3 Sleeper DBs the Buffalo Bills Should Target
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Buffalo Bills are a true Super Bowl contender, and they’re only a few key pieces away from getting over that Kansas City Chiefs hump. While Buffalo’s perceived needs at wide receiver is the highest-profile talking point, their needs in the secondary are arguably more pressing. Rasual Douglas is set to hit free agency, and even if he were to come back, the team would still need other help. Christian Benford is still around but will need an extension soon. Damar Hamlin is a free agent, and even if he comes back, the Bills still need depth.
Plenty of mock drafts predict Buffalo taking a cornerback or safety in the first round, and even if that happens, they can’t be done. There are always useful secondary pieces hiding late in drafts who end up being steals. Look no further than Micah Hyde, who the Green Bay Packers selected in the fifth round of the 2013 Draft and went on to have an above-average career in the league. Who might those players be this year? Let’s take a look and see if we can’t find some late-round gems who can help turn around the Bills’ defense.
Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas
Cobee Bryant is probably going to go in the fourth round, but just based on value, this pick would make a whole lot of sense with one of their fourth-round picks. Hell, even if his draft stock rises, and the Bills have to trade up to take him in the late third round, they should seriously consider it. To start, Mr. Bryant sure knows how to trash talk, and he would bring the perfect edge to this defense that they are looking for. At Kansas, he mostly played man, but he has shown that he is comfortable in zone schemes, as well. He also has a knack for tracking the ball and creating turnovers, fitting in perfectly with Buffalo. He finished with 14 interceptions and 22 passes batted down.
I know he's 170 lbs but Cobee Bryant is one of my favorite players in this class. 11 INTs/16 PBUs/3 FF over the last 3 seasons and the most physical CB in run support that I've watched pic.twitter.com/nWVzBC1vg0
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) January 21, 2025
The only real knock on him is with his frame; despite being 6-foot-0, he is only 171 pounds. He overcame that at Kansas, and although it might be what drops him down a couple of picks, it shouldn’t be a major concern for the Bills.
Car’lin Vigers, CB, Louisiana-Monroe
It’s easy to imagine Car’lin Vigers rising up draft boards as April draws closer. His strong showing at the Hulu Bowl drew a ton of buzz, and looking back at games against top competition like Texas, the Warhawk stepped up and played well.
Car’lin Vigers blocks it, Tristan Driggers recovers it. TD @ULM_FB! 😤 pic.twitter.com/u0NVGSfyEi
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) September 10, 2023
On paper, Vigers looks the part of a modern NFL corner, coming in at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. During his time with Louisiana-Monroe, he showed shutdown cornerback potential. The most appealing part of Vigers might be that he’s a relative unknown, with some thinking he can slip into UDFA status. Buffalo can prevent that from happening by using one of their five picks between 171 and 208 overall (Rounds 5 through 6) to take a flyer on him. He’s still raw, but he’s worth taking and seeing if he can develop into a starting-caliber corner in a couple of seasons.
Tommi Hill, DB, Nebraska
Tommi Hill was highly recruited out of High School, and although he didn’t exactly live up to the expectations in college, he still has a skill set that has a chance to thrive in the NFL. One issue for Hill was that he sustained several injuries in college, and even during 2024, he only played in seven total games.
Tommi Hill Pick 6 as Memorial Stadium ERUPTS vs. Colorado #Huskers #GBR pic.twitter.com/FPCNpWSCV5
— Huskers Top Plays (@HuskersTopPlays) January 31, 2025
One of the things the Bills should be the most excited about is his versatility. Not only did he play cornerback during college, but he also played wide receiver and kick returner. He has also been shown to excel in zone coverage, and it would be a seamless transition to the Buffalo defense. The other area for concern is his consistency, and it’s why he will probably drop on draft day, but there are usually a couple of red flags with any player who falls into the late rounds.
The Bills have the pieces to be able to go heavy on the secondary in the draft, and they must take advantage early and often. It almost doesn’t matter who — history tells us that there are a few Hyde-type players lurking in the late part of the draft. Betting smart on some lottery tickets in the secondary is the only way to find them.
Up Next