2022 NFL Draft: Grading Every Team’s 2022 NFL Draft Haul

Bills (8 picks):

1:23 – Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

2:31 – James Cook, RB, Georgia

3:25 – Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor

5:05 – Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State

6:01 – Matt Araiza, Punter, San Diego St.

6:06 – Christian Benford, CB, Villanova

6:31 – Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech

7:10 – Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson

The Buffalo Bills were sent home by the Kansas City Chiefs for the second year in a row, this time in an overtime playoff game that saw Josh Allen stuck on the sideline. Rather than being discouraged, the organization became even more hungry to surpass their budding rivals in Kansas City.

The first (and biggest) move to close the gap came when the Bills signed former Super Bowl MVP, Von Miller, to a lucrative long-term deal. Statistically, the Bills already owned a top-ten defense, and now with Miller, they think it catapults them towards the very top.

Entering the 2022 NFL Draft, the two biggest needs in my book were cornerback and an explosive running back. Kaiir Elam was taken in round one, and I expect him to develop into a starter sooner rather than later. Tre’Davious White is on the mend, but after he regains full health, wide receivers better keep an eye out when Buffalo comes up on the schedule.

Furthermore, the team brought in James Cook to fill the explosive running back need. Cook is the brother of Vikings star Dalvin Cook, and you can see the family resemblance when they have the ball in their hands. Khalil Shakir will contend for the WR3 role, and the Punt God — Matt Araiza — will be pinning teams deep into the playoffs. This sure feels like the type of class that can elevate the Bills to the level they want to be.

Grade: B+