Following the trade of Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans, the Buffalo Bills now have a vacuum at wide receiver.
While a blockbuster deal of a veteran receiver is always possible, general manager Brandon Beane and the Bills’ limited resources may be better served by prioritizing the position in the NFL Draft.
Given Josh Allen‘s propensity for pushing the ball deep downfield in the vertical passing game, the Buffalo Bills would be wise to add a prolific deep-threat who can command similar attention from opposing secondaries as Diggs did during his time in Buffalo.
There is some thought that the Buffalo Bills could put together a sizeable package to trade up into the top-10 picks of the NFL Draft to target the likes of Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze, that could prove a difficult proposition and an ideal fit could be on the board at No. 28.
Adonai Mitchell Named Buffalo Bills’ Perfect Fit.
If the Bills do not make a move in the first round, Adonai Mitchell could be a player to watch.
ESPN says the University of Texas wide receiver is an ideal fit for the Bills in this year’s NFL Draft class.
“With the Bills trading away No. 1 wideout Stefon Diggs to the Texans earlier this week,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen writes. “Mitchell, an explosive-play target with high-end attributes, allows the club to get younger at this position. Mitchell may be used as a vertical option for quarterback Josh Allen in Buffalo’s attack, where he can win down the field with his 4.34-second 40-yard sprint time, 39.5-inch vertical, and ball skills. Plus, he possesses the toughness to deliver after the catch in the center of the field play-action throws, which will allow Allen to rip the ball between the numbers on in-breakers.
“In his final season at Texas, Mitchell posted 11 explosive play receptions (catches of 20 or more yards), and he averaged 15.4 yards per catch. The arrow is pointing up on Mitchell, who can develop his route skills in a pro offense.”
Adonai Mitchell’s NFL Draft Scouting Report.
Mitchell, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 205 pounds, possesses the game-changing speed to compensate for some of Diggs’ explosiveness.
Mitchell is a “ascending prospect with size, speed, and ball skills to become a very good NFL receiver,” according to Lance Zierlein of NFL Media. “But he is still in the process of bridging those characteristics. Mitchell can defeat press and has the speed to take the battle to the next level, but he’s still learning how to bully catchers in close quarters and jump-ball confrontations.”
Mitchell caught 93 receptions for 1,405 yards and 18 touchdowns during three seasons at the University of Georgia and Texas, averaging an astounding 15.1 yards per catch.
Pro Football Focus points out Mitchell only dropped one pass during the 2023 campaign, while posing a strong 16 yards depth of target last season.
A playmaker with the ball in his hands, and a reliable target, Mitchell could immediately ascend to the top of the Bills’ depth chart soften some of the blow from losing Diggs.
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