Buffalo Bills Big Board for 1st Round of 2023 NFL Draft, 1.0
By Ryan Heckman
Time is winding down, and it’s getting close to crunch time as the 2023 NFL Draft approaches. The Buffalo Bills have a multitude of routes they could go on Day 1, but what’s the most likely scenario?
Recently, we saw a report come out that the Bills very well could trade up in the first round, which would make things a whole lot more interesting for the fans. But, the Bills do enter the draft with only six picks. So, they’d likely walk away than even less than that if they traded up.
In all reality, the best-case scenario for the Bills would be to stay at pick 27 and draft the best player available, giving them a full six swings over the weekend, even with a possibility of trading back at some point and acquiring more capital.
With the first round in mind, at pick no. 27, who is most likely to be sitting there for the Bills to draft? Moreover, what would their “Big Board” look like at that point? We try and predict, and profile, the top five options.
Buffalo Bills Big Board for 1st Round of 2023 NFL Draft, Number 5: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
First up, one of the better options the Bills could have at pick 27 is Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers. Some view him anywhere from the third-best to the fifth or sixth-best wide receiver in the draft behind the obvious Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jordan Addison. Even Quentin Johnston could be drafted ahead of Flowers, quite frankly.
If you ask me, he’s a solid no. 4 on the overall wide receiver rankings. He’s smaller than the top three guys, listed at 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds. But, his style is the type the Bills could use in the slot. He plays accelerated football at all times. He’s quick-footed and knows how to get open, which is perfect for the slot role.
The Bills offense needs a playmaker to take pressure off Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, and Gabe Davis doesn’t yet fit that role. With Flowers in the slot, even Davis would feel less pressure and the offense could open up more.