Could Buffalo Bills Follow Green Bay Packers Model For Drafting WRs?

The Green Bay Packers have been one of the NFL's best at drafting receivers outside of the first round and developing them into quality players. Could the Buffalo Bills do the same?

Dec 3, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) / Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and that may be the Buffalo Bills' best path toward solving their issues at receiver.

While many have pegged the Bills as a team that will draft a receiver in the first round and could even trade up to land one, there are other ways they can fix their receiver issue. No team of late has proven you can build a solid room of receivers without taking one in the first round better than the Green Packers.

The Packers have taken four receivers in their last two drafts; Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks. They also took tight end Luke Musgrave in the second round of the 2023 Draft. Green Bay's quartet of receivers led the team in receiving yards, while Reed, Doubs, Wicks and Musgrave led the team in catches. All five players are 24 years old or younger.

Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

With the Packers' recent track record of success in drafting and developing receivers, Pro Football Focus thinks their model could be the Bills' best path in adding to their receiver room.

"The Packers hit on most of those selections judging by their debut seasons, but even if they had hit on one, and he had been anything other than the top pick, it shows the value in hedging when you need immediate impact," PFF writes. "The Bills have 10 draft picks and an acute need at receiver. They could do worse than spending three of them on wideouts, as well as shopping in the priority-free agent group."

Reed, who was a 2023 second-round pick, led Green Bay with 64 catches for 793 yards and was tied for first in touchdowns with eight. Doubs, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, caught 59 passes for 674 yards and four touchdowns.

Wicks was taken in the fifth round in 2023 and caught 39 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns. Watson, who was taken in the second round of the 2022 draft, caught 28 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns in nine games.

Buffalo hasn't taken multiple receivers in a single draft since 2020 when they drafted Gabe Davis in the fourth round and Isaiah Hodgins in the sixth round. If there was ever a year break that streak, this is the one to do it.

Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel have proven to be solid receivers, but the Bills can't enter next season with them as Josh Allen's top options at receiver. Even if Buffalo does take a receiver in the first round, that shouldn't be the lone addition it makes at the position.

Green Bay has proven taking multiple receivers in multiple drafts can pay off if you hit on the picks. The Bills would be remiss not to consider following a similar strategy in this year's draft.