The 2024 NFL Draft is finally underway. There weren't many shockers early with quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jaylen Daniels, and Drake Maye going one, two, and three. The "Big 3" among the receivers went early as well, with Marvin Harrison Jr, Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze going between picks four and nine. A lot of Bills fans were hoping that Brandon Beane would pull off a massive trade into the top ten for one of those, but the cost was too much.
For the first time in NFL history, we had five quarterbacks go in the first ten picks, ending with six in the first 12. The Falcons taking Michael Penix Jr. was a surprise and the Minnesota Vikings executed a trade with the New York Jets and used that to select J.J. McCarthy. Another first happened with the first 14 picks on the offensive side of the ball. I think that indicates where the league has gone over recent years. Today's rules make it more and more difficult on the defenses, making offense the way to go.
With every non-wide receiver pick, the hope grew that Brian Thomas Jr. might fall into a range where the Bills could move up and add to their receiver room. Instead, the Bills traded back with the Chiefs, picking up a third-round selection. Buffalo moved back to the 32nd pick, only to trade back again with the Panthers. This time adding another fifth-round pick, while moving back to the 33rd pick. With the first round in the books, round two is brimming with potential stars who can make an impact right away. Let's look at some guys the Bills could target in round two.
In the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select.....
Ladd McConkey - Wide Receiver, Georgia
I'm going to continue standing on this hill until his name is called. The Bills own the 33rd and 60th picks in the second round and Ladd McConkey is a strong possibility. You could also make a case for Adonai Mitchell here. However, I like McConkey a great deal with the 33rd pick. He's one of the top route runners in this draft class and recorded an official 40-time of 4.39 at the NFL Combine. I think he would be an outstanding addition to the Bills receiver room. Beane talks all the time about versatility and McConkey is a player that can be moved all over the formation.