2024 WR Draft Class

[Alphadawg7]

47 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I disagree strongly. I think he is way better than Gabe. He is a 1st round grade and WR4 on my board. I do think there is some inefficiency in his release that can be tidied up and I agree that while he is fast he isn't sudden he is a long strider. But he separates plenty well enough at all levels of the field for me. Indeed against man coverage he separates at a better rate than most of the class. And then he is terrific attacking the football in the air. I'd happily take him at #28 and not look back. I do accept that the one year production and the age are legit concerns, but the tape is really good IMO.

 

But I accept I am higher than the consensus. He won't go round 1 I don't think. But I am very confident he is going to be really good in the NFL. 

 

Basically this is what I see on film too.

 

Let me be clear, I did not say he isn't better than Gabe.  I said he has a lot of the same weaknesses that Gabe did, but he is faster and has better hands and I would take him over Gabe for sure.  I want a WR who is going to consistently put pressure on all 3 phases of the defense, and Leggette struggles with short area acceleration and burst as he is more of a strider to get to his top speed.  Do I think he can come in a be a better Gabe and dominant WR2...sure...but I am not sold he can be an elite WR1 in the NFL, and I think there are prospects like Thomas, Mitchell, McConkey who I think have a better shot at being a WR1 at the next level.  Doesn't mean Leggette can't be, but between his areas of concern, lesser competition, and limited production, he is a bigger risk.  

 

And that is the kind of player Leggette is right now, more polarizing than some of the other guys.  There are guys who think he is top 5 WR, and I have seen ranked in the teens.  Worthy is another whose opinions vary greatly.  And like you accept you have him higher than the consensus, I acknowledge I have him a bit lower than some too.  

 

Personally, in this draft, I think he can be had in the 2nd round.  If we trade back from 28 and take him, I would be totally fine with that, especially if we pick up an extra 3rd on the trade back.  So even if you think he is that good, I am pretty sure we can get him on a trade back before we should take him at 28.  

 

Leggette is an intriguing prospect, I won't be mad if we land him, but he isn't as clean a prospect as some of the other guys as he has a lower floor so the issue I have is just taking him in the first.  If Diggs was 28, I would feel a lot better taking him...but the guy we take is not only going to need to contribute year 1, but this is the best WR draft maybe ever and this may be our best shot at landing the heir to Diggs while also landing a future WR2 later in the draft to develop as well.  So I don't want to miss with this pick.

 

I should also be clear, that I have the top 11 WR's as all potential WR1's in the NFL.  And I have a pretty stellar record when it comes to WR's and I have never entered a draft feeling that this many guys (11) have strong WR1 potential.  Its crazy deep this year at both the top and through day 3.  But I have them grouped as such:

 

Elite WR1 Prospects who each could have been the top WR prospect in probably half the drafts in the last 10 years - Top 4

Harrisson, Nabers, Odunze, Thomas

 

Legit WR1 Prospects with some minor concerns/questions - 5th-7th

McConkey, Mitchell, Coleman - McConkey some debate is he a true WR1 at the next level (I am confident he is), Mitchell has some questions why his stats don't match his elite traits, and Coleman has questions on can he consistently get separation at the next level even though he is an open even when not open type player.   

 

Elite WR2 to potential WR1 prospects with a little more questions or concerns than the group ahead of them - 8th - 11th

Franklin, Pearsall, Worthy, Leggette - Franklin has concerns over his frame and maybe being a long ball specialist, Pearsall some aren't sold he can be a WR1 despite having the traits for it, Worthy is fast as lightning but his lanky frame and lack of strength some fear makes him a WR2 in the NFL, and Leggette we already discussed.  

 

There isn't a WR in that top 11 I would be upset if we drafted, just some of them I think we would be better off trading back and taking in round 2 and picking up an extra 3rd where we can maybe double dip on one of these guys who could slip or another one of the other intriguing WR prospects outside this top 11.  

Edited March 13 by Alphadawg7

[GunnerBill]

24 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

When there's a group of similarly talented players at the same position, mocks are often wrong when Draft Day comes and it comes down to team preference. Of which they're simply guessing. We also haven't fully reached the apex of where they start altering Drafts based on things they've heard. That's not going to happen until we get much closer.

 

Post Combine the big network guys already have good sources of information flowing. Okay that always refines as we get closer. But at this stage Id be surprised if there are many guys taken that they are not starting to have in that conversation.

[Dr. Who]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Post Combine the big network guys already have good sources of information flowing. Okay that always refines as we get closer. But at this stage Id be surprised if there are many guys taken that they are not starting to have in that conversation.

Let me push you a little  more on this. What are you taking from what you are currently hearing as an indicator of what Beane may be thinking?

Do you think Beane stays at #28 and takes the top WR on his board, trades back if he doesn't see value, goes for an edge in a bad year at the position?

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, Dr. Who said:

Let me push you a little  more on this. What are you taking from what you are currently hearing as an indicator of what Beane may be thinking?

Do you think Beane stays at #28 and takes the top WR on his board, trades back if he doesn't see value, goes for an edge in a bad year at the position?

 

I am where I have been all along I think with the exception of I think the odds of a trade UP reduced with the comp pick debacle. I think the most likely outcome is that he stands pat and picks the best receiver on his board, closely followed by he stands pat and selects Chop Robinson. I think the trade back is and remains the outsider of the bunch but I don't totally discount it. 

[Dr. Who]

2 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I am where I have been all along I think with the exception of I think the odds of a trade UP reduced with the comp pick debacle. I think the most likely outcome is that he stands pat and picks the best receiver on his board, closely followed by he stands pat and selects Chop Robinson. I think the trade back is and remains the outsider of the bunch but I don't totally discount it. 

Okay, I'm going with a small trade up for Mitchell, or Legette at #28. I am in the minority, and I know you don't agree, but I wouldn't be mad if it was McConkey.

I'll be mad if it is Robinson.

 

[GunnerBill]

2 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

Okay, I'm going with a small trade up for Mitchell, or Legette at #28. I am in the minority, and I know you don't agree, but I wouldn't be mad if it was McConkey.

I'll be mad if it is Robinson.

 

 

I wouldn't be mad if it is McConkey. More perplexed. 

[Dr. Who]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

I wouldn't be mad if it is McConkey. More perplexed. 

Yeah, I believe he could eventually replace Diggs. I think his ability on the outside is greater than many surmise. I don't think he's just a slot.

And as an UGA fan, I saw a lot of him, and I just think he's special.

 

But I would favor Mitchell and Legette, because they are true big X receivers.

 

 

[Augie]

3 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

Yeah, I believe he could eventually replace Diggs. I think his ability on the outside is greater than many surmise. I don't think he's just a slot.

And as an UGA fan, I saw a lot of him, and I just think he's special.

 

But I would favor Mitchell and Legette, because they are true big X receivers.

 

 

 

Living in Atlanta and with a UGA DIL, I’ve seen quite a bit of McConkey too. He just looks like….a football player.

 

He’s gritty and smart, and fun to watch.  I know he measures close to some of the bigger outside guys, but he doesn’t look it to me for some reason. 

[Dr. Who]

1 minute ago, Augie said:

 

Living in Atlanta and with a UGA DIL, I’ve seen quite a bit of McConkey too. He just looks like….a football player.

 

He’s gritty and smart, and fun to watch.  I know he measures close to some of the bigger outside guys, but he doesn’t look it to me for some reason. 

He doesn't look as athletic as he is, either. He's a stealth fella. Folks think he is just getting by on guile, but they are wrong.

[Augie]

10 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

He doesn't look as athletic as he is, either. He's a stealth fella. Folks think he is just getting by on guile, but they are wrong.

 

He looks like a guy who would go to the HOF with Brady throwing to him. 

[gonzo1105]

24 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

He doesn't look as athletic as he is, either. He's a stealth fella. Folks think he is just getting by on guile, but they are wrong.

People want to pigeonhole him as a slot because he’s White and not 6’3. Literally all the facts from his game tape, to his testing, to his comparisons put him right up there with many top outside WRs. Do the Bills take him I have no idea but the slot WR not sure he can play outside bit is dumb as hell 

[Dan in Owego]

12 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

People want to pigeonhole him as a slot because he’s White and not 6’3. Literally all the facts from his game tape, to his testing, to his comparisons put him right up there with many top outside WRs. Do the Bills take him I have no idea but the slot WR not sure he can play outside bit is dumb as hell 

Think he would be best as a movement Z, with is fine because i really think we can get that bigger prototypical X later. Brendan Rice comes to mind, Later yet i really like Bub Means from Pitt. There are others as well so it could be a real possibility.

[Aussie Joe]

47 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

Living in Atlanta and with a UGA DIL, I’ve seen quite a bit of McConkey too. He just looks like….a football player.

 

He’s gritty and smart, and fun to watch.  I know he measures close to some of the bigger outside guys, but he doesn’t look it to me for some reason. 

Before the combine …some people were describing him as “slow”… I had no idea where that narrative was coming from ..I think it’s because some just look at him and underestimate him…

I think his ability to get separation would really suit Josh ..it’s a cliche for sure …he loves throwing to guys already open… although we know that he can also put it though a mail box slit if he has to as well…. I like McConkeys hands too …which we all know has been a problem at Buffalo in the past .. Also, whilst his ceiling may not be the highest on offer …I think he can be a contributor Week 1… they are looking like they are going to need that … and i don’t want them waiting to Year 3 for their project to get  to maximum production…

 

I don’t know how his game is going to translate to the outside in the NFL ..let’s be  honest .. no one does …. But I don’t want the shortcomings around his immeadiate “fit” to be the determining factor on whether they pick him or not … he could be a big part of this team for 7-8 years … 

 

If he ends up being the guy they pick ..I’m going to go with it,,,. He may not be my no 1 choice … ( but  he is probably No 2 of the guys likely to go 4-12) …  

[GunnerBill]

20 minutes ago, Dan in Owego said:

Think he would be best as a movement Z

 

Yea that is what I think he is too. He is a Y/Z. I don't think he can play as an X. 

[Dr. Who]

4 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea that is what I think he is too. He is a Y/Z. I don't think he can play as an X. 

If you draft him, you have to get an X later in the draft. It's simple as that. I don't think it's an impossible ask, but risky.

[gonzo1105]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea that is what I think he is too. He is a Y/Z. I don't think he can play as an X. 

I think you have an old school mindset about formations and lining up. Kupp, Nacua, and Atwell are all classified as slots guys and they made it work. I get the idea of a bigger body across from Diggs but this is 2024 not 1995. If you have an innovator on offense body types shouldn’t matter. 
 

Waddle and Tyreek Hill neither is a traditional X

 

Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel , Jahan Dotson

Jags had Ridley , Christian Kirk, and Zay Jones none of which are X WRs 

[SCBills]

Ok, we have to draft him now. 
 

 

[JohnBonhamRocks]

3 hours ago, gonzo1105 said:

I think you have an old school mindset about formations and lining up. Kupp, Nacua, and Atwell are all classified as slots guys and they made it work. I get the idea of a bigger body across from Diggs but this is 2024 not 1995. If you have an innovator on offense body types shouldn’t matter. 
 

Waddle and Tyreek Hill neither is a traditional X

 

Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel , Jahan Dotson

Jags had Ridley , Christian Kirk, and Zay Jones none of which are X WRs 

Please stop making so much sense

[Warriorspikes51]

3 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Ok, we have to draft him now. 
 

 

his team will call him Bubba

[BADOLBILZ]

5 hours ago, gonzo1105 said:

I think you have an old school mindset about formations and lining up. Kupp, Nacua, and Atwell are all classified as slots guys and they made it work. I get the idea of a bigger body across from Diggs but this is 2024 not 1995. If you have an innovator on offense body types shouldn’t matter. 
 

Waddle and Tyreek Hill neither is a traditional X

 

Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel , Jahan Dotson

Jags had Ridley , Christian Kirk, and Zay Jones none of which are X WRs 

 

 

That's excellent for those teams but I do want a star receiver who is big and has an extra gear to track down an overthrown ball for the Buffalo Bills..........because being accurate downfield in Miami is different than doing so in Buffalo.   From the wind/rain/cold to Josh Allen's inconsistent ball placement to the crowned field the Bills need a big, downfield target to provide a larger catch radius IMO.   And if you have to have one out there he might as well be a good one.