Bills NFL Draft 2022 picks: Grades, fits and scouting reports for all 8 additions -

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The Buffalo Bills entered the 2022 NFL Draft on April 28 with eight picks over the three-day draft.

The Bills traded their fourth-round pick to the Ravens to move up two spots to select Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam at No. 25 on Thursday night. Elam is the 45th-ranked prospect in Dane Brugler’s top 300. With star cornerback Tre’Davious White rehabbing after a torn ACL last season and an opening opposite White after Levi Wallace’s departure to Pittsburgh, the Bills picking a cornerback in the first round made sense.

On Day 2 of the draft, the Bills traded down twice in the second round. At No. 63, they selected Georgia running back James Cook, the brother of Vikings star running back Dalvin Cook, Brugler’s 119th-ranked prospect. It was clear general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott wanted to improve their running game when they tried to sign J.D. McKissic in free agency. Cook, who shared running back duties with Zamir White, is likely to be used as a complement to Devin Singletary.

With their third-round pick, No. 89, the Bills selected Baylor linebacker Terrel Bernard, ranked 129th in Brugler’s top 300. Bernard answers a Bills need for depth at linebacker.

On Saturday, the Bills traded up in the fifth round to grab Boise State Khalil Shakir at No. 148. Brugler’s 110th-rated prospect, Shakir can help fill the slot void after Cole Beasley’s departure.

In the sixth round, they drafted a punter, but not just any punter. San Diego State’s Matt Araiza, Brugler’s 116th-rated prospect, is nicknamed “Punt God” because of his booming leg. They also added another defensive back who could contribute on special teams in Villanova cornerback Christian Benford as well as Virginia Tech offensive tackle Luke Tenuta. Their last pick, in the seventh round, was Clemson linebacker Baylon Spector.

Meet their draft selections:

Round 1

No. 23: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

How he fits: Elam fits the mold of a pressman cornerback to the letter, fitting right into Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier’s vision for playing defense. With a healthy Tre’Davious White on the opposite side, Taron Johnson in the slot, and Buffalo’s safeties (Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde) behind him, Elam will be an ideal No. 2 cornerback. Elam can’t be as grabby in the NFL as he was at Florida, but he has the ball skills and recovery speed to make plays on the football without holding on to guys. When McDermott and Frazier want to run their Quarters, Cover 2 and combination coverage schemes, they’ll be able to devise a game plan to leave one of their corners on an island and roll the safeties over the top on the opposite side, making it difficult for quarterbacks to find open windows. — Diante Lee

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Elam needs to tidy up his timing and processing issues, but he is a good-sized athlete (6-foot-1 1/2, 191 pounds) with natural cover talent and NFL-ready intangibles. With his physicality for press-man, he compares favorably to Tampa Bay’s Carlton Davis when he was coming out of Auburn.

Joe Buscaglia’s analysis: Elam fills a need in Bills’ secondary for 2022 and beyond

G. Allan Taylor’s analysis: What Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam brings to the Bills

Sheil Kapadia’s grade: B-plus

Round 2

No. 63: James Cook, RB, Georgia

How he fits: In the last month of the regular season, the best (if not the only) reliable rushing production Buffalo could manufacture came via Josh Allen. Allen is a freak athlete and a dangerous runner, but relying on him to play like the best quarterback in the world and leading the rushing attack is an unsustainable way to design the offense. In steps James Cook, a running back who checks all the boxes as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. With Buffalo playing in a wide-open spread offense, Cook will have to put his smooth cuts and vision to use in a zone-blocking scheme. As a receiver, he adds legitimate value and can help move the chains when defenses drop deep in coverage. If Cook can help protect Allen as a blocker, he can take over as the lead back. — Diante Lee

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Cook doesn’t have the contact balance or build of a full-time ball carrier like his older brother, but he can be a dynamic, versatile threat with his pass-catching skills and balanced athleticism to gravitate toward space.

Joe Buscaglia’s analysis: Cook newest weapon for the Bills’ dynamic offense

Sheil Kapadia’s grade: B

Round 3

No. 89: Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor

How he fits: The 2021 Baylor roster was filled with speedy athletes playing above their weight class, and Terrel Bernard is yet another example. Because of the nature of offenses in the Big 12, and the position Bernard played, he found himself around the ball often — using his lateral mobility to chase the ball down. Because he isn’t ideally sized, I’m worried that his tendency to fit the run with patience will become a weakness at the next level. If he can iron out his ability to play downhill in spite of his size, he can become a starter-level player. As it stands now, he’ll be a rotational piece for Buffalo. — Diante Lee

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Bernard is undersized and doesn’t have the anticipation of a playmaker, but he has disciplined eyes and athletic range to cover space, projecting as a fourth linebacker and potential down-the-road NFL starter.

Joe Buscaglia’s analysis: Bernard provides a much-needed asset behind starting linebackers

Sheil Kapadia’s grade: B

Round 5

No. 148: Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Shakir has average triangle numbers, but he is a crafty route runner with excellent hand-eye coordination and adjustment skills. He projects best in the slot and can handle return responsibilities.

Joe Buscaglia’s analysis: Shakir is an outstanding value in the fifth round and had the talent to be a Day 2 selection. Shakir is an excellent route runner, projecting best to slot receiver where he can use his natural footwork to exploit man and zone coverage. He could wind up being a steal for Buffalo. Jamison Crowder is only on a one-year deal.

Nate Tice’s analysis: I would have liked Khalil Shakir for the Bills on Day 2. So pretty sure I like it even more in the fifth round.

Round 6

No. 180: Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State

Dane Brugler’s analysis: The Ray Guy Award winner last season, Araiza has a booming leg and showed it off as a punter and kicker (field goals, extra points, kickoffs). Last season, he set NCAA records for punting average in a season (51.19), punts of 50-plus yards (39) and punts of 60-plus yards (18). His longest punt last season? An 86-yarder. NFL teams view him as a weapon.

Joe Buscaglia’s analysis: Araiza is quite possibly one of the most popular punter prospects in draft history. Araiza’s big-legged style is similar to Corey Bojorquez, the Bills’ punter from 2018 through 2020.

No. 185: Christian Benford, CB, Villanova

Joe Buscaglia’s analysis: After a successful four-year college career, Benford can be best described as a playmaker. He had seven interceptions in 2021 alone, and 14 interceptions over the course of his career. He will likely need to be a big special teams contributor to make the 53-man roster, but there is a spot available for him if he earns it.

No. 209: Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Tenuta has relatively clean college tape, but his traits leave question marks about his pro transition because of his lack of length, explosiveness and power. He is a potential backup at right tackle.

Round 7

No. 231: Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Spector has some safety-linebacker tweener traits, which hurts his potential NFL ceiling, but he is instinctive and athletic, which can keep him earning an NFL paycheck as a backup and special teamer.

Joe Buscaglia’s analysis: Spector will battle linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Andre Smith for a roster spot.

Additional Reading

(Photo of Kaiir Elam: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)

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