NFL Mock Draft: Bills Land Pair of Texas Prospects

The pipeline from the Texas Longhorns to the NFL led to two of their top prospects landing with the Buffalo Bills in ESPN's latest mock draft.

If there's a college to draft two players from in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills could do much worse than one that made the College Football Playoff last season. 

In ESPN's latest two-round mock draft, they had the Bills landing two players from the Texas Longhorns, as they drafted receiver Adonai Mitchell in the first round and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat. With Mitchell, Buffalo would land someone who could step into the void Gabe Davis would leave if he signs elsewhere in free agency.

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"Gabe Davis is set to become a free agent, and the Bills are in need of an upgrade at WR2 behind Stefon Diggs," ESPN writes. "At 6-2 and 205 pounds, Mitchell is a lanky, long-striding receiver with strong hands and plenty of vertical speed -- he ran a 4.34 in the 40 and displayed explosiveness with a 39.5-inch vertical jump. Adding a wideout who can win in multiple ways would take a lot of pressure off Diggs and give QB Josh Allen a downfield threat. The arrow is pointing up on Mitchell, and he would be a steal here for Buffalo."  

Mitchell lit up the NFL Scouting Combine, measuring 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds. He also ran a 4.34 40-yard dash and graded as a 91 in his athleticism score, which was the fourth-best among receivers at the combine. His prospect grade was a 6.37, which projects him to be a plus starter. 

In his junior season at Texas, Mitchell had 55 catches for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns. His play landed him on the All-Big 12 second team by the conference and AP. He was also named the Big 12's Newcomer of the Year, as he previously played at Georgia before transferring to Texas before last season. 

Sweat, who measured in at 6-foot-4.5 and 366 pounds at the combine, played five seasons at Texas. He saved his best for last, as he had a career-best two sacks and eight tackles for loss. His play led to him being named a unanimous All-American in 2023 and winning the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Sweat was graded as a 6.40, which projects him to be a solid starter within two years. 

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Receiver and defensive tackle are two of the Bills' biggest needs. In Mitchell, Buffalo would get the weapon it needs to add opposite Stefon Diggs for Josh Allen if it wants to continue to compete with the elite of the elite in the AFC. He could also become the No. 1 option for Allen once Diggs declines or goes elsewhere. 

With Sweat, Buffalo would get a bully in the middle of its defense who can help it step up in the playoffs and form a nasty duo with him and Ed Oliver.

With the Bills' needs and cap space situation heading into free agency, they need to replenish the roster with young talent. In Mitchell and Sweat, they could get immediate impact players who can add some necessary juice during their playoff push next season.