A decade has passed since the Buffalo Bills invested a first-round pick in a wide receiver, but all signs point to a potential shift in strategy this year.
The Bills grappled with inconsistency within their receiving corps last season. Even star receiver Stefon Diggs endured a late-season slump, while the supporting cast failed to offer reliable contributions.
Complicating matters further, with the impending free agency departure of their No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis, the pressure is on for Buffalo to fortify their offensive arsenal.
Chris Trapasso, an insider at CBS Sports, predicts that the Bills will break the streak by prioritizing the position in the upcoming draft, potentially utilizing their first-round pick to acquire a dynamic, speedy receiver who can inject vitality into the offense.
“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.”
Trapasso’s forecast zeroes in on Oregon’s Troy Franklin, a towering 6-foot-3 prospect renowned for his knack for explosive plays. Such a selection would align with Bills general manager Brandon Beane’s vision of bolstering the team’s ability to generate yards after the catch, an area where Buffalo has historically lagged behind.
Despite the allure of top-tier prospects like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze, who may be out of reach without a substantial trade to ascend the draft board, Franklin remains within the Bills’ grasp.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, in his January 19 mock draft, envisioned the “ultra explosive” receiver finding a potential landing spot with the Baltimore Ravens at No. 30, merely two picks after Buffalo’s slot.
Opting for Franklin would represent a significant investment for the Bills, marking a departure from their recent draft tendencies. The last time Buffalo invested a first-round pick in a wide receiver was back in 2014, when they engineered a trade to secure Sammy Watkins with the No. 4 overall pick.
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