No. 28 – WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
The Bills are high-powered on offense, but they might be losing a key target in pending free agent Gabe Davis. Mitchell combines speed and power, which will serve him well in the Western New York weather. Josh Allen will welcome him into the fold with pleasure -- and a few fastballs -- right away.
No. 28 – WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Let's get the big and fast quarterback a big and fast pass-catcher to throw to. Thomas has a long frame and very real long speed, and while he's just an OK route runner at this point, his balance, tight feet and fluid athleticism points to a player that can rapidly add branches to that route tree once he enters the pro ranks. He will need some runway to take advantage of all of his traits in the NFL, but he has a true "X" wide receiver skill set and his vertical play style synergizes well with Dalton Kincaid and Stefon Diggs (and even Kahlil Shakir).
TRADE No. 28 to GREEN BAY for No. 25 – WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
The Bills don't risk any other team snagging Mitchell, and move a fourth-round pick (No. 129) to land the tall, ultra-explosive, contested-catch winner with his best football in front of him. Mitchell will start the season as a 21-year-old.
TRADE No. 28 to DALLAS for No. 24 – WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
Projected trade: Bills send No. 28 and No. 99 to the Cowboys for No. 24 and No. 213
I am not 100 percent sold on Mitchell being a culture fit for Buffalo.
General manager Brandon Beane wants super competitive players, and Mitchell showed flashes of that, along with the talent to become a top-15 receiver in the NFL. Based on talent and skill level, Mitchell would be an upgrade at receiver — but how he interviews will determine everything. Beane will never be shy trading up for a player he thinks can be a difference-maker.
No. 28 – WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
Gabe Davis is set to become a free agent, and the Bills are in need of an upgrade at WR2 behind Stefon Diggs.At 6-2 and 205 pounds, Mitchell is a lanky, long-striding receiver with strong hands and plenty of vertical speed -- he ran a 4.34 in the 40 and displayed explosiveness with a 39.5-inch vertical jump. Adding a wideout who can win in multiple ways would take a lot of pressure off Diggs and give QB Josh Allen a downfield threat. The arrow is pointing up on Mitchell, and he would be a steal here for Buffalo.
No. 28 – WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
*Coleman did post a somewhat slow 4.61-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis. Yet the 6'3", 213-pound target "reached a top speed of 20.36 mph during the gauntlet drill, the fastest speed by any receiver over the last two seasons," according to NFL Next Gen Stats. *
*What a receiver can do with the pads on to get open and make plays is far more important than a single 40 time. He can be the ideal complementary target opposite Stefon Diggs in the Buffalo Bills offense. *
"Coleman is the big-bodied outside receiver the Bills desperately need," Klassen said. "Coleman has caught a lot of flak of a disappointing, injury-riddled 2023 season. But the talent is immense. Coleman brings great size and an explosive movement pattern.
"Better yet, his best moments of winning the ball in the air are better than anyone else in the class, including Marvin Harrison Jr. Coleman does need to show more consistency, primarily as a route-runner, but his best days are ahead of him."
No. 28 – WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
The former Tigers star led college football in 2023 with 17 receiving touchdowns, many of them on downfield shots where his blazing speed and ball-tracking prowess were apparent. Thomas is a little raw as a route runner, but he has the size, quick feet, and afterburner acceleration to develop into a big-time touchdown scorer for Buffalo.
No. 28 – WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
Keon Coleman's 40 time was not electric, but when it came to the metrics that tested explosiveness, Coleman tested great. That combined with his film is the reason why the Bills go after Coleman with this pick. On film, Coleman shows that he is a three-level winner and may be the most gifted receiver when it comes down to bringing in contested catches.
No. 28 – WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
Josh Allen is the reason the Buffalo Bills win football games, and they need to continue to surround him with talent. Gabe Davis is a free agent and seems unlikely to re-sign with the team.
Oregon's Troy Franklin fits the bill as a replacement with a 6-foot-3 frame, blazing speed and a fine skill set after the catch. AssumingStefon Diggs sticks around,Buffalo is set with talented young players like James Cook, Dalton Kincaid and Kahlil Shakir. They just need one more threat on the outside.
No. 28 – WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
Franklin is a tall speedster whose numbers increased in each of his three seasons at Oregon. There's some after-the-catch juice to his game too. Precisely what the Bills need offensively.
No. 28 – WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
With Gabe Davis likely to sign elsewhere in free agency, the Bills have to find a No. 2 wideout this offseason. The draft might be their best opportunity to do that. There might be six or seven receivers taken in Round 1 in April. Thomas, who played mostly outside receiver for the Tigers, caught 68 passes for 1,177 yards and led the FBS with 17 touchdowns in 2023. At 6-4, he has a stellar combo of size and speed. He also has great hands. The best way to take Buffalo's offense to a new level is with an upgrade on the other side of Stefon Diggs.
No. 28 – WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
Putting fresh weaponry around Josh Allen could help the Bills' offense get back on track in 2024.
No. 28 – WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
The Bills have an obvious need at receiver and plenty of good options still available late in the first round. Mitchell proved he's a first-round talent in his lone season with the Longhorns and brings plenty of big-game experience to a squad chasing a Super Bowl. He scored touchdowns in all five of his College Football Playoff games during his time at Georgia and Texas and put together his best season yet in 2023, with 845 receiving yards and 11 TDs. Josh Allen will enjoy throwing it up to this smooth 6-foot-4 playmaker. —Olson
No. 28 – WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
The Bills drafted tight end Dalton Kincaid last year and will likely lose Gabe Davis in free agency, making Thomas an excellent addition to pair alongside Stefon Diggs in Buffalo. Thomas is 6-foot-4 and should provide the type of deep-threat abilities Davis brought, but with better yards-after-the-catch explosiveness.
No. 28 – WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
It is quite clear that Buffalo needs a bit more juice in their offense and must add another playmaker for Josh Allen. Brian Thomas Jr. is a long receiver with outstanding vertical speed. He is arguably the best deep threat in this class and would immediately open things up down the field.
No. 28 – WR Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
