Buffalo Plus Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: Buffalo Bills MOCK DRAFT: HOW MUCH is TOO MUCH for a WIDE RECEIVER?!
Date: April 16, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
Main Theme:
An in-depth pre-draft roundtable discussing the Buffalo Bills’ options in the 2024 NFL Draft, with a focus on wide receiver strategy, trade-up scenarios, key players, and the impact of recent roster moves (notably the Stefon Diggs trade).

Episode Overview

The Buffalo Plus team dives headfirst into mock draft season, exploring how much is too much for the Bills to pay to move up in the draft for a wide receiver. They debate trade packages, share their own Bills mock draft scenarios, and tap into expert analysis (with insights from ESPN's Matt Miller) to evaluate the market for top wideouts. The episode provides comprehensive draft coverage, highlighting the challenges of picking late in the first round and the urgency created by Stefon Diggs' departure.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stefon Diggs Trade Fallout and Media Circus

• The hosts discuss the anticipated talking points when hearing next from Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott, and Josh Allen after trading Diggs:
  • "Steph’s my guy, I wish him the best" – (Jenna, 01:23)
  • They're skeptical that Allen will give a candid answer about the trade, expecting a “trust the process” response.

2. The Challenge of Picking 28th Overall

• Being at pick 28 is frustrating:
  • "28 stinks as a spot…because you got to give up assets to get a guy" – (Jenna, 03:25)
  • Trading up is difficult; not everyone is eager to move back from the late first round.

3. Trading Up for a Wide Receiver: What’s Realistic?

• Mock Drafts Debated: All three hosts present Bills mock draft scenarios, with most aiming for WR Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU), and discussion over moving up just a few spots to land him:
  • Mike: Bills trade from 28 to 22 (with the Eagles), giving up next year’s 3rd-rounder, to nab Brian Thomas Jr. (06:07–07:06)
  • Jenna: Bills move up 3 spots (with Dallas), trading picks 28, 128, and 160 for Thomas (08:21)
• "Moving up a couple spots feels like a Beane move…they've done it before." – (Jenna, 09:26)

4. How Much is Too Much to Trade Up?

• Dan proposes a "big swing": trading this year's 2nd and next year's 1st to move up to 12th overall for Rome Odunze (Washington).
  • But after interviewing ESPN's Matt Miller (14:09), that scenario is "completely blown up”—Miller argues Odunze won’t make it past pick 9.
  • Notable quote from Matt Miller:
    "If you want to try to get up to seven to get Rome Odunze, you are paying a lot to do that. That’s what makes it so much harder to envision a scenario like that" (Matt Miller, 15:27).

5. The Reality of the Bills’ WR Draft Strategy

• The Bills are “locked out” of the top three receivers unless they pay a QB-level trade price.
• Miller’s advice (and the hosts’ consensus): focus on the second tier—Brian Thomas Jr., AD Mitchell, etc.—where the price is more reasonable and the fit is strong.

6. Pressure to Hit WR in Round 1

• Diggs’ trade turns WR from a want to a glaring need.
  • "Now you, now everybody knows it." – (Dan, 22:14)
• Waiting to pick again at #60 (late Round 2) risks missing the WR run.

7. Wide Receiver Run and Draft Depth

• Matt Miller and the hosts agree: the WR class is deep, but value drops quickly after the early 2nd round.
• Dan’s "fantasy": if the Bills somehow get two 1st rounders (unlikely), he’d double-dip on WRs:
  • “If you come out of the first round with AD Mitchell and Brian Thomas? I’m in.” – (Dan, 24:32)

8. Bills’ Overall Draft Philosophy

• The front office has a history of moving up (but not mortgaging the future).
• They’ll prioritize flexibility: “I guarantee you he’s already had conversations with teams” for trade-up options (Mike, 10:48).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I want to marry Scarlett Johansson. Doesn’t mean she wants to marry me." – Dan, explaining the difficulty of trade-ups (04:21)
• “Mock drafts are like your NCAA brackets and like your fantasy team. Everybody’s got one. Nobody really cares…they’re a crapshoot.” – Mike, 10:02
• “[Matt Miller] just smashed my hopes and dreams. Just said there’s no chance [Odunze falls to 12].” – Dan, 13:49

Mock Draft Approaches & Player Discussion

(Timestamps reference overall section, not every pick)

Round 1: Wide Receivers

• Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU):
  • All three hosts target him; size/speed profile (Mike, Jenna, 06:49–09:21).
• Trade Up Scenarios:
  • Mike: “Bills trade up from 28 to 22 with the Eagles, give up next year’s 3rd” – (06:07)
  • Jenna: “Bills trade up three spots with Dallas (picks 28 + 128 + 160)” – (08:21)
  • Dan: Advocates blockbuster for Odunze, shot down by Miller – (13:41–15:40)

Rounds 2–3:

• Edge Rusher Adisa Isaac (Penn State):
  • Jenna selects him in the 2nd: notes his “playmaker” qualities and personal story (27:05)
  • Mike prefers to trade back from 60, collect more picks (28:00)

Middle & Late Rounds: Depth Players

• Defensive Line:
  • Mason Smith (LSU), Christian Boyd (Northern Iowa)
• Wide Receivers:
  • Ryan Flournoy (SE Missouri), Isaiah Williams (Illinois)
• Running Backs:
  • Isaac Guerendo (Louisville), Cody Schrader (Missouri)
• Safety:
  • James Williams (Miami), Josh Proctor (Ohio State)

Day Three “Traits” vs. “Flaws”

• Coaching staff’s role is to accentuate strengths and not ask players to do what they can’t.
  • “I don’t care what your weaknesses are. I want to know what your strengths are, because as a coaching staff, you should use what they do well.” – Dan, 41:44
  • Counterpoint: weaknesses matter, especially if they clash with the team’s scheme (Jenna/Mike).

Fun Moments & Running Gags

• Spelling Mockery:
  • Dan’s spelling skills are repeatedly roasted.
  • “I cannot stress enough how bad of a speller Dan Fetes is.” – Jenna (31:01)
• Wrestling Backgrounds:
  • Jenna jokes about researching which prospects “wrestled in high school” (00:00, 27:05)
• Team Captain Fetish:
  • The hosts tease McDermott’s obsession with drafting team captains (38:05)
• Kicker Debates:
  • Mike wants to draft Stanford’s Joshua Karty; Dan would just “bring in a veteran to push Bass” (47:24)

How Many WRs Will the Bills Draft?

• Over/Under Set at 2.5.
  • Consensus: Two seems likely, three would be a surprise (39:42–40:25)

Final Thoughts & Practical Takeaways

• Bills’ real options boil down to either making a reasonable trade-up for a “second tier” WR, or hoping a top player falls unexpectedly (unlikely). The top-three WRs (Harrison Jr., Nabers, Odunze) are likely out of range unless the Bills give up massive capital.
• Day 2 and 3 picks will prioritize DL and secondary depth—with an eye on high-upside, versatile players.
• The Diggs trade dramatically changes the pressure on Bills’ draft room; passing on WR in round one is fraught with risk and optics.
• The entire team’s mock drafts will be linked in the episode description for reference.

Notable Segment Timestamps

• 01:20: Anticipating Allen’s first comments post-Diggs trade
• 03:26: Why picking 28th “stinks”
• 06:36: Mike’s trade-up mock for Brian Thomas Jr.
• 08:21: Jenna’s similar pick/trade scenario for Thomas
• 13:41–15:40: Dan’s hypothetical Odunze trade and Matt Miller’s expert rebuttal
• 22:00: Post-Diggs trade: “pressure to hit well in the draft”
• 39:42–40:25: How many WRs should the Bills draft? (over/under debate)
• 41:44: Strengths vs. weaknesses in draft prospects/coaching strategy

This episode is a must-listen for Bills fans looking to understand the reasoning, risks, and real-world options as the team navigates a crucial and tumultuous draft week. The team’s banter, research, and mock scenarios will leave you both wiser and entertained.