The Buffalo Bills’ free agent period has been relatively calm, compared to many other teams, especially one of their own division rivals.
Buffalo will likely have to deal with Aaron Rodgers in New York, now, but the Bills have yet to make a gigantic splash in free agency themselves.
Instead, it’s been a lot of in-house moves in order to get under the salary cap and be able to re-sign someone like Jordan Poyer.
Brandon Beane is more likely gearing up for a more impactful draft haul than he is a free agent haul, simply due to financial constraints. In our latest mock draft, Beane goes all-in on giving his quarterback, Josh Allen, everything he could possibly need going into the 2023 season.
After trading out of the first round, the Buffalo Bills start building more around Josh Allen
In the late first round, the Bills make a move to trade their no. 27 pick to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for moving back to pick 36 and netting pick 77 overall.
With that high second rounder, the Bills grab a potential second fiddle to Stefon Diggs when they draft North Carolina’s Josh Downs.
Standing just 5-foot-9, Downs is an undersized slot producer. He is one of the most dynamic offensive players in the 2023 NFL Draft, and offers the Bills a lot to like.
Downs’ footwork is electrically fast. He is able to get in and out of breaks in a hurry, winding up open more often than not. He has short and long speed, allowing his quarterback to use him as a deep threat at times, too.
This is a player who was ultra-productive at North Carolina and is used to making plays, game-in and game-out. Next to Stefon Diggs, Downs should find immediate success as a very versatile player. From there, Gabriel Davis has less pressure on him as well. It’s a win-win all around.