The Buffalo Bills made a lot of moves in the first round of the NFL draft, but didn’t end up with a new player.
They have the chance again early on Friday, where they could land a wide receiver predicted to leave in the first round.
Bills Have Chance to Give Josh Allen a New Target
Bills general manager Brandon Beane made three separate trades in the opening round, moving back into the top of the second round. That puts them in range for Washington receiver Denzel Boston, who was originally pegged as a first-round target for the Bills at their original pick, No. 26.
Fansided’s Iestyn Harris wrote before the draft that the “elite” Boston would be a top pick for the Bills.
“Denzel Boston may be the best WR in this draft that the Bills could actually get,” Harris wrote on Wednesday. “He offers the elite size and frame most teams hope for in a prospect, with some of the best hands in the draft. He’s a highly capable route runner and a fluid mover- A natural athlete and extreme competitor to the finish.
Harris noted that there are some downsides to Boston, but his ceiling is high and would have been great for the Bills even at their original first-round selection.
“His flaws reside in struggles to separate from coverage, even at the college level,” Harris wrote. “His speed maxes out far too early for an athlete of his size, though it’s unclear if the issue is technical or physical. Still, warts and all, Boston is a truly impressive prospect. If he’s still available at pick No. 26, the Bills cannot hesitate.”
Bills Add Draft Capital in Thursday Moves
The Bills made a series of moves that gave them new draft capital. The team first traded out of the No. 26 spot on Friday, sending their pick to the Houston Texans for the No. 28 pick along with third- and fifth-round picks.
The Bills then jumped back to No. 31, allowing the rival New England Patriots to move up in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Their final move was a jump out of the first round, giving them the No. 25 overall pick that belonged to the Tennessee Titans, along with a third-round pick (No. 66) and fourth-round pick (No. 101). The Bills sent their third-round pick (No. 69) and a fifth-round pick (No. 165) to the Titans.
The picks will give the Bills more opportunities to fill holes, especially on defense. The team cleaned house a bit as they shifted from head coach Sean McDermott’s defense to new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, who promised a more aggressive approach. They parted ways with edge rushers Joey Bosa and AJ Epenesa, while also parting ways with cornerback Dane Jackson and trading Taron Johnson.
The Bills are predicted to use early picks to boost their secondary and linebacking corps, while likely adding some depth in the secondary. The Bills also need more help on the interior offensive line, and some analysts believe they could use a late-round draft pick on a quarterback who could develop into a long-term backup for Allen.
Bills Could Steal ‘Elite’ WR After NFL Draft Trades