Perfect Bills 2022 NFL Draft plan: Prioritizing cornerback, addressing the future at receiver for Josh Allen

The Buffalo Bills came out on the wrong end of arguably the best, most entertaining game in NFL history against the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round, and while they’re bound to be a Super Bowl contender in 2022 and beyond due to the intimidating presence of Josh Allen, some roster tweaks are needed to help Sean McDermott’s club take home the Lombardi Trophy. 

Let’s map out what a perfect draft would look like for the Bills in late April. 

No. 25 overall: Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson

The Bills haven’t selected a cornerback before Day 3 in Brandon Beane’s four draft classes to date as Buffalo’s GM. That hints at a core team-building philosophy for Beane, but now’s the time to address the cornerback spot with an early selection. 

Booth would provide the Bills not only a player at a position of need, he’d give Buffalo’s secondary more juice by way of his lightning-quick feet and downfield speed. Booth was the No. 2 cornerback recruit in the nation in 2019. He has plenty of experience — and highlight-reel interceptions — on the perimeter. He’d be the perfect running mate with Tre’Davious White in the Bills’ defensive backfield. 

Round 2: Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky

Robinson had 40 grabs in his freshman season at Nebraska in 2019, then went from a fun slot option to a legitimate star in the SEC at Kentucky in 2021 with 104 grabs for 1,334 yards and seven scores. Plug the springy, super-shifty YAC monster inside in Buffalo’s passing offense and he’ll eat immediately catching passes from Allen. 

Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis on the perimeter with Robinson in the slot would make for quite the matchup nightmare for opponent’s facing Buffalo in 2022 and beyond. 

Round 3: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota

Mafe got better each season at Minnesota — he finished with seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 2021 — and has high-end physical traits at around 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds. Because of his athletic profile, size at defensive end, Mafe feels like the perfect Day 2 selection for the Bills, a club that adores rotating up front on defense more than any other team in the league. 

Beane also has a thing for drafting big-time athletes (see: Allen, Tremaine Edmunds, Gregory Rousseau, and Spencer Brown), so if the Bills don’t retain Jerry Hughes and/or Mario Addison, Mafe would make plenty of sense here. 

Round 4: Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati

Cook was the do-everything defensive back in the Bearcats’ stingy defense. He had 96 tackles, two picks and nine pass breakups on the season. Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde are All-Pro safeties but are both now into their early 30s. McDermott prioritizes legitimate versatility at the position and has gotten quality play form that position during the vast majority of his coaching career, even when he was a defensive coordinator with the Panthers. 

Cook feels like the mid-round defensive back who can eventually blossom in Buffalo’s system, and he’d soak in invaluable knowledge from Poyer and Hyde as a rookie in 2022. 

Round 5: Kennedy Brooks, RB, Oklahoma

Devin Singletary emerged as a legitimate No. 1 running back in Buffalo’s offense in his third season, but there’s minimal depth behind him in the backfield. 

Brooks quietly had three 1,000-plus yard campaigns at Oklahoma and is a tackle-breaking specialist at a hefty 5-11 and 215 pounds. He’d give the Bills power and suddenness at the running back spot.

Round 6: Neil Farrell, DT, LSU

Farrell is a nose tackle at heart who flashed some penetration abilities at times during his career at LSU. He had two sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2021. Buffalo got quality contributions from Harrison Phillips in his contract year, and may have earned a new deal. But the Bills have to get more depth up front — especially by way of block-eating run-stuffers — and that’s the type of defensive tackle Farrell is. 

Round 6: Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson

Spector is a bigger linebacker by today’s standards, listed at 6-2 and 230 pounds. He steadily increased his productivity in Brent Venables’ defense during his time with the Tigers. He can begin on special teams and provide the Bills with the exact type of second-level defender McDermott likes in his defense. 

Round 7: Luke Wattenberg, C, Washington

Wattenberg started 48 games at Washington, including the last 16 at center. The Bills have taken a liking to blockers with legitimate versatility, and Wattenberg is a former left guard. Picking blocking depth on Day 3 is always a good idea, particularly when your franchise quarterback is in place.