Buffalo Bills Mock Draft buzz: Adonai Mitchell or Ladd McConkey at No. 28 in the 2024 NFL Draft

Well, the Buffalo Bills have decided to part ways with wide receiver Stefon Diggs leaving Josh Allen without a top receiver and the offense in shambles.

On Wednesday, the Bills traded the 30-year-old Diggs to the Houston Texans won’t with a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick.  Ironically, that pick is via the Minnesota Vikings, the same squad the Bills acquire Diggs from.

In a parting of ways that seemed inevitable over the past couple of seasons, the Bills are now left trying to replace their No. 1 and No. 2 receivers after losing Gabriel Davis in free agency.  What will the Bills do to get Allen some established weapons? 

Well, all eyes are on the 2024 NFL Draft where the Bills hold the No. 28 overall pick.  In a deep receiver class, there will be options if they stand pat.  If they get aggressive, Buffalo could possibly move up in the draft to select one of the top 4 or 5 receivers in the draft.  They could use that 2025 second round pick acquired in the Diggs deal as compensation.

But let’s say the Bills stand pat at No. 28.  Here is a comparison of who NFL mock drafts have the Bills selecting.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has Bills selecting a Texas wide receiver at No. 28

Even before the Bills agreed to trade Diggs, most mock drafts had Buffalo targeting a receiver in the first round. The idea was to replace Davis, but there was always an underlying feeling the Bills would eventually be without their No. 1 target.  In his latest NFL mock draft, NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein has the Bills selecting Adonai Mitchell with thoughts of him filling that No. 2 role.

Zierlein writes:

“The departure of Gabe Davis stings less after the Bills add a faster vertical threat with a higher floor.”

Mitchell is talented but may be too much to ask him to come in and fill that No. 1 role, so the Bills will likely target one of the remaining free agents available to take pressure off a young player like Michell who does have the speed to become an instant favorite target of Josh Allen. 

With his combination of size and quickness, not a bad pick at all for the Bills.  But, given their current wide receiver group, Buffalo may decide to make more of a splash for a first-round receiver who they believe and be a Day 1 starter.

CBS Sports Mock Draft predicts this Georgia prospect as an option for the Bills

Could that player be Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey?

His numbers at Georgia may not suggest it, but McConkey has seen his stock soar since the NFL Combine and what he can do on the field is what makes him intriguing for any team selecting in the late first-round or early second-round.

CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso writes:

“McConkey would give the Bills precisely what they need -- a field-stretcher for 2024 who has WR1 upside because of his route-running chops and deceptive YAC capabilities.”

Like Mitchell, McConkey is a prospect who will need time to find his niche in the offense.  With his upside and route-running, he will be a favorite of Allen but not a player who will come in fill the void left by Diggs.  There are a few players in this draft who could do that right away unless the Bills somehow round a way to get into the top 15 and select a receiver like Brian Thomas Jr, or Rome Odunze.

Buffalowdown gives the nod to Adonai Mitchell

Who does our sister site Buffalodown have the Bills selecting?  Contributor Ronnie Eastman agrees with the NFL.com mock in Buffalo taking Mitchell.  There was some thought given to McConkey, but the Texas product will be the choice as the best available at No. 28.  This was before Diggs was traded so the idea was for Mitchell and Diggs as a tandem catching the ball from Allen. 

Here at NFL Mocks, the nod goes to Mitchell as well, but there’s a good bet the Bills trade up and end up with a player like Thomas Jr and then also draft a receiver in the second or third round.