The WR#2 Market (Spotrac Breakdown and Comparison)

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

I share the opinion that I have seen in many places on this board: that WR #2 is a major weakness going into the offseason. I am also part of the group that believes that the Bills should spend draft resources to address the problem for one reason: WR #2 gets stupid money in free agency. Stupid money.

 

But there is always a case to be made for best pick available. Having something in the pipeline in case we roll box cars in the draft, or we take a guy with high upside but we want to ease in. So, here is a quick list at notable receivers that Spotrac has considered notable for the free agent class. I have exluded known slot receivers (We have Shakir and he's doing just fine)

 

For comparisons sake, let's start with a known quality. Gabe Davis. I believe that Gabe Davis was a very solid #3/4 option, but was badly inconsistent as a #2. According to Spotrac, he is expected to make an average of $13.6 M per year. That would be pricey for the Bills in 2024 and we would want an upgrade.

 

So...here is the class

 

 

Most likely out of our price range

Mike Evans

OBJ

Tyler Boyd

Tee Higgins

Michael Pittman Jr.

Calvin Ridley

 

I put these out here not because I think they are fits, but because this is what the top end of the market will be getting. Now, if any one of those is not snapped up on Day 1 you absolutely make a call, but he is a more likely list of what will be waiting around on Day 2

 

Curtis Samuel

Nelson Aghalor

Josh Reynolds

Randall Cobb

Darnell Mooney

 

So, any interest or are we all in on the draft?

 

 

[CaptnCoke11]

Can’t afford the top guys and zero interest in the other ones.  Just draft one in round 1 or 2 finally.  

Edited January 24 by CaptnCoke11

[Fan in Chicago]

Here is my plan:

Keep Diggs - I think he was battling injury. He is still a viable force and a mentor for a draftee

Draft one in Rd 1

Shakir as #3

Round off with a second tier FA 

Look at progress of Shorter and Shavers

Another lower (Rd 5+ pick)

 

We cannot just depend on the draft. We need at least one FA, maybe 2 to round off the roster

Edited January 24 by Fan in Chicago

[SCBills]

Double up in the Draft for me.

 

Diggs is still here and Shakir will be in Year 3 / Kincaid Year 2.

 

We can afford to go young at WR behind them.

 

Not much appetite for tier 2/3 WR's in Free Agency. 

[2003Contenders]

I think they should draft one in the 1st AND pursue one of the middle-tier WRs in free agency. The guy I like is Mooney; he played with a garbage offense in Chicago and battled through some injuries -- but he did post a 1,000-yard season back in 2021. If we can get him at a discounted rate...

[Beck Water]

13 minutes ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

I share the opinion that I have seen in many places on this board: that WR #2 is a major weakness going into the offseason. I am also part of the group that believes that the Bills should spend draft resources to address the problem for one reason: WR #2 gets stupid money in free agency. Stupid money.

 

But there is always a case to be made for best pick available. Having something in the pipeline in case we roll box cars in the draft, or we take a guy with high upside but we want to ease in. So, here is a quick list at notable receivers that Spotrac has considered notable for the free agent class. I have exluded known slot receivers (We have Shakir and he's doing just fine)

 

For comparisons sake, let's start with a known quality. Gabe Davis. I believe that Gabe Davis was a very solid #3/4 option, but was badly inconsistent as a #2. According to Spotrac, he is expected to make an average of $13.6 M per year. That would be pricey for the Bills in 2024 and we would want an upgrade.

 

So...here is the class

 

 

Most likely out of our price range

Mike Evans

OBJ

Tyler Boyd

Tee Higgins

Michael Pittman Jr.

Calvin Ridley

 

I put these out here not because I think they are fits, but because this is what the top end of the market will be getting. Now, if any one of those is not snapped up on Day 1 you absolutely make a call, but he is a more likely list of what will be waiting around on Day 2

 

Curtis Samuel

Nelson Aghalor

Josh Reynolds

Randall Cobb

Darnell Mooney

 

So, any interest or are we all in on the draft?

 

 

 

I threw up a little in my mouth at your 2nd tier.

 

But IMHO we need to be all-in in the draft AND sign a reasonable vet.

[ColoradoBills]

17 minutes ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

Can’t afford the top guys and zero interest in the other ones.  Just draft one in round 1 or 2 finally.  

 

Here is the full WR free agent list from Spotrac.

75 players.

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/wide-receiver/all/

[Buffalo_Stampede]

My top 2nd tier WR2 targets are Samuel and Mooney. I think the Bills will have interest in both.

21 minutes ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

Can’t afford the top guys and zero interest in the other ones.  Just draft one in round 1 or 2 finally.  

They can. It depends what they do with Diggs. Samuel and Mooney would be great additions. Both would excel playing with Josh.

Edited January 24 by Buffalo_Stampede

[DrDawkinstein]

We do NOT need a #2 WR.

 

We need a new #1 who pushes Diggs down to #2. That is the best way to keep Diggs here and afford to let him play out his contract (which we'll need to do on a dead money basis).

 

Then as Diggs' contract expires in 4 years, we still have the new #1 on a 5th year option cheap before having to shift Stef's money to the #1's extension.

[transient]

We have 10 draft picks and they're not all going to make the team... we need to set a target of "x" number of receivers that we believe can be WR1 in the first round and make sure we get one (there were rumors floating around the board from "people in the know" that was the plan this past draft, but we weren't able to make the trade up before Addison, the last of that group, was off the board). Screw best player available at our draft position this draft, we NEED to get this fixed and since Diggs' contract ensures that he's here for the next few seasons, it needs to be through the draft. 

[Mynamemike]

I’m all for drafting one early and see if the titans will let Dhop go for a late round pick.   

[4BillsintheBurgh]

I'd take a shot on DJ Chark and draft a wr fourth round and after. Do folks realize we've spent two 1st's on pass catchers already?

 

Now if they move on from Diggs it's a different story. But with Kincaid and Shakir emerging, someone like Chark who is just an outside guy is missing from the offense. I'd rather get an interior lineman with some versatility at 28 than a wr. It's probably going to be a dl though, maybe that safety from Iowa.

[ColoradoBills]

2 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

We do NOT need a #2 WR.

 

We need a new #1 who pushes Diggs down to #2. That is the best way to keep Diggs here and afford to let him play out his contract (which we'll need to do on a dead money basis).

 

Then as Diggs' contract expires in 4 years, we still have the new #1 on a 5th year option cheap before having to shift Stef's money to the #1's extension.

 

I agree Beane needs to go for the new WR1 this year.  I don't agree with Diggs sticking around for the end of his contract.

His cost (before they restructure probably one more time) is $28.4M in 2026.  Current dead cap that year is $13.4M.

Could be gone that year.

 

NO WAY he is playing for $22M+ in 2027 when he is 34 years old with a $4.5M dead cap.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

3 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

We do NOT need a #2 WR.

 

We need a new #1 who pushes Diggs down to #2. That is the best way to keep Diggs here and afford to let him play out his contract (which we'll need to do on a dead money basis).

 

Then as Diggs' contract expires in 4 years, we still have the new #1 on a 5th year option cheap before having to shift Stef's money to the #1's extension.

I think allowing our young WR to develop is also key. Shakir is ready for a breakout next year but we shouldn’t depend on that. Sign a tier 2 WR2. Starts next year with…

 

WR1 Diggs

WR2 UFA

WR3 Shakir

WR4 Rookie 1st round pick

WR5 Shorter

WR6 Rookie mid round round pick

[GASabresIUFan]

29 minutes ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

 

 

So, any interest or are we all in on the draft?

 

 

 

25 minutes ago, Fan in Chicago said:

 

 

We cannot just depend on the draft. We need at least one FA, maybe 2 to round off the roster

We need to only use draft capital to solve our WR issues.  We need to draft one early and another in the 3/4 rounds.  We shouldn't waste any cap $ on another castoff from another team. See the money we wasted on Sherfield and Harty this past season for all the reasons not to add such a player.

 

Diggs (1/2)

Early draft pick (1/2) - Adonai Mitchell.  If we trade back to the 2nd (to add other draft capital) then Troy Franklin 

Shakir (3)

Later draft pick (4) - Ladd McConkey would be a great add late in the 3rd or Brenden Rice late 3rd early 4th.

Shorter (5) if he even makes the teams

Don't forget we already added one speedy castoff from another team in Hamler (who didn't even catch a ball last season).  

 

If they retain Hines, then the kick return duties will fall to him instead of a WR.

 

 

[SoCal Deek]

I refuse to believe that catching a football is brain surgery. Just draft a guy with the physical tools and have Josh throw him the football! I couldn’t care less whether anyone considers him a #1 or #2. 

Edited January 24 by SoCal Deek

[The Jokeman]

3 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I think allowing our young WR to develop is also key. Shakir is ready for a breakout next year but we shouldn’t depend on that. Sign a tier 2 WR2. Starts next year with…

 

WR1 Diggs

WR2 UFA

WR3 Shakir

WR4 Rookie 1st round pick

WR5 Shorter

WR6 Rookie mid round round pick

I flip your WR2 UFA with a Rookie 1st round pick and use UFA as a WR4. One name on my short list would be Noah Brown of the Texans, he's got size like Davis and shows some downfield ability and likely won't break the bank. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Just now, GASabresIUFan said:

 

We need to only use draft capital to solve our WR issues.  We need to draft one early and another in the 3/4 rounds.  We shouldn't waste any cap $ on another castoff from another team. See the money we wasted on Sherfield and Harty this past season for all the reasons not to add such a player.

 

Diggs (1/2)

Early draft pick (1/2) - Adonai Mitchell.  If we trade back to the 2nd (to add other draft capital) then Troy Franklin 

Shakir (3)

Later draft pick (4) - Ladd McConkey would be a great add late in the 3rd or Brenden Rice late 3rd early 4th.

Shorter (5) if he even makes the teams

Don't forget we already added one speedy castoff from another team in Hamler (who didn't even catch a ball last season).  

 

If they retain Hines, then the kick return duties will fall to him instead of a WR.

 

 

Sherfield and Harty were dart throws. Think more Beasley and John Brown. Crowder had the injuries, but that was his career.

[Maine-iac]

40 minutes ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

I share the opinion that I have seen in many places on this board: that WR #2 is a major weakness going into the offseason. I am also part of the group that believes that the Bills should spend draft resources to address the problem for one reason: WR #2 gets stupid money in free agency. Stupid money.

 

But there is always a case to be made for best pick available. Having something in the pipeline in case we roll box cars in the draft, or we take a guy with high upside but we want to ease in. So, here is a quick list at notable receivers that Spotrac has considered notable for the free agent class. I have exluded known slot receivers (We have Shakir and he's doing just fine)

 

For comparisons sake, let's start with a known quality. Gabe Davis. I believe that Gabe Davis was a very solid #3/4 option, but was badly inconsistent as a #2. According to Spotrac, he is expected to make an average of $13.6 M per year. That would be pricey for the Bills in 2024 and we would want an upgrade.

 

So...here is the class

 

 

Most likely out of our price range

Mike Evans

OBJ

Tyler Boyd

Tee Higgins

Michael Pittman Jr.

Calvin Ridley

 

I put these out here not because I think they are fits, but because this is what the top end of the market will be getting. Now, if any one of those is not snapped up on Day 1 you absolutely make a call, but he is a more likely list of what will be waiting around on Day 2

 

Curtis Samuel

Nelson Aghalor

Josh Reynolds

Randall Cobb

Darnell Mooney

 

So, any interest or are we all in on the draft?

 

 

Let Sherfield walk and sign Reynolds then draft a WR to play with Diggs.  Reynolds can do all the dirty work that Sherfield did and is 10x the pass catcher.  He's probably capable of Gabe Davis numbers in a pinch.  I'd still try to draft someone to be #2 but Reynolds would be a huge upgrade over Sherfield.  

[MPL]

Overspending for a "WR 2" in Free Agency seems to never work out for any team. I can't think of a single example