By admin The Buffalo Bills are set to make three selections in the fifth round of the upcoming NFL Draft, which takes place on April 27. This round has been fruitful for the Bills in the past, yielding starters like Matt Milano and Khalil Shakir. With a total of eight picks in rounds four through seven, the Bills have ample opportunities to uncover hidden talents that could bolster their roster depth and potentially earn starting roles down the line.
Two years ago, Christian Benford, a sixth-round pick from Villanova, earned a starting assignment in his rookie season, beating out first-rounder Kaiir Elam. Similarly, Stevie Johnson, a seventh-round pick in 2008, made significant contributions to the team. Under general manager Brandon Beane’s leadership, the fifth round has proven to be particularly fruitful for the Bills, and the upcoming draft presents another chance to strike gold.
The Bills have three fifth-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft: their own pick at No. 163, the No. 160 pick acquired from a midseason trade with the Green Bay Packers, and the No. 144 pick acquired from an offseason trade with the Chicago Bears. The fifth round has historically been rich with talent, with past selections including All-Pro linebacker Matt Milano in 2017, as well as notable players like George Kittle and Aaron Jones.
In 2018, the Bills selected Wyatt Teller and Siran Neal in the fifth round. Teller went on to achieve All-Pro status with the Cleveland Browns, while Neal contributed as a core special teamer for the Bills before leaving in free agency. In 2022, Khalil Shakir was drafted with the No. 148 overall pick and has since become a key player in the Bills’ offense led by Josh Allen.
According to Beane, each draft pick is valuable, even if they are not made during primetime. Successful franchises often find foundational pieces on Day 3 of the draft, emphasizing the importance of these selections in building a competitive team.