After 4 seasons rife with playoff heartbreak and drama, the Buffalo Payments are lastly parting methods with star extensive receiver Stefon Diggs. On Wednesday, the Payments traded the four-time Professional Bowler and two draft decisions to the Houston Texans in alternate for a 2025 second-round choose.
Contemplating Diggs’ decline in manufacturing through the second half of final season and Gabe Davis’ departure in free company, Buffalo was doubtless already going to deal with the extensive receiver place early on this month’s draft. Nevertheless, now that the necessity has intensified, it will be intriguing to see whether or not GM Brandon Beane modifications his strategy to addressing the difficulty.
With that in thoughts, listed here are 4 routes the Payments may take to exchange Diggs, together with a number of potential candidates they may pursue.
Possibility No. 1: Commerce up within the first spherical to land a blue-chip prospect
Potential targets: Rome Odunze, Washington; Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
The Payments maintain the twenty eighth general choose within the first spherical however personal 10 2024 draft decisions. Having acquired an extra 2025 second-rounder on Wednesday, Buffalo is well-positioned to supply a hefty package deal to maneuver up from choose 28 and draft a brand new star extensive receiver.
In all chance, a staff inside vary of choosing Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. or LSU’s Malik Nabers will not be taken with transferring down to choose 28. That leaves Odunze, the nation’s main receiver in 2023 (1,640 yards), because the almost definitely elite wideout prospect that Buffalo may theoretically commerce up for.
Nonetheless, if the Payments cannot land the projected high 10 choose, Odunze, it will be smart to maneuver as much as the center of the primary spherical to pick out Thomas. The 6-foot-3, 209-pounder was a well-liked choose for Buffalo in mock drafts earlier this offseason, although his inventory has since risen on account of a standout efficiency on the NFL Scouting Mix. Buffalo wants an outdoor extensive receiver able to being a dynamic deep menace, and the freakish athlete Thomas, the FBS chief in receiving touchdowns this previous season (17), matches the invoice.
Possibility No. 2: Choose a large receiver at choose 28
Potential targets: Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy, Texas; Keon Coleman, Florida State
Even when Buffalo stands pat within the first spherical, it should nonetheless select between a number of promising skills. Texas’ Mitchell is essentially the most full receiver talked about above on this part, although his former Longhorns teammate Worthy’s blazing pace could be fascinating to observe, with Payments QB Josh Allen throwing him the ball. Nonetheless, including a receiver with extra measurement, like Coleman, would doubtless profit Buffalo essentially the most, particularly after dropping Davis.
Possibility No. 3: Spend a second-round choose on a wideout
Potential targets: Xavier Legette, South Carolina; Troy Franklin, Oregon
The Payments may reap the benefits of this yr’s class being so deep on the place and choose a receiver in spherical two in the event that they miss out on wideouts they’re comfy drafting within the first spherical. Whereas Legette and Franklin, each area stretchers, may not be out there at choose 60, Beane has loads of ammo to maneuver as much as safe one in all them.
In 2023, Legette reeled in 71 passes for 1,255 yards and 7 touchdowns, whereas Franklin ranked sixth within the FBS in receiving yards (1,383) and third in touchdowns (14).
Possibility No. 4: Commerce for a longtime participant
Potential targets: Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers; Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
If Buffalo finally cannot land a viable alternative for Diggs via the draft, it may at all times flip its consideration to the commerce market, with promising kids Higgins and Aiyuk being potential targets.
Higgins, who was franchise-tagged after racking up a career-low 656 receiving yards in an injury-riddled 2023 season, has already requested a commerce. Aiyuk, however, may finally be made out there since he and the 49ers are “not shut” to reaching an settlement on a contract extension, per NFL Community’s Mike Garafolo.
Shelling out draft picks and an enormous extension for a participant may not be the most suitable choice for the Payments, contemplating they needed to make a number of cuts earlier this offseason to handle their tough wage cap scenario.
Even so, if Buffalo is keen to pay the worth, Aiyuk ought to be its high goal. He is produced like a No. 1 choice regardless of enjoying on one of many NFL’s deepest rosters. The 26-year-old might be a extra practical choice than Higgins anyway, as Cincinnati would doubtless be much less inclined to assist out a fellow AFC contender.
