The 2016 NFL Draft is under a month away and the Buffalo Bills -- unlike last year -- have a first round selection to try and find themselves an impact starter. With a pair of selections on Day Two, the Bills could even two more starters to the roster.
General manager Doug Whaley has continued to say the Bills will look for the best player available and won't draft based on need, which makes them fairly unpredictable up until they make a selection on April 28. With so many positions that they could go after, the Bills have a great deal of names to keep an eye on -- as long as you know what you're looking for.
Leading up to the start of the draft, WKBW.com will be going through potential names that the Buffalo Bills could select in the 2016 NFL Draft:
WR Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 221
Why he’s a fit
- With Robert Woods being a free agent at the end of 2016, the simple fact is that wide receiver will be a position that needs to be addressed sometime between now and the 2017 regular season. With Treadwell, the Bills would be taking another crack at getting a true number-two wideout in hopes that he could help elevate the offense to the next level. Although he doesn’t have blazing speed, Treadwell is masterful when the ball is in the air. He hides his hands well which helps him gain an advantage over the defender. He could even push Robert Woods into the slot receiver role as soon as this season.
Why the Bills may shy away
- If the Bills were to take Treadwell at 19th overall — which would likely be the only time they have an opportunity to draft him — it could be perceived as a luxury pick. In a run-first offense, and already with two main targets in wide receiver Sammy Watkins and tight end Charles Clay, the following debate must be had: just how much of an impact would Treadwell have? Robert Woods wasn’t targeted much, but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of being open. Drafting Treadwell would be a secondary or tertiary option for an offense that runs the ball almost 60-percent of the time.
Joe B. Verdict
- If the Bills were to draft Treadwell, it would bring them yet another playmaker on offense, but it would also ignore the problem area from the 2015 season. The Bills played poorly on defense, and if they are going to run Rex Ryan’s 3-4 defense as he intends, they need more players that will help the full-on transition. If Treadwell were to be available in the second round for the Bills, that would be a different story due to an extremely high value at that selection, but there is likely little chance of that happening. He’s an intriguing player and one that’s certainly fun to watch, but the Bills seem focused on the defensive side of the ball in the first round at least.
