Buffalo Bills Trade Down in NFL Draft a Possibility - Report

The Buffalo Bills must find an ample replacement for receiver Stefon Diggs. But must they be aggressive in doing so?

Feb 28, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane. / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bills have officially ended the Stefon Diggs era. After four seasons, with four consecutive playoff appearances and as many seasons with at least 100 catches, 1,100 yards, and eight touchdowns, the Bills need a high-level target.

Unsurprisingly, attention has turned to the NFL Draft. The class is stocked with talent at the position, from the top 10 to the back end of the first round, and viable starters are projected to fall through the cracks throughout Day 2, as well.

Thus, Buffalo has a decision to make. If acquiring a receiver is the team’s top priority, they could stay put at No. 28, sacrifice future capital for a blue-chip prospect, or hope to play its cards right, trade down, and take whichever top receiving prospect remains.

Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Keon Coleman (4) catches a pass from Florida State Seminoles / Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA

Those first two options – picking 28th of trading for a star – have generated the most hype, but leveraging the class’ depth may be the Bills’ best shot at fixing the rest of the roster’s holes while adding perimeter talent.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid reported that trading down may be an underlooked possibility as the draft approaches.

“Even before the Diggs trade, there has been some expectation that the Bills will be aggressive in trying to move up for a wide receiver on Day 1 – but I’m actually hearing the opposite,” Reid said. “The Bills might ultimately be content with letting the draft play out and addressing the position at No. 28 – or even possibly trading back.

“If things go that way, Keon Coleman (Florida State) and Xavier Legette (South Carolina) are worth watching. Buffalo lacks a true boundary X receiver, and both would provide value in that role as strong, physical pass-catchers.”

Both prospects resemble receiver Gabe Davis – who departed for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency – than Diggs, so Buffalo may be in line to funnel more targets downfield and along the boundary.

Coleman struggled during his 40-yard dash, recording an abysmal 4.64-second, but that shouldn’t scare Bills Mafia. He excelled virtually everywhere else that measures his acceleration, and his speed during the gauntlet drill, where receivers are forced to run in a straight line while catching passes to their left and right, was among the fastest at the NFL Combine.

Legette is a little smaller, 6-foot-1 instead of 6-foot-3, but his 4.47-second 40 time clears’ Colemans, and they offer similar impacts at the next level. Beyond being legitimate threats downfield, both are better underneath and intermediate receivers than Davis.

While there’s no guarantee of either falling, trading back and recouping additional resources for the defense has some merit. With seemingly a dozen receivers projected in or near the first round, somebody will be available for the Bills early in the second round. Pulling the trigger makes sense if they’re confident in the caliber of prospects available.