The NFL Draft is one of those moments in the calendar that a lot of fans look forward to, especially since the season had ended two months prior. Free agency is of course a whirlwind as tons of moves happen with free agents, but the draft is where the future enters the league.
As it stands right now, the Buffalo Bills will kick off their draft process at No. 26 overall. We see trades happen all the time, whether it’s for draft picks or for even players as well. In 2020, the Bills traded their 1st-round pick along with a ton of extra draft capital to acquire Stefon Diggs, who was a rising No. 1 receiver in the league.
Buffalo has 7 draft selections right now, which includes two in the 7th round. Brandon Beane has faced a ton of criticism the last couple of years with his draft strategy, but he has delivered some great players in the later rounds.
That would make fans think of the idea of why not just shipping the team's 1st rounder if it means getting a proven playmaker now. However, draft picks can be very valuable so if a team is looking to trade one, it's got to be for the right return.
NFL mock draft has Bills trading 1st-round pick for A.J. Brown (but that should not happen)
Lou Scataglia from NFL Spin Zone put together a mock draft that included blockbuster trades, which includes the Bills trading No. 26 overall for A.J. Brown.
"Buffalo’s lack of overall consistent weaponry was a huge reason why this team again fell short of making it to the Super Bowl. It was a huge issue, and if AJ Brown got to play for the Bills for the 2025 playoffs, Buffalo is likely playing for a Super Bowl."Lou Scataglia, NFL Spin Zone
While Brown has reached over 1,000 yards since being traded to the Eagles, he is not the same dominant force that he once was. After an 11 touchdown season in 2022, Brown hasn’t had over 7 touchdowns in a season in Philly. Not to mention, there has been tension in the Eagles’ building that has involved Brown when it came to how the offense was producing at one point.
The Eagles gave up a first round pick in 2022 to acquire Brown, and he was worth it then no question. However, the Bills would be wise to not give up their first rounder for Brown, especially considering the fact that his cap number will be north of $20 million, per Over The Cap.
Now, if the Bills were to trade for Brown and still have the No. 26 pick, then that would be more than great for the team. However, it’s not worth sending a cheap rookie contract setup for a veteran that is starting to slowly approach the backend of his career.