Final Bills mock draft: running back, defensive backs and a Day 3 trade

We made it! Welcome to draft day, everyone. The intrigue surrounding the Bills’ top pick has only intensified early this week. Let’s get right to it.

Here is my final Bills seven-round mock draft, complete with a full first-round projection.

• Trades calculated using the Rich Hill Trade Chart.

The pick at No. 25: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

Close second: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia

In my only other Bills seven-round mock draft, over a month ago, I had the Bills taking Breece Hall, and I’m sticking with it because of Bills logic — not general draft logic. They have yet to add to their fastball in a significant way this offseason, and giving them a player like Hall adds an entirely different dimension to the offense. He’s a home run threat, he’s a pass-catching threat, he has upside in pass protection, he has excellent patience and vision for the zone scheme they’re likely to run more in 2022 and he can make people miss in the open field. The Bills often go for something they don’t have in the first round, and they have no one even close to what Hall could become, and there is no one else like Hall in this draft who fits everything they’re looking for at the position.

It’s not about running the ball more; this is still a pass-first operation. It’s about becoming an even more dynamic offense that doesn’t have to rely so heavily on quarterback Josh Allen with designed runs. It’s minimizing the risk of their MVP-level quarterback missing games. Coach Sean McDermott has stressed having the threat to run at all times to help the passing game. Devin Singletary has been fine, but he lacks game-breaking ability and he’s in the final year of his contract. Hall checks way too many boxes to ignore. He would become an electric option on RPOs, and the screen game would actually have life. Just as important, his presence would dissuade the opposition from running the big-pass-play-preventing two-high defense that’s in vogue now.

And for those who hate the idea of taking a running back in the first round, I don’t think the Bills are as worried about it as everyone else. General manager Brandon Beane acknowledged that the team had running backs, plural, with first-round grades over the last four years. Last year, after he was selected 25th by the Jaguars, Travis Etienne said he believed he was headed to Buffalo at No. 30. Beane said they would take the player if he added a dynamic skill set the Bills didn’t have on their roster. Hall is that guy.

Round 2, Pick 57: Nick Cross, S, Maryland

Cross can play the deep middle and in the box as the strong safety, a perfect blend of what the Bills covet from their safeties. As a free safety on his best reps, he exhibits excellent patience when he needs to play the deep middle, then at strong safety, he brings the physicality to get downhill in a hurry. Cross could be a steal on Day 2 if he pairs some of his risk-taking with developing instincts and recognition skills over time. Cross likely will not factor into the starting lineup in 2022 barring an injury, but one year of learning from Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer will more than prepare him for a vital role.

Maryland’s Nick Cross could be a great fit at safety for the Bills. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

Round 3, Pick 89: Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State

Williams is a perfect fit for the Bills because of his arm length (32.875 inches), run defense and long-range potential as a converted high school wide receiver. Williams’ story will also appeal to the Bills because they love defensive backs who have…