The Buffalo Bills signed the quick Curtis Samuel in an attempt to bolster their receiving corps after losing No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis to free agency.
According to an insider, the next significant move might occur on the second day of the NFL Draft. In a comprehensive seven-round mock draft, Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com projected the Bills’ selection of wide receiver Troy Franklin of the Oregon Ducks in the second round, with the option to move up to acquire him if necessary.
Bills Hit Home Run on Day 2
Bills general manager Brandon Beane has gotten a reputation for making trades in the first round of the NFL Draft, moving up in each of the last two years to land cornerback Kaiir Elam in 2022 and tight end Dalton Kincaid in 2023. Parrino predicted another move this year, though in the opposite direction.
In his mock draft, the Bills are taken out of the first round completely, giving the Washington Commanders picks No. 35 and No. 78 in exchange for the Bills’ No. 28 overall pick and No. 163. Parrino proposed that the Bills use their two second-round picks—T’Vondre Sweat, a defensive tackle from Texas, and Franklin, a wide receiver—to select Franklin.
The Syracuse.com writer said it would be a boon to the Bills if they could select Franklin.
“Landing Franklin this late in the draft would be an absolute home run for Beane,” Parrino wrote. “He brings a combination of size and speed that doesn’t currently exist in the Bills’ receivers room.”
But Parrino also acknowledged that Franklin might not fall that far, meaning Beane would have to trade up to get his preferred receiver.
“A trade-up in the second round to get Franklin won’t be the worst idea if Beane doesn’t want to wait,” he wrote.
Troy Franklin’s Rising Stock
The Bills may need to move higher in the second round if they want to land Franklin — or make sure they hold onto their first-round pick. Many insiders have pegged him as a first-round pick, including Timm Hamm of SI.com’s Raven Country who predicted Franklin would be taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 30 overall pick.
Franklin has already attracted the attention of the Bills; Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda has reported that the team invited Franklin for a private workout. Pauline also mentioned that Franklin’s performance at Oregon’s pro day left a lasting impact, which might further boost his draft ranking.
Receiver Troy Franklin had one of the better tales from Oregon Pro Day, which was broadcast earlier this week, according to Pauline. Franklin weighed eight pounds over on pro day (176 versus 183 pounds) due to illness during the Combine. Many scouts were impressed by the way he caught the ball in position drills.
With Davis leaving in free agency, the Bills need some assistance at wide receiver. During the second half of the season, star receiver Stefon Diggs also went through a slump. It was the longest stretch of his career for him to go seven games without a touchdown reception.
