The wide receiver position has been a major need for the Buffalo Bills for a few years now. They have a true No. 1 in Stefon Diggs, but the production behind him has been spotty, at best, as no one else has consistently contributed.
When you take into consideration how Diggs finished out the 2023 season, the team should be looking everywhere to add some talent at the position during the 2024 NFL offseason. Diggs’ production fell off a cliff in the second half of the season.
While general manager Brandon Beane still has confidence in Diggs as the team’s No. 1, some talent needs to be added. Figuring out where to find that talent, however, could be difficult for Buffalo.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: Adonai Mitchell, 2024 NFL Draft, Buffalo Bills Updates
The Bills don’t have a ton of money to spend in free agency, making an impact veteran addition unlikely. On top of that, Gabe Davis, the team’s current No. 2 receiver, is set to hit free agency. Even with him in the fold, wide receiver was considered a need; without him, that need becomes even bigger.
That could lead to the Bills using their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on a pass catcher. In a recent mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Buffalo doing just that. With the No. 28 overall pick, they selected Texas wide receiver, Adonai Mitchell.
“I made a late change with this pick after I watched Josh Allen average 4.8 yards per attempt in the home playoff loss to the Chiefs. His receivers struggled to get open and didn’t make enough plays after the catch once they did. Stefon Diggs hasn’t had a 100-yard game since mid-October, and Gabe Davis is now a free agent. General manager Brandon Beane can find a useful pass-catcher here.
The 6-foot-4 Mitchell broke out after transferring from Georgia, catching 55 passes for 845 yards and 11 scores for the Longhorns in 2023. He thrived on crossing routes, using his size and quickness to get separation from defenders. He has great hands. The position I almost went with? Nose tackle, because T’Vondre Sweat (Texas) could be a great fit in the middle of the Buffalo defense,” wrote Kiper.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: Adonai Mitchell, 2024 NFL Draft, Buffalo Bills Updates
The Bills could certainly use a big-bodied, downfield receiver, especially if Davis moves on in free agency. Mitchell could provide the team with that right off the bat, stepping into a No. 2 role behind Diggs out of the gates with the potential to develop into a No. 1 receiver down the road.
Buffalo has had a productive offense with Josh Allen under center, but there is room for improvement. Bringing in a bonafide No. 2 wide receiver, to go along with the tight end pairing of Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid, and this unit will become that much more dangerous to deal with.
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