Three best fits for Bills in first round of 2024 NFL Draft

The Buffalo Payments maintain the twenty eighth general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, which is ready to start on April 25.

Though Buffalo stays a Tremendous Bowl contender, the staff acquired considerably worse this offseason after being compelled to chop ties with a number of key gamers to liberate cap area. Payments GM Brandon Beane goals to fill as many holes as potential along with his 11 draft picks, although none shall be extra vital than his first-round choice.

With that in thoughts, listed below are three prospects who can be ultimate choices for the Payments within the first spherical. 

Extensive receiver Brian Thomas Jr., LSU 

The Payments entered the offseason needing to bolster their receiving corps after Stefon Diggs’ disappointing finish to 2023, and that want solely intensified when Gabe Davis left for Jacksonville in free company. Regardless that Buffalo signed former Commanders wideout Curtis Samuel, the staff nonetheless lacks a prototypical X receiver for QB Josh Allen to lean on.

He is not the identical caliber of participant as his former teammate, wideout Malik Nabers, however Thomas is a bodily specimen who was extraordinarily productive for the Tigers final season. Throughout 13 video games, Thomas hauled in 68 passes for 1,177 and 17 touchdowns, probably the most within the nation.

Thomas was additionally one of many high performers on the NFL Scouting Mix, ending second amongst large receivers within the 40-yard sprint (4.33 seconds) and third within the 10-yard break up (1.50 seconds). Moreover, based on Kent Lee Platte’s Relative Athletic Rating, Thomas scored 9.97 out of a potential 10, which ranked tenth amongst 3,063 wideouts since 1987.

Along with his 6-foot-3 body, freakish athleticism and skill to generate yards after the catch, Thomas would undoubtedly carry a brand new dimension to an already explosive Payments offense. 

Middle Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon

Longtime beginning heart Mitch Morse turned a cap casualty this offseason, and whereas guard Connor McGovern is anticipated to switch him, Buffalo could need to take into account drafting Powers-Johnson. The previous Duck is the highest heart on this 12 months’s class and was initially projected to be chosen within the early to mid-20s within the first spherical.

Nevertheless, ESPN’s Matt Miller not too long ago reported that groups aren’t as excessive on Powers-Johnson because the media appears to be. As per Miller, “it is unlikely that” Powers-Johnson shall be a high 25 decide regardless of nonetheless being considered as a first-round expertise.

Even so, no matter the truth that the middle place is not on the high of the precedence listing for Buffalo, Powers-Johnson deserves an intensive look. Over three seasons at Oregon, Powers-Johnson did not permit a sack, and he surrendered only one whole stress in 2023. 

Security Tyler Nubin, Minnesota

Provided that Buffalo lower former beginning security Jordan Poyer and veteran Micah Hyde stays a free agent, the staff might use extra security depth, particularly since Taylor Rapp and Mike Edwards do not provide vital upside.

A fringe first-rounder, Nubin has a case to be thought of the highest security prospect amongst a comparatively weak positional group in an in any other case loaded draft class. The 6-foot-1, 199-pounder performed 5 seasons at Minnesota and improved yearly. Final season, the All-Large Ten first-teamer collected 53 tackles, one sack, 4 cross breakups and 5 interceptions, the sixth-most within the FBS. Nubin leaves Minnesota as this system’s all-time chief in interceptions (13).

Solely three of Buffalo’s 18 interceptions final season had been made by a security, so including a ballhawk on the place like Nubin might take its protection to the following degree.