Ever since the Buffalo Bills shockingly traded Stefon Diggs, the assumption has been that the next No. 1 receiver could arrive via the 2024 NFL Draft. The only problem is that Bills GM Brandon Beane will have to wait until the 28th overall pick before Buffalo is on the clock.
Of course, Bills Mafia knows their team could always get aggressive by trading up for a top receiver prospect. Yet, with only two picks in the top 127 selections, the Bills don’t exactly have a lot of draft capital to part with. Not to mention, the upcoming draft class features a deep talent pool at the receiver position, meaning Josh Allen’s next top pass-catcher could come in the back half of the first round or possibly even later.
Remember, even Diggs was a fifth-round pick, showing that elite talent can still be found in the later rounds with the proper scouting and development. That could be what the Bills are banking on.
Are the Buffalo Bills better off without a No. 1 wideout?
Recently, the Bills GM took time to explain why he’s really not worried about the team’s current lack of a top receiving threat, and in fact, the franchise may be better off without one.
“What you need are guys that in this offense that are smart, versatile, selfless, and can make the plays that their skillset allows them to make. And if it’s a tall guy that Josh is gonna throw him a 50-50 ball, he’s gotta come down with it. If it’s a guy that we wanna get the ball in his hands and when we need some RAC he’s gonna do that. I think that’s what we’re looking for. If there’s a ‘one’ that pops out either in free agency or the draft that makes sense for us or a really good ‘two,’ you know, we’ll do it, but I don’t think not having a ‘one’ . . . doesn’t mean we can’t have success on offense or as a team.”
Buffalo Bills GM on how team can still be successful without a No. 1 WR
It’s an interesting mindset, and while many won’t agree, it is at least fascinating.
We’ve seen how ‘diva’ receivers can negatively impact a quarterback throughout the course of a game, where they’re throwing fits and sideline tantrums due to a lack of targets/touches. If Josh Allen can just play his game without having to worry about feeding the ball to a specific player, wouldn’t he have an easier time making his reads instead of forcing footballs into tight throwing windows?
It’s an interesting theory anyway, but the Bills may realize that having a lack of playmakers won’t do them any good when the game is on the line, and a winning play is needed to move the chains. Still, we’re intrigued to see how this one plays out.
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Related: Buffalo Bills mock draft 2024: Replenishing talent around Josh Allen
