The Bills were viewed by some as a candidate to trade up in Round 1 for a wide receiver. Instead, Buffalo traded down twice. Both picks wound up becoming wide receivers.
Trading away Stefon Diggs to the Texans and letting Gabe Davis walk in free agency to the Jaguars depleted Buffalo's wide-receiving corps. The Bills signed Curtis Samuel, but the unit could still use improvement as it prepares to compete for a Super Bowl in 2024.
As things stand heading into Friday's Round 2, the Bills are on the clock. Assuming Buffalo won't trade out of the pick, it will have all day to consider who is the first player selected on the second day of the draft. The assumption is the pick will be a wide receiver. But the Bills could also eye other players that have slipped in the draft.
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Heading into the 2024 season, the Bills still have an elite quarterback in Josh Allen and lofty expectations, meaning there will be plenty of eyes on the player Buffalo picks to aid in its quest of the franchise's first Lombardi Trophy.
Sporting News is taking a look at the options available for the Bills with the No. 33 pick.
Option 1: Adonai Mitchell
The Chiefs spent the Bills' original draft pick on Xavier Worthy. There's a chance his Texas teammate Mitchell winds up the better Longhorn wide receiver.
Worthy had the headlines with the record-setting 40 time, but Mitchell is a more physical receiver at 6-2, 205 pounds who still has plenty of speed. He accelerates quickly and has sure hands who is unlikely to have any crushing drops late in games.
Mitchell has a way of forcing himself open downfield. That ability would prove particularly useful for a quarterback like Allen who buys himself time by rolling out of the pocket or by fighting through sacks. He would be more of a direct replacement for Diggs, which makes him perhaps the team's best option.
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Option 2: Ladd McConkey
The Bills already are loaded up with slot receivers. Samuel specializes in the slot. Khalil Shakir and Deonte Harty are also smaller, shifty receivers who better fit in the slot.
McConkey might be best in the slot as well, but there is some belief he could be a fit as an outside receiver for a team. He is a shifty route runner capable of shaking defenders loose. He can accelerate up to full speed and get to a full stop quick, skills that could translate well even if he is primarily on the outside.
Though he's a bit undersized and would not quite be in the Diggs mold, McConkey is one of the clear top receivers left on the board. Some think he's a sneaky pick to break out at the NFL level. His athleticism could make him a dangerous target for Allen.
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Option 3: Troy Franklin
If the Bills want to shoot for the stars, the high upside pick would be Franklin. There have been questions about focus drops and his leaner frame, but the upside in selecting the Ducks' wide receiver is immense.
Franklin has some height (6-2) even if he's on the leaner side (176 pounds). The 21-year-old came to Oregon as a true speedster, but he's improved in his ability to make the most of his speed, not always amping up to full throttle and adding some shiftiness to get open.
A pick like Franklin is more of an upside swing than McConkey with a bit more risk. At worst, he's a deep-ball target who occasionally drops Allen's rocket throws and is limited mainly to being a deep threat. At best, he continues to improve in his mid-range game and becomes a true explosive threat in the offense that emerges as the best, young receiver Allen has had with the Bills.
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Option 4: Cooper DeJean
Bills Mafia wants the explosive offensive weapon to pair with Allen. But if the Bills believe the best receivers are gone, they could wind up taking one of the top cornerbacks in the 2024 class and adding to the team's secondary depth.
DeJean appeared ticketed for the first round, but a slow developing market for defensive players left him on the outside looking in. The Iowa cornerback combines standout speed and impressive instincts with stellar tackling ability. He has drawn praise for limiting big plays on catches and for being a playmaker when he gets his hands on the ball.
The Bills look relatively set at cornerback with Christian Benford, Rasul Douglas and Taron Johnson. But teams can never have enough corner depth with the rise of top-tier receivers in the league. And even if Buffalo feels comfortable at corner, DeJean can always fit at safety and provide the Bills with a versatile defensive asset.
Option 5: Trade back
Dare the Bills trade back again? Buffalo has already sent away two picks that wound up turning into wide receivers. Doing so again could mean another top wideout goes off the board.
But the Bills have added a nice crop of picks so far and look poised to have plenty of options in the middle of the draft. Trading back again could continue to build on that stockpile and allow the Bills to use the middle rounds to make improvements to the team's depth.
There are still no shortage of wide receivers available. If the Bills traded back, they could still wind up landing a solid receiver. For as talented as the aforementioned three receivers are, other options like Florida State's Keon Coleman, Washington's Ja'Lynn Polk and Michigan's Roman Wilson would still provide plenty of value in the second round.
Don't worry Bills fans, Buffalo will eventually draft a player. And if the No. 33 pick isn't used, Buffalo will have more than its fair share of chances to select players.
