REPORT: Bills to Add 6-Foot-4 WR as New Target for Josh Allen
The Buffalo Bills will have some significant decisions to make regarding their wide receiver group this offseason, as two important veterans are set to hit free agency.
One insider believes that, regardless of the team’s choices regarding those veterans, they might look to add some youth and flexibility to the position.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report suggested that the Bills could target a wide receiver in the mid to late rounds of the NFL Draft, focusing on a player with substantial size and versatility. After already making changes to their wide receiving corps this season, including parting ways with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, the Bills may continue to prioritize future growth in next month’s draft.
Bills Target Versatile Pass Catcher
Ballentine proposed that the Bills might target Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins in the later rounds of the NFL draft, potentially after the fourth round. This suggestion comes as the team could lose one or two key veterans who played significant roles in 2024.
“Wide receiver could become a higher priority for the Bills in the draft if they don’t bring back Amari Cooper or Mack Hollins,” Ballentine noted. “If they manage to secure at least one veteran to pair with Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir, they may look for a developmental option on Day 3.”
Ballentine highlighted Higgins’ versatility, noting that he can line up anywhere on the field. At 6’4″, 217 pounds, Higgins may not be the fastest athlete, but he’s strong at winning contested balls. “Drafting Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins would add another big-bodied receiver. He can line up at all three receiver spots, making him a viable fourth receiver with potential,” Ballentine explained.
Over two seasons at Iowa State, Higgins recorded 140 catches for 2,166 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Buffalo May Have Other Priorities
The Bills have hinted that they may focus on adding more diverse skills to their wide receiving corps this offseason. While the team had plenty of size and physicality last year, they lacked a true speedster to stretch the field and take full advantage of quarterback Josh Allen’s strong arm.
General manager Brandon Beane addressed the need for more speed at the NFL Combine, acknowledging that although the offense averaged over 30 points per game, speed could still be a valuable addition. “Maybe you could say we didn’t have enough speed… we averaged over 30 (points per game). If we were, you know, the 20th-ranked offense or something, and (lack of speed) was constantly showing up, I would probably agree with that,” Beane said, via the Democrat & Chronicle.
Beane emphasized that while speed isn’t the sole ingredient for an offense’s success, it’s a crucial element the team has been missing at times in recent seasons. “Do I think (a lack of speed) cost us winning the Super Bowl? No,” he said. “Could we improve it? Yes. We’re always looking to add speed, but they’ve got to be football players, too. So I’m never going to turn down speed. I promise you, I’m not. You want speed at as many positions as you can. But football, as we know, is not played on a track, and so it’s the whole thing. We are evaluating the football player first, and then, ‘What else do they bring to the equation?’”