Following the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, ESPN NFL Draft guru Todd McShay has changed his mind on the Buffalo Bills, sort of.
During the combine, he said the Bills should address their offense.
“They’ve got to get more consistent now in the passing game. I think they’ve got to get some depth and future, if you will, in the running back position, wide receiver, and playmakers on the offensive side, to go along with Josh Allen and that big arm,” McShay said.
Prior to the workouts, he pegged a running back to the Bills, Georgia’s D’Andre Swift at pick No. 22. In McShay’s post-combine mock draft, the Bills stay on offense, but this time the pick is Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins.
Here’s how McShay explains it:
Let’s find Josh Allen a receiver to pair with John Brown. I thought about Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State), but his game is very similar to Brown’s. What the Bills want instead is a big, strong receiver who can make tough contested catches and create matchup problems in the red zone. Enter Higgins, with his 6-4, 216-pound frame. He will come down with any ball thrown his way and then make defenders miss with his strength. The Bills also will be looking for offensive linemen, but the value isn’t right at No. 22. And while they could also use a running back to pair with Devin Singletary, that’s a position that can be addressed on Day 2.
At the combine, Higgins interviewed with reporters but decided not to partake in workouts. That’s not surprising as many top prospects decided to do that in an effort to not hurt their draft stock. Higgins is likely a mid-to-late first-round pick at the 2020 draft, which is right in the Bills’ wheelhouse. Higgins cited his extended season with Clemson playing for the national title as a reason why he sat out, too.
Amongst Bills observers, Higgins’ size is exactly what makes him an intriguing prospect. Although he didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the combine, he said his goal was to run a 4.4-second time in it. He might do so at Clemson’s pro day.
In McShay’s mock draft, Higgins is the fifth wideout selected in the draft. Among those who are selected before him is LSU’s Justin Jefferson. Jefferson is another bigger receiver prospect and the Eagles select him at pick No. 21, right before Buffalo’s selection. Unlike Higgins, Jefferson did opt to take part in some of the combine’s event and his stock soared after he posted a 4.43 40-yard time.
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