The 2022 NFL Draft has officially kicked off, and the Buffalo Bills have made their first selection. As the seven rounds progress and the team makes all of their picks, we will provide a live draft grade and analysis for each of the Bills’ selections. How do these new prospects fit with the roster, what kind of impact will they have on the team, and what do the team’s needs look like now that the draft is complete?
Make sure to continue to check back as the 2022 NFL Draft continues for live Buffalo Bills draft grades and analysis.
Buffalo Bills grades for 2022 NFL Draft
What are the Bills’ grades for their selections in the 2022 NFL Draft as they look to address their main needs this offseason?
Round 1, Pick 23: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
Teams are being aggressive with trade-ups this year, making measured leaps to get prospects they’re especially fond of. The Bills joined in on the action in Round 1, moving up from 25th to 23rd overall to take Florida CB Kaiir Elam.
Looking at what the Bills need, this is a phenomenal pick. Losing Levi Wallace in free agency left a void on the boundary opposite Tre’Davious White, and Elam fills it extremely well. Elam is a long, athletic cornerback with elite fluidity and impressive closing speed. He can carry receivers upfield, and he can also jam at the line with tenacious physicality. Throw in his instincts and route recognition, and he can be a vital playmaker in the secondary. He’s a top-15 talent on my board, and the Bills get him at a great value.
Grade: A+
Round 2, 63: James Cook, RB, Georgia
Running back has long been an area of need for the Buffalo Bills. They don’t have a completely reliable three-down option there at the moment. They might not have gotten that with this pick either, but they added talent to their RB room as a whole. At 63rd overall, Georgia RB James Cook is the pick.
Cook is widely known as the younger brother of Dalvin Cook, but he has talent in his own right. One of the best receiving backs in the 2022 NFL Draft, Cook is a truly versatile weapon who can move around and provide a valuable safety blanket for Josh Allen. He also has the burst, speed, and initial vision to make the most of the lanes he has. He’s only 5’11”, 189 pounds, so his size is an issue translating to the NFL. At the bottom of the second, he’s a notable reach. However, it’s a self-aware luxury pick for a Bills team that doesn’t have too many glaring needs.
Grade: C+
Round 3, Pick 89: Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor
The Bills have selected Baylor LB Terrel Bernard with the 89th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Bernard is the third Baylor defender to be selected on Day 2, behind Jalen Pitre (Texans) and JT Woods (Chargers).
Bernard may have been a bit over-drafted at this point, but the Bills could use depth and future security at the linebacker position. Bernard is a bit undersized, standing at 6’1”, 224 pounds. That weight could hinder him against NFL playmakers. Nonetheless, Bernard is a great coverage linebacker with explosiveness and an attacking mindset in the box, and he can also provide immediate special-teams utility.
Grade: C+
Round 5, Pick 148: Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
Considered a top need for the Bills coming into the NFL Draft, they wait until the fifth round to strike at the wide receiver position. Boise State wide receiver Khalil Shakir was the 84th-ranked prospect and 15th-ranked wide receiver on the PFN Top 300 Consensus Big Board, so the value here is impressive. A twitchy, sudden athlete who poses an explosive threat after the catch, Shakir also has excellent ability at the catch point with eye-catching athletic ability. He’ll be an impressive playmaker from the slot position for a Bills offense that gets more dangerous with this selection.
Grade: A-
Round 6, Pick 180: Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State
It might have come a little later than expected, but the “Punt God” finally hears his name called in the 2022 NFL Draft. Matt Araiza has become a college stud and social media sensation during his final season with San Diego State.
Where most people have a leg attached to the left side of their lower body, Araiza has an actual cannon. He booms punts for fun, breaking records for punting average, number of 50+ yard punts, and 60+ yard punts on his way to the Ray Guy Award as the best punter in college football. A field-flipping threat who can also kick field goals, Araiza teams up with Tyler Bass to form one of the best special-teams duos in the NFL.
Grade: A+
Round 6, Pick 185: Christian Benford, CB, Villanova
Kaiir Elam gives the Bills security as a starter opposite Tre’Davious White. However, entering Day 3, there was still room to add depth to the cornerback room. The Bills accomplished that at 185th overall, adding an interesting prospect out of the FCS ranks.
Christian Benford is a talented cornerback out of Villanova, with the production and athleticism that could suggest promise at the next level. Benford was legitimately dominant at Villanova. In 2021, he caught 7 picks and notched 25 deflections. Overall, through four years, he had 14 picks and 47 breakups. Benford is 6’0”, 208 pounds, with 31” arms and 4.53 speed. He gives Buffalo great depth and has rotational upside.
Grade: A
Round 6, Pick 209: Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech
In a surprising development, the Bills didn’t touch the offensive line until the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In this range, they settled on Virginia Tech Luke Tenuta as their choice. Tenuta likely maxes out as a depth lineman. He’s big, standing at 6’8”, 312 pounds, and he does have good awareness. But his proportional length isn’t elite, and with his height, he often plays too high with his pads. He lacks great lateral agility. Still, at the very least, his straight-line burst and physicality present some appeal. That said, developmental tackles with more upside were on the board.
Grade: C+
Round 7, Pick 231: Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson
Baylon Spector is an experienced second-level defender who has underrated athletic tools. At the NFL Combine, he logged a 4.6 40-yard dash and a 36” vertical at 6’1”, 233 pounds. Spector has willing physicality in the box but also the mobility to play in coverage and manage zones. Spector likely factors in as a special-teams player early on. However, he provides good depth behind Matt Milano, Tremaine Edmunds, and Terrel Bernard.
Grade: B
What were the Bills’ biggest needs entering the draft?
- CB, RB, DT, TE, OT
The Bills roster is a pretty complete group. The needs are not that large in any one area. However, there are lots of little concerns, especially when it comes to their depth. Cornerback is the perfect example. They have a few solid options, but they could do with finding a solid third starting CB while also solidifying their depth in case of injuries.
Devin Singletary certainly gained the trust of the Bills’ offense last year, but he is far from a complete back. With Zack Moss having fallen out of favor, the Bills need either a complement to Singletary or someone who can step up and be their backfield leader. Elsewhere, the Bills need to look at their depth at defensive tackle, tight end, and offensive tackle ahead of 2022.