Way-too-early Buffalo Bills 2024 NFL Draft preview

The 2024 NFL Draft is April 25-27 in Detroit. Here is the first-round order, per Tankathon. 

Despite suffering another gut-wrenching playoff loss at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills should still be considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender. However, given how tight Buffalo's budget will be this offseason, GM Brandon Beane's best chance at improving his roster is through the draft. 

2023 record: 11-6 | First-round pick: No. 28 | Team needs: WR, DL, DB

Potential first-round picks: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State; Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon; T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas

With Gabe Davis set to hit free agency and Stefon Diggs' alarming decline in production during the second half of the 2023 season, the Bills must bring in another weapon for QB Josh Allen. Although Buffalo could ultimately re-sign Davis, it wouldn't be a shock if the team let him head elsewhere this offseason, considering he never developed into the 1B receiver it had envisioned. 

If such a scenario transpires during the free-agency period, the Bills should target wideouts capable of seamlessly stepping into Davis' role as a deep threat. While the 6-foot-4 Coleman (658 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023) doesn't have the stats to stack up with some of the other receivers in this year's deep class, he has the intangibles to thrive in Buffalo's offense. 

Franklin, a popular selection for Buffalo on Pro Football Focus' mock draft simulator, also fits the mold of someone who can fulfill Davis' responsibilities. The 21-year-old racked up 81 receptions for 1,383 yards with 14 TDs this past season and averaged the sixth-most receiving yards per game in the FBS (106.4). 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bills will have several key contributors hitting the open market. Even though bolstering the secondary needs to be a priority this offseason, that can be addressed in free agency. But finding a replacement for DT DaQuan Jones should be done through the draft if he leaves Buffalo, and Sweat is a viable option to look into. 

Sweat, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 362 pounds, took home the Outland Trophy in 2023, awarded to the top interior lineman in college football. In 14 games, Sweat collected 45 tackles, eight for loss, two sacks, 31 pressures, four pass breakups and a blocked extra-point attempt.