Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - When you have a roster as good as the Buffalo Bills, it’s hard to find a lot of areas of need. But the few that seemed to be lingering for the Buffalo Bills on Day 3 of the 2022 NFL Draft, general manager Brandon Beane addressed those pick-by-pick.
First, it was wide receiver, a position many Bills fans wanted them to - and even thought they would - address earlier in the draft. But Khalil Shakir out of Boise State (Round 5, 148th overall) isn’t just a receiver. He’s a do-it-all athlete who can line up almost anywhere on the field, and did exactly that for the Broncos.
While at Boise State, Shakir caught 208 passes, had 71 rushing attempts, returned 24 punts, and even threw five passes (with four completions). He lined up as a wide receiver, and even as a running back, taking direct snaps.
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Then came maybe the story of the draft for many Bills fans when they selected San Diego State punter Matt Araiza with the first pick of the sixth round (180th overall).
Nicknamed the “Punt God,” Araiza has an incredibly impressive and powerful leg. He set an NCAA single-season all-time record last season, averaging 51.2 yards per-punt, including placing 37 of them inside the 20-yard line and two punts of 80-plus yards.
Araiza was the Ray Guy Award winner as the nation's top punter last year in college.
With the struggles Matt Haack had in 2021, Beane acknowledged at the end of last season that the team would be looking to add a punter to the roster. Haack is also valued as a holder, though, something Araiza has never done in competitive game action. But he told the media Saturday he’s been training and working on that, knowing NFL teams would require it.
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After grabbing Kaiir Elam with their first-round choice and addressing the cornerback position right off the bat, Beane wasn’t done there, taking Villanova cornerback Christian Benford with the 185th overall pick.
Benford can play outside on the boundary, as well as inside in the slot. He can even play safety, according to Beane, which happened to be the one position the Bills had yet to add any players to their roster since last season ended, whether via free agency or the draft.
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With another pick in the sixth round (209th overall), Beane went to the offensive line, which had yet to be addressed in the draft and still has question marks on the depth chart. Virginia Tech’s Luke Tenuta will compete with David Quessenberry, Tommy Doyle, and Bobby Hart to backup Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown at tackle.
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Baylon Spector will represent the final pick of the Bills' 2022 draft class, taken 231st overall in the seventh round. While not as much of a need position, especially after already grabbing Terrel Bernard on Friday night, Spector can play both linebacker positions, special teams, and adds competition to an already competitive room.
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Beane said he is excited about the players they drafted, and he feels good about where his roster is now.
Filling needs on a roster that doesn’t have many will do that for a general manager.
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