Every NFL team could use more playmakers. Who wouldn’t want more?
Sometimes it’s hard to decide between adding a new one on offense or defense, though.
In The Athletic‘s recent two-round mock draft, the Bills decide to grab one on both sides of the ball, offense and defense, with their first two picks.
The Bills land Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins with the No. 22 overall pick in the first round then jump over to defense and select Damon Arnette, the Ohio State cornerback, with the No. 54 overall pick in the second round.
Here’s how Dane Brugler breaks down the Higgins pick:
22. Buffalo Bills — Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
While there is pass-catching talent on the Bills, their top three wide receivers in 2019 were all under 5-foot-10 (John Brown, Cole Beasley, Isaiah McKenzie). Giving quarterback Josh Allen a tall, rangy target with a tremendous catch radius like Higgins should only help his development as a passer.
Along with the Bills perhaps needing height, there’s two other, much more simple reasons, the Bills could use Higgins. From top-to-bottom, Buffalo lacks depth in their receiver room. Brown and Beasley had positive seasons, but even McKenzie didn’t have a super profitable season, although he is versatile.
Additionally, how about just some youth? Brown and Beasley are multi-season vets and Buffalo could stand to use a potential No. 1 receiver to groom while that top-duo still has plenty left in the tank.
In Arnette, the Bills, in this scenario, might just being going after the “best player” left on their board. That’s something Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane has consistently said he likes to put himself in a position to do at NFL drafts.
If Arnette is the pick, he’ll add a lengthy cornerback presence across from Tre’Davious White, standing at six-feet tall. Arnette is also a senior, something coveted by the Bills.
However, it must be mentioned that current No. 2 cornerback Levi Wallace is an exclusive-right free agent, meaning the Bills will bring him back at the league-minimum price tag. Wallace can decline that offer from the Bills, but he’ll have to sit out the entire 20202 season if he does.
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