First-round prospects for the Buffalo Bills to consider drafting
The 2024 NFL Draft will kick off Round 1 at 8 p.m. tonight. If the Buffalo Bills elect to stay put at pick number 28 we can expect them to be on the clock somewhere in the ballpark of 11:30 p.m. EDT.
If we’ve learned anything about Round 1 of the draft, we know that nothing is for certain. Buffalo will have to wait to see how the board falls before making any potential moves. Whether general manager Brandon Beane stays put or trades out of the team’s scheduled pick — there will be plenty of players with potential to help the Bills.
With that in mind, let’s review a group of prospects for the Buffalo Bills to consider in Round 1. We’ve been waiting a long time for this day, and the draft is finally here everyone! Time to kick it off with round one!
Players for the Bills to consider in Round 1
These players aren’t necessarily who I think the Bills will take — they are players who I think the team should be interested in selecting in Round 1 that Buffalo has a realistic shot at drafting with pick 28. In a vacuum, the Bills getting one of the top three wide receivers (Harrison Jr., Nabers, or Odunze) would be an ideal scenario, but that would involve a massive trade-up. I don’t think this type of trade is likely to happen, but we do know that Brandon Beane likes to be aggressive, so you never know.
I’ll focus on players who should be available close to the Bills’ drafting position in the first round. Some of these players they might end trading up a few spots for, but they should be drafted near the end of the first round. In no particular order here is a list of potential first-round selections in the 2024 NFL Draft for the Bills.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR (LSU)
The 6’3” standout wide receiver put up a monster season last year when he scored an FBS-leading 17 TDs. If the Bills want “BTJ” they most likely will have to trade up for him, I don’t see him falling to pick 28. If BTJ falls into the 20’s I think the Bills have a realistic shot of trading up for him. Ideally, the Bills would execute a trade that has them give up pick 28 and a fourth-round pick (similar to the last two drafts when the Bills traded up in Round 1) to move up for BTJ. Thomas Jr. would give an instant boost to Buffalo’s offense and he still has some untapped potential to grow into a true WR1 in the NFL. There have been some rumors that teams have marked BTJ with medical concerns, which could push him further down the board.
Laiatu Latu, EDGE (UCLA)
Latu might be the most unrealistic option of this group, but if teams have concerns over his neck injury in college he could fall down the board in Round 1. Latu is the best pure pass rusher in this draft and is the most NFL-ready in my opinion. He has a trove of pass-rush moves and counter moves already developed. If the Bills somehow end up with Latu on their roster I wouldn’t be upset. If Buffalo trades up for anyone else besides a receiver, I would say Latu is the most likely candidate.
Cooper DeJean, DB (Iowa)
DeJean is a supreme athlete who has experience at both the corner and safety positions. Bills head coach Sean McDermott would have a field day creating problems for opposing offenses with DeJean at his disposal. The Iowa product is a natural playmaker who has a knack for finding the football — and when he gets the ball in his hands, he is dangerous (3 INTs for TD).
Adonai Mitchell, WR (Texas)
Mitchell has been mocked to the Bills in numerous mock drafts by different sites and has a decent chance of still being on the board at pick 28. Mitchell has received some bad press lately with multiple “sources” saying his work ethic and attitude are problematic. I have no idea if these rumors are true, and Buffalo’s brass has more info than I do. From an on-the-field perspective, I think Mitchell is a great fit for the Bills’ offense. The 6’3” receiver ran a blazing 4.34-second 40-yard dash and comes into the draft as one of the top route runners. Mitchell has true WR1 potential and I think Buffalo would make out well with him on their squad if his off-field “issues” aren’t concerning. If the Bills stay at pick 28, Mitchell is one of my favorite options.
Xavier Worthy, WR (Texas)
The NFL Scouting Combine 40-yard dash record holder (4.21 seconds) would bring a big-play threat to Buffalo’s offense the likes of which they’ve been searching for in recent seasons. Worthy is a difficult prospect to project where he’s likely to be drafted because I believe his record-breaking speed will have some teams foaming at the mouth (potentially including the Bills) and he might go higher than we expect. Worthy is only 165 pounds and his physicality is an issue — it remains to be seen if he can hold up to the rigors of an NFL season. Regardless, it’s exciting to think about Worthy in Buffalo’s offense and if the Bills decide to draft him, I think he would be a dynamic playmaker for years to come and it would prove to be a solid pick.
Xavier Legette, WR (South Carolina)
Legette is a late bloomer at wide receiver but he poured it on in a big way in his senior year at South Carolina. The 6’1” 221-pound Legette runs more like a running back when the ball is in his hands. He ran a superb 4.39-second 40-yard dash for his size and offers physicality and tenacity that isn’t often seen at the receiver position. Legette will probably still be on the board at pick 28, and if Buffalo chooses to stay put they wouldn’t have to give up any draft capital to get their receiver of the future.
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT (Illinois)
Newton is one of two defensive tackle prospects who has a chance to be drafted in Round 1. The Bills need defensive tackle depth and Newton would have a major role in their defensive line rotation. Newton thrives on creating interior disruption from the 3-technique spot and has a chance to be a long-term starter in the NFL. Drafting a defensive tackle isn’t as exciting as drafting a receiver, but the Bills would improve their defensive line if they selected Newton.
Chop Robinson, EDGE (Penn State)
Robinson is an EDGE defender with elite athleticism and he oozes superstar potential. The problem is that his production in college was subpar. Teams will have to decide the reasons for his lack of production and see if the upside of his electric traits outweighs the lack of production. I think Robinson is worth consideration for the Bills at pick 28, especially if their favorite receivers are gone.
Other considerations:
- Jackson Powers-Johnson, C (Oregon)
- Graham Barton, OG (Duke)
- Troy Franklin, WR (Oregon)
- Ladd McConkey, WR (Georgia)
- Keon Coleman, WR (Florida State)
The above players are worth consideration from the Bills at the end of the first round — they just aren’t my favorite options. Some of these players should be drafted at the end of the first round even if not by Buffalo. If Jackson Powers-Johnson or Graham Barton falls to the Bills at pick 28 I wouldn’t hate the pick, but it seems like Buffalo is already content with their starters at those positions. I just don’t think the value is there if they pick one of those offensive lineman at pick 28.
For the receivers listed above, these are guys that if the Bills pass at pick 28 they might not see them again in the second round at pick 60. Ideally, these would be guys Buffalo could target if they had a trade-down partner early in the second round.
In Summary
The first round of the NFL Draft is one of the biggest sporting events of the year and it always comes packed with some surprises. Everything’s on the table for the Buffalo Bills depending on how the board falls. If we see Rome Odunze fall into the teens, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bills made a big trade to grab him. Part of me expects a trade-up for a receiver at some point, but again it just depends on how the board falls.
Brandon Beane and Buffalo’s scouting team have been working for this draft all year long, and it will be fun to see what they end up doing! Stay tuned for Day 2 and Day 3 considerations!