The Bills no longer have a first-round pick, and maybe ESPN’s Todd McShay really likes sending out Buffalo Bills predictions? While we don’t know that answer for sure, what’s certain is that McShay released his first two-round mock draft of the offseason on Tuesday.
Since the Bills lost their first rounder in their trade for Stefon Diggs, Buffalo needed that second pick to appear in McShay’s latest mock draft released on Tuesday. And speaking of Diggs, McShay still has a wide receiver going to the Bills at pick No. 54 in the second round.
The selection in Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool. Here’s how McShay breaks the pick down:
54. Buffalo Bills
Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
Claypool brings size to a wide receiver group already flush with downfield threats in Stefon Diggs and John Brown. Now Josh Allen has a tall target to find in the red zone, too. Claypool has the hands and strength to make contested catches look easy.
Despite adding Diggs to the likes of John Brown and Cole Beasley, the Bills didn’t add something with that acquestion: Size. Diggs can certainly make contested catches as he’s one of the best in the NFL at doing so, but you can’t teach size, and Claypool is a 6-foot-4, bid-bodied target that could appeal to the Bills.
Another reason the Bills could still go receiver with their top pick is a lack of depth at the position, espeically in regard to bigger targes, and simply youth. Diggs is 26 and has three years left on his current contract, he could also stick around longer. But Brown, 29, and Beasley, 30, are closer to the ends of their careers.
Adding Claypool behind those three would provide the Bills a youthful prospect in their wideout room for the first time since Zay Jones, except unlike Jones, Claypool wouldn’t have early pressures to produce in his career behind such a formidable trio.
Claypool had 13 touchdownns in 13 games played last season. In total, he had 66 catches for 1,037 yards. He’s also not afraid to use his size, as Pro Football Focus says Claypool forced 14 missed tackles last season and had a 124.9 overall passer rating when targeted.
Notre Dame WR Chase Claypool with a strong win at the line of scrimmage during team period pic.twitter.com/SotBCCOwdM
— Brad Kelly (@BradKelly17) January 21, 2020
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