Buffalo Bills NFL Draft 2021: 5 late-round sleepers to target
Coming off of one of the best seasons in recent history, the Buffalo Bills will turn to the 2021 NFL Draft to take the next step and possibly make the Super Bowl once again. Often, a key to improving an already great roster is to find some gems late in the draft.
This year in the 2021 NFL Draft, general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott have no fourth-round pick but possess two fifth-rounders. Otherwise, they have their normal array of 2021 NFL Draft picks.
Capitalizing on these late, day three picks will be very important for the growth and development of the Buffalo Bills.
If they can land some impactful sleepers it could help them get over the hump next season and shape their future.
Here I detail five of my favorite fits in the later rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft for the Buffalo Bills. I am a big fan of each of these prospects and believe that each of them would fit in very well on this Bills roster. All should be considered by the team on day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
1. Paris Ford, Safety, Pittsburgh
One of my absolute favorite players in the 2021 NFL Draft, Paris Ford is being severely underrated. I think he is a top safety in this draft class and should come off the board closer to the top of the draft than the bottom.
As I mentioned in my team needs article for the Buffalo Bills, safety could be a sneaky need for the team in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Bills have had one of the best safety duos in the league since 2017 when they acquired Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.
However, if both keep playing at such a high level, they may play themselves out of the Bills price range sooner rather than later. Even if they don’t and their level of play declines, the team may not want to bring them back anyway.
Bringing in a versatile player like Paris Ford now could help the defense with that inevitable transition. Ford is outstanding around the line of scrimmage. He is a fiery and aggressive player who is constantly playing downhill. He is physical in man coverage and lays the wood as good as any in the league, even with his slight frame.
I truly believe that Paris Ford has the potential to be a perennial Pro Bowler in the NFL, possibly becoming one of the best safeties in the league if he can continue to fill out his frame and develop his game, particularly in coverage.
The Buffalo Bills need to be proactive with the safety position, and where Paris Ford is currently being mocked, he would be an absolute steal. A player with his talent and potential is exactly what a team like the Bills should be looking for on day three of the 2021 NFL Draft.