New Buscaglia mock has Bills trading up to 7 for Malik Nabers

[Logic]

For those who don't want to pay the totally-worth-it $1.99 per month to subscribe to the Athletic (can you even get a pack of gum for that any more?), here's Joe Buscaglia's latest 7 round Bills mock draft. I gotta say, if this happened, I might cry tears of joy.

https://theathletic.com/5391796/2024/04/05/buffalo-bills-mock-draft-stefon-diggs-trade/

 

TRADE!

Tennessee Titans trade Nos. 7, 182 to Bills for Nos. 28, 60, 133 and 2025 1st

The pick at No. 7: Bills – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

I continue to believe that anything, including a move like this one on draft day, is a real possibility for the Bills. Beane has long been an aggressive draft-day trader when he’s excited about a prospect and how he’d fit their system. Now, with a gaping hole for a top target at wide receiver and where the Bills are in their build, this is the type of move Beane could rationalize as one that puts them over the top for the foreseeable future.

The cost of doing business might be high for some, which is understandable. I’m sure it will evoke memories of the Bills’ move up the board to take Sammy Watkins in 2014. But this is an entirely different situation from 2014 — almost comically so. Back then, it was the desperate move of a franchise hoping Watkins would help EJ Manuel become the franchise quarterback while blatantly ignoring several warning signs he was not that player. Now, there’s nothing for their quarterback to prove. The Bills have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Josh Allen, a still-talented roster around him, and a pretty good idea that they’ll be pushing for the playoffs at the very least in 2024.

By arming him with a young receiver with elite potential on a rookie deal for the next four years, it gives the Bills a lot of flexibility for how they spend through the duration of the receiver’s rookie deal. I’d liken this move more to the one the Atlanta Falcons made in 2011 to fly up the board and select Julio Jones, already with a top quarterback in Matt Ryan in place. They certainly didn’t regret that trade for a second.

 

The recent trade of Diggs, and acquiring the Vikings’ 2025 2nd from the Texans, could empower Beane to make a stark move up the board like this one, too. With an extremely unsettled quarterback room — either starting journeyman backup Sam Darnold or a rookie — that pick has a good chance of turning into an early second-round selection. If that does happen, the Bills could easily get themselves back at the end of the first round next year, or just view their early second-round pick as their first-round pick replacement for dealing it away to get a potential game-changing receiver. For the right player, Beane will move a first-round pick.

 

Is Nabers worth this type of move? In a more standard draft year, Nabers would easily be the best receiver prospect by a wide margin and likely one of the first players selected. He is outrageously talented and smooth, with the explosiveness to win however the Bills ask him to. The separation is effortless whether he’s at X, Z or slot and he gets the defender to bite at his breakdown constantly. He can win with physicality or speed and will eat cushion from off-defenders alive. Nabers has excellent, crisp footwork, and his contested catch concentration is simply outstanding. On top of it all, he can be a monster with yards after the catch, either using physicality to drag defenders or his 4.35 speed to blow up a play.

Nabers has all the potential to be a star in the NFL, and with one of the league’s best quarterbacks in Allen, it increases that likelihood by a large margin. Nabers is worth the hype. But would he make everyone forget about the price tag? It certainly looks like he has all the potential to do so. And with the Bills looking like they’ll have cap space to work with in 2025, it could be the catalyst to another push toward the top of the AFC.


Rest of draft:

 

[billieve420]

Team better be right if they make a move like this as there is a number of holes to fill. Not sure if that would be something I would personally do. I would rather take slow approach even if we end up being slightly worse off this year. 

[FLFan]

I am no expert and will defer to those who study this in detail, but Nabers looks like the real deal to me and looks to be a very good fit for the Bills.  I think if Beane pulled this off we would be forgetting about Diggs in no time.  This is a high price but solidifies that WR spot for the next 5 years and immediately makes the Bills offense more dangerous than they have been in at least the past year.  Worth the risk.  

[gonzo1105]

No way Cole Bishop falls to the end of the 4th 

[Logic]

2 minutes ago, billieve420 said:

Team better be right if they make a move like this as there is a number of holes to fill. Not sure if that would be something I would personally do. I would rather take slow approach even if we end up being slightly worse off this year. 

I understand your point of view.

Personally, I think we've seen what it's like to have a bunch of good to above average players and not enough GREAT players on the roster. It gets us to the Divisional round, and then we lose to a team with more GREAT players.

Me? I want more GREAT players around Josh Allen, and Nabers has the potential for greatness.

Give me one elite, blue chip playmaker with the potential for GREATNESS over a handful of potentially GOOD players, all day long and twice on Sundays.

[BBFL]

Would rather they hold on to 60 personally and move up to the teens and get a possible falling Odunze or Thomas Jr. 
 

Nabers looks to be the real deal but there’s a lot of talent in this draft that would even allow you to double dip if you can hang on to 60. They likely wont, but you never know. 

 

Just now, Logic said:

I understand your point of view.

Personally, I think we've seen what it's like to have a bunch of good to above average players and not enough GREAT players on the roster. It gets us to the Divisional round, and then we lose to a team with more GREAT players.

Me? I want more GREAT players around Josh Allen, and Nabers has the potential for greatness.

Give me one elite, blue chip playmaker with the potential for GREATNESS over a handful of potentially GOOD players, all day long and twice on Sundays.

 

That’s actually a reasonable stance and I can’t go against the logic you’ve displayed here. 

[Bruffalo]

I really don't like the idea of losing this year's second round pick, but I'm okay with moving up for a top WR talent.  

1 minute ago, BBFL said:

Would rather they hold on to 60 personally and move up to the teens and get a possible falling Odunze or Thomas Jr. 
 

Nabers looks to be the real deal but there’s a lot of talent in this draft that would even allow you to double dip if you can hang on to 60. They likely wont, but you never know. 

 

 

That’s actually a reasonable stance and I can’t go against the logic you’ve displayed here. 

Double dipping is where I'm at too. I think it makes more sense.  Give me a AD Mitchell and Franklin/Legette/Polk/McConkey. You've got so much talent then. 

 

If they do move up, I want to see them go get a low-risk high reward FA like Thomas. 

[SCBills]

3 minutes ago, Logic said:

I understand your point of view.

Personally, I think we've seen what it's like to have a bunch of good to above average players and not enough GREAT players on the roster. It gets us to the Divisional round, and then we lose to a team with more GREAT players.

Me? I want more GREAT players around Josh Allen, and Nabers has the potential for greatness.

Give me one elite, blue chip playmaker with the potential for GREATNESS over a handful of potentially GOOD players, all day long and twice on Sundays.

Great point. 
 

Why have we lost to KC in the playoffs?

 

Allen & Mahomes cancel each other out. 
 

Chris Jones has made big plays in every game and Kelce (Hill before the trade) always step up their game. 
 

Who on our Defense has consistently stepped up in the postseason?

 

Who on our Offense has consistently stepped up in the postseason?

 

The answer to both of those questions is nobody.   A play here, a big game there, but Josh Allen hasn’t had anyone on this team that year in/year out, he goes into the postseason knowing he’s got dudes ready to ball out.  
 

That has to change. 

[Warriorspikes51]

This is very interesting.  Joe B is usually pretty plugged in. 

I would prefer to try and keep 60 and give up one of our 2nds next year.  They can have our higher 4th this year to make up for that 

 

28, 128, 2025 1st, 2nd 

[Logic]

The other reason I like this trade -- aside from Nabers being an absolute dawg -- is that the Bills still have a full slate of picks this year. 

Look at the draft results above. They still walk out of the draft with 9 players. 

Then, even in 2025, they lack a 1st, but have two 2nds, one of which could be very early in the round.

In the trade outlined in this mock, they'd be getting an elite prospect, still drafting a full draft's worth of players this year, AND still having a full slate worth of picks (albeit with an extra 2nd instead of a 1st) next year.

How could anyone not want to do that?

[Chicken Boo]

Wouldn't complain at all.  This is our Ja'Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson (LSU pun intended).

[NewEra]

I’d do that in a heartbeat 

[Nephilim17]

Haven't consulted the latest trade chart, but I'm surprised that Bills picks are enough for 7th overall and 182 this year.

[Logic]

Just now, NewEra said:

I’d do that in a heartbeat 

Me too. I'd even throw in a handy.

[TOboy]

I’d do this in a heartbeat! Nabers is the type of guy a team like this doesn’t get to add. He’s a top of the draft and likely top of the league receiver with elite traits. A guy that could potentially be better than Diggs was, and we’d have him on a rookie deal. You do it and don’t look back for a second. 
 

As for the other holes on the roster, like many I went into last year thinking we were too weak at MLB. I’m not saying we a TB at S or DT to come in and play at a pro bowl level, but I trust in Beane and McDermott to fill those holes. 

[H2o]

I would take Nabers every day of the week and twice on Sunday. 

[Warriorspikes51]

Not to pour water on this campfire, but Nabers was "live" on his social media yesterday after his visit with the Chargers  in LA talking to a realtor and viewing the ocean from a spectacular patio 

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, Logic said:

Me too. I'd even throw in a handy.

A two-handy!

[Buffalo_Stampede]

[Logic]

1 minute ago, Nephilim17 said:

Haven't consulted the latest trade chart, but I'm surprised that Bills picks are enough for 7th overall and 182 this year.

I feel like it heavily depends on which trade chart you use. The Jimmy Johnson chart or the Rich Hill chart.

Either way, they're both just guides, and we see NFL GMs buck their wisdom every year.

But even if the Bills needed to throw in an extra later round pick, or didn't get the 182 back in the trade, I'd STILL make this move.