After 4 seasons rife with playoff heartbreak and drama, the Buffalo Payments are lastly parting methods with star large receiver Stefon Diggs. On Wednesday, the Payments traded the four-time Professional Bowler and two draft selections to the Houston Texans in alternate for a 2025 second-round choose.
Contemplating Diggs’ decline in manufacturing throughout the second half of final season and Gabe Davis’ departure in free company, Buffalo was doubtless already going to handle the large receiver place early on this month’s draft. Nonetheless, now that the necessity has intensified, it’s going to be intriguing to see whether or not GM Brandon Beane adjustments his method to addressing the difficulty.
With that in thoughts, listed here are 4 routes the Payments may take to interchange Diggs, together with a number of potential candidates they might pursue.
Choice 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 choose within the first spherical however personal 10 2024 draft selections. 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 large 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 about shifting down to select 28. That leaves Odunze, the nation’s main receiver in 2023 (1,640 yards), because the more than likely elite wideout prospect that Buffalo may theoretically commerce up for.
However, if the Payments cannot land the projected high 10 choose, Odunze, it will be clever to maneuver as much as the center of the primary spherical to pick 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 because of a standout efficiency on the NFL Scouting Combine. Buffalo wants an out of doors large 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.
Choice 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 abilities. Texas’ Mitchell is probably 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 probably the most, particularly after shedding Davis.
Choice 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 12 months’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 area stretchers, may not be accessible at choose 60, Beane has loads of ammo to maneuver as much as safe considered one of 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).
Choice 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 by means of the draft, it may all the time 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, then again, may ultimately be made accessible 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 best 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 needs 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.