Legette vs. McConkey

[2003Contenders]

Prior to the Diggs trade I may have said Legette, as I think he has the size/speed/upside to round out the WR room. However, with Diggs gone, I think the team needs more of a "sure" thing -- and a guy that can contribute right away (which I am not sure Legette can do). That to me is McConkey, who may not have Legette's measurables -- but he come into the league right away as a polished and versatile receiver, and I believe has a better shot at off-setting Diggs' departure.

[BillsFan2313]

3 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I don’t think we have any McConkeys. But I like other WRs better.

 

McConkey is a smooth route runner and separator. I wish he had longer arms. 

 

Cool

[Turbo44]

1 hour ago, Nephilim17 said:

If we need a boundary receiver and McConkey, as great as he is, has short arms and doesn't have the size to play outside, what is the reason for adding yet another slot specialist to this team?

We have Shakir, Kincaid and Samuels with a lot of slot experience.

If McConkey can't be a viable outside guy, why even bother? Are you gonna rest Shakir to play McConkey? And if so, who is the other outside guy?

I know a lot of you think he can play outside but he's small with short arms and that does not bode well.

Ladd played 70% of last season as a boundary receiver. His weakness is against press coverage so he’d be a better Z receiver than an X one. Would ideally have him in motion a lot. I think he’s at least the 5th best receiver in the draft and maybe the 4th. Don’t let his college production scare you off - they had a subpar qb, that great TE and ran the ball all the time. He’s the perfect replacement for Diggs. Kinkaid, Shakir and Dalton would feed off each other and would be uncoverable. 
 

ideally you’d couple drafting him by drafting Baker or, a little later Cornelius Johnson who both could possible X receivers. Who knows, maybe Beane has a trade in place to grab a current NFL X receiver too, post 6.1??

[BigAl2526]

My approach to the draft is, I think, a bit different from that of most fans.  I have prospective draft picks I am most interested in as Bills picks.  This draft is no different.  Brian Thomas Jr dropping would be nice, or perhaps a modest trade up to get him.  If the Bills don't trade up and Thomas is not available at 28, which is the most likely outcome for the Bills, my preference is for a trade down, no lower than 12 spots.  At that point, I would pick in order of preference: Mitchell, Legette, McConkey, Franklin or Worthy.  However, my reaction to the Bills picking any one of those at 28 would not be, "Oh, the Bills made a terrible mistake."  Instead, it would be, "OK we'll see how this pans out."  I figure Beane and the Bills know what they're doing in this whole process.  They are more knowledgeable than me and have access to far more information than me.  They aren't infallible, they are far less fallible than I am when it comes to evaluating draft talent. 

 

As far as the receivers Buffalo will have to choose from, every one, including Thomas has downside risk to be aware of.  Thomas has some questions about his effort and is route running in not well developed.  Legette has questions about his experience, lets deep throws into his body and may struggle some in zone coverage. McConkey wasn't as productive in college as he might have been with a pretty high floor and perhaps not as high of a ceiling as some others, struggles some with his catch to run transition and with contested catches.  Mitchell may be a type one diabetic and that he was a #2 in college.  He struggles with press coverage, like McConkey he's inconsistent transition from pass catching to running and struggles with contested catches.  He's also not much of a blocker, something Buffalo values in its receivers.  Worthy is small and very light and could be vulnerable to injury in the rough and tumble NFL.  He sometimes struggles with zone coverage and his production dropped in 2023 despite being targeted more.  The lack of size also means he can get knocked off his route at the LOS.  Franklin may be taller, but he's even skinnier than Worthy.  He's had a tendency to turn and run before securing the catch, thus leading to drops.  That's not to say the Bills should avoid all of them, just that you're taking something of a chance with anybody they will have the opportunity to draft.

 

 

[HappyDays]

I would like one of the McConkey fans to tell me, who is the comp player for his ceiling? Legette I can say it's AJ Brown. McConkey I can't think of anyone with his skill set that became a truly elite WR. Maybe Stefon Diggs but if that's the ceiling it's not good enough. We need someone that has the potential to dominate in the playoffs.

[DCOrange]

17 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

I would like one of the McConkey fans to tell me, who is the comp player for his ceiling? Legette I can say it's AJ Brown. McConkey I can't think of anyone with his skill set that became a truly elite WR. Maybe Stefon Diggs but if that's the ceiling it's not good enough. We need someone that has the potential to dominate in the playoffs.

If a Diggs ceiling isn’t good enough for you, nothing will be. If Diggs as his ceiling is actually accurate, with where his floor probably is right now, he’d easily be WR4 in this class and maybe higher than that. 

[BIGFOOTspaceman]

4 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

I am all for McConkey over any one trick pony vertical threat at 28.   Go get the deep threat boundary guy in round 2, 4 or 5. 

Just saying, but DK Metcalf was also considered a "one trick pony" in regard to only being a vertical threat....I hope Beane is doing his due diligence on this receiver group and doesn't reach based on need.  

 

 

21 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

I would like one of the McConkey fans to tell me, who is the comp player for his ceiling? Legette I can say it's AJ Brown. McConkey I can't think of anyone with his skill set that became a truly elite WR. Maybe Stefon Diggs but if that's the ceiling it's not good enough. We need someone that has the potential to dominate in the playoffs.

McConkey's comp would be at best, Edelman/Welker....at worst, Beasley.

[HappyDays]

10 minutes ago, DCOrange said:

If a Diggs ceiling isn’t good enough for you, nothing will be. If Diggs as his ceiling is actually accurate, with where his floor probably is right now, he’d easily be WR4 in this class and maybe higher than that. 

 

I mean absolute ceiling. His best trait is route running so Diggs is probably his absolute ceiling. But my whole thing is I want a WR whose absolute ceiling is dominant WR1 in the playoffs, at least with our 1st round pick. In the 2nd sure take McConkey, that's the right value for him. If his absolute ceiling is a guy that can't beat physical coverage outside I really have no interest in that player in the 1st round. And I can't think of anyone with McConkey's skill set that fits the profile I'm looking for.

 

Edited April 23 by HappyDays

[DCOrange]

5 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

I mean absolute ceiling. His best trait is route running so Diggs is probably his absolute ceiling. But my whole thing is I want a WR whose absolute ceiling is dominant WR1 in the playoffs, at least with our 1st round pick. In the 2nd sure take McConkey, that's the right value for him. If his absolute ceiling is a guy that can't beat physical coverage outside I really have no interest in that player in the 1st round. And I can't think of anyone with McConkey's skill set that fits the profile I'm looking for.

 

I think Diggs was good enough to be great in the playoffs. He just didn’t play up to his normal level for one reason or another. I don’t expect McConkey to get to that level and certainly don’t expect him to be someone that beats press coverage consistently. But if we could get a Diggs level player at 28 I would take that in a heartbeat. I’d trade up into the top 10 if I had to.

 

I don’t really see that potential for Legette either but he is at least strong enough that he could be an X WR with time. 

[Royale with Cheese]

20 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

I would like one of the McConkey fans to tell me, who is the comp player for his ceiling? Legette I can say it's AJ Brown. McConkey I can't think of anyone with his skill set that became a truly elite WR. Maybe Stefon Diggs but if that's the ceiling it's not good enough. We need someone that has the potential to dominate in the playoffs.

 

I'm not sure player comparison is a good way to compare.  Especially since someone like Stefon Diggs was a late round pick so he had enough negatives to take him to day 3.  

Diggs has the most catches in NFL history by age 30.  He was an elite WR.

18 minutes ago, BIGFOOTspaceman said:

Just saying, but DK Metcalf was also considered a "one trick pony" in regard to only being a vertical threat....I hope Beane is doing his due diligence on this receiver group and doesn't reach based on need.  

 

 

McConkey's comp would be at best, Edelman/Welker....at worst, Beasley.

 

Edelman, Welker and Beasley are all under 6 foot, play strictly the slot and do not stretch the field.

 

McConkey is 6 foot and runs a 4.3 - 40.  

12 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

I mean absolute ceiling. His best trait is route running so Diggs is probably his absolute ceiling. But my whole thing is I want a WR whose absolute ceiling is dominant WR1 in the playoffs, at least with our 1st round pick. In the 2nd sure take McConkey, that's the right value for him. If his absolute ceiling is a guy that can't beat physical coverage outside I really have no interest in that player in the 1st round. And I can't think of anyone with McConkey's skill set that fits the profile I'm looking for.

 

 

You compared McConkey to Diggs and Diggs could beat physical coverage on the outside.  So why doesn't that profile fit what you're looking for?

[HappyDays]

6 minutes ago, DCOrange said:

I think Diggs was good enough to be great in the playoffs. He just didn’t play up to his normal level for one reason or another. I don’t expect McConkey to get to that level and certainly don’t expect him to be someone that beats press coverage consistently. But if we could get a Diggs level player at 28 I would take that in a heartbeat. I’d trade up into the top 10 if I had to.

 

Yeah if you told me for sure we are getting a Diggs caliber player in the 1st round of course that is a no brainer sprint to the podium pick. But obviously it's extremely unlikely he reaches that ceiling, and I'm just saying if you're already trying to bet on an unlikely projection you might as well bet on an unlikely projection that you know can dominate late into January and February. So for me the answer to the question is Legette without any hesitation.

 

But I'll admit the rumors about Legette's intelligence scare me a bit so my true answer might be "neither." It's hard if not impossible to make these decisions when we're missing at least 20% of the necessary information.

[HappyDays]

18 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

You compared McConkey to Diggs and Diggs could beat physical coverage on the outside.

 

He really couldn't though. When officials keep their flags in their pockets during the playoffs, he disappears. CBs get their hands on him and grab at him and he can't get off the coverage. The Bills have dipped into the well of small-ish shifty route runners way too many times and it just isn't working to get us over the hump. Allen has to stand on his head while juggling three rabbits just to sustain drives in the playoffs. Nobody steps up to make a play for him. I want someone that is going to step up and make a play.

 

Edited April 23 by HappyDays

[MrEpsYtown]

40 minutes ago, BIGFOOTspaceman said:

Just saying, but DK Metcalf was also considered a "one trick pony" in regard to only being a vertical threat....I hope Beane is doing his due diligence on this receiver group and doesn't reach based on need.  

 

 

McConkey's comp would be at best, Edelman/Welker....at worst, Beasley.

I’ve seen comps all over the place for him…Dyami Brown, Diontae Johnson, Jamison Crowder…Matt Miller says Tyler Boyd. 

 

This dude says he is Antonio Brown.

 

The comps are all over the place. 

[Royale with Cheese]

2 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

He really couldn't though. When officials keep their flags in their pockets during the playoffs, he disappears. CBs get their hands on him and grab at him and he can't get off the coverage. The Bills have dipped into the well of small-ish shifty route runners way too many times and it just isn't working. Allen has to stand on his head while juggling three rabbits just to sustain drives in the playoffs. Nobody steps up to make a play for him. I want someone that is going to step up and make a play.

 

You're being a bit hyperbolic.  

 

Cole Beasley didn't work?  Shakir isn't going to work?

 

If you want a legit comparison.  Marvin Harrison.  They are both 6'0 and 185 lbs and have the same arm length.  Harrison played in a time in which you could grab WR's more.  I don't think you would say Marvin Harrison Sr should have been a slot WR right?

 

[DCOrange]

3 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I’ve seen comps all over the place for him…Dyami Brown, Diontae Johnson, Jamison Crowder…Matt Miller says Tyler Boyd. 

 

This dude says he is Antonio Brown.

 

The comps are all over the place. 

I’ve seen multiple people compare him to Antonio Brown. I can see it in terms of how they move but Brown was a rare undersized guy that had great ball skills in contested situations. I don’t see that with Ladd unfortunately.  

Edited April 23 by DCOrange

[Brandon]

4 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

You're being a bit hyperbolic.  

 

Cole Beasley didn't work?  Shakir isn't going to work?

 

If you want a legit comparison.  Marvin Harrison.  They are both 6'0 and 185 lbs and have the same arm length.  Harrison played in a time in which you could grab WR's more.  I don't think you would say Marvin Harrison Sr should have been a slot WR right?

 

 

Marvin Harrison came to mind immediately,  as did Torry Holt.  Chris Olave,  Jordan Addison,  and Garrett Wilson are three recent guys with similar height, speed athleticism,  as well as the usual questions about press coverage. I don't think those comparisons to HOF players especially are fair to any of them and I don't like comparisons,  anyway.  They're not the same players.  

[Magox]

I would be thrilled with McConkey and happy with Legette.

 

McConkey has probably the best combination of footwork, route running and separation skills in the draft.   His knock is that he could have a tough time against physical, effective man covers but then again, who doesn't struggle against those kind of guys?  Diggs never was able to do much against them in the playoffs.

 

Where the Bills could use help is when teams do those 0 and 1 blitzes  and typically the DB's are slightly off the line of scrimmage and that is where Ladd is deadly.  He can make a quick move acting like he's going for a quick hit 7 - 10 yarder and then BANG, he fools the DB and beats him deep on a double type move.  I think if you have a good QB and a well-designed offense the guy will get tons of targets.

 

Legette is a lot more raw but his physical skill set is mouth watering.  He probably has the best combination of size, raw power, explosion and speed.  He could be used as a Deebo Samuel type and I think at a minimum he is that of a Curtis Samuel comp.  Could be used running the ball, special teams, bubble screens and deep outs early on in his career and you just hope that he could develop his route running.

[Chicken Boo]

We've got Curtis Samuel and Shakir already working the slot.  

 

What is this infatuation with McConkey?

[Orlando Buffalo]

I like Legette more of these two but I don't see why Keon Coleman is not being discussed as our Diggs replacement- he likes to fight for the ball and would round out the WR room nicely. 

[Brandon]

2 minutes ago, Orlando Tim said:

I like Legette more of these two but I don't see why Keon Coleman is not being discussed as our Diggs replacement- he likes to fight for the ball and would round out the WR room nicely. 

 

There are significant concerns about Coleman's speed and ability to gain separation on the outside in the NFL,  and that's been the biggest need on the Bills offense.  He probably fits best as a power slot guy,  but the Bills drafted Kincaid for that role last year.  

 

If they take a speed/separation guy at 28 and Coleman is there at 60,  I wouldn't be opposed to taking a chance on him.