2018 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills 7-round mock

Round 3 – Pick 96

Duke Dawson, CB, Florida

The way the board fell in the third round was not ideal for the Bills. They have holes at linebacker and tackle that need to be addressed. Unfortunately players left at those positions did not warrant the pick here. Rather than reaching, grabbing a solid corner like Florida’s Duke Dawson makes sense.

Last year Buffalo nailed it with Tre White, another SEC corner. This time they grab Florida’s Dawson to be part of their already solid young secondary.

The only reason Dawson is available this late in the draft is due to his size. Standing only 5-foot-10 and weighing about 200 pounds, he does not have the size most teams want in their top corners. Most project Dawson as a nickel due to those size limitations. With a solid combine, it is likely he will get consideration earlier than this. In a deep corner class, that size may push him to around this landing spot.

Buffalo does not seem to be scared off by that size profile. White only measured in 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds. The rest of the corners on the roster sit about the same size. Dawson’s physicality and ball skills project well in the Bills defense, regardless of his size.

The team could use Dawson, White and other starter E.J. Gaines in a rotation or based on matchups. The three are all solid players that can contribute. In a division where you have to play New England twice a year, corners should always be a priority.