Buffalo Bills Draft: Explosive playmakers to target on Day 2

On Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, we saw the Buffalo Bills do exactly what Brandon Beane had talked about doing for a while now.

The team traded up, albeit just a couple of picks, in order to steal Dalton Kincaid at pick 25. The Utah tight end was a top-10 prospect on many experts’ boards, but somehow fell to the end of the first round and Beane couldn’t pass up the opportunity to land him.

Buffalo will be running a lot more two-tight-end sets now, after picking Kincaid, which is something they attempted to do last year but didn’t always do it well.

With Kincaid in the fold, Josh Allen gets another weapon added to one of the league’s best offenses. But, why stop there? Beane could target one of these explosive playmakers on Day 2, making this offense even more lethal than ever.

Explosive playmakers for the Buffalo Bills to target on Day 2: Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane

The Bills signed Damien Harris and still have James Cook, of course, to go along with special teams and third down ace Nyheim Hines. But, you cannot have enough playmakers, and the injury history with Harris is concerning.

If the Bills want another playmaker and some running back insurance (if you could even call it that), they could target a guy like Tyjae Spears in Round 3.

The Tulane product is one of the better pass-catching running backs in the draft and possesses high level burst. He improved his stock over the last couple of months, especially during the Senior Bowl.

Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing in at 201 pounds, Spears has enough size and strength to shed tacklers. But, that burst helps him win after the catch. Speaking of catch, his ball skills are top notch.

Explosive playmakers for the Buffalo Bills to target on Day 2: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee

We have talked extensively about this kid, and if the Bills somehow ended up with him, Buffalo would be in excellent position going forward. Their offense could wind up being the best in the league. After adding Kincaid in Round 1, getting a guy like Jalin Hyatt would feel like a dream.

It would also mean Hyatt falls a bit, or the Bills trade up for him. He stands six feet tall, runs a 4.4 40-yard dash and boasts a 40-inch vertical to go with an 11-foot-3 broad jump. In short, he is a stud athlete.

Hyatt would give the Bills three formidable options at wide receiver, and could very likely supplant Gabe Davis as the no. 2 option as a rookie.

One thing to be careful of with Hyatt is to overlook his 40-yard dash time. 4.4 is a great time, but when he’s on the field, he’s even faster. He is able to operate so smoothly to fly by corners and safeties that, once they realize just how fast he’s accelerating, it’s too late.

It’s one thing to have speed, but Hyatt has elite acceleration. Once he’s hit that top gear (and he hits it quickly), he’s gone.

Explosive playmakers for the Buffalo Bills to target on Day 2: Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M

If the Bills decide to go running back, and Devon Achane is still on the board for them, he’d be a great pick. Spears is also a fantastic choice, but if Buffalo had the choice, Achane might end up being the better overall player.

He stands only 5-foot-9, but his lack of size isn’t a negative. In fact, it’s because he is a bit smaller that his speed and elusiveness come into play more and more. Achane is one of the shiftier players in this class, and he pairs those quick feet with an outstanding 40-yard dash time of 4.32 seconds.

This guy isn’t just fast, he’s football fast. He has speed and knows how to use it with the football in his hands.

The rarity, here, is the fact that Achane is fearless between the tackles. You would think, with someone his size, he’d be only a third down type or maybe a great option to run routes. However, he brings a true running back mentality to the table. He’s very well-rounded, despite his lack of size.

Explosive playmakers for the Buffalo Bills to target on Day 2: Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma

Finally, if the Bills cannot get their hands on a guy like Jalin Hyatt, then Marvin Mims is another one to keep an eye on. The Oklahoma product is similar in that he is excellent after the catch and can get behind the defense in a hurry.

The 5-foot-11 Mims ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the Combine, proving his electricity. But, he plays even faster than that at times. With the ball in his hands, he takes on a different type of “fast.”

Mims can run smooth routes, but at the same time, you’ll see him burn right past defensive backs when it looks like he’s running in slow motion. He has that natural, smooth quickness about him. Because of these traits, he was able to average 19.5 yards per reception over his collegiate career.

Not only is he quick, but Mims also adjusts well to deep balls. It’s one thing to be fast, but another thing to be a great deep threat, and Mims brings both the speed and the intelligence aspect to those big plays. He does a really nice job finding the ball while continuing to run.

Lastly, Mims is phenomenal after the catch. He’s shifty and fights for first downs. Pairing he, Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis gives this offense three legitimate options in the wide receiver room for Josh Allen.