2-round 2021 NFL mock draft from PFF sends Bills CB, O-line
Pro Football Focus released a two-round mock ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft last week and the Buffalo Bills pick a cornerback and offensive line, respectively, at picks No. 30 and 61.
Those two players end being Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr. and Michigan offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield.
Here’s the breakdown on Samuel:
For what Samuel lacks in size, he makes up for in quicks. The 5-foot-10 corner is instinctive and was in hip pockets often throughout his time at Florida State. He was an absolute playmaker, as well, with 30 forced incompletions over the past three years (second-most in the Power Five).
Samuel’s read-and-react ability and overall athleticism give us hope that he can handle the outside at the NFL level, but putting him in the slot wouldn’t be the end of the world for Buffalo, either. Regardless, we believe he can play at a high level in the NFL.
And the football analytics outlet’s reasoning behind Mayfield:
Mayfield is likely a tackle-to-guard convert at the next level and is a bit of a project, but he is young and has the physical makeup that gives him a lot of upside. Prior to playing in a couple of games in 2020, Mayfield was a bit of a roller coaster at Michigan. He was inconsistent throughout his 2019 campaign, flashing high-end reps but also constantly showing how unrefined he is technically. That year, he gave up 27 pressures en route to a 70.2 PFF grade.
With PFF’s two picks for the Bills, we have two different stories. The one consistent is that they’re both versatile, and Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott will love that.
However, addressing cornerback early still remains to be seen if it’s a pressing enough need. If the Bills retained Levi Wallace or Josh Norman, they’ll already have a competition with Dane Jackson in place for the No. 2 cornerback spot in 2021. Buffalo GM Brandon Beane has now said multiple times this offseason that Jackson will factor in there. Adding a third or fourth to that potential battle seems unlikely.
On the offensive line pick in Mayfield, certainly adding a younger prospect there will make sense in most scenarios. Even if the Bills were to retain Jon Feliciano and Daryl Williams via free agency, the Bills don’t have an elite offensive line in the first place, so Mayfield would potentially be a welcomed addition.
