Could Buffalo Bills Make Julio Jones-Like Draft Trade For Marvin Harrison Jr.?

In 2011, the Atlanta Falcons went all in to trade up 21 spots to trade for receiver Julio Jones. Could the Buffalo Bills make a similar offer for Marvin Harrison Jr.?

Nov 25, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18). / Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

How aggressive the Buffalo Bills choose to be in the 2024 NFL Draft could make or break next season for them.

Do they stand pat and prioritize drafting a receiver early while using the rest of their 10 draft picks to address their other needs? Or does Buffalo push all of its chips to the middle of the table to land a No. 1 receiver for Josh Allen for years to come?

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State / Brooke LaValley / USA TODAY NETWORK

On X, Pro Football Focus' lead NFL analyst Sam Monson proposed the Bills making an offer similar to what the Atlanta Falcons did in 2011 when they traded up 21 spots with the Cleveland Browns to draft Julio Jones. In this scenario, the Bills would be trading up 23 spots with the Los Angeles Chargers to draft Harrison Jr.

Atlanta traded its first, second and fourth-round picks in 2011 and its first and fourth-round picks in 2012 to Cleveland. In Monson's proposed trade, he had Buffalo trading its first and fifth-round picks in 2024 and first, third and fourth-round picks in 2025 to the Chargers.

A trade that doesn't involve the Bills' second-round pick in 2024 to move up over 20 spots could be viewed as a win for them. Giving up three picks in 2025 isn't as costly since Buffalo has two second-round picks that year after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans.

Harrison Jr., who is the son of Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, proved to be the goods and then some in his final two seasons at Ohio State. Harrison Jr. was a two-time All-American and the 2023 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Between 2022 and 2023, he caught 144 passes for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Harrison Jr.'s play in 2023 earned him the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the best receiver in the nation. He won the award over fellow potential top-10 picks Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze.

If Buffalo feels it is a No. 1 receiver away from still fielding an offense that can compete with the best of the best in the NFL, making a trade similar to the one Atlanta made to draft Jones and Monson proposed for Harrison Jr. should be on the table for general manager Brandon Beane, who hasn't hesitated to trade up before in the first round. That same aggressive nature in landing a No. 1 receiver to replace Diggs may decide his and the Bills' fate next season.