2022 NFL draft: 8 Bills storylines to watch for during the event

Everyone has finally made it, the 2022 NFL draft from Las Vegas will get underway very soon.

When it comes to the Buffalo Bills, there will be plenty to watch for (beyond just who they pick).

Here are eight Bills storylines to watch for during the 2022 draft:

Need or no?

Bills general manager Brandon Beane (right) Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Every offseason Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane says he wants to fill every “need” before heading into the draft. The goal is to take the “best player available” for every pick.

Many reading this will love Beane for his consistent body of work since joining the Bills. He did not accomplish this goal this time around.

Buffalo has one glaring problem: Cornerback. Does Beane feel pressed into taking one in the first round? Stay tuned.

Do the Bills stand pat?

Bills general manager Brandon Beane Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Many reading this will also know Beane is not shy about moving around the draft board. The Bills have done so in both directions under his watch. This is typically the biggest and most obvious thing to watch at the draft as well. Will Buffalo make some trades?

Any run on positions in Round 1?

NFL File Photo. File photo dated 06-10-2019 of an NFL logo at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. (Press Association via AP Images)

A huge determining factor in trades and other decisions will be potential “runs” on positions. What happens if a couple of wide receivers are taken? Do teams feel the need to want to trade up? How about trade back? This could also have an affect on how the Bills decide to do business as well.

Early on before the Bills’ first pick at No. 25 overall, keep this in mind. Not just regarding receivers–any other position as well.

The cornerback run

Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. (23)
Clemson U Of Sc Football In Columbia

Combining a few things together above: The Bills have a need at cornerback and those “runs” on positions.

What does Buffalo do if multiple corners get taken ahead of them? Does Beane feel the need to jump up and get his guy… or at least someone? This could trigger a trade back, even.

The top two rushers

Cyclones running back Breece Hall (28) Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Enough about the defensive backs. What about the playmakers on offense? Wide receiver could be on Buffalo’s radar, but by comparison to running back, that’s a much deeper group.

Most agree that there are two top running back prospects and that’s about it. Iowa State’s Breece Hall and Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III.

Do the Bills make the leap at one of those two with one of their top picks? Most draft analysts think they’ll both be gone by the end of Round 2, and most also agree there’s a bit of a drop of in talent at the position after Hall and Walker.

Any quarterback impact?

Josh Allen of Wyoming poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell . (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Similar to the “run” on positions, watch for quarterbacks.

Truly, teams do crazy things, seemingly every offseason, to land their guy. Do the Bills need a QB? Of course not. But every draft some QBs are picked too high and that might help someone fall to the Bills in the first or second rounds.

What's the fan situation like?

Gregory Rousseau (Miami) walks on stage after being selected by the Buffalo Bills as the number 30 overall pick Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Since the draft has started to alternate each spring in terms of location, let’s keep an eye on the crowd. A trip to Las Vegas? There have to be some members of Bills Mafia happy to make that trek out to such a location to rep the team at the draft…

Do we get our first look at the pick...?

Gregory Rousseau (Miami) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

There will be a total of 21 prospects actually at the draft, in person. See above: The Bills’ last first-round, Greg Rousseau, was there and walked to stage when Buffalo picked him. In the past, second rounders are still around as well. That happened with Cody Ford.

Always a nice touch seeing a new players there, in the flesh.

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