, he also added 27 receptions.
Bru McCoy
Bru McCoy weighs 220-pounds and stands 6’3″. The Bills need size, and pairing him with Troy Franklin in this draft gives them just that. The receiver corps is already somewhat small. He was one of the nation’s top-rated recruits right out of high school. Only 22 games were played by him, five of them were during the previous season. In addition to his exceptional stature, he possesses a 4.46 reported 40-second time. In a few seasons, with his physical attributes and lack experience, he could be a diamond in the rough.
Trevin Wallace
Although some websites estimate Trevin Wallace as a seventh-round pick, he could declare as an undrafted rookie instead of being selected. He weighs 241 pounds and is 6’2″. Wallace racked up 80 total tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2023. Although the Bills don’t really need more linebackers, it never hurts to add some depth to a position where injuries ravaged the previous campaign.