The 2022 NFL Draft is just days away, and the Bills are hoping they can find one or two impact players from this class who can help put them over the top.
They already are at the top in New York sports betting.
BetMGM Sportsbook New York has the Bills with the shortest odds to win the next Super Bowl. They are at +650, followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+750) and the Kansas City Chiefs (+900). The Bills are +350 to win the AFC.
At FanDuel Sportsbook New York, the Bills are also at +650, followed again by the Bucs (+750) and Chiefs (+950).
To actually stay above the rest on the playing field, Buffalo needs a strong draft class in order to get past teams like the Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans in the AFC. The Bills helped themselves this offseason in free agency.
So here is everything you need to know about the NFL Draft and the Buffalo Bills just days before Commissioner Roger Goodell steps up to the podium.
2022 Draft Picks
| ā Round 1 | No. 25 |
| ā Round 2 | No. 57 |
| ā Round 3 | No. 89 |
| ā Round 4 | No. 130 |
| ā Round 5 | No. 168 |
| ā Round 6 | No. 185 (via Carolina) |
| ā Round 6 | No. 204 | ā Round 7 | No. 232 |
Draft Needs
- Cornerback
- Wide Receiver
- Offensive Guard
Players To Know
If the Bills decide to pick a cornerback, look for Washington CB Kyler Gordon as a potential target. Gordon has been invited to attend the NFL Draft, a tell-tale sign he will be a first-round pick. He has incredible athleticism (39.5-inch vertical, 3.96 short shuttle) and has played in the slot and outside for the Huskies. Plus, he has a ton of special teams experience (434 snaps), which should allow him to get on the field right away. He would be a perfect No. 2 cornerback opposite of TreāDavious White.
If the Bills donāt go defense in Round 1, donāt rule out the possibility they could move up for a pass catcher. Buffalo knows they are in a championship window, and it would be wise to get quarterback Josh Allen as much help as possible. Adding someone like Chris Olave (Ohio State) or Treylon Burks (Arkansas) would give them another target in the middle of the field. Both players are expected to be gone by pick No. 24, so the Bills would need to do some maneuvering to acquire either player. Weāve seen Buffalo be aggressive in the past when it comes to getting their guys, so don't be surprised to see the Bills trading up early in the 2022 NFL Draft.
We shouldn't rule out the possibility the Bills will take a running back in Round 1. While it seems unlikely, many of the most plugged-in draft forecasters believe Iowa State RB Breece Hall could be an option for the Bills at No. 25. While that does seem early for Hall, he is an incredibly athletic running back with exceptional speed. If the Bills believe he could have a Jonathan Taylor-like impact on the offense, he could be a surprise selection for them in the first round. However, a cornerback or receiver still is the more likely pick at No. 25.
On Day 2, the Bills have historically liked to draft athletes from smaller schools. Just last year, they took Spencer Brown from Northern Iowa. While his tape was a bit iffy, his athleticism was off the charts and he was a massive hit for the Bills. Look for them to do the same, potentially in the secondary. Tariq Woolen (Texas-San Antonio) is a former receiver turned cornerback who lit up the NFL Combine. He ran a 4.26 40-yard dash at 6-4, 205 pounds. Even though his game needs a lot of work, he is the type of developmental project the Bills love to take on Day 2.
Expect Day 2 and Day 3 to be littered with players with athletic upside and traits that could be developed. Buffalo's roster is relatively deep overall, so they aren't necessarily looking for low-ceiling depth options. Instead, look for them to swing for the fences with their remaining picks.
Previous First-Round Selections
| ā 2021 | Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami (FL) |
| ā 2019 | Ed Oliver, DT, Houston |
| ā 2018 | Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming |
| ā 2018 | Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech | ā 2017 | TreāDavious White, CB, LSU |
