Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, there was a prevailing belief among Bills Mafia and draft experts that the Buffalo Bills needed to make a bold move by trading up to secure a top-tier wide receiver to complement Josh Allen.
This sentiment intensified after General Manager Brandon Beane traded All-Pro wideout Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans for a 2025 second-round pick in early April.
However, it quickly became apparent that such a significant trade-up was unlikely. An interaction between Beane and New York Giants General Manager Joe Schoen, as shown in the season premiere of HBO’s Hard Knocks Offseason with the New York Giants, revealed that Buffalo understood a move into the top 10, particularly into the top six, was not feasible.
At the Senior Bowl, Beane, Schoen, and Panthers GM Dan Morgan, all of whom had previously worked together in Buffalo, discussed potential draft scenarios. Schoen asked Beane if he was interested in trading up to the No. 6 pick, to which Beane replied, “I can’t afford the pick.” This exchange highlighted Buffalo’s financial limitations in executing such a trade.
Trade talks happen when you least expect them#HardKnocks Offseason with the New York Giants premieres π§π’π‘ππππ§ at 9pm on Max. #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/4ghAnEkNng
— New York Giants (@Giants) July 2, 2024
Had Beane pursued a trade for the No. 6 pick, he would likely have targeted LSU’s Malik Nabers, who was ultimately selected by the Giants, or Washington’s Rome Odunze, who went to the Bears at No. 9.
Using the Jimmy Johnson Valuation Model for draft pick trades, acquiring the No. 6 pick would have required Buffalo to offer picks 28, 60, and a future first-round pick to be considered by the Giants. This would have amounted to roughly 1630 points in exchange for the Giants’ 1600 points, factoring in the discounted value of future picks and the high demand for wide receivers in the 2024 draft.
Instead of making a bold move up the draft board, the Bills opted to trade back twice with the Chiefs, moving from No. 28 to No. 32, and then with the Panthers to secure No. 33. At No. 33, they selected wide receiver Keon Coleman from Florida State. These trades allowed Buffalo to accumulate additional picks (No. 95 and 141) while trading away some later-round selections.
Ultimately, despite the hopes of fans, Beane and the Bills’ front office recognized early on that a significant trade-up for a top wide receiver was not feasible for them in the 2024 draft.
