{"id":871805,"date":"2026-04-22T10:27:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T10:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/871805\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:27:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T10:27:18","slug":"ranking-the-5-best-third-round-draft-picks-in-buffalo-bills-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/871805\/","title":{"rendered":"Ranking the 5 best third-round draft picks in Buffalo Bills history"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every spring, the NFL Draft becomes the focal point for all 32 franchises. General managers have their first-round targets<\/a>, but it often comes down to finding gems hidden later in the draft that becomes a defining point between the elite franchises and also-rans. <\/p>\n

As the Buffalo Bills attempt to fill critical holes<\/a>, it feels like a good time to look back on drafts past. The third round and beyond puts to the test all of the scouts findings and the instinct of those making decisions. Throughout the years, the Bills have managed to find some fine players hidden in the third round.<\/p>\n

Ranking Bills’ third-round gems in franchise history5.) Don Beebe, WR \u2013 82nd overall (1989)<\/p>\n

Unknown, older, and coming out of Western Illinois, no one could have had significant hopes for Don Beebe<\/a> coming out of the draft. Yet the Bills saw something in the 5-foot-11 receiver to take a chance on him.<\/p>\n

Beebe became a solid \u201cheart and soul\u201d kind of player for the Bills Super Bowl teams. At his peak, he was a 500-yard receiver making defenses that keyed in on Andre Reed and James Lofton pay dearly. Though the play itself is unfortunate, nothing epitomized Beebe\u2019s game more than chasing down Leon Lett and forcing a fumble in the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

4.) Dawson Knox, TE \u2013 96th overall (2019)<\/p>\n

The Mississippi product will be back for his eighth season in Buffalo. Dawson Knox<\/a> has become an ideal combination of blocking and catching, a best friend and favorite target of franchise quarterback Josh Allen.<\/p>\n

He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022 and has been displaced as the primary pass-catching target by Dalton Kincaid. Still, he serves a valuable role in one of football\u2019s best offenses, even if it can\u2019t always be quantified.<\/p>\n

3.) Ben Williams, DE \u2013 78th overall (1976)<\/p>\n

Ben Williams<\/a>, a starter since his second season, started while the Bills were trying to work themselves out of the league\u2019s basement. He did just that, earning his only Pro Bowl selection in 1982 in a shortened nine-game season.<\/p>\n

Williams was a force at the start of the 1980s, racking up at least 10 sacks in three of four seasons from 1980-1983. He spent his entire 10-year career in Buffalo, racking up 52 sacks before finally calling it a career in 1985 (when Bruce Smith arrived).<\/p>\n

2.) Spencer Brown, OT \u2013 93rd overall (2021)<\/p>\n

Spencer Brown<\/a> is one of the great finds under the current Bills management regime. Taken out of Northern Iowa, Brown became the starter at right tackle by the end of his rookie season in 2021 and hasn\u2019t looked back.<\/p>\n

He has since become one of the best right tackles in the league, forming a formidable duo with left tackle Dion Dawkins. At 28 years old, Brown is coming into his prime and should be a fixture on the Bills offensive line for years to come.<\/p>\n

1.) Joe Ferguson, QB \u2013 57th overall (1973)<\/p>\n

Before Josh Allen and Jim Kelly, there was Joe Ferguson<\/a>. He became the immediate starter and held it for his 12 seasons in Buffalo. Never an elite passer, Ferguson played with a lot of moxie and just enough mobility to make him dangerous. <\/p>\n

He led the NFL in 1977 with 2,803 yards passing (and 24 interceptions), topping out as a starter with 3,652 yards in 1981. Ferguson led the Bills through a lot of bad times before giving way to Kelly and the dynamic Bills of the 1990s. Ferguson held every significant passing record in franchise history until Kelly and the K-Gun offense took over.<\/p>\n

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