2024 WR Draft Class

[JaCrispy]

T

47 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

If Xavier Worthy is available in the mid 2nd, trade up for him. He has insane speed

 

 

To me, Worthy is the #3 receiver behind Harrison and Nabers…

[GASabresIUFan]

The Bills will be looking at a variety of receivers, but I think size and hands have to be the dominant traits.  

 

Here are Bills WRs under contract (including futures)

Diggs - 6' 191

Harty - 5'6" 170

Shakir - 6' 190

Shorter - 6'4" 223

Hamler - 5'9" 178

Isabella - 5'9" 188

 

The only receiver with any height and size is ironically named Shorter, and he never saw the field last season as a rookie.  I also doubt if Harty, Hamler or Isabella make the team next season.

 

 So what receivers should the Bills be looking at?

Thomas - 6'4" and has excellent speed

Legette - I crossed him off my list because he measured only 6'1" at the Senior Bowl

Coleman - 6'4"

Mitchell - 6'4" with great hands

Franklin - 6'3"

Johnny Wilson - 6'7"

Brenden Rice - 6'3"  

 

Worthy, McConkey, and Pearsall all interest me, but more as a 2nd WR pick vs the 1st player the Bills select.

[BillsFanForever19]

1 hour ago, John from Riverside said:

Yeah, I hope that doesn’t happen We already did the two rounds of the same position thing and it didn’t work out so great.
 

But if you told me that they took a wide receiver in the first and the third, I’d be OK with that

 

Wouldn't have an issue with it if we had a good situation cap wise or if we didn't have so many bodies to replace. But we don't have either of those boxes checked. And those bodies include at least 4 starters (maybe 5 if we have to move on from Poyer) and when it comes to DT, we literally have only 1 on the roster.

 

Beane is surely going to get us space out from under ~52m so we can make some moves. But it won't be so much space that we'll be able to cover everything pre-Draft. We'll need to walk out of the Draft with 2 starters, at least.

 

I'm all for using Round 1 to cover the starting WR role. And I'm for starting a Round 2 and/or Round 3 player on Defense and covering some spots elsewhere on Defense with some cheaper options. But we can't ignore that side of the ball completely and put literally all of our biggest FA contracts and our top 2 picks into WR and Offense alone, as Warrior would have.

 

1 WR in Round 1, 1 in Round 4, and a 2nd tier FA like Hollywood Brown (or similar level player) to go along with Diggs, Shakir, Shorter and other weapons like Kincaid and Cook and we'll be in a much better position than last year. I think even that might be more than Beane will be willing to do. Asking for more than that isn't realistic IMO.

Edited February 5 by BillsFanForever19

[GunnerBill]

6 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

The Bills will be looking at a variety of receivers, but I think size and hands have to be the dominant traits.  

 

Here are Bills WRs under contract (including futures)

Diggs - 6' 191

Harty - 5'6" 170

Shakir - 6' 190

Shorter - 6'4" 223

Hamler - 5'9" 178

Isabella - 5'9" 188

 

The only receiver with any height and size is ironically named Shorter, and he never saw the field last season as a rookie.  I also doubt if Harty, Hamler or Isabella make the team next season.

 

 So what receivers should the Bills be looking at?

Thomas - 6'4" and has excellent speed

Legette - I crossed him off my list because he measured only 6'1" at the Senior Bowl

Coleman - 6'4"

Mitchell - 6'4" with great hands

Franklin - 6'3"

Johnny Wilson - 6'7"

Brenden Rice - 6'3"  

 

Worthy, McConkey, and Pearsall all interest me, but more as a 2nd WR pick vs the 1st player the Bills select.

 

I think explosiveness is absolutely the #1 trait the Bills need. Way, way, way more important than size. Sure, hands is #2. But they need a guy who is explosive.

[LABILLBACKER]

5 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think explosiveness is absolutely the #1 trait the Bills need. Way, way, way more important than size. Sure, hands is #2. But they need a guy who is explosive.

If Mitchell runs a 4.45 or better at the combine, he's gotta be the target at 28. Absolutely no way I'm trading up in the 1st round like with Watkins. There's so many good wrs we can turn around and get another in the 3rd or 4th round. 

[GunnerBill]

48 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

If Mitchell runs a 4.45 or better at the combine, he's gotta be the target at 28. Absolutely no way I'm trading up in the 1st round like with Watkins. There's so many good wrs we can turn around and get another in the 3rd or 4th round. 

 

I don't think he is going to run a 4.45. He is more a low 4.5s guy I think. I think Mitchell is a good player. He will have 1,000 yard receiving seasons in the NFL. But I suspect if we draft him we will be back in a position in a year's time where we are talking about needing more explosiveness from that position and a guy who can win early in routes. Maybe they are able to come back and find that in a more limited player in the middle rounds and the combination of the two gets them through. But they only have three roles on the field in most packages. Diggs (presumably still here) will be one, Shakir will be another, how often are you getting both rookies on the field? 

[BobbyC81]

3 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

If Mitchell runs a 4.45 or better at the combine, he's gotta be the target at 28. Absolutely no way I'm trading up in the 1st round like with Watkins. There's so many good wrs we can turn around and get another in the 3rd or 4th round. 

Yep, in 2015 they could’ve stayed where they were and drafted Mike Evans, who’s still putting up 1000 yard seasons vs Watkins, no longer playing.

[GASabresIUFan]

5 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think explosiveness is absolutely the #1 trait the Bills need. Way, way, way more important than size. Sure, hands is #2. But they need a guy who is explosive.

Speed without being able to catch is useless.  Sure I’d like more speed, but are 20 yard plus plays simply a function of speed or are they from the ability to find openings in the zone, breaking a tackle and or beating a CB in man coverage?

 

One thing I notice about the Bills is how rarely they came down with 50/50 balls, especially in the end zone.  
 

Also no one is being drafted in the first without good speed.  Last I looked Nacau’s 4.57 speed hasn’t kept him from being an explosive WR in the NFL.  

 

 

Edited February 5 by GASabresIUFan

[BillsShredder83]

On 2/3/2024 at 4:49 PM, transplantbillsfan said:

I watched the First Draft video and came away thinking Brian Thomas would be a perfect fit in this offense and is the realistic guy we should target.

 

I read through the page 1 comments and everyone's talking about other WRs, but I want to know where Thomas projects in round 1.

 

Beane gives up draft assets every single year and with 10 draft picks he's going to have more assets to play with than ever.

which draft video? id like a good round 1 summary with some depth by smart commentators if you have one

[BillsFan2313]

3 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

which draft video? id like a good round 1 summary with some depth by smart commentators if you have 

 

http://www.google.com

[DCOrange]

19 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

which draft video? id like a good round 1 summary with some depth by smart commentators if you have one

He might be referring to this. It’s also available as a podcast instead of video if you prefer it that way.

 

 

[OldTimer1960]

12 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

The Bills will be looking at a variety of receivers, but I think size and hands have to be the dominant traits.  

 

Here are Bills WRs under contract (including futures)

Diggs - 6' 191

Harty - 5'6" 170

Shakir - 6' 190

Shorter - 6'4" 223

Hamler - 5'9" 178

Isabella - 5'9" 188

 

The only receiver with any height and size is ironically named Shorter, and he never saw the field last season as a rookie.  I also doubt if Harty, Hamler or Isabella make the team next season.

 

 So what receivers should the Bills be looking at?

Thomas - 6'4" and has excellent speed

Legette - I crossed him off my list because he measured only 6'1" at the Senior Bowl

Coleman - 6'4"

Mitchell - 6'4" with great hands

Franklin - 6'3"

Johnny Wilson - 6'7"

Brenden Rice - 6'3"  

 

Worthy, McConkey, and Pearsall all interest me, but more as a 2nd WR pick vs the 1st player the Bills select.

I think speed matters some as they have Kincaid in intermediate range with size and hands and Diggs & Shakir have good hands, but aren’t deep threats.

 

i also think 6’1” 220+ qualifies as good size (Leggette).

[GunnerBill]

34 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

Speed without being able to catch is useless.  Sure I’d like more speed, but are 20 yard plus plays simply a function of speed or are they from the ability to find openings in the zone, breaking a tackle and or beating a CB in man coverage?

 

One thing I notice about the Bills is how rarely they came down with 50/50 balls, especially in the end zone.  
 

Also no one is being drafted in the first without good speed.  Last I looked Nacau’s 4.57 speed hasn’t kept him from being an explosive WR in the NFL.  

 

 

I wouldn't describe Nacua as explosive. He is good, and he is tough to bring down after the catch, he had over 600 yards of YAC but I wouldn't call him explosive. The Bills need guys who can separate quickly. I'm not saying the 40 time is the be all and end all by the way, it's definitely not. But the need in this offense is explosiveness. 

[NeverOutNick]

10 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I wouldn't describe Nacua as explosive. He is good, and he is tough to bring down after the catch, he had over 600 yards of YAC but I wouldn't call him explosive. The Bills need guys who can separate quickly. I'm not saying the 40 time is the be all and end all by the way, it's definitely not. But the need in this offense is explosiveness. 

I definitely hear what you’re saying and I basically agree along with great hands being at the top of the list that’s why I kind of feel myself leaning towards staying at 28 and taking Troy Franklin because I think he checks a lot of boxes we need even though he’s not the sexiest pick he really does remind me of a bigger, more explosive version of Diggs. I like a lot of receivers in this class though, so I’m still digging in.

 

To add to this I don’t really care how you get open, we just need guys who can get separation early and often. This has to do with the player AND Brady’s scheme. This draft has a lot of impact WRs. I really do hope we come out of it with at least 2 for Josh

Edited February 5 by NeverOutNick

[BillsShredder83]

Is there a good resource to find what % of snaps a WR took on outside vs slot?  Im specifically looking at McConkey, but would love to have a place to find this more easily in general.... fwiw mck sounds like a slot guy, but just curious

[JohnBonhamRocks]

8 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Is there a good resource to find what % of snaps a WR took on outside vs slot?  Im specifically looking at McConkey, but would love to have a place to find this more easily in general.... fwiw mck sounds like a slot guy, but just curious

I do not know but would also like to know if there exists a database that has college WR separation stats

[OldTimer1960]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I wouldn't describe Nacua as explosive. He is good, and he is tough to bring down after the catch, he had over 600 yards of YAC but I wouldn't call him explosive. The Bills need guys who can separate quickly. I'm not saying the 40 time is the be all and end all by the way, it's definitely not. But the need in this offense is explosiveness. 

When you say explosive, are you talking about instant acceleration and lateral quickness?  

[NewEra]

14 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

The Bills will be looking at a variety of receivers, but I think size and hands have to be the dominant traits.  

 

Here are Bills WRs under contract (including futures)

Diggs - 6' 191

Harty - 5'6" 170

Shakir - 6' 190

Shorter - 6'4" 223

Hamler - 5'9" 178

Isabella - 5'9" 188

 

The only receiver with any height and size is ironically named Shorter, and he never saw the field last season as a rookie.  I also doubt if Harty, Hamler or Isabella make the team next season.

 

 So what receivers should the Bills be looking at?

Thomas - 6'4" and has excellent speed

Legette - I crossed him off my list because he measured only 6'1" at the Senior Bowl

Coleman - 6'4"

Mitchell - 6'4" with great hands

Franklin - 6'3"

Johnny Wilson - 6'7"

Brenden Rice - 6'3"  

 

Worthy, McConkey, and Pearsall all interest me, but more as a 2nd WR pick vs the 1st player the Bills select.

I think all this height stuff is 💩.  We need guys that can get off press in order to play outside, get separation and catch.  We have a bigger target in Kincaid. 
 

how many WR1 or great WR2 are 6’3 and over? Mike evans, Tee Higgins, DK Metcalf, Nico Collins, George Pickens-  then there’s London, Sutton, neither I’d say are great, but I’ll give you them.  7 WR 6’3 and over that fit what you’re looking for. Maybe a couple others that haven’t yet proven one way or another.  Meanwhile the chiefs and niners who are playing for the Lombardi don’t have any good WRs 6’3 and up.  

sure, it would be nice to have a guys 6’4+ but they’re rare…..we need guys that can beat press, separate and catch.  6 foot+ is just fine for our needs.  
 

I agree, that I’d prefer that we don’t draft any more short armed guys, 5’11 and under.  

 

[Sestak4ever]

14 hours ago, JaCrispy said:

T

To me, Worthy is the #3 receiver behind Harrison and Nabers…

Worthy is also excellent at returning kicks.

[OldTimer1960]

3 minutes ago, Sestak4ever said:

Worthy is also excellent at returning kicks.

He is electric for sure.  His height is fine, but man is he skinny.  I worry that he could have a lot of trouble against physical CBs in the NFL.  Interested in what he weighs and what his strength is like at the Combine.