It’s draft week, fellow Rumblers! In my previous Buffalo Bills 7-round mock draft, I went absolutely trade-crazy, moving picks around like a general manager with something to prove. It was fun, it was chaotic, and honestly, I had a blast putting it together.
This is the final mock. The one where I put the big board in front of me, take a deep breath, and ask a simple question: if Brandon Beane just lets the draft come to him, with no tricks, no phone calls, no drama — what does this class look like? Seven rounds. No trades. Pure draft strategy.
The final result didn’t make me as happy as the last time when, with several trades, I held control of the draft and could target several of my favorite prospects. This time I simply went for the best value available and ended up with a class that, even if they aren’t my personal favorites, could end up being the best players for Buffalo.
My guy KC Concepcion was gone before we got here, so the pivot was necessary. But honestly? After sitting with it, I’m okay with this outcome.
The narrative around the Bills has been all about edge — and sure, pass rush is a need. But with Rousseau and Chubb entrenched as the starters on the outside, and Hoecht expected to be a real contributor in rotation, the interior is where this team can bulk up and get better. Kayden McDonald is exactly the kind of player who fixes that.
The Ohio State product had a monster 2025 season: 47 tackles, eight tackles for loss (TFLs), three sacks, and two forced fumbles — earning unanimous All-American and Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year honors. At 6’3″ and 326 pounds, McDonald plays with elite leverage and physicality as a run defender, and the versatility to operate from zero-tech to two-tech makes him a fit in multiple fronts.
The knock is his pass-rush ceiling — he shuts his motor off when his first move doesn’t work, and the bull rush alone won’t always cut it in the NFL. But in Jim Leonhard’s attacking scheme, a disruptive interior anchor who can eat double teams and free up the edges is an incredibly valuable piece. Freeing up Deone Walker makes me happy.
The Bills need a linebacker who can contribute right away, and I believe Keyshaun Elliott is capable of doing exactly that with Buffalo.
In 2025, only two FBS defenders finished with 90-plus tackles, 14-plus TFLs, and seven-plus sacks — Elliott was the one doing it from a Power conference, as the green-dot Mike in Brian Ward’s 4-2-5 at Arizona State. Across his last two seasons, Elliot racked up 168 tackles, 18 TFLs, nine sacks, an interception, and four pass defenses (PDs) in 25 games, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors both years. He models his game after Fred Warner, and you can see it in the film — he’s smart, assignment-sound, and plays with a high motor every single snap.
There are concerns: short arms (31 1/4″) limit his ability to shed NFL-caliber blockers, and his zone coverage awareness needs work. He profiles best as a two-down linebacker at the pro level without further development. But at pick 91? That’s value. A player who can give you quality snaps on early downs and contribute on special teams immediately is exactly what Buffalo needs. I believe he comes in ready, in case Terrell Bernard’s body doesn’t hold up.
This is the pick I’m most excited about, and I think it could end up being the steal of this entire class.
Jeff Caldwell’s story alone is worth knowing: he didn’t even play football seriously until a late growth spurt before his senior year of high school took him from 5’8″ to nearly 6’5″. A walk-on at Lindenwood (FCS), he became a Walter Payton Award finalist in 2024 with 53 catches, 1,032 yards, and 11 touchdowns, then transferred to Cincinnati to test himself in the Big 12. The numbers came back to Earth (32 catches, 478 yards, 6 TDs) but the traits never wavered. And then the NFL Scouting Combine happened.
Caldwell ran a 4.31 40-yard dash — the fastest time recorded by any player 6’1″ or taller at this year’s event. His 1.48-second 10-yard split led every player at the combine, not just wide receivers. His 42”vertical ranked second among all wideouts. He finished with a 99 NGS athleticism score. At 6’5″ and 216 pounds with that speed, the catch radius, and the ability to high-point contested balls in the red zone, you’re looking at a legitimate mismatch weapon waiting to be unlocked.
Yes, his route tree needs refinement — he’s still learning how to use his tools. But under Joe Brady, with Josh Allen putting the ball anywhere on the field, there may not be a better situation in the entire league for Caldwell to develop into something special. Ask Khalil Shakir to introduce him to Eric Moulds and watch out.
Beau Stephens is nearly a perfect-value pick here, ranked 164 (in the Stick to the Model tool), drafted at 165. He’s a technically sound guard who fits the Iowa mold: physical, dependable, and NFL-ready from a technique standpoint.
The Bills can always use interior offensive line depth, and we don’t know about both guard spots long-term. At this stage of the draft, adding a player who can compete for a roster spot and provide quality insurance is a win. Nothing flashy, just smart drafting.
Three picks later, the Bills add corner depth with Hezekiah Masses out of Cal. He’s right around value at 168 with a model rank of 169, and the Bills’ CB room is a group that can use a developmental option behind Christian Benford and Maxwell Hairston.
Athlon Sports has him inside the top 130 on their big board, which suggests he’s a player with legitimate Day 2 talent who may slip. Worth the gamble this late in Day 2.
I know, I know. The Bills might be fine with Kyle Allen backing up Josh Allen for now, but why can’t we add a young talent and have some fun? Every team needs a backup quarterback, and if you’re going to take one in the sixth round, you might as well take the one with some potential, and a 4.36 forty — which, for the record, is the third-fastest time ever recorded by a quarterback at the combine, behind only Michael Vick and Reggie McNeal.
Green is a boom-or-bust developmental prospect. In 2025, he threw for 2,714 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while adding 777 rushing yards on the ground. Over 53 career games, he’s a 60.1% career passer with 59 TDs and 35 INTs — consistency is the obvious concern. But the arm talent is elite, the dual-threat ability is legitimate, and Buffalo’s QB room might be one of the best possible places to develop the kid.