Top positions of need for the Buffalo Bills prior to the 2020 NFL Draft
After making a big offseason splash by trading for Stefon Diggs, what positions do the Buffalo Bills need to focus on in the 2020 NFL Draft?
The Buffalo Bills made one of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason, trading for former Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver, Stefon Diggs. Prior to the trade, the team’s number one need heading into the draft was clearly a playmaking wide receiver. But with Diggs in the fold, and costing quite a bit of draft capital, where do general manager Brandon Beane, head coach Sean McDermott and the Bills front office turn their attention to now?
As I mentioned, Diggs did not come cheap. The details of the trade are as follows:
The Bills gave up four total draft picks, including the 22nd overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft to get the dynamic receiver, who had clearly been unhappy in Minnesota over the past year or so, at least. It is a risky move to give up that much capital for one player (and a seventh-round pick), especially in a draft that is so deep at receiver.
But if Beane and the Bills didn’t believe that they could get a player in the first round that would be nearly as impactful as Diggs, then I guess go get your guy. Adding in three other opportunities to add other impactful players at various positions is a little head-scratching, but apparently the Bills believe that Diggs will be worth the price.
So after the trade, the Buffalo Bills are left with the remaining selections in the 2020 NFL Draft:
- Round 2, Pick 54
- Round 3, Pick 86
- Round 4, Pick 128
- Round 5, Pick 156
- Round 6, Pick 189
- Round 6, Pick 202
- Round 7, Pick 240
When you look at it this way, the trade doesn’t seem too bad. Despite giving up your first-round pick and then some, the Bills still own seven picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, including at least one pick in each of the remaining rounds (two sixth-round picks).
With a roster that nearly won a playoff game a year ago that added some solid free agents already, the Bills didn’t necessarily have the needs to use nine picks on. Sure, you can always use depth across your roster, but this way they get a sure-fire starter at receiver who they believe will help put them over the top.
Buffalo’s roster no longer has any glaring holes, and they can use these remaining seven picks to bolster certain spots and even look towards the future. With Tom Brady leaving New England, the Bills are in win-now mode, and a known commodity like Stefon Diggs brings more to the table than a rookie that may need time to develop.
Where exactly will the Bills use these remaining draft picks? Let’s take a look.