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 decide.
Contemplating Diggs’ decline in manufacturing in the course of the second half of final season and Gabe Davis’ departure in free company, Buffalo was probably already going to deal with the extensive receiver place early on this month’s draft. Nevertheless, now that the necessity has intensified, it’s going to be intriguing to see whether or not GM Brandon Beane adjustments his strategy to addressing the problem.
With that in thoughts, listed below are 4 routes the Payments may take to exchange Diggs, together with a number of potential candidates they might 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 total decide within the first spherical however personal 10 2024 draft decisions. Having acquired a further 2025 second-rounder on Wednesday, Buffalo is well-positioned to supply a hefty package deal to maneuver up from decide 28 and draft a brand new star extensive receiver.
In all probability, a group inside vary of choosing Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. or LSU’s Malik Nabers will not be fascinated with transferring down to select 28. That leaves Odunze, the nation’s main receiver in 2023 (1,640 yards), because the almost certainly elite wideout prospect that Buffalo may theoretically commerce up for.
However, if the Payments cannot land the projected high 10 decide, Odunze, it could be clever to maneuver as much as the center of the primary spherical to pick Thomas. The 6-foot-3, 209-pounder was a preferred decide 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 out of doors extensive receiver able to being a dynamic deep risk, 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 decide 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 can be fascinating to observe, with Payments QB Josh Allen throwing him the ball. Nonetheless, including a receiver with extra measurement, like Coleman, would probably profit Buffalo essentially the most, particularly after dropping Davis.
Possibility No. 3: Spend a second-round decide on a wideout
Potential targets: Xavier Legette, South Carolina; Troy Franklin, Oregon
The Payments may make the most 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 snug drafting within the first spherical. Whereas Legette and Franklin, each subject stretchers, may not be out there at decide 60, Beane has loads of ammo to maneuver as much as safe one among 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 in the end cannot land a viable alternative for Diggs via the draft, it may at all times flip its consideration to the commerce market, with promising children 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 ultimately 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 troublesome wage cap state of affairs.
Even so, if Buffalo is keen to pay the worth, Aiyuk must be its high goal. He is produced like a No. 1 possibility regardless of enjoying on one of many NFL’s deepest rosters. The 26-year-old might be a extra lifelike possibility than Higgins anyway, as Cincinnati would probably be much less inclined to assist out a fellow AFC contender.
