How would you construct the 2024 Bills WR Room?

[Coach Tuesday]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I'd be shocked if either McConkey or Legette is off the board before #28. The Bills feel like the start of the range for both players IMO. I think Ladd then has some other possible fits late in the first - San Fran (if Aiyuk is to be moved) and KC.... possibly even Baltimore (if they have finally decided Bateman isn't it). I think if the Bills don't take Legette he is a 2nd rounder.... but there are half a dozen potential landing spots early in the 2nd - Carolina, Washington, New England, Chargers (if they got OL in round 1), even possibly Tennessee. I think Ladd is a possible fit in some of those spots too. Then #44 to #51 is where I expect a mammoth receiver run:

 

#44 Raiders - have Adams at 31 on a huge deal with an out after this year, Meyers and then literally nothing else.

#45 Saints - need a running mate for Olave (think they'd want a bigger guy so Legette, Coleman etc are in play)

#46 Colts - less likely as they have a decent top 3 - Pittman, Pierce, Downs.... but there is still room to upgrade

#47 Giants - might take one early but what if they go QB in round 1? They'd then be almost certain to go WR their next pick

#48 Jax - again might go that route round 1 but if they don't I'd expect them to here

#49 Bengals - lost Boyd and Higgins uncertainty

#50 Eagles - not an urgent need by AJ Brown drama this year feels a lot like the Diggs drama last year and 2024 might be a last ride

#51 Steelers - traded Johnson away means it is slim pickings opposite Pickens.

 

In those eight picks I think you could easily see four or five receivers go off the board. It is why I think early 40s is the last possible target zone for the Bills if their plan really is to trade back from #28, or trade up to double dip. 

Totally agree.  A trade up for Thomas if he falls, or trading up one or two slots for Mitchell or McConkey, then an aggressive move up to the top 8 of round 2 to “double dip” is my dream scenario, AND I’d add a vet like OBJ.  Two kids who can grow together (Worthy and Thomas, Ladd and Mitchell or Legette) and you’ve fixed the position and cost-controlled it for four years without leveraging your future with a massive trade up.  Plus add a vet like OBJ and suddenly the worst WR room in the league is one of the deepest.

[Warriorspikes51]

what if.....  Seattle decides to rebuild with new regime.  Maybe this deal helps them get their future QB

28, 60, 128,  2025 1st, 2nd

For

16 (Brian Thomas Jr)  & DK Metcalf  

 

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

9 hours ago, NickelCity said:

 

Fair enough. Ignoring prospects, I still think trading our 2024 and 2025 2nd rounders to move up in the 2nd is tough to fathom unless it's at the very top of the round. Hard to see the Bills doing that and making both picks receivers. 

 

I'm wondering why you would say it's tough to fathom? we would still own a 2025 2nd rounder from the Diggs trade and you're just swapping out the 60th pick for whatever pick you decide to move up for. Why do you think that's a bad move?

[Gregg]

Looks like things aren't going so well between the Raiders and Adams.

 

 

 

[Warriorspikes51]

Just now, Gregg said:

Looks like things aren't going so well between the Raiders and Adams.

 

 

 

 

Let him go somewhere in the NFC.   He's 31 

[Gregg]

1 minute ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

Let him go somewhere in the NFC.   He's 31 

 

If he and the Raiders part ways you know the Jets will try to get him. Rodgers would love to get his favorite receiver back.

[Brandon]

20 hours ago, BullBuchanan said:

there's no way I'd give up 5 potential starting players for a top prospect at any position unless it was QB. I'd much rather we just draft 5 WRs and take our shot that one or more of them are good. It's not like top prospects are a sure thing. They bust all the time.

 

That's how I see it as well.  In fact,  I'd rather they take WRs at 28 and 60 rather than use those two picks to trade up for just one. It's a deep WR draft.  They don't need to throw a bunch of picks at one player.  And as you say,  there's no guarantee even if you trade up.  

[Warriorspikes51]

 

 

[Rocbillsfan1]

To all of the we gotta draft 2 WRs while trading up for 1 and signing another vet wr you do realize the bills don’t need 5 starting WRs while most likely only 2 or 3 are going to see significant snaps right? Our wr 5 and 6 are mostly special teams guys that can also play if needed like shorter who I see being active this year. Shakir is a diamond in the rough and deserve snaps and Samuels is a solid vet. That leaves maybe room for one more significant role like a high draft pick and a backup that maybe is filled by a vet on a smaller contract or another mid round pick. So something like

 

legette.                      Legette

shakir                         Shakir

samuels.                    Samuels

malik Washington     Boyd

hollins.                       Hollins

shorter.                      Shorter 

 

 

[KingBoots8]

So, obviously this all depends on how the draft picks fall, but for the sake of argument I am assuming that we are not willing to trade anywhere above 20. In fact, if there is a run on WR I am predicting we consider trading back to pick up a late 3rd. You obviously also need a willing trade partner, so none of this is guaranteed.

 

all that being said, I would look to the mid-30s for trade back options, specifically Arizona or Washington.

AZ I would look for 35 & 94 for 28

 

Washington has a lot of picks in the 2nd and 3rd, so I’d shoot for 36 & 74 for 28, 128, and 160. Compensation is close enough, plus they get a shot at a 5th year extension for whoever they sign so we may be able to offer a lower pick for that reason.

 

Again, based on how the draft falls, I’d likely go for someone like Franklin or McConkey (2 players the Bills have met with multiple times) at pick 35-36. Then unless someone falls significantly I wouldn’t touch WR in the draft until the 5th round. We have too many other needs to address and have positions we need to get younger at. In the 5th I would consider someone like Luke McCaffrey, and possibly Cornelius Johnson if I was inclined to absolutely get a WR in the 5th. I have him as a 5th/6th prospect, closer to 6th but he should be gone before pick 200 in my opinion.

 

 

Curtis Samuel

Franklin/McConkey

Khalil Shakir

Mack Hollins

McCaffrey/Johnson

Justin Shorter

 

[khlax3]

My prediction:

 

Curtis samuel

shakir

draft pick (McConkey/Franklin)

OBJ

Hollins

Shorter/late Rd pick/Hamler/isabella 

 

 

[Alphadawg7]

On 4/4/2024 at 2:58 AM, Kirby Jackson said:

Okay, that’s a fair opinion. I’m not looking for “a good guy.” I’m looking for a top of the depth chart, low risk, stud. 
 

The goal of this wasn’t to say what we wouldn’t do. There’s plenty of that going on here already. This was, “who would be your 6 or 7 WRs on the roster this year and how did you get them?” Obviously we don’t know who will be on the board at 28 but we can use reasonable assumptions. Harrison won’t be, Pearsall will be, Mitchell might be. Be reasonable but lay out what your group would look like

 

We did that with Sammy Watkins and they he turned out to not be the Alpha stud his draft hype made him out to be in a loaded WR class.  We traded for Diggs because we had no shot at the elite 3 of Ruggs, Jeudy, and Lamb just to see Ruggs go bye bye, Jeudy be meh at best, and the best WR to be the guy who was on the board when we would have picked in Justin Jefferson who has a case as the best WR in the NFL right now.  

 

So just saying, its a lot to risk when so often the most hyped guys are not the best ones to emerge from the draft when you are talking about a loaded class.  

 

Would I be excited to get MHJ, Nabers, or Odunze...absolutely.  But I really have a hard time spending QB level draft compensation to go get a WR in maybe the best WR draft ever.  

Edited April 6 by Alphadawg7

[Alphadawg7]

15 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

If the Bills said “Mike Evans” instead of “Sammy Watkins” you’d think that it was a great trade though, correct? The Julio Jones trade worked out great for Atlanta, right? We need to stop with the thought of, “we shouldn’t trade up for a WR because 10 years ago we did and it didn’t work out great.” Watkins not working out doesn’t correlate to these guys 😂😂. 

 

Ok...how about this.  There has never been a team who traded multiple first round picks for any WR that then won a Super Bowl.  Or, in the last 20 years, one 2 Super Bowl winning teams had a top 20 drafted WR1 on the roster (Mike Evans and 18 years ago Marvin Harrison).  How good was Randy Moss?  How about Calvin Johnson?  What about Julio Jones?  These are considered to be amongst the GOATS and the most unguardable as it gets at WR and none of them have a SB ring.  

 

We just had Diggs for 4 years who was top 3 or top 5 WR during that span and didn't get us to but one AFCCG.  Don't get me wrong, I want an elite WR as much as anyone to pair with Allen.  But you don't mortgage your future for one, it isn't the recipe to get over the hump.  Plus, this is Buffalo, its much more important to win in the trenches in those bad weather games late in the season and playoffs then try and win through the air in that bad weather.  

 

Not saying we can't trade up at all, just can't pay QB level compensation, especially in a draft that is maybe the best ever in talent and depth for WR's.  

[MrEpsYtown]

1 hour ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

 

There are no “number 1s” in that group. I keep spamming the board that this idea of a #1 is overdone. You just need good players who catch the football and are trustworthy to go with your awesome QB. It’s even better if they are dirt cheap, which is what the Packers have done here. 

[Victory Formation]

My heart is telling me that the Bills are very high on Brian Thomas Jr. and Xavier Legette. Both players are very “Beansy” picks. If BTJ fell to #20 I could very much see Beane giving up a future 3rd/4th and swapping picks like he did with Kincaid.

[Alphadawg7]

2 minutes ago, Victory Formation said:

My heart is telling me that the Bills are very high on Brian Thomas Jr. and Xavier Legette. Both players are very “Beansy” picks. If BTJ fell to #20 I could very much see Beane giving up a future 3rd/4th and swapping picks like he did with Kincaid.

 

I do think they could move up for Thomas too, how far is up for debate.  My guess is the same as you, probably needs to get to 20 or later.  

 

If we don't move up, then I think in the post Diggs era now that someone like Ladd McConkey who has that elite route running ability we are losing with Diggs becomes much more in play than before.  In fact, I have a feeling the only 2 we would look at with pick 28 is Mitchell or McConkey.  We could also move back and try and pick up say a 3rd this year and maybe still get McConkey, although I don't think he would make it past both Balt and KC personally.  

 

I have been very high on McConkey but wasn't sure if he would be high on the Bills board with Diggs here.  But Diggs trade I think elevates his potential to us and he is my WR5 on board behind Thomas.  Followed by Mitchell as the 6 guys I think we could take in the first.  Not sold they would stay at 28 and take one of the other WR's.  Could see them trading back a little bit or taking another position and then making a move for a WR in the 2nd.  

 

Be awesome if we could trade back a little bit and get back a 3rd and still get one of McConkey, Legette, Mitchell, etc.  

[Victory Formation]

5 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

I do think they could move up for Thomas too, how far is up for debate.  My guess is the same as you, probably needs to get to 20 or later.  

 

If we don't move up, then I think in the post Diggs era now that someone like Ladd McConkey who has that elite route running ability we are losing with Diggs becomes much more in play than before.  In fact, I have a feeling the only 2 we would look at with pick 28 is Mitchell or McConkey.  We could also move back and try and pick up say a 3rd this year and maybe still get McConkey, although I don't think he would make it past both Balt and KC personally.  

 

I have been very high on McConkey but wasn't sure if he would be high on the Bills board with Diggs here.  But Diggs trade I think elevates his potential to us and he is my WR5 on board behind Thomas.  Followed by Mitchell as the 6 guys I think we could take in the first.  Not sold they would stay at 28 and take one of the other WR's.  Could see them trading back a little bit or taking another position and then making a move for a WR in the 2nd.  

 

Be awesome if we could trade back a little bit and get back a 3rd and still get one of McConkey, Legette, Mitchell, etc.  

Both Mitchell and McConkey are one hit wonders which scares me. I’m not saying they won’t be good but something to keep in mind.

[Solomon Grundy]

On 4/4/2024 at 10:30 AM, wolfpack78 said:

Take a flier on Michael Thomas on a one year prove it deal.  

Why, when you can get a 20 yr old Michael Thomas in Keon Coleman? On a rookie contract no less. People need to get over his 40 time. Dude is a BALLER

[EmotionallyUnstable]

1 hour ago, MrEpsYtown said:

There are no “number 1s” in that group. I keep spamming the board that this idea of a #1 is overdone. You just need good players who catch the football and are trustworthy to go with your awesome QB. It’s even better if they are dirt cheap, which is what the Packers have done here. 

Genuinely asking:

 

Is the packers passing game something we should strive to be like? These are good players taken with decent selections and they’re getting good production but does that result in wins?

 

My concern here is, just acquiring guys who catch the football and are trustworthy only get you so far when teams line up and make you beat them. I want guys who can win 1v1 when I need them too. Especially with the increase in man coverage the bills saw in 2023, having solid players may not be enough. 

793

674

581

422

355

352

 

Those are the yardage totals from the players you mentioned in the tweet. Not good enough IMO

 

 

[FireChans]

2 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

There has never been a team who traded multiple first round picks for any WR that then won a Super Bowl.  Or, in the last 20 years, one 2 Super Bowl winning teams had a top 20 drafted WR1 on the roster (Mike Evans and 18 years ago Marvin Harrison).  How good was Randy Moss?  How about Calvin Johnson?  What about Julio Jones?  These are considered to be amongst the GOATS and the most unguardable as it gets at WR and none of them have a SB ring.  

Most WR’s drafted in any round don’t have a ring. This is not a solid argument.