The Buffalo Bills’ offense, as helmed by offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, is built around finding a defense’s weaknesses and exploiting that weakness with a variety of players. Wide receivers John Brown and Cole Beasley are able to attack the deep and short areas of the field respectively, but what the team currently lacks is a wide receiver who can make his hay in the middle areas of the field and in the red zone. The front office attempted to remedy the situation by signing former Edmonton Eskimos CFL receiver Duke Williams in the offseason but, despite some positive flashes throughout the season, he didn’t seem to endear himself to the coaching staff for long stretches.
Due to the obvious need at the position, most analysts have already pegged the Bills as pursuing a wideout in the draft. That is also helped by the fact that the 2020 draft is known for the pure depth and quality at the position. Below are just some of prospects the team is likely to be interested in.
Tier I
CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)
Tee Higgins (Clemson)
Laviska Shenault Jr. (Colorado)
Although not necessarily the biggest guy in the grouping at 6’2”, Lamb is the most physical wide receiver in the draft with the ball in his hands and in the open field. Higgins made circus catches look routine at the college level, and he looks to have just enough speed to get by in the pros. Thanks to his limited route tree, many draft analysts compare Shenault to a souped up Cordarrelle Patterson. Teams should be wary of his injury history, however.
Tier II
Michael Pittman Jr. (USC)
Donovan Peoples-Jones (Michigan)
Gabriel Davis (UCF)
Pittman’s overwhelming size (6’5”) is his biggest weapon and he proved it over and over again in contested situations during his senior season at USC. Underutilized in college, there’s reason to think Peoples-Jones could rise up this list and into the first round with a strong combine and pro day workout. Questions remain about Davis’s timed speed, but you can’t question his production in college as virtually the sole threat in UCF’s offense.
Tier III
Denzel Mims (Baylor)
Bryan Edwards (South Carolina)
Chase Claypool (Notre Dame)
Mims has ridden a strong Senior Bowl into relevance, and it’s all thanks to the physicality he displayed in Mobile, out-muscling defensive backs in and out of his breaks. Bryan Edwards isn’t the most agile of his peers, but his short-area quickness and straight-line speed are both really impressive for such a big receiver. Claypool wasn’t running the full route tree at Notre Dame and isn’t the quickest player, but he did flash strong hands and the box-out ability you want in a possession receiver.