← Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills podcast
Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills podcast
Wide Receivers the Bills Could (or should) pick high in NFL Draft
00:53:53
WR's that could fit with the Buffalo Bills in this year's draft
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B
Welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates, I am Jenna Cottrell. We're going to be talking about the wide receivers and possible players the Bills can look to draft. But before we do, please be sure to like, comment and most importantly, subscribe to the Buffalo plus channel if you enjoy our content. All right, gentlemen, we're in April. The upcoming NFL draft is right around the corner. It feels like we've talked so much about wide receivers. There's a couple visiting Buffalo this week reported by NFL Network. That's Zay Flowers out of Boston College and USC's Jordan Addison. Mike, I want to start with you and we can God and go through some of the players and how they would fit in Buffalo. But you your impression of the Bills bringing in these guys on these official visits?
- [01:31]
A
I don't think there's any question that they know they need help at the wide receiver position. But have you ever noticed this in Congress sometimes when we're all annoyed at listening to them where they say this. I am going to send my time to my colleague from, yes, the great town of Orondo to lead off this subject because he feels so strongly about the wide receiver position of the Bills.
- [02:02]
C
Daniel thank you representative from Pittsford. I appreciate your time. Yeah, I have been team wide receiver for the last few years. Personally, I, I didn't think the Bills were really necessarily in on some of the the higher end guys in the recent years. Like I said, I've been to, we've been talking that what we've been hearing from sources is that the Bills have been interested in first round at running back positions even though they haven't necessarily done it. But I've been team wide receiver because you have started to see the evolution of the NFL, the game, the way that the offenses have changed and the way that wide receivers in today's Day and age come in and make immediate impacts. What are you thinking about a Jamar Chase or a Justin Jefferson? I would even go as far as say is a Chris Olave or a Garrett Wilson, guys that come in and you don't necessarily need to. There are no training wheels. These guys are coming from offenses in college that the NFL's are kind of adapting. These spread option offenses, this air raid offense that really kind of makes it seem like a seamless transition for some of these guys that are free. And Johnny, you've done a ton of work into, you know, some of these prospects. I will say you said they brought in those two guys, the Jordan Addison as well as Zay Flowers. Joe DiBiase had a tweet this morning as we record this on Wednesday that they've brought in more wide receivers. They brought in six total for visits and that's more than any other position. So maybe some of it smoke, but they are sure looking into smoke a lot if they're not necessarily interested in it right away. But, but I, I, I'm with it all in on a team. Wide receiver and an early, early wide receiver, whether that's at 27 or moving up to go get a guy before that.
- [03:47]
B
That's interesting because I feel like when I was doing the draft analysis and kind of doing a breakdown of guys, like a lot of these players seem to have kind of similar builds, similar skill sets. And for this team, I hear you, Dan, like they do need, they've talked about having the fastball being Josh Allen and the, the passing game and all that stuff. Like they need to continue that. And last there wasn't really, you know, Gabe Davis didn't play well and it was just Stefan Diggs and then everybody else, you know, you adding John Brown and Cole Beasley at the end of the season, I, I think speaks volumes about where they were at in terms of that. But I, I feel like when I think about Brandon Bean and I analyze what he does in the draft, it is by need, obviously. And need, of course, wide receivers, they also need a linebacker at this point. Point. Like there's there are other positions that I'm like, okay, I hear you. I want them to go wide receiver, but I also would not be totally shocked if they didn't. And they kind of moved and waited till like maybe round two or something like that. Because, Mike, these guys, there's a lot of them are, that are a similar skill set to one another and a similar skill set to what's already on the Bills as well.
- [04:58]
A
All Right. You know, I'm going to say this is the part I really agree with in terms of them leaving their options open. I'm fully on with them needing that player. They do need another wide receiver. There's no question. I mean, if you're going to sit around and wait for Gabe Davis to step up again this year, I think they've already told themselves that this is who he is and he's on the team and he'll contribute. But they need another guy. I don't think you should draft. Not necessarily. They can draft for need at wide receiver, but I don't think you should look at how he fits on this current team. I don't think that's an issue. I think you go out and be the best player you can get. And if that guy is a version of Stefan Diggs and. But. But here's the key. Can he play inside and outside, and most of the really good ones can. There's a few guys in this draft that are strictly like downs out of North Carolina. That is a slot guy. He's not really playing on the outside.
- [05:57]
B
So there's him at the combine.
- [05:59]
A
Yeah, you want to see what's out there. Plus, also some of the teams in the division, especially the Patriots, are looking at all these guys, too, and teams like to get an idea of who they may be facing, too, and using some of those opportunities to talk to those guys at the combine or even individually. But I'm going to say is like this. Things change fast in this league. You're going to get the best player you possibly can. I was remembering when Justin Jefferson was drafted, and the reason the Eagles failed so miserably by not taking him is the thought was Justin Jefferson is really a slot guy, and some teams. Look at how late he went. Where'd he go? 19th?
- [06:40]
C
No, Justin Jefferson was. Oh, yeah, it was the Bills.
- [06:43]
A
Yeah. Yeah.
- [06:44]
C
Is it 19?
- [06:46]
A
Yeah. When the Eagles passed on him at 18, I think, yeah. The thought was he's a slot guy. And sometimes I think, you know, teams can outthink themselves, and they certainly did then. So that's the one part I would say, go get the best. Go get the best player. Now they're also picking late 20s. Right. And there's that thing about Miami not picking. So it's pick 20, whatever it is, 28 player, 27.
- [07:13]
B
Yeah.
- [07:13]
A
Right. It's almost like the second round now. It's not by the. But it's late in the round, so it's different. And I think that also brings wide receiver well into Focus there. You could take a receiver there, you can take a linebacker there, you can take a running back there. We're talking about late in the first round. Fifth year option is a thing. And the other thing that comes into play, and we've talked about this before, is other teams trying to trade up. So Janet, to your point, if there's a list of guys and a few linebackers and they like them all and they can move back a little bit and gain another pick, I know that be that's the one that really gets to fans. They wait the whole time. They wait the whole time and the team then trades the pick at the end of Thursday. So you sat there all day and night and then they didn't pick anybody. But better that than reaching for the wrong guy. And Dan, I when I look at it, I don't see them moving up to get a guy this year. Maybe they would, maybe a few spots. I don't see them using extra draft capital this year. Maybe again, I'm not sure what that would be unless it honestly, nobody's going to want to hear this unless it was a defensive tackle or defensive lineman. But I don't see them moving up. I see them being a series of players that they like late in the round that they might also like early in round two.
- [08:38]
C
Two points I want to make in their big picture on the draft that, you know, we've got insight from. Over the last month or so, when I was talking to the Iowa linebackers coach, Seth Wallace, I did a video on why I think that Jack Campbell makes a ton of sense in buffalo at number 27 guy, 6 foot 5, Tremaine Edmond, 6 foot 5 guy, has screams of character. And I asked him kind of like, hey, has he visited with the Bills? And he's like, no, he hasn't. But what he's explaining it is some of these visits, you only get 30 of them. So some of these visits are on guys that you're not really sure about. They're guys that you want to see if they would be a fit. And so if, if you are in love with a player, like some people are the best comments Mike, I don't know if you saw them. I said, jack Campbell, be a good fit at 27. The first comment said, dan, you're an idiot. That would be such a stretch at 27. You can get him late in the second round. The comment under it was, oh, I hope they move up to get him because I don't think he'll be there at 27. It was the perfect dichotomy of like a fan base of like, you're an idiot. That's. That's the worst. And, oh, I hope he's there. So, yeah.
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A
By the way, that you do elicit, Dan, you're an idiot more than you absolutely have earned.
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B
Yeah, I agree.
- [09:56]
A
Thank you. Yeah, thank you. You might, you know, hot. Take it a little bit, but come on.
- [10:01]
C
Idiot. I'm not saying that I'm for Jack Campbell at 27. I'm saying that if he does get picked, I will go, yeah, this makes a ton of sense on like five different levels. Along with him training right now with Luke Keakley, who. Who does Sean McDermott trust more than that guy? I mean, Jenna would just. Yes. So, and so that was the one thing I want to say. So you're seeing like, oh, he didn't do an official visit. It's like, well, maybe the Bills are already set with Campbell. They already know who he is, what, what it is if they want him there. The other one was Jonathan Jones from CBS Sports was talking about when we were at the combine that really, the first round, like, the first round talent guys are like the top 15. Once you get to like 18, 19, like, it's more of the fit, I think. And so, like, if you like a guy at 27 but you like, oh, well, he's the 40, you know, he's projected by a lot of people at 45. It's like, well, he may not get to you and you're already picking in the second round. Like, there's elite, elite talent and then there's second round talent. And to Mike's point, like, I totally agree with 27 is pretty much the second round. So if you see a guy and go, oh, I can't believe he went in the first round. This Mel Kuiper had him going in the second round. It's the second round. It's. It's the talent of where they grade out. So don't freak out if you see that. If the Bills take somebody at the end of the first round, take who you like. And to me, if you like a guy that's still there at 20, I mean, they moved up to go get Kair, like, and if you like a guy, go get him.
- [11:30]
B
Yeah.
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A
And position wise, Jenna, that's why I wanted to add, if you are taking a running back there and you are picking you, you are now in line for that fifth year option. It's a much more reasonable fifth year option than what Saquon Barkley got from the Giants, like, it's just. Even though that number's lower than it would be, I'm saying is depending on the position because it's based on where your pick. So. Yeah, yeah, I think it. I think it opens up a lot. Yeah. You want to be picking in the top 10, 12, if somehow you get that pick, because that's when you're looking for that elite talent, if. If you're in that spot. But this draft's going to be weird at that point, too, because of all the quarterbacks going, so it's going to push some guys back. So we'll see.
- [12:14]
C
And Jen, I know you did a lot of research on wide receivers, and that's what this means.
- [12:17]
B
I know. That's why I want to get to it.
- [12:18]
C
Yeah, but. But the funny thing is, I was going to say is that last year, Mike, you and I were in Vegas and we were going, the Bills can draft any position because it'll just be for depth. It doesn't. You know, that roster is so deep that there's not even a starting position up for grabs. Now we look at this team and go, they can draft any position outside of quarterback. And we can go, they got a chance to start because they need help at a lot of positions. This video is going to be on the wide receivers. But it's just funny how literally a year apart, how we look at this roster as last year. Well, you know, you don't need seven guys because seven guys aren't going to make this roster. And now it's like, dude, they need a lot in these. In a lot of these positions.
- [13:03]
A
All right, Janet, let's start going through some of these guys because I. I like the. Some of the notes you had for us here. That's it.
- [13:10]
C
Kuiper, Cattrall.
- [13:12]
B
Are you just intentionally saying my last name wrong?
- [13:15]
A
Well, it fits better with Mel.
- [13:16]
B
Okay. All right, Just making sure. Also, I do remember it last year for just real quick, inside baseball, Mike and Dan were in Vegas. I was back in the studios in western New York, and their live shot kept going out. Yeah, I remember the Bills. I was like, we were talking about corners and where they could go, and I was like, man, I. I just hope they don't pick that. That guy from Florida because I don't know how to say his name. So I remember being like. I had to, like, write it out.
- [13:44]
A
Well, most importantly, on that trip, Dan and I both learned how to play craps. We mastered the game, and we won a minor fortune. Yeah.
- [13:53]
C
So that's how Buffalo plus really got off the ground all this.
- [13:57]
B
Also buffaloplus store.com so yeah. Oh yeah, I added some new stuff too. Tumblers like the. Oh, love it was the same. All right, let's talk Zay Flower. So we met with the Bills at the combine. He's also coming to official visit with buffalo. So Boston College five nine, 182, a senior. Just a couple of stats. 78 catches, over a thousand receiving yards, 12 touchdowns in this last season. Pros fast, athletic, great ball skills, contract deep balls. Some of the cons, shorter arms, small hands. It's route running needs some attention and may not be strong enough to win contested catches as a pro. Fun fact, he was a captain his senior season. He's also the youngest of 14 kids and NFL comparison from the NFL website was Travis Benjamin. So I think that is an interesting kind of fit when you look at what he could be with the Bills and just I think obviously he had a fantastic senior year as well and just what he could add to this team.
- [15:07]
A
Yeah. Everything I've heard about him is when he gets in the room with somebody, they just love him. They love him as a guy and I know the Patriots are in on him, you know, effect. Yeah, it could be. First of all, we know he can get to contested meals if he's the youngest of 14 kids. That's, I mean seriously good point. Youngest of 14. Hey, mom and Dad, let's you know, take it easy. 14. I, I think, you know, it's funny how that size becomes relevant in the NFL. It used to be for a while like, you know, there were, there was a thought that you needed size all the time and size and I don't think you want everybody being on the smaller side. But again, when I say this, when you talk about not drafting specifically. Yes. Would you like the 6, 4 guy who can run to 4, 3, 40, invent that guy and go get him. Yeah. You would like that. I like him as a player. I think somebody's going to fall in love with him. I think he's going to be one of the, one of the surprise guys to go earlier in the first round than some people think. Some of it may be fit, but I could see that type of player working for the Bills. But Dan, I'm not sure if that, you know, is the guy you use your first round pick on if you're buff.
- [16:31]
C
Yeah, yeah. Especially like where this is like to both your, both of your points. Mike, the fit I'm not so sure about, but I also don't believe that you're so worried about the fit because they signed Deontay Hardy. Like, I don't like, like if you, if you like flowers, then take flowers. But you don't pass on him because you have Deontay Hardy for a two year deal.
- [16:55]
A
Yeah.
- [16:55]
C
Like again, the slot position is very important in this Bill's offense, as we have learned. And I think you keep shooting your shot until you land on a guy that is your guy in the slot. So why not bring in more guys to compete whether it's Shakir, whether it's Hardy, whether it could be Zay Flowers. I am a little concerned that his ceiling could be Travis Benjamin. Like, that his ceiling could be a better Isaiah McKenzie. And that's something that I wouldn't necessarily love in the first round.
- [17:27]
A
Hey, Janet, when sometimes when you see those comps, do you think it's more of a physical comp than it is a level of player? Because I think sometimes the NFL people who are comping the guy are trying to say he plays like this guy. That doesn't necessarily. Because you're going to see people comp to be Stefan Diggs. That doesn't mean they're going to be Stefan Diggs.
- [17:50]
B
Yeah, yeah, I, I would agree. I feel like it's a mix of everything. Yeah. Like playing style as well as like physical build.
- [17:57]
C
I agree.
- [17:57]
B
Stuff like that. I think it's, it's a combination. I always do wonder though, like, is that you being. Is that a conservative type of, you know, comp? Is that you shooting for the Stars and that's what their ceiling is like? How do you go about kind of.
- [18:12]
A
Yeah, it's. It's hard to say a guy is. If you're gonna say nobody in this draft is Jamar Chase. Like, you know what I mean?
- [18:21]
B
Who would Dan be on the Bills?
- [18:22]
A
Who's Dan's computer dance comp on the current Bills?
- [18:26]
C
Reed Ferguson. Just steady. Just steady.
- [18:32]
A
Oh, I think he'd be Isaiah McKenzie in a former Bill going to Indianapolis and talking about Ranch. He'd do it just, just for the.
- [18:42]
C
How about Knox? Like on the cusp of being.
- [18:46]
B
I think, I think.
- [18:48]
C
Is that too high?
- [18:50]
B
No, I think that's too heavy. He's. I think Dawson's too humble.
- [18:53]
C
Yeah, I'm talking about my perfor. That's true. I was thinking more of my performances. I've dropped some pass.
- [18:59]
B
He might be a Diggs.
- [19:01]
C
No, I wish. Mentally I'm a Digs.
- [19:04]
A
I know who he is.
- [19:06]
C
Jenna, don't do it.
- [19:07]
A
He's Gabe Davis.
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B
That was amaz.
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A
Comp. Gabriel Davis.
- [19:19]
C
That's not very nice, Michael.
- [19:23]
B
Oh, that's funny. Comment below who you think dance comp is. All right, let's go to Jordan Addison. Another guy, 511, a little bit taller, 173. He's a junior, USC, transferred from Pitt. 59 catches, 879 yards, eight touchdowns. He missed three games due to injury this past season. Pros speed and agility. He's versatile, can run complex routes and three seasons as a punt returner. Some of the cons, only two touchdowns in the last seven games. Shrinks against handsy corners. Needs better timing. Fun fact. And is kind of one of the things for a lot of these guys. He used to be a former corner. An NFL comparison. Tyler Lockett.
- [20:06]
A
Yeah, I don't like when a. When a scout or anybody would use the term shrinks against anything, you know, because, you know, sometimes you'll see struggles against aggressive man coverage. Okay. That means it's. When they say shrinks is. It would mean the thought is that he sort of disappears from that. And I think you're seeing some of that in the league where guys are just trying to get away with a lot more. We see it in the Bills. It's the way Kair Elam came into the league, using their hands a lot. I was like, go ahead. How many flags are you going to throw on us? That would be. That would be a thing. I, you know, I sometimes look around now we've talked about two guys playing in the, you know, ACC and the PAC 12. I just sometimes want to say just roll the dice on the SEC guys sometimes. Right. Because sometimes I do wonder about even the level of competition and going forward. Man, the PAC 12 is, you know, these guys are going to be leaving. It'll be in the Big Ten. It would be a better competition. Again, talented guy. I think somewhere he's going to go in the first round. I don't know if I'm in love with him. For the bills at 27, I think I want to see a guy with a little more contested ability, whether that's going to get the ball, whether that's fighting, whether that is getting separation. The Bills have always been a team that wants to get guys who can separate. And it works really well with Josh Allen because he will get you the ball. But I don't know if I love Addison.
- [21:47]
B
Question for you guys. Do you think that if the Bills were to take a receiver in the first round that they would want that, that he would play teams?
- [21:56]
A
No to depends on the guy the only team would be return and I don't think they need a return guy. You know what's really interesting for this coming year is, you know, that guy. Dan's not going to want to hear this, but that guy likely comes in as in terms of targets, as no question comes in as the third guy. And so in many cases the third guy is a guy who is giving you those snaps. And they've already sort of worked around that with, you know, with their, their move for a running back last year in the deadline and their move in free agency with Hardy this year. So it's a matter of a guy working his way in there. But in terms of teams, Jenna, I, I don't think so. I don't think unless, unless that guy was a return guy. I don't see him chasing down kicks.
- [22:49]
C
So Addison, Mike, to your point, you see more from. It was a name that when Jenna was sending out the, the stats. And again, I think a lot of people watch the NFL, don't know, don't really watch college football and then say like, oh well, this guy. They watch like one game or one moment from a college guy and go, that guy's great. Like he should be a first round pick. Like it's, it's those little moments. It's like selective viewing. If you're an NFL fan, you're an NFL fan, you are dialed in on Sundays and you may be like Saturdays, like maybe watch some games that are on the big ones. So when you said USC and I was like, I watched a lot of USC games, bet on a lot of USC games, let's put it that way. And I go, I don't remember this guy really doing much. And you said he was injured, which like that to me is a little bit of a concern. If you have an injury history in college, normally you don't get more healthier throughout your career, in my opinion. But I went and I just wanted to look again because when you said he went to Pitt, I was like, oh, I remember this guy. He was Pickett's main guy. He was Pickett's, like that was a complex NFL style offense. And Pickett's last year when he was at Pitt and I just went and looked it up. A hundred catches, 1600 yards, 17 touchdowns at Pitt his sophomore year with Pickett, that was a guy that went and got a lot of footballs. And that to me gives me excitement and puts a little bit more into perspective where injuries at USC transferring in that one year, not really clicking. But I remember this guy At Pitt with Kenny Pickett and he was electric. So like that to me is trying to look at the entire sample size and being like 17 touchdowns. Like Pitt and again ACC, but still him and Pickett, like that's, that's an NFL combination.
- [24:39]
A
Yeah. I kind of like pit guys in the NFL too. I think they've been sneaky good getting guys into the league at different positions. So a former pit guy.
- [24:49]
C
So like I said, I wasn't looking as much at the USC, but as the. As that 2021 season at Pitt.
- [24:55]
B
Yeah. I mean, 17 touchdowns, 100 catches.
- [24:59]
C
That's tough to do in a college football season.
- [25:01]
A
Yeah.
- [25:02]
B
All right, let's go to Ohio State's jsn. I can't say his name, so we're just gonna say that slot guy, 611 96. He's a junior now. Something to note. He had a hamstring injury, so that limited him to just three games this past season. Had 95 catches though. A thousand or sixteen hundred yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore. Pros, contested catches. Plays tough, athletic and smooth. Is he injury prone? Maybe a con. And really only one productive season. And it says, According to the NFL's website, in terms of the draft profile, really a slot only type of guy.
- [25:46]
C
I love him, Jarvis.
- [25:48]
A
I love him as a player. I love him as a player.
- [25:50]
B
And I don't think he'll, I don't think he'll be available.
- [25:53]
C
I agree.
- [25:54]
A
I think he's gone early and I, you know, it's funny I, I mentioned that Jamar Chase. I mean, excuse me, Jefferson. Thing about slot only.
- [26:03]
C
Yeah, yeah.
- [26:04]
A
You know, he's a guy, he's, he's great Route runner, smooth goes and gets the ball. Yes. The injury concerns you. I love that he played at Ohio State just because I. Again, that level of competition, it's almost like we have two leagues. High end Big Ten and the high end SEC together. I love. I think he's gone early. I think He's a top 15 pick.
- [26:30]
C
I agree.
- [26:31]
A
Yeah.
- [26:31]
C
So I'm gonna give it a shot. Jackson, Smith, Ninjimba. In Jimba.
- [26:37]
B
I'm not sure.
- [26:37]
A
In Jigba I. It's all pronounced. Every letter basically is pronounced. Like you look at it and think you're not going to say this letter or that letter.
- [26:46]
C
Yeah.
- [26:48]
A
Or just jsn.
- [26:49]
C
Yeah. I think this, this is the one player that I think is the most likely to be a superstar in this class, to Jenna's point. You know, I don't know if there's, there's a lot of depth at this position, but there isn't necessarily as many. This is the one thing that goes out like Ohio State has turned into wide receiver university. They just have with Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, guys that have come in, made immediate impact. And both of those guys have said that JSN is the best out of the three of them. And I understand that some of those guys, you're gassing up your teammate, you're talking him up. But Jen and I laughed about this yesterday when we were talking about getting ready to do this pod and I said, you can say complimentary things about your teammates to, to. To gas them up. You don't have to go as far and say he's the best one. Like, he is better than all of us. That's another level that you don't necessarily have to do. So to me, you look at guys that played with him, obviously that Rose bowl game is the one that stands out the most. When it was just a 300 yard, I think five touchdown performance, he was just a monster. And this is a guy that I think when, when you're starting to see these little knocks at him, it's one of those things where I'm kind of laughing and I go, he hasn't done anything on the field to make you think less of him. But people now are going to say like, well, he didn't run that great at his 40. He didn't really do this great. He didn't really do that. It's like, it's amazing to me that people can drop down draft boards without doing anything, without having any off the field issues. But it's like now everybody part of what it is, they get nitpicked and fall down boards. So I think JSN is top 10 talent. I think he is got a shot to be a Jamar Chase. I think he's got a shot to be a Justin Jefferson. I think he can really be an impact player. He's the Bill's dream for me because I think he turns this offense completely around to a. Takes him to a whole nother level. And as I said before, I think they're one true wide receiver away from being back to being heavy super bowl favorites again. And I think JSN could be one of those guys.
- [28:54]
B
Maybe, maybe it's good then that the stock is going down. You know what I mean? If you think that highly of him, you're right, J.
- [29:02]
A
You do hear that sometimes. And again, teams are going to have their own grades on guys, right? They're Going to be sitting there looking at them. And I think he's the kind of guy you can build around. You know, he. He says he studied Stefan Diggs when he was at Maryland.
- [29:17]
B
Yeah.
- [29:17]
A
You know, and. Which is, you know, I mean, that's a. I mean, takes a great route runner. We don't know how good is. How strong his Instagram game is, but, you know, he's been studying digs, but in terms of that. Yeah, fit for now. And I. I'm with you. I look at him and I watched him and I think to myself, that guy can do more. He's had a lot of talent around him and he'll have talent around him in the NFL, but I do not see a limited player. I don't see a guy that's like, boy, that's the only place he's gonna. His skill set is too good to just think he can only run certain parts of the route tree, only certain places on the field. I think he's big enough. I height wise and I think he could play on the outside too.
- [29:58]
C
I think out of all these guys that we'll talk about, I think he has the highest floor. Like, I think that his floor is the best.
- [30:06]
B
Yeah.
- [30:07]
C
If some of these other guys that we'll talk about, they may, they. They could bust is the wrong term, but they. They could not do as much. I think if JSN has an average underperform. Yeah. I think JSN is, you know, as sure as a starting wide receiver as there is in this draft.
- [30:28]
B
I think too, just the level of competition like that, really the numbers that he's been able to put up. I am curious about the injury history though, because that could be something like hamstrings can linger, as we all know. Will that cause him to fall down the boards? I don't know. But at the same point, I see what you're saying, Dan, in terms of a guy that's NFL ready and can take on that role that so many teams will want him to be. All right, let's go to another guy. Jalen Hyatt. So he's six feet, your guy. I. I like him and I like another guy. 175, he's a junior out of Tennessee. Led the Vols with 67 catches, 1200 yards, which. That's 18.9 yards per catch, 15 touchdowns. Second best in FBS in 12 starts this past season. Pros Long and lean with deep speed. Explosive, effective blocker. Expected to be an instant wide receiver, too. Cons Route running tree somewhat limited. Lacking strength Fun fact. Four time state champion in high school in football. NFL comparison, desean Jackson. I guess for me what stood out is the Bills have been desperately seeking Yak for so many years and he's a guy that obviously has been able to add a lot of yards after the catch. He's someone obviously that has been a consistent target on his team. And I just think that he is kind of. He's been that guy, if that makes sense. In high school, he was that guy. He's been that player at Tennessee. So for me, those are just kind of the things that stood out to me. And just when I see a guy that's explosive and an effective blocker and. And a guy that has the instant ability like they talked about, to come in and be wide receiver too, that was like, this makes sense to me for both.
- [32:15]
A
I see why they say wide receiver too. Because sometimes you are thinking a lot of times of a speed guy that can get down the field. It would be nice that that yard after yards after the catch comes with nobody near him as he's flying into the end zone. We just see, honestly, so little of that where the guy just blows by everybody and is catching it on the run. And I can see that it's an interesting comp on DeSean Jackson, who's a smaller player but incredibly fast. So, yeah, that track speed, if that translates on the field and it has for him, is a real thing. And I do think, Dan, sometimes when you get a guy like that, he automatically can add an element to your offense and they talk about the route tree and I get it. And you want guys who have done that. But if you're at the University of Texas and you've got him and you can get him flying down the field in the Big 12.
- [33:08]
B
Tennessee.
- [33:09]
C
Tennessee.
- [33:10]
A
I mean, Tennessee.
- [33:10]
C
I'm sorry, I was, I knew, I.
- [33:12]
A
Knew Tennessee in the sec and you can get him downfield and get past people, you're going to use that. And I. Not that I. You know, it's funny things you can learn. I mean, guys can pick up certain traits. It's hard to teach somebody to be that fast. And I can't definitely see this, but I can also see him, Jenna, as a guy who slides a little bit too. Based on the full complete level of his play in college.
- [33:39]
B
I, I agree. That's why I feel like he will be available.
- [33:43]
A
Yeah.
- [33:44]
C
Yeah. And I think he's a guy that does garner attention just based on his speed. And sometimes you, you. I always remember when it was when Dawson Knox had his Breakout season. And that was when Stefan Diggs also, you know, played really well. And Knox was like, yeah, I owe. I owe Diggs some of my contracts because he's been getting me open. Like the Bills have lacked that guy, that other guy that defenses kind of have to respect and say, well, okay, this guy's over here and there's an. And Diggs is over there. So yeah, I can see it happening. I do like the deep speed. I get concerned where we're talking about, you know, developing a wide receiver, but. But I think that we'll leave that to. To another pod.
- [34:28]
B
I mean, all of these guys are going to develop though. Like, all of these guys need to add NFL polish to their games. And I also agree, though I also agree with Mike saying of like, yeah, go run as fast as you can down the field. Like a go route every time. Because it's like this guy's going to be just open. Like, why wouldn't you want that?
- [34:47]
A
Well, I mean, he is. And again, clearing out the zone. You know, Diggs could probably be thrilled with somebody who causes those safeties to not bite and come up and. And all the things that go with not having that on the field. And honestly, it was alarming for the Bills. Look at the players they have. Like Isaiah was the speed. Now I know they run and got hardy and he can really run and he'll give them some element of that, but they did not have guys in that wide receiver group that are just blowing by people. They just don't. And that's not the way they're built. And I think that is an important element to have. Somewhere in this offense is a guy who can just run past people.
- [35:29]
C
Agreed.
- [35:30]
B
Okay, let's go to Josh Downs. The Bills met with him at the combine. 59170. He's a junior at a North Carolina. Stats 94 catches, over a thousand yards, tying seventh nationally with 11 touchdowns and 11 starts in 2022. Two time All ACC punt returner as well. Pros. Dynamic footwork, instinctive, supreme confidence, great production, quickness and long speed. Cons Below average build, working in middle, focus drops, needs more disciplined route running. Fun fact. His uncle played in the NFL. And NFL comparison, Kadarius, Tony. So the Bills met with him at the combat.
- [36:17]
A
Yeah, it is interesting, Jenna. Up to this point and as we're recording this, teams have those visits and Dan was talking about, you know, how they use those 30 visits. Not a single team had brought him in on a 30 visit, which I found to be really interesting. He's A guy who has been projected mostly second round that I've seen. And you know, you figure, I mean you, you would figure somebody would have brought him in. I, I don't know why. And maybe that can still, it still can happen. But that's kind of interesting that that hasn't happened yet. Maybe teams believe he's going to slide for some reason. I like the skill set and all. I don't know where I would pick a guy like this. Yeah, this does seem to me to be a little more of not. Well, certainly not a, to me, not a first round pick.
- [37:11]
C
Agreed.
- [37:12]
A
And again, depends. Maybe if you traded back, maybe if you move back. I don't know. He seems like a limited player to me. Skill set. But it's drafting or signing. You sign Deontay Hardy to a two year deal, you, you care about what he's going to do for you this year and next year you're drafting a guy first or second day, you're hoping he's with you five to 10 years. So. Yeah, I don't see this as a player for the Bills.
- [37:35]
B
And just as a refresher for people out there, the bills do have six total picks in this draft and their second round pick is 59th overall.
- [37:42]
A
Yeah.
- [37:43]
B
Third round is 91st. So just in terms of like letting people know, just as a refresher of like where the Bills stand in terms of that, I, I hear you.
- [37:51]
C
Then a Kuiper has got us all covered.
- [37:54]
A
This is one of your guys. Hold on. This is one of your guys, isn't it?
- [38:00]
B
No.
- [38:00]
A
Oh, okay.
- [38:01]
B
I like Quentin Johnston.
- [38:02]
A
Oh, okay. We'll get to him.
- [38:04]
C
Yeah, I think this is, this is a guy that if he goes to Kansas City or Cincinnati, we're like, ah, I, I think that's, I think that's how Bill's fans would treat this. And if he comes to Buffalo, it's like, oh boy, I don't know, let's see. I, I think that's just, I always love how Mike's always like, if you're, if, if this team signs a guy, how do you react compared to when this, your team signs a guy? So I think this is one of those ones where I'm, I'm sitting here and I'm going, man, if you got him in Andy Reid's offense, the comparison of Kadarius Tony, it's like, well, the Chiefs have Kaderius Tony now and, and again it's, it is a lot about fit with him because we didn't see Tony work out in, in the Giants but played pretty well, obviously, for the Chiefs, so.
- [38:48]
A
Yeah. What don't we need the Bills to become that team?
- [38:51]
C
Yes.
- [38:52]
A
And they haven't really been that team.
- [38:54]
C
Correct.
- [38:55]
A
And they have Josh Allen.
- [38:56]
C
Correct.
- [38:57]
A
Stefan Diggs was, you know, he's become a Mike.
- [38:59]
C
Mike. What's changed?
- [39:03]
A
The fat face guy.
- [39:05]
C
Yeah.
- [39:07]
A
Well, let's see how he does with the Giants this year.
- [39:09]
C
I hope Ken Dorsey proves me so wrong. I hope he proves me so wrong.
- [39:16]
B
I hope so too. Mostly just like, I just like I.
- [39:19]
C
Hope Gabe Davis does. I, I, it's not like I'm, I.
- [39:22]
B
Hope Davis clips this.
- [39:23]
C
And like, no, there's a difference between, like, some people think, like, I have my what my head tells me, but like, I'm also not like, instinctively rooting against people. People think like, oh, you don't like Gabe Davis. That's not it. That's, that's the farthest thing. And I also don't not like Ken Dorsey. I just what I've seen with my eyes has, doesn't have me as excited as everybody else does. So if things change, I will be pleasantly surprised and be hand up. I've been wrong. Yeah. Like, it wouldn't be the first time.
- [39:54]
A
So can you repeat, repeat that what you just said?
- [39:57]
C
I've been wrong before. Oil change.
- [40:00]
B
We're clipping that.
- [40:03]
A
Yeah. I did send you guys a clip. I did send.
- [40:06]
C
You got oil changes.
- [40:08]
A
Dan Marino referred to his knee injuries as oil changes. When he got it fixed, that's where I got it is so good. It's so good. Oil changes. All right.
- [40:18]
B
All right. Another guy that I liked, Quentin Johnston. 63208 Junior out of TCU stats TCO TCU's leading receiver. 60 catches, over a thousand yards, six touchdowns and 14 starts last season. First team all Big 12 for the second straight season. Obviously TCU went to the national championship game. Pros great height, weight and speed. Above average catch radius. Makes late adjustments. Athletic cons production somewhat erratic. Only six touchdowns in 2022. Struggles to create leg leverage. Captain this past season. NFL comparison El Sean Jeffrey.
- [40:55]
A
Yeah, Jenna. He, he measurables out as the number one receiver in the draft. He, he's, he's the ideal for all those things. And I see the Alshon Jeffrey comparison. When Alshon Jeffrey was locked in, he would make contested catches. He. Tough catches. He never got great separation, but he'd always find a way to get the ball. I just don't think the way he plays and maybe they need to look at this differently. Fits with what the Bills want.
- [41:29]
C
I.
- [41:29]
A
Because He. He really doesn't get himself open as much as you would think. And again, by the way, to say you played in the championship, wanted to.
- [41:39]
C
Go first on this.
- [41:39]
A
Yeah, it's debatable. Say you play. Did TCU guys really say they played in that game? Can you say you played in that game?
- [41:46]
B
They went to the game.
- [41:47]
A
They went to the game. All right, Dan, you go ahead. I. I gave you the. I should have given you here because you were itching for this one. Go ahead.
- [41:54]
C
No, because you. Everything you said. And it's funny, like, the Alon Jeffrey comparison. It's like you're like, I don't think this fits with the Bills. It's like, it reminds me a lot of Gabe Davis. And I mean that in the sense of. I look at. And I bet a lot on tcu, so I watched a lot of TCU games. I love this guy. Now, this guy did play injured a lot of this season. Like, this dude is tough because he was one of the guys that I was always like, is. Is he playing? Because then I'm going to bet the over. Because they had a fun offense. TCU didn't play any defense, as we saw in the national championship game, and they won a lot of weird games.
- [42:28]
A
And nobody in the conference played defense there.
- [42:30]
C
Correct. And also TCU played, like, 13 backup quarterbacks. But that's besides the point. Johnson is a guy. He's. The fear for me is that Mike was saying he doesn't get a lot of separation. He was a guy that would catch the ball and then kind of stiff arm two guys, like, he was playing peewee football against them and then run for 70 yards. So it's like, yeah, it was great, and he did make a lot of contested catches. But it's kind of like Gabe. And I think why Gabe fell to the fourth round at times is because his size means he's too big for the little guys, but he's too slow for the fast guys. So you're kind of stuck in between on where you separate from. Because if it's tough to just constantly try and grab rebounds over corners in the NFL, you have to be able to generate that separation. So while I think Johnson pans out, like, we're talking about low floor for jsn, I think Johnson has a massively high ceiling. I also think he has a very low floor. Like, honestly, this. This could be a guy that I. I literally don't know where he ends up. He could be a pro Bowler and dominate and, you know, be this big physical target. That everybody's going, I can't believe he fell to 20. You know, I can't believe so many teams pass on him. Or he could be like a guy that just. Kevin White out of West Virginia that just never really panned out. Like, had the size but just didn't get open, couldn't stay on the field.
- [43:52]
B
So when I was doing this, writing all this information down, the research, I was like, this reminds me of Josh Allen in terms of you have the height, you have the weight, you have the speed. Like, you have these. These things that, like, on paper, it's like he is an athletic specimen, all these things. But there's these question marks about how his game will translate. Obviously, the thing about Alan was the accuracy. All that stuff coming out of college, obviously Josh figured it out. But at the same point, I feel like I agree with you. Like, I think this is a boom or bust type of guy. Like, this is absolutely a player that. That ceiling could be tremendously high. But where is that floor at? So I understand that where you're coming from in terms of it's a gamble type of thing, but I think when you see just why you would fall in love with, like, the intangibles in terms of just the athletic ability and all those things.
- [44:45]
A
Yeah.
- [44:45]
B
I also think he offers something that's different than what we see currently on the Bills receivers. So I get why maybe that would be something that would stand out as well. I mean, he's taller than Gabe. He's bigger than Gabe. Like, I just think the. The. I don't know where the floor is, but the ceiling's high, but I don't know where the floor is.
- [45:04]
A
Jenna, I think you're right. And I think there, right now, there is a team or two that has him high on their board, really high. And we'll see where the. Where the draft falls when that team is picking again, we don't know yet. And I think there's other teams who just see him very differently. So, I mean, this happens in other positions. It seems like because there's statistics to go with wide receivers, people feel a little differently sometimes. But this happens all the time with certain players and certain fits and there's guys that go. And other teams go. You know, we had him as a fourth rounder. Like, we didn't like him at all. We didn't like a lot of his. I'm not saying this guy is there. I'm saying is. I think because of the way he plays, I think there's good. People are going to have him low. And then they're going to be sitting there watching the draft and he's going to go 13th or whatever the number is. That's going to surprise people. I think he's going to go early, too. I think he'll go early because someone's going to love him. He's going to love him.
- [46:02]
B
I agree. But I feel like you either love him or you. You're just like, absolutely out. Like, I don't think there's. You're not like. Oh, yeah. I think. I think just there's. There's no gray area. You probably know where you stand in terms of what you bring. I don't. Why do you think he's Gabe?
- [46:18]
A
Well, he's talking about this Gabe 62.
- [46:20]
C
Gabe is 6, 2, 2, 10. This guy's 6, 3, 2, 16. And Gabe ran a 4, 5, 4. This guy ran a 4, 4, 9.
- [46:30]
A
Yeah. And he plays hurt just like Gabe did.
- [46:33]
C
I was trying to do Gabe a favor.
- [46:38]
A
Look at that.
- [46:40]
B
I don't think this guy's Gabe. I. I gave us a fourth round pick. This guy.
- [46:46]
C
So here's my. Here's my only thing. Here's my only thing. If TCU didn't have this magical season, would any of us know who Quentin Johnson is? And that's my only thing that I think he gets.
- [46:59]
B
Yeah. Because of the.
- [47:01]
A
They would.
- [47:01]
B
Yeah.
- [47:02]
A
Yeah, they would.
- [47:04]
C
TC was picked to finish last in the Big 12. They didn't. Like, they had a dream season. I think this guy got a little pub from it. I think he got gassed up from it.
- [47:15]
B
But you can find good players anywhere.
- [47:18]
C
Yeah, I agree. I agree. But I'm saying, again, I again make the comparison. UCF wasn't as good with Gabe Davis. So Gabe Davis falls for the fourth round. Just saying there's buzz. Everybody knows. And maybe I'm stupid and this is a dumb clip that they're saying. Yeah, I just. I don't know. I guess as much as I like him for being athletic. Freak. The fact of when I see Mike to where you're talking about shrinks when I hear lack of separation. It doesn't get any easier to separate in the NFL.
- [47:51]
A
No. And that's a big trait with the Bills both in who they've brought in.
- [47:56]
C
That's my. That's my thing.
- [47:57]
A
And who they drafted.
- [47:58]
C
So I guess.
- [47:59]
A
Yeah. And Gabe was a fourth round pick. So you. When you get to that third day, you look past certain things and you hope and let's be honest. And Dan, you gotta be honest. Gabe looked like he was underdrafted for a couple of years.
- [48:12]
C
100%.
- [48:14]
A
He really did. He started out great and maybe he comes back. Maybe this is the video that really gets him going.
- [48:22]
B
Next year he's send this to Gabe Davis. Gabe will give you a free mug.
- [48:29]
C
I love Gabe. I love Gabe.
- [48:31]
B
He does not like you. He does not like you. Well, that's funny.
- [48:40]
A
We'll see.
- [48:41]
B
Now I'm going to be a Quentin Johnston fan also. Yeah, no, I get it. I hear your concerns, Daniel, I do. That's the thing about the draft, though. It's like, where does. How does Brandon Bean feel? How does. Yeah, the Bills feel?
- [48:55]
A
It's off brand for them to take this player in the first or second round, but he's going to go in the first round just based on what they seem to really prioritize.
- [49:07]
B
I like Hyatt.
- [49:09]
A
Yeah, she wants the speed going down the field. And by the way, the other thing, I guess we can throw it in here now is where we see Khalil Shakir projecting into next year because it's wide open for him to have an opportunity to really get more playing time. And I don't know again what they think. They did give him those moments. Some made a few plays. But if they really see him projecting as a young player that's going to be around here, that and, and they move on from Gabe Davis almost no matter what happens this year, unless it's spectacular, you know, does that influence them at all in where they see this wide receiver position when they go drafting? Unless they just see Shakira as a nice player who's going to be a fourth or fifth guy, I think they still feel pretty good about him and I think they feel like they can get, they can get him on the field for many more snaps this year.
- [50:08]
B
I agree. Dan, what do you think?
- [50:10]
C
I think he flashed. I think he was. I think he had rookie moments. I think he had, you know, two drops that stand out to me right at the top of my head. The one was a drop in the second or third game and he never, it was wide open and he just dropped it in the flat. And then later in the game he came back, made a big catch. He had a drop on an under thrown ball against Miami, I believe in the playoff game or one of the last games of the season. And then he had an incredible catch over the middle on the third and whatever, and it was a terrible throw that he bailed out Josh. So yeah, I, I really do think that he's, I think he's a guy that has a place, but to Mike's point, it is wide open.
- [50:53]
A
Yeah.
- [50:54]
C
And I think that he has a low floor. I just don't know how high his ceiling is.
- [51:01]
A
Yeah.
- [51:01]
C
You know, he seems like a steady guy, but it's not a ton of quick twitch. It's not a ton of separation.
- [51:08]
A
So you think he has a high floor?
- [51:10]
C
High floor, low ceiling?
- [51:12]
A
Yeah, he might be, but, yeah.
- [51:14]
C
And he's one of the 17 guys on the team that can return puns.
- [51:21]
B
You just couldn't help yourself.
- [51:23]
C
Let's play the hits.
- [51:27]
B
Oh, you always do well with Sean.
- [51:29]
A
McDermott in the attacking defense. This year, they're going to be getting a lot more punts. Actually, this channel is going to be turnover.
- [51:36]
C
It's going to be electric. There's so much up in the air that it's going to be so much fun. Buckle up, Buffalo plus subscribers. It's gonna be good merch.
- [51:46]
B
That just says, dan was wrong.
- [51:49]
A
We're gonna sell. Dan was right. Dan was wrong. We're gonna see which one sells better.
- [51:53]
C
Yeah, I got to buy a lot of shirts.
- [52:01]
A
Your wife just bought 15 Dan was wrong T shirts.
- [52:04]
C
I don't know what that means in kid sizes and everything.
- [52:09]
B
It's amazing. Okay. All right. Anything else, gentlemen?
- [52:12]
A
No, I think we're. I think we're good.
- [52:14]
B
Okay, cool.
- [52:14]
C
Great.
- [52:15]
B
All right, thank you all so much for joining us. Comment Some of the wide receivers who have stood out to you and who you think the Bills will choose at.
- [52:22]
A
Player who Jenna's comp is on the team.
- [52:26]
B
Okay. Who's Mike's NFL comp?
- [52:27]
A
Yeah, yeah, I know my NFL comp. He's retired now, but it's.
- [52:31]
B
Who's that?
- [52:31]
A
It's Lorenzo Alexander. That's my guy. No, just because he's the old guy on the team. Jen is Greg Russo.
- [52:39]
B
I got wingspan. No, I would think Mike. I think you are. I think you're Vaughn Miller.
- [52:47]
A
Oh, yeah. He talks a lot.
- [52:49]
B
So do you. It's perfect.
- [52:51]
C
That's actually. Actually, Jenna, that's pretty spot on.
- [52:54]
B
Right.
- [52:55]
C
For two people that have spent a lot of time in cars with Mike.
- [53:00]
B
You say seven words from the Rochester exit to Buffalo. Really? No way. Who's that? Who's my NFL? Who's my Bills comp? I have someone in mind. No, I think I'm a dog. Knox.
- [53:20]
C
Micah.
- [53:21]
B
A Micah. Interesting. I could. Yeah, I would definitely take that. Okay.
- [53:27]
A
Interesting. He's a way better dresser than you.
- [53:30]
B
Oh, for sure. Easily. Basically everyone on the team is. Maybe even Josh Allen. All right. Thank you for joining us. Please be sure to like, comment and subscribe. For Mike and Dan, I'm Jenna. Thank you so much for listening to the Buffalo plus podcast, presented by Connors and Ferris. We'll catch you next time here on the channel.