If you’ve read any mock drafts this season, you’ve probably seen the Buffalo Bills choose a receiver with the 28th overall pick.
While the prevailing consensus may be more groupthink than an actual depiction of Buffalo’s board – keep in mind that at least eight of their top 20 defenders (by total snaps) are free agents or have gone elsewhere – a receiver is a very real possibility.
The drama, if you can call it that, has continued with receiver Stefon Diggs’ cryptic tweets, which have set off smoke alarms. The Bills Mafia will wait to see whether there’s a fire, but they’re also concerned about filling the void left by boundary receiver Gabe Davis’ departure for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Despite the signings of Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins, there are still open targets and room for another high-level player in the receiving room. Given this class’s abundance of receivers, Buffalo will have plenty of alternatives if they draft one in the first round.
On “The QB Room” podcast, Bills quarterback Josh Allen spoke with former teammate Kyle Allen about his preferred receivers in this year’s class.
“The top three guys, Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, and Marvin Harrison Jr. are all three pretty great prospects,” Allen said in a statement. “Then you get to that kinda second-ish tier, if you will, of Brian Thomas, Adonai Mitchell, I think Keon Coleman, Troy Franklin, Xavier Worthy are all there, Xavier Legette.”
Allen made a point of watching the incoming receiving class, and his list may provide some insight into what he and his team are thinking. Except for Worthy, each of the second-tier targets fits the profile of an X receiver, similar to Davis. While some may like more fluid athleticism, natural separation skills, or improved after-the-catch efforts, they would presumably take his spot on the depth chart.
Other early-round picks, such as Georgia’s Ladd McConkey and Washington’s combination of Ja’Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan, were not announced. Neither of them fit the aforementioned archetype.
“Let me tell you what. “It was interesting to watch these guys at the combine, who were big, tall, heavy, and fast,” Allen said. “It was pretty impressive to watch.”
Allen could use a capable X receiver, and the class has enough of them. Given his measurables and tenacity, it stands to reason that he would be drawn to the physical freaks of this year’s NFL Draft.
