Who will Bills take in first round of NFL Draft 2023? Here are picks from experts

INDIANAPOLIS - Now that the NFL Scouting Combine is complete, the cottage industry that is mock drafting will vault into hyper-drive over the next couple weeks.

After five days of interviewing prospects in Indianapolis and seeing them perform in various tests and drills, there is a little more information available for the draft analysts to use as they project which teams will pick which players.

As for the Buffalo Bills’ areas of need, they remain the same since the playoff loss to the Bengals. We’ll see next week how this changes when free agency begins, but if the draft were to be held Tuesday, the Bills need to add at wide receiver, offensive line, and safety, and that would be the order I would make picks in the first three rounds.

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Interestingly, in this collection of mock drafts, wide receiver wasn’t a popular choice, but two players certainly were: Florida interior offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence and Texas running back Bijan Robinson.

Buffalo Bills first round pick option: O’Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida

Picked by: Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network; Cynthia Frelund, NFL Network; Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News; Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus.

Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 347 pounds

Things to know: Transferred from Louisiana-Lafayette to Florida in 2022 and in his lone season, he easily adapted to the much tougher competition in the SEC and was a first-team All-American. … Played 11 games and 698 snaps and did not allow a sack or a QB hit, just a mere eight hurries.

Key Combine numbers: He was middle of the pack in everything among offensive linemen … Ran a 5.31 in the 40-yard dash with a 10-yard split of 1.84 … Had a vertical jump of 23.5 inches and a broad jump of 8 feet, 5 inches. .. Ran a 4.81 in the 20-yard shuttle. … O-line bench press reps are not yet available.

∎ Jeremiah’s rationale: “Buffalo could use some upgrades in front of Josh Allen. The Bills must continue to protect their most valuable asset by steadily investing in the O-line. Torrence will also help this offense in the ground game.”

∎ Frelund’s rationale: “The Bills use a wider offensive-line formation (more spread apart), and addressing the interior would really give a boost to the running backs and Josh Allen on the ground, in addition to fortifying the passing game. Torrence has the massive size to create problems for interior pass rushers especially.”

∎ Iyer’s rationale: “The Bills need interior offensive line help around Mitch Morse following a disappointing season from Rodger Saffold and Ryan Bates. Torrence has the power, nastiness, hands and feet they could use to become smoother inside.”

∎ Sikkema’s rationale: “The Bills must get more reliable along the interior offensive line. In his first year as an SEC player, Torrence showed he was one of the best interior players in the country against the best competition. Torrence is a plug-and-play guard who’s best suited for gap schemes, but he doesn’t need to be pigeonholed.”

∎ Sal’s thoughts: No argument here. If the WR board thins out, the Bills shouldn’t reach for one because there’s depth in the class into the second round. If Torrence is there, he would fill an obvious need up front in place of Saffold who is likely gone in free agency.

Buffalo Bills first round pick option: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

Picked by: Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today; Damian Parson, NFL Network; Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports.

Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds

Things to know: Clearly the best RB in the draft as he possesses a coveted size-speed combo. … Pro Football Focus tallied Robinson forcing 104 missed tackles last season which they claim is the most they’ve ever recorded for a college player, and he had 1,071 yards after first contact. … He rushed for 1,580 yards (6.1 per carry), caught 19 passes for 314 yards, and scored 20 TDs last season. … Fought some injury problems at Texas in each of his three years.

Key Combine numbers: Ran a 4.46 in the 40, the fifth-fastest time among RBs, and his 10-yard split was 1.52 which was third-fastest. … Vertical leap was 37 inches, tied for fifth-best, and his broad jump was 10 feet, 4 inches, tied for fourth-best.

∎ Middlehurst-Schwartz’s rationale: “Buffalo might not be in the market for a back overall, but Robinson is no ordinary ball carrier. Regarded by some as a top-10 player in the draft, the do-everything threat can alter how defenses account for an entire attack.”

∎ Parson’s rationale: “The Bills have to get over the hump in the postseason and make it to the Super Bowl at some point, right? One way to speed up this process is to be able to play in the elements. This is an outdoor team but plays like a dome team on offense; there is no real threat to run the football. Bijan Robinson is the best RB prospect since Saquon Barkley. Robinson on the field with Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs is something I would love to see.”

∎ Wilson’s rationale: “Bijan Robinson is special, and while he is probably one of the best players in this class, he could still be around late in Round 1 because he’s a running back. And yes, we know, the Bills used a second-round pick on James Cook a year ago. But Cook isn’t an every-down back, and more than that, Nyheim Hines is the only other RB currently on the roster ahead of free agency. Adding a Saquon Barkley-type talent to this offense? There are worse things.”

∎ Sal’s thoughts: Look, there is no question that Robinson is a great player, and for that reason I find it pretty doubtful that he’d still be available at No. 27 overall. But running back can’t be a priority in the first round for the Bills this year. As a second-rounder, they have to give Cook a chance to be RB1. With Devin Singletary, Zack Moss and Cook, the Bills have taken a RB in the first three rounds in three of the last four drafts. There are other needs that are more pressing. The Bills could pick a RB later, but not in the first round.

Buffalo Bills first round pick option: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

Picked by: Rob Rang, FOX Sports

Height/Weight: 5-foot-9, 200 pounds

Things to know: Transferred from Georgia Tech to Alabama last year and was a productive dual threat in his lone season for the Crimson Tide. … He rushed for 926 yards (6.1 per carry) and caught 44 passes for 444 yards with 10 total TDs. … Obviously, catching the ball out of the backfield is a trait the Bills need, but Allen really hasn’t utilized RBs in that role very well.

Key Combine numbers: Ran a blazing 4.36 in the 40 which was second among RBs to Texas A&M’s Devon Achane who went 4.32. … His 10-yard-split was tied for third at 1.52 and his vertical leap was 11th at 33.5 inches.

∎ Rang’s rationale: “Even with Buffalo investing a second-round pick a year ago in James Cook, the team could look for an upgrade again, especially with current starter Devin Singletary a pending free agent.”

∎ Sal’s thoughts: As I said earlier on Robinson, the Bills shouldn’t consider picking a running back in the first round, especially if it isn’t Robinson.

Buffalo Bills first round pick option: Antonio Johnson, FS, Texas A&M

Picked by: Bucky Brooks, NFL.com; Luke Easterling, Draft Wire

Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 198 pounds

Things to know: One of his key intangibles is that he played both safety spots, plus played in the slot during his three years at A&M. … In 2022 he allowed a 69.0 completion percentage into his coverage area according to PFF. … Made only one interception and eight pass breakups and he made 164 tackles in 28 career games.

Key Combine numbers: Ran a 4.52 in the 40 which tied for eighth among safeties. … His 1.52 in the 10-yard split tied for fifth. … Vertical leap of 31 inches wasn’t elite and tied for 17th, nor was his bench press as he did only eight reps, lowest among the 16 safeties who performed and 17 fewer than Florida’s Trey Dean III.

∎ Brooks’ rationale: “The potential loss of Jordan Poyer in free agency might force the Bills to take a playmaking safety early in the draft.”

∎ Easterling’s rationale: “Buffalo has more needs than you might think for one of the league’s best teams, and while it’s tempting to get Josh Allen some help here, the need at safety needs to be addressed first. Johnson is a plug-and-play starter who could immediately step in if Jordan Poyer isn’t back next season.”

∎ Sal’s thoughts: Johnson would be a reach in the first round for the Bills, especially given the possibilities at WR and OL. He could make it to Buffalo’s pick in the second round at No. 59, and there should be other interesting safety candidates in the second and third round.

Buffalo Bills first round pick option: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Picked by: Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports

Height/Weight: 6-foot, 196 pounds

Things to know: Missed all but three games in 2022 due to a hamstring injury. … In 2021, some considered him the best Ohio State WR on a team that included Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, both of whom were taken in the first 11 picks of the first round in 2022.

Key Combine numbers: He did not run at the Combine but he will at his Ohio State pro day. … His vertical leap of 35 inches was not great as it tied for 27th among WRs. … He was one of only 14 WRs who performed in the 3-cone drill and he was No. 1 at 6.57 seconds. .. Only 19 WRs did the 20-yard shuttle and he was also No. 1 at 3.93 seconds which proves how shifty he is as a slot receiver.

∎ Trapasso's rationale: “The Bills jump at the value pick here with Smith-Njigba, who almost assuredly would’ve gone higher had he played a full season in 2022 at Ohio State. He’s not a freaky athlete but glides after the catch.”

∎ Sal’s thoughts: I can’t imagine Smith-Njigba will be available at No. 27. Maybe some teams will be scared off by the injury, but he’s clearly a talented slot receiver. For the Bills, assuming Khalil Shakir makes big strides in 2023, the bigger need is an outside WR.

Buffalo Bills first round pick option: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

Picked by: WalterFootball.com

Height/Weight: 6-foot, 176 pounds

Things to know: Won the 2022 Biletnikoff Award as college football’s top WR in 2022. … Had a quiet first two seasons at Tennessee, then broke out with 67 catches for 1,267 yards and 15 TDs last year.

Key Combine numbers: Ran the sixth-fastest 40 time among WRs at 4.40 and his 10-yard split was also sixth at 1.50 seconds. … Vertical leap of 40 inches was fourth-best and his broad jump of 11 feet, 3 inches was No. 1.

∎ WalterFootball’s rationale: “The Bills could stand to add another weapon for Josh Allen so that the red zone issues are resolved. Jalin Hyatt had a great season with lots of big plays for Tennessee.”

∎ Sal’s thoughts: I love this player and if he’s there at No. 27, the Bills should not hesitate, though I believe he’ll be gone. He’s a little undersized, but the athleticism jumps off the charts when you look at his speed and leaping ability.

Buffalo Bills first round pick option: Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas

Picked by: Charlie Campbell, WalterFootball.com

Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 232 pounds

Things to know: Began his career at Alabama but wasn’t getting playing time so he transferred to Arkansas in 2022 and became a first-team All-American as an every-down MLB. … Played 846 snaps last season and led the Razorbacks with 103 tackles and had 9.5 sacks, an interception and three forced fumbles. … He’s as tall as Tremaine Edmunds but not as big, though perhaps that wouldn’t be an issue, especially in coverage.

Key Combine numbers: Did not perform the measurable tests due to a hamstring injury, but he did do the on-field drills.

∎ Campbell’s rationale: “The top receivers (in Campbell’s mock) are gone already here, so Buffalo could go another direction to help the defense and grab a replacement for Tremaine Edmunds. Sanders is in the running to be the top non-pass-rushing linebacker prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, although he is a dangerous quarterback hunter as well. Has big size to go along with quality speed and athleticism.”

∎ Sal’s thoughts: This is an interesting pick and I understand where Campbell is going in case the Bills lose Edmunds in free agency which is certainly possible. But I don’t think this player, at this point in the draft, is the right move given the Bills’ more pressing needs. If Edmunds leaves, I think the Bills need to seek his replacement in free agency. They can’t go into the season with a rookie and undersized Terrel Bernard as the main starting MLB candidates.

Buffalo Bills first round pick option: John Michael Schmitz, IOL, Minnesota

Picked by: Jaime Eisner, The Draft Network

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 301 pounds

Things to know: Played center in college but will be able to transition guard in the NFL. … Last year PFF had him allowing just two sacks and five QB hurries on 302 pass block snaps. … Could have gone into the 2022 draft but decided to return to school. … He’s the No. 1-rated interior offensive lineman by The Draft Network, well above Torrence.

Key Combine numbers: Ran the 40 in 5.35 seconds with a 10-yard split of 1.85 which showed he’s not the best athlete in the group, but four years as a starter in the rugged Bog Ten alleviates some of those concerns.

∎ Eisner’s rationale: “John Michael Schmitz was a star at the Senior Bowl and would be a phenomenal addition to the interior of the Bills’ offensive line. Schmitz probably starts at guard if he goes to Buffalo, but he’s a center by trade and has the versatility to move throughout the interior.”

∎ Sal’s thoughts: He would certainly fill the need at guard, plus as a natural center he would be the backup to Morse and potentially the player who can become the starter once Morse’s contract expires after 2024, or he’s cut after 2023 because his 2024 cap number, when he’s 32 years old, will be $11.5 million.

Sal Maiorana can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana.To subscribe to Sal's newsletter, Bills Blast, which will come out every Friday during the offseason, please follow this link: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills mock draft roundup: NFL experts weigh in on first round