Kiper Mock Draft: Buffalo Bills Land Successor to Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer

The Buffalo Bills find Josh Allen's new top target and a versatile safety in Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft.

Bills safety Micah Hyde congratulates teammate Jordan Poyer after a defensive stand / JAMIE GERMANO/ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND

The Buffalo Bills landing a receiver early in the 2024 NFL Draft feels like all but a guarantee, but how aggressive are they willing to be in landing Josh Allen his potential No. 1 target for years to come?

While it wouldn't shock anyone if Bills general manager Brandon Beane trades up for a receiver, in Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft, he was able to stand pat and land one of the best receivers in the draft, as they took LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. with the No. 28 overall pick in the first round.

Oct 21, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (11). / Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

"In this scenario, though, a talented wideout could fall into the Bills' lap," Kiper Jr. writes. "Thomas was an incredible vertical threat for Jayden Daniels last season, leading the country in touchdown catches with 17, 10 of which came on go routes or fades. He ran a stellar 4.33-second 40 at the combine. He could be a legit No. 1 WR, which quarterback Josh Allen now needs."

In the second round of Kiper Jr.'s mock draft, Buffalo took Utah safety Cole Bishop. The Bills will need to add talent to the secondary after the losses of Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Tre'Davious White and Dane Jackson.

Landing Thomas Jr. at No. 28 would be nothing short of a steal for the Bills. The 6-3, 209-pound receiver caught 68 passes for 1,177 yards and an FBS-leading 17 touchdowns. He also dazzled at the NFL Scouting Combine by running a 4.33 40-yard dash.

Many wouldn't bat an eye if Thomas Jr. went inside the top 20 and odds are if the Bills is going to draft him, they'll have to trade up. Regardless of what it could realistically take to draft Thomas Jr., getting a receiver of his caliber would go a long way toward keeping Allen happy and ensuring Buffalo will stay competitive in a crowded AFC.

Bishop, who made the second-team All-Pac 12 last season, did it all for a Utah defense that's consistently one of the better units in college football. He had 60 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss, three sacks and two interceptions.

Poyer was cut and signed with the Miami Dolphins earlier this offseason, while Hyde remains a free agent. Between the two of them, they combined for 38 interceptions in their seven seasons in Buffalo.

While expecting Bishop to replicate the production of either player as a rookie would be far-fetched, he can be a building block and immediate contributor at a position that has consistently been a strength for Buffalo.

"Bishop has some versatility -- he even played some off-ball linebacker for the Utes -- and he's a great blitzer," Kiper Jr. writes. "He had 7.5 career sacks and had 25 presses over the past two seasons, one of the best marks in the FBS for a defensive back."