Buffalo Bills’ GM, Brandon Beane, chose not to address the team’s need for a wide receiver during the NFL draft on Thursday. Instead, he orchestrated two trades to completely skip the first round.
Now, the Bills hold the first pick of the second round, number 33, which kicks off on Friday night.
Originally slated to pick 28th, the Bills moved back four spots in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Then, when it was their turn at No. 32, they made another trade with the Carolina Panthers, moving back one spot.
Buffalo was in search of a receiver after trading away Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and losing Gabe Davis in free agency. By the time Buffalo made the trade with the Chiefs, four receivers had already been taken, including Texas receiver Xavier Worthy, whom the Chiefs selected.
Despite not picking up a receiver yet, Beane improved the team’s draft position. In the trade with Kansas City, Buffalo acquired a third-round pick (95th), adding to their ten picks. This move was significant, especially considering they had previously traded their third-rounder last year to Green Bay.
With several picks still to go, potential targets for the Bills include Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, Texas’ Adonai Mitchell, cornerback options like Iowa’s Cooper DeJean and Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Beane’s decision to trade Diggs was part of a broader strategy to refresh the team, creating space in the salary cap and infusing youth into an aging roster.
Despite winning four consecutive AFC East titles, the Bills fell short in the playoffs, with three of their losses coming against the Kansas City Chiefs, including one in January.
This offseason saw the departure of key players like Gabe Davis and Leonard Floyd due to financial constraints, along with the release of center Mitch Morse and changes in the defensive secondary.
