Buffalo Bills Mock Draft: Updated Day 3 Predictions

Friday's draft night had a little bit of everything to whet a Bills fan's palate. Surprise, intrigue and best of all, a heart-softening moment with Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly announcing Buffalo's pick of Ronald Darby in the second round. 

The day had an interesting start for the Bills, and a pick of a cornerback defied some expectations for the day. Buffalo followed it up by fortifying the guard position, as expected, when they selected Louisville guard John Miller with pick No. 81. 

With a big hole filled on Day 2, Buffalo will be able to take a best-player-available approach when they come back on the clock in the fifth round.

Quarterbacks Bryce Petty and Brett Hundley are two of the biggest names remaining on the big board after Garrett Grayson and Sean Mannion had their names called in the third round. A pick of a quarterback is seemingly more unpopular by the day with the Buffalo fanbase, but the Bills' interest in both players during the predraft process could signal a move into the fourth round if a deal is right. 

Tight end, inside linebacker and running back are positions to look out for on the final day of the draft. 

Let's take a look at the final mock draft of the 2015 offseason. 

Round 5, Pick 155

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Taiwan Jones, ILB, Michigan State

Buffalo elected against adding an inside linebacker on Day 2 after an unfortunate run leading up to its pick in the second round. The Bills will likely miss out on many of the second-round talents who have fallen into the fourth round, which makes Jones a very realistic possibility at pick No. 155. 

I have rehashed Jones' qualities throughout the week, and his prediction as a good fit in head coach Rex Ryan's 3-4 scheme as a run-stuffer rings true. Jones isn't nearly as good an athlete as the guys who were drafted over the first two days. But that won't matter much if Ryan can hide Jones' shortcomings by taking him off the field in obvious passing situations. 

Jones is a rocket of a disrupter coming out of the second level of the defense, and Ryan's surprising blitz packages would allow the former Spartan to pick up a few sacks each season. As a developmental inside linebacker, he can sit behind the Bills' current crew for a year and contribute on kick-coverage teams. 

His slow times at the combine have probably scared teams away over the first two days, but Jones' game is more about a quick first step than pure speed. He will be a quality pick-up on the final day. 

Round 6, Pick 188

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MyCole Pruitt, TE, Southern Illinois

Tight ends have been a slow-moving commodity over the first two days. I couldn't have imagined Maxx Williams, as the top guy on the tight end big board, sitting there for the Bills at pick No. 50, and Williams ended up sliding five more picks to Baltimore.

Clive Walford, a personal favorite of mine, also was drafted on Day 2 by the Oakland Raiders. 

Tight end is a need for Buffalo, but it wasn't the most pressing coming into the week. The Bills have already sealed their major holes and can afford to take on a few projects in the final day. 

Pruitt has the chance to go in the late fourth or early fifth round because of his raw ability, but the slow market could push him down even further. He has above-average hands and a good enough blocking base to develop.

If he is still sitting on the board this late, this pick is a no-brainer. 

Round 6, Pick 194

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John Crockett, RB, North Dakota State

Crockett makes it two straight FCS-level picks in the sixth round, but he joins Pruitt as one of the best players from FCS still available. 

Coming from a three-time national champion at North Dakota State, Crockett was one of the prime offensive pieces for the Bison. He was a bruising back at the lower level and rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons as a starter. His best season came during his senior year, when he finished with just shy of 2,000 yards on the ground and 21 touchdowns. 

What makes Crockett a good investment late is that he is a very willing blocker at the running back position. He likely won't ever be a starting running back in the NFL, but he can carve out a niche with the team and maybe make an impact like Fred Jackson has after coming from a lower collegiate level. 

Buffalo currently has stacked depth at running back, but it makes sense to invest a late pick in one more with Jackson nearing his end in the NFL. 

Round 7, Pick 234

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David Parry, NT, Stanford

Stanford has had the second-most players drafted through the first two days, a testament to the program that David Shaw is running up in Palo Alto. 

At this point in the draft the Bills do not have a whole lot of positions that have an immediate or even short-term need. Their defensive line is the strength of the team going into the 2015 season, but it's very possible they will want to add depth to the unit before the draft is over. 

Marcell Dareus is in a contract year, and Kyle Williams is getting up there in years despite still playing at a very high level. It wouldn't hurt to look at a big body for the middle of the line, especially when all it requires is a flier in the seventh round. 

Parry is a former walk-on who eventually earned a starting gig on Stanford's stout defense. He's got a good initial punch into the offensive line and has good enough hands to get away from a block. His work ethic alone is worth Parry getting a look late.