Hypothetical: What if the Buffalo Bills actually traded for Antonio Brown?

The rest of the draft

The second round, with Andre Dillard on-board, looks vastly different. Dillard is widely considered as a pro-ready tackle that can play both right and left side; therefore, there isn’t as much need for Cody Ford. The Bills don’t trade up for him and stay at No. 40.

With the Bills not selecting Ford, the draft order remains the same — another team would’ve likely made a move to get him, so we are sticking with the same prospects available as there was at No. 40. So what does Buffalo do now?

Considering that the Bills drafted a running back in the third-round, they do the same a bit earlier. It’s a major team-need — at this hypothetical point of time — and there are some talented prospects on the board. Save for Josh Jacobs, every running back is still available for the Bills’ picking; therefore, they select David Montgomery — who was chosen a pick before Devin Singletary in the real draft.

With Montgomery, the Bills get a true work-horse back that can start day-one or wait until 2020 when the backfield starting spot is his to lose. This continues to shake up the draft, as now at No. 74 the Bills don’t select a running back. Instead, let’s add some youth to their edge rush and pluck the high-energy Chase Winovich from the New England Patriots.

As for pick No. 96, it remains the same; the Bills again trade up to select tight end Dawson Knox; a smart move and gamble on pristine athleticism. The fourth round, because of the trade up to get Knox has no picks in-store for the Bills. The fifth-round is where it changes a bit. However, with No. 147, they still take linebacker Vosean Joseph to shore up depth at the position.

Remember, in this scenario the Bills didn’t trade up to get Ford in the second — which cost them pick No. 158. Now they have that pick, so the team adds wide receiver KeeSean Johnson, an uber-productive prospect hailing from Fresno State. The player adds depth and promise to the receiving group.

Now, for the last three selections: Nos 181, 225, and 228. All, upset for No. 225 is the same. The Bills again select safety Jaquan Johnson at No. 181 — still excellent value — and tight end Tommy Sweeney at No. 228. However, No. 225 is different; instead of defensive end Darryl Johnson, the Bills go another route, as they had already selected Winovich in the third.

Rather than double-dipping at defensive end with Johnson, let’s give the Bills a hint of the interior presence they originally drafted in the first. Defensive tackle Dontavious Russell is still available, so the Bills take a big run-stuffer that most figure would’ve been gone by now. And that’s it. A completely different draft.