At this point, Bills Mafia is on the wide receiver train, fully expecting the Buffalo Bills to draft one in the first round and maybe second sometime afterward. Several mock drafts lately have Buffalo double-dipping in the first and second rounds for receivers to restock their shelves. I'm not against this idea but there are many other needs on the Bills roster, as they continue to build the team and get ready to kick off the 2024 NFL season in September.
I think the Bills draft two wide receivers, but I would be a little shocked if Brandon Beane goes back-to-back in the first two rounds. While I think this team will contend for the division title and yes, a Super Bowl, they have some work to do between now and September. The most likely scenario will be receiver in the first or second round, but another position in the other.
So, who in the later rounds might be an option? We've all heard throughout this entire process how deep this draft is at the receiver position. That is true into the mid-rounds too, and maybe there is another Khalil Shakir hidden gem in the fifth round. I have a few guys I like and think Buffalo could target in the fourth through seventh round. Buffalo needs to add some bodies in the receiving corps and let the cream of the crop rise to the top.
Malik Washington - Virginia
Malik Washington is only 5'8" and weighs 194 pounds but is incredibly quick and has good speed. At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.47, 40-time, and a 10-yard split time of 1.53 seconds. He also had an incredible vertical of 42.5 inches, impressive for a player who is only 5'8". He's projected as a slot receiver, but it also depends on offensive coordinator Joe Brady's vision for his offense. Does he see Khalil Shakir as a possible outside receiver? If so, the Bills might be looking for a new slot receiver.
We've talked about Khalil Shakir and how he will fit into this offense. If the Bills decide to try him on the outside, and depending who Buffalo drafts earlier, maybe Washington will find a spot on the Bills roster. That said, I don't think he's the option for Buffalo. I don't buy into the notion you need this or that type of receiver but at 5'8", he might be just a little too small for what the Bills could be looking for.
Cornelius Johnson - Michigan
Cornelius Washington is the bigger, more physical receiver that many fans want and believe the Bills are missing. He is 6'3" and weighs 212 pounds, but as I've said before, I don't care how tall or short a receiver is. I want guys who are excellent route runners and catch the ball when they are targeted. I understand in the red zone the height can be an advantage, but Buffalo has a few tall guys on the roster, that can fill that need.
I'm not referring to Justin Shorter either. Maybe he can be that guy, but he hasn't done much to convince me he is or isn't. However, Johnson has the size, but he also brings good speed with a 4.44, 40-time. He lacked production, producing only 47 receptions on 66 targets, 604 yards, but only one touchdown. That size didn't seem to help him in the red zone like you might think. The offensive scheme in Michigan (run-oriented), certainly could have played into some of the lack of production.
Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint - Georgia
Rosemy-Jacksaint is 6'2" and weighs 195 pounds. He played the majority of his snaps on the outside and recorded 34 receptions, 535 yards, and four touchdowns for the Bulldogs. He provides that size some covet, but he isn't expected to be more than a depth piece; however, he does have excellent special teams experience and could find a role there.
the problem with that is the Bills don't need special teamers. Rosemy-Jacksaint doesn't have blazing speed and struggles with routes, getting in and out of breaks. The scouting reports aren't glowing with high upside. He has learned better ball skills and greatly improved his contested catch rate. He has learned to use his size and length better to get those tough catches, but he lacks the speed and athleticism to challenge defensive backs.
Tahj Washington - USC
Washington is another one of the smaller receivers at 5'10" and weighs 174 pounds. Again, it depends on what type of receiver the Bills are looking for. Do they feel they need more size or just keep adding speed? Washington is a good blocker too, even with his smaller stature, and an excellent return man. Lance Zierlein (NFL Analyst) said, "has some real dog in him on coverage teams". I love to see these types of comments, as I love hard-working, high-motor guys, who go hard every play.
In 2023, Washington had over 1,000 yards receiving on 59 receptions and eight touchdowns. He had an impressive yards-per-catch average of 18. According to Pro Football Focus, he was charged with only one drop all season and was targeted 74 times. He was 15th in the country with 13 deep catches and sixth in deep yards. However, he played primarily from the slot but recorded 984 yards from the position, which ranked seventh in the nation.
Luke McCaffrey - Rice
Luke McCaffrey could be available as late as the sixth round but could also go late in the fifth. He is 6'2" and weighs 195 pounds, so he has the size that Buffalo might be looking for. He also recorded a 40-time of 4.46 at the NFL Combine and a solid 10-yard split time of 1.52. Next Gen Stats gave him an athleticism score of 83, which ranked him 12th among all receivers at the combine. According to Pro Football Focus, he had only three drops in 2023 on 120 targets.
He finished 2023 with 71 receptions, 992 yards, and an incredible 13 touchdowns. He had a solid 14 yards per reception. He played 356 snaps out of the slot, but he also played the boundary receiver on 139 snaps, showing the versatility to play anywhere. Also, you can't argue with the bloodlines. His older brother might be the best running back in the NFL and their dad was a terrific receiver for the Broncos back in the day, winning three Super Bowls, one with the 49ers and two with the Broncos. With these bloodlines, you take the shot late in the draft for this kid. He's one that I'm hoping the Bills call during the draft.