Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Bills GM offers shocking take on team's need for No. 1 WR

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Apr 18, 2024 3:44 PM ET

It’s been two weeks since the Buffalo Bills traded star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and the team hasn’t made any corresponding moves to bring in his replacement.

Many believe the Bills will target a receiver in the first round of next week’s NFL Draft, but general manager Brandon Beane told reporters on Thursday that he doesn’t believe the absence of a No. 1 WR makes Buffalo any less of a contender than it was with Diggs on the roster.

“What you need are guys in this offense that are smart, versatile, selfless and can make the plays that their skill set allows them to make,” Beane said. “…If there's a [No. 1 WR] that pops out either in free agency or the draft that makes sense for us or a really good No. 2, we'll do it, but I don't think not having a No. 1 doesn't mean we can't have success on offense or as a team.”

Bills GM Brandon Beane on the draft need of WR: "We have not filled a No. 1 role. We have a group of guys who bring different skill sets. Would we like to add to it at some point? Yes. But I'm not sitting here thinking we have a glaring hole."
— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) April 18, 2024

Receiver is a popular pick for Buffalo in many mock drafts. Some draft experts have even projected the Bills, who also lost No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, to trade up in the first round to get a better wideout than one that would be available to them at pick No. 28.

However, Beane gave the impression using his first-rounder on a pass catcher isn’t the foregone conclusion many believe it is. Of course, it could just be a smokescreen.

There’s no question Buffalo needs to add at least one more WR before the start of the season as its current depth chart includes Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins and K.J. Hamler, plus tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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