2024 WR Draft Class

[947]

57 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

I don't watch College Football AT ALL!!!  But my understanding is that Michigan didn't pass the ball all that much.

 

Most scouts have JJ McCarthy above Bo Nix or Michael Penix even though McCarthy has significantly less production.

 

Also... remember Josh Allen...

The breakdown on Michigan was that they did pass a lot, but typically only in the 1st half. They had a lot of huge leads & ran the ball at a much higher % than pass in the 2nd half of most games.

[mannc]

3 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

With Franklin, i'd say that there's a difference between watching the highlights and watching all of his tape.

 

In talking about him above, I posted a link to Cover 1 discussing him. One of the major concerns is that he has a hard time dealing with press and getting off the line. They mentioned games where he struggled against CB's who aren't NFL level players. The things that made him attractive were that he had Elite speed near Worthy and was 6'3". And even though he looked skinny and frail, he was listed at 190 lbs. Even with those things, there's a myth that Franklin was a consensus 1st Round pick and a complete WR. That wasn't true even before the Combine, except for this board. Many prognosticators believed he was a 2nd Round pick behind a lot of guys already. Mel Kiper didn't list him in his Top 10 WR's.

 

Then he gets to the Combine and he's not 6'3" - he's actually 6'1". He's not 190 lbs, he's actually 175. And his supposed elite speed was nowhere near Worthy and slower than guys like Legette and McConkey, only ranking 10th among WR's. More concerning was his 1.61 10 yard split, ranking dead last among all WR's there. Confirming the concerns at the line. Then he does his on-field work and performs poorly. Running the gauntlet so badly Daniel Jeremiah was calling him out on Live TV.

 

The Combine exposed him. There's a difference between not looking great there and having every single one of the things that made you attractive dispelled and the things that were a concern highlighted. There's a lot wrong with that list you were commenting on. But Franklin being in Tier 4 instead of 2 or 3 doesn't shock me.

I've been a big proponent of Franklin, but it's hard to argue with this.  He was a complete non-factor in the Pac12 Championship game against Washington's more physical DBs... 

[BillsFanForever19]

33 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

I think you have it backwards. McConkey you’d have to take at 28 and Legette at 60. Might have to trade up a bit to get Legette, but wouldn’t cost you a ton to move from 60 to like 50.  This is my plan B: McConkey then a true z receiver like Legette, worthy, Pearsall or Franklin. 
 

plan A is trade up for Thomas

 

either plan would be dynamic with Josh:

 

diggs, McConkey, Legette, Shakir and our TEs

 

or

 

diggs, Thomas, Shakir, our TEs and a late round WR

 

both scenarios are very possible as we have 11 picks and Beane isn’t drafting 11 players

 

I don't think it's a viable scenario any way you slice it. Legette will not be available near 60 after he tested and measured as he did. Legette and McConkey were on top of each other before the Combine and especially after how each performed after.

 

Worthy is also not going to be available anywhere near where you have him either. I've mentioned this a few times, but Rappaport talked to some execs who told him Worthy may have worked his way up to WR4 with his unheard of speed. I'd believe that when I see it, but he's also not a mid-2nd Rounder either.

 

Pearsall is a true Slot. Played Slot in College, projects to Slot in the Pros. We won't take a Pure Slot with both Shakir and Kincaid there.

 

30 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

ehhh sounded a bit different than what you’re referring too.  

 

Got a link? I think you're hearing what you want to hear. Everytime I've heard it mentioned it's his "bold prediction". 

 

No reporter has the first inkling of what Beane definitively plans on doing. Hell, Beane himself probably doesn't even know what he'll be doing definitively until the board starts to play out. Even the idea of WR at 28 is merely a predication right now.

Edited March 8 by BillsFanForever19

[ColoradoBills]

20 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

The guy is the total package. Size, build, speed, playmaking ability. And in listening to him talk at the Combine and reading about his history - I'd be surprised if he didn't wow them in the Interview process as well.

 

As I've said to people before, if you're someone who's scared by him being 23 after spending an extra year in College or the one year wonder thing - without those things we wouldn't get a whiff of him. He'd be up there with Nabers and Odunze in the Top 10.

 

From what I've seen of him on video and how he measured and performed at the Combine, he's the perfect fit for what I feel Beane is looking for. I'll take the age and one year wonder concerns for what he's got. 

 

The age thing is not as big as some make it out to be IMO.  A 1st rounder has a 5-year rookie deal and then typically another 4-year deal.

After 9 years in the NFL, it's a crap shoot as to what a player's worth is going forward.  He would be 32 and the young guys are 30ish.

[DCOrange]

2 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

The age thing is not as big as some make it out to be IMO.  A 1st rounder has a 5-year rookie deal and then typically another 4-year deal.

After 9 years in the NFL, it's a crap shoot as to what a player's worth is going forward.  He would be 32 and the young guys are 30ish.

It's not about how old he'll be on his rookie contract; it's about the fact that he literally didn't do anything in college until he was a very old (for a college player). The track record for WRs like that is historically atrocious. People can say if he was 21 instead of 23, he'd be a top 10 pick, but he was 21 once upon a time. He had 63 yards that season. 

[Dr. Who]

1 hour ago, Turbo44 said:

I think you have it backwards. McConkey you’d have to take at 28 and Legette at 60. Might have to trade up a bit to get Legette, but wouldn’t cost you a ton to move from 60 to like 50.  This is my plan B: McConkey then a true z receiver like Legette, worthy, Pearsall or Franklin. 
 

plan A is trade up for Thomas

 

either plan would be dynamic with Josh:

 

diggs, McConkey, Legette, Shakir and our TEs

 

or

 

diggs, Thomas, Shakir, our TEs and a late round WR

 

both scenarios are very possible as we have 11 picks and Beane isn’t drafting 11 players

I think Legette and McConkey may both go in the first, unfortunately. I expect the Bills to favor the big X, which is why I posed the scenario in the way that I did. I know Worthy is fast as the wind, but I still think he's just too light. I dropped Franklin after his disastrous Combine, and it turning out he's smaller than advertised. I like Pearsall, but as BillsFanForever19 pointed out, he's a slot. I would go for Coleman if he dropped to the second. And Walker, too, really. Rice, a bit later, for me.

 

Anyway, I love McConkey, but I'm skeptical that is the way Beane is prioritizing the position, though I'm only guessing, of course.

Edited March 8 by Dr. Who

[DCOrange]

5 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

I think Legette and McConkey may both go in the first, unfortunately. I expect the Bills to favor the big X, which is why I posed the scenario in the way that I did. I know Worthy is fast as the wind, but I still think he's just too light. I dropped Franklin after his disastrous Combine, and it turning out he's smaller than advertised. I like Pearsall, but as BillsFanForever19 pointed out, he's a slot. I would go for Coleman if he dropped to the second. And Walker, too, really. Rice, a bit later, for me.

 

Anyway, I love McConkey, but I'm skeptical that is the way Beane is prioritizing the position, though I'm only guessing, of course.

McConkey played out wide a lot more than Pearsall did, but I think Pearsall is probably in the same boat where he might be able to play out wide but might be better suited to the slot. He was close to a 50/50 split this past season between lining up out wide vs. the slot and he was mainly playing outside at the Senior Bowl practices.

[NewEra]

4 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

With Franklin, i'd say that there's a difference between watching the highlights and watching all of his tape.

 

In talking about him above, I posted a link to Cover 1 discussing him. One of the major concerns is that he has a hard time dealing with press and getting off the line. They mentioned games where he struggled against CB's who aren't NFL level players. The things that made him attractive were that he had Elite speed near Worthy and was 6'3". And even though he looked skinny and frail, he was listed at 190 lbs. Even with those things, there's a myth that Franklin was a consensus 1st Round pick and a complete WR. That wasn't true even before the Combine, except for this board. Many prognosticators believed he was a 2nd Round pick behind a lot of guys already. Mel Kiper didn't list him in his Top 10 WR's.

 

Then he gets to the Combine and he's not 6'3" - he's actually 6'1". He's not 190 lbs, he's actually 175. And his supposed elite speed was nowhere near Worthy and slower than guys like Legette and McConkey, only ranking 10th among WR's. More concerning was his 1.61 10 yard split, ranking dead last among all WR's there. Confirming the concerns at the line. Then he does his on-field work and performs poorly. Running the gauntlet so badly Daniel Jeremiah was calling him out on Live TV.

 

The Combine exposed him. There's a difference between not looking great there and having every single one of the things that made you attractive dispelled and the things that were a concern highlighted. There's a lot wrong with that list you were commenting on. But Franklin being in Tier 4 instead of 2 or 3 doesn't shock me.

Agreed.  He was my pre combine crush but his frame really turned me off.  Shorter.  Lighter.  Weaker.  Dude fell over himself a couple times.  WRs weighing 176 lbs shouldn’t be falling over themselves.  Just looked so weak.  I like his game tape though and I think he can be a weapon regardless of his 40.  He’s the only guy that really moved down a lot in my rankings after the combine.  I’d rather draft Ladd as an X even though he’s best in the slot. Pearsall is my biggest riser, but I hadn’t watched very much of him prior to the combine.  I think he’s legit

 

I think I’m currently: 

Thomas JR

Mitchell

leggette

mcconkey

 

Worthy

Polk

Pearsall

Franklin

 

 

 

 

[Warriorspikes51]

watching Nabers highlights…. Man he’s fun. His start stop movement and acceleration has to be 98% level. Like a ferrari with the best racing brakes you could get. Looks unreal. Plus his ball tracking and yac are high level
 

would anyone do this?

 

28

99

143

2025 1st

2025 3rd

 

how high does that get us?  
Could we get to the Giants pick at 6? 
 

Another way to look at this is we’d still have 8 picks (2,4,5,5,6,6,6,7) after having drafted Nabers

Edited March 8 by Warriorspikes51

[Warriorspikes51]

FWIW Nabers thinks Brian Thomas Jr is going to be a Buffalo Bill

 

I’ll assume we’ve shown high interest and Thomas Jr told his buddy Nabers.  Thomas called Nabers one of his best friends in the combine interview.

Edited March 8 by Warriorspikes51

[Warriorspikes51]

Compilation of BTJ from Combine on field workouts

 

that 4.34 looked effortless.  Overshadowed by Worthy but considering the weight differential it’s nearly as impressive

Edited March 8 by Warriorspikes51

[Warriorspikes51]

22 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

FWIW Nabers thinks Brian Thomas Jr is going to be a Buffalo Bill

 

I’ll assume we’ve shown high interest and Thomas Jr told his buddy Nabers.  Thomas called Nabers one of his best friends in the combine interview.

Joe Brady’s dream is probably to have both LSU WR’s  😎

[Warriorspikes51]

Bills shock the league draft night

 

To NYG:  28, 99, 143, 2025 1st & 3rd 
To BUF: 6th pick… Nabers

 

We’d still have 8 picks left.

 

 

To HOU: Diggs, 4th
To BUF: 23rd pick… Brian Thomas Jr

 

6 picks left and your offense just became dynamite

 

as Beane said at the combine: if it works nobody gives a ****

[BillsFanForever19]

2 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Bills shock the league draft night

 

To NYG:  28, 99, 143, 2025 1st & 3rd 
To BUF: 6th pick… Nabers

 

We’d still have 8 picks left.

 

 

To HOU: Diggs, 4th
To BUF: 23rd pick… Brian Thomas Jr

 

6 picks left and your offense just became dynamite

 

as Beane said at the combine: if it works nobody gives a ****

 

You've really been going off the deep end the past couple days, my dude. Is this in conjunction with Chris Jones and Derrick Henry?

 

That line applies to Drafting a Franchise QB. It's not remotely the same scenario. He was saying if Josh didn't work he'd be fired and if he landed a Stud Franchise QB - who cares what he gave up? That doesn't apply to WR and he has job security now.

 

And we didn't even BOTHER interviewing Malik Nabers (or MHJ or Odunze for that matter) at the Combine. There's a reason for that.

 

The depth of the class is such that you can walk away with a very good WR in Round 1 without having to give up anything. Possibly even better than the ones at the top. You never know.

 

Were you around for the Sammy Watkins trade? We gave up a bunch of stuff and could have stayed put and got Odell Beckham Jr. at WR or Aaron Donald. We've been killed for it ever since. And this? This is the idea of giving up the farm for one WR when you can get another... on crack.

 

And for the millionth time - Diggs isn't being traded. And we'd never in a million years trade him to Houston, even if we were to move him. 

 

If Brian Thomas is on the board at somewhere like 16 before the Jags pick, that's about as high as we'll possibly go. And I don't even expect us to go that high. Probably closer to the low 20's. 6 is a pipe dream. The idea of Trading away our #1 WR and trying to win a Super Bowl next year with 2 guys on the Outside who have never played a down in the NFL is a fever dream.

Edited March 8 by BillsFanForever19

[GunnerBill]

9 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Were you around for the Sammy Watkins trade? We gave up a bunch of stuff and could have stayed put and got Mike Evans or OBJ (or Mack at a different position). We've been killed for it ever since. And this? This is that on Crack.

 

We couldn't have drafted Evans or Mack at our original spot. Mack went #5 right after we took Sammy at #4. And I think Evans went at #7 and we originally were at either #9 or #10 if memory serves. I remember because Evans was my guy that year. Wanted him so bad. 

 

OBJ did go later. He would have been on the board at our original pick.

[BillsFanForever19]

5 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

We couldn't have drafted Evans or Mack at our original spot. Mack went #5 right after we took Sammy at #4. And I think Evans went at #7 and we originally were at either #9 or #10 if memory serves. I remember because Evans was my guy that year. Wanted him so bad. 

 

OBJ did go later. He would have been on the board at our original pick.

 

You're right, I was remembering wrong.

 

We could have taken Evans or Mack instead of Sammy at 4. But if we stayed put at 9, we could have gotten OBJ (picked at 12) or Aaron Donald (picked at 13).

 

It just goes to show that even the higher ranked players aren't guarantees to be the best. And when you pay the farm to bet on that and it turns out wrong, it's all the much worse.

Edited March 8 by BillsFanForever19

[GunnerBill]

5 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

You're right, I was remembering wrong.

 

We could have taken Evans or Mack instead of Sammy at 4. But if we stayed put at 9, we could have gotten OBJ (picked at 12) or Aaron Donald (picked at 13).

 

It just goes to show that even the higher ranked players aren't guarantees to be the best. And when you pay the farm to bet on that and it turns out wrong, it's all the much worse.

 

Sammy over Evans was an example where the majority NFL consensus was wrong. It wasn't just the Bills. He was a lock to be the first receiver off the board. Had he been there at #7 I'm sure Tampa would have taken him. Madness. 

 

I didn't like OBJ much though I must confess. It was my first year really trying ro evaluate the draft and I had Brandin Cooks as my WR3 after Evans at 1 and Sammy at 2.

[Aussie Joe]

Let’s go on the record now boys … week before FA which could  lead to a “fluid “ outcome if they sign or trade for someone 

 

1 pick only as to which WR they are taking at 28…( or a minor trade up like last year) 

 

Let’s assume Thomas is out of reach as Top 20 and Beane won’t pay the freight to move up…

 

So who you got folks?

Edited March 8 by Aussie Joe

[BillsFanForever19]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Sammy over Evans was an example where the majority NFL consensus was wrong. It wasn't just the Bills. He was a lock to be the first receiver off the board. Had he been there at #7 I'm sure Tampa would have taken him. Madness. 

 

I didn't like OBJ much though I must confess. It was my first year really trying ro evaluate the draft and I had Brandin Cooks as my WR3 after Evans at 1 and Sammy at 2.

 

Oh for sure! Sammy was FAR and away the #1 WR in that Draft going into it. He was considered the best WR coming out in years. I even heard some people call him the best WR prospect of all time. He was "can't miss".

 

Which is the point I'm getting at. Even the most sure thing prospects miss. Often times the guys considered the next tier of talent end up better. Minnesota could have gave up 22 and a bunch of other picks to move up and take Ruggs, Jeudy, or Lamb instead of staying pat and selecting Jefferson, for example. That would have been a mistake.

 

Don't get me wrong, Nabers looks great. But there's no guarantee he's going to turn out to be better than the guys we'll end up with at 28 or who we can get for a smaller trade up. So giving up two 1st's, 2 3rd's, and a 5th is frankly irresponsible IMO.

Edited March 8 by BillsFanForever19

[GunnerBill]

18 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

Let’s go on the record now boys … week before FA which could  lead to a “fluid “ outcome if they sign or trade for someone 

 

1 pick only as to which WR they are taking at 28…( or a minor trade up like last year) 

 

Let’s assume Thomas is out of reach as Top 20 and Beane won’t pay the freight to move up…

 

So who you got folks?

 

Who I think they'd take? Adonai Mitchell. 

 

I'd still take Legette over him personally.