ESPN NFL insider Field Yates predicts a wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills during the 2024 NFL draft at these early stages of the offseason.
Free agency changes a team’s situation for the draft, but in most cases so far, many predict something similar to unfold for the Bills at the event.
So who is the prospect this time? In ESPN’s prediction, it’s LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. to Buffalo at No. 28 overall.
In any scenario the Bills select a wideout, Gabe Davis has likely signed elsewhere during free agency. Considering his goodbye message to Buffalo before he even hits the open market? Davis seems likely to depart.
And Thomas could be the exact type of player to replace him.
Davis is a big-body target, as is Thomas. But Davis never really rounded out his game. Thomas, a 6-foot-4 receiver, had an impressive breakout 2023 at LSU with 68 catches for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns.
But according to The Draft Network, he might profile similar to Davis. His deep-ball ability is praised but his route tree is not. However, Thomas is raw, could the Bills see a player they can help improve?
Yates’ Thomas to Buffalo’s analysis, and highlights of Thomas, can be found below:
No player scored more receiving touchdowns in 2023 than Thomas (17), and his deep speed and acceleration might be unparalleled in this class. The Bills have relied on Gabe Davis as a deep threat in recent seasons, but he is a free agent and has been an up-and-down contributor (nine games last season with two or fewer catches). Thomas would provide a vertical spark for Josh Allen and a Buffalo offense that did not produce a single play of 20-plus yards in its divisional round loss to Kansas City.