2024 NFL Draft Grades: Buffalo Bills

Day 1 grade: B
Day 2 grade: A-
Day 3 grade: A

Analysis: Buffalo found the potential big-play receiver it needed in Coleman after trading down twice in Round 1 (for relatively small gain). It will be interesting to see if dealing with the Chiefs so Kansas City could pick speedy pass-catcher Xavier Worthy comes back to bite the Bills. Bishop should be a good starter. Carter adds determination and leadership to the defensive line, although he was picked a bit earlier than I expected.

Davis' tenacity as a runner is the perfect complement to James Cook. I projected Van Pran-Granger to the Bills a bit later in the fifth round in my final mock draft, but he was still a good value for a stout pivot. Securing a 2025 fourth-round pick for a fifth-rounder this year in a trade with the Bears will pay dividends down the road. Solomon is shorter than most Bills edge rushers, but he gets to the quarterback. Hardy could be a nickel candidate and is a strong return man.

Top needs entering the draft: Wide receiver, safety, offensive line

My ears perked up when I heard Buffalo was trading with Kansas City in Round 1, and now the Bills will forever be linked with the Chiefs' move for wideout Xavier Worthy, just as they are with Patrick Mahomes. Yes, all the way back in the 2017 draft, it was the Bills who dropped 18 spots to allow the Chiefs to get a player who already is one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history. Sure, hindsight is 20-20, and sure, Buffalo has to do what's best for its organization. That's a mighty weight it has carried around, however, and now Mahomes was handed the fastest receiver in NFL combine history.

GM Brandon Beane ended up trading down one more time, this time out of Round 1 completely. He finally filled his team's biggest need, taking Keon Coleman (33) at the top of Round 2. Coleman ran a 4.61 40-yard dash at the combine, which dropped his stock a little bit, but at 6-3, he can go up and snag contested catches with the best of them. The next step is to be more consistent on every route. He's going to get a lot of targets in an offense that needs quality pass-catchers on the outside.

I liked several of Beane's other selections. Cole Bishop (60) is a versatile playmaker in the secondary, while running back Ray Davis (128) had seven receiving scores last season, which makes him an interesting player at the next level. DeWayne Carter (95) can get after quarterbacks from his defensive tackle spot, while Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (141) was a three-year starter at Georgia. I could see him challenging veteran Connor McGovern for snaps as a rookie. Off-ball linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (160) had a great workout at the combine and was one of my risers.

This is a good haul, not a great one, and I'm rooting for Coleman to turn into a WR1 in Buffalo so my guy Josh Allen wins an MVP.

IT'S TOUGH FOR ME TO GET EXCITED ABOUT THE BILLS DRAFT HAUL. After trading back twice in the first round, Buffalo made Florida State receiver Keon Coleman (my 55th ranked player) their top pick at no. 33. Coleman's got upside to be sure, with top-tier size, excellent body control, and strong, reliable hands—but I see him as a boom-or-bust prospect with a concerning lack of high-end production and route-running and separation skills that are still in development. I'm a fan of safety Cole Bishop, who plays like his hair is on fire as he flies around at the second level—but beyond him, I'm not sure I see a big difference-maker in Buffalo's class. Defensive tackle DeWayne Carter should become part of the defensive line rotation. Running back Ray Davis could emerge as a thunder element to James Cook in the team's running back group. And Georgia center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger could compete for the center job on Buffalo's offensive line.

A team with a clear receiver need following the trade of Diggs and departure of Gabe Davis took some heat Thursday for dropping out of Round 1 rather than aggressively targeting a replacement. Yet in a deep wideout draft, GM Brandon Beane did just fine, getting Florida State's Keon Coleman, arguably a first-round talent, at the top of Round 2 — and even if he isn't a blazer, he's fast enough, catches contested balls and will provide QB Josh Allen with a big target. Win, especially with a bonus of additional picks for a team that was depleted by salary-cap reckoning. Second-round S Cole Bishop is unlikely to make anyone forget Jordan Poyer or Micah Hyde. Third-round DT DeWayne Carter should have an impact on the pass rush and could quickly emerge as a new defensive leader. And while signing undrafted free agent RB Frank Gore Jr. will garner headlines, fourth-rounder Ray Davis (Kentucky) could be the one who makes hay while easing the load on James Cook.

Bills GM Brandon Beane might draft for need as much — or more than — any other executive in the NFL. This draft is a perfect example of that. And he addressed those needs in order of priority: receiver (Keon Coleman), safety (Cole Bishop), defensive tackle (DeWayne Carter), running back (Ray Davis) and interior offensive line (Sedrick Van Pran-Granger). I get leery about GMs drafting for need, because it often means they've reached. There's some of that here. But for the most part, there's more to like about this draft. Buffalo's moves back out of the first round allowed Beane to target what he seemed to think was the sweet spot. —Henry McKenna

Best Pick: Third-round defensive tackle DeWayne Carter is a bit undersized, but he will be a good player. They need rotation guys inside and he will fill that role early in his career.

Worst Pick: I didn't love the pick of safety Cole Bishop in the second round. I know it helps to fill a need, but there were better options on the board when he went.

The Skinny: I like the way general manager Brandon Beane managed his picks, moving down in the first round to add more ammunition. They still ended up with a good haul for a team that needed an influx of players, starting with second-round receiver Keon Coleman, a bigger target that was needed.

Analysis: The Bills were methodical in addressing their key needs under GM Brandon Beane, but they chose not to be too aggressive in doing so. They settled for Coleman as their future No. 1 of choice after trading back and helping the Chiefs. Bishop, Carter, and late-round steal Solomon can be maximized by defensive-minded Sean McDermott. Davis and Van Pran-Granger are good depth boosts for the running game.

Analysis: The Bills spent the first round driving their fans insane, trading back twice, including once with the Kansas City Chiefs. Eventually Buffalo made a few selections including Coleman, a big-bodied receiver with limited speed. Bishop was a better pick, helping replace the departures of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. However, Carter may be the Bills' best choice, giving them a third option inside with DaQuan Jones and Ed Oliver.

The Bills were pilloried for trading down with the Chiefs, as if the Patrick Mahomes trade was happening all over again. But this is a team that has gone from Super Bowl contenders to rebuilding franchise sooner than it would have liked, so getting the extra picks was important. And general manager Brandon Beane got impact potential starters at key positions.

Keon Coleman isn't the fastest receiver on any field, but he's a jump-ball master and contested-catch monster who can turn 50/50 balls to 80/20 balls in his favor. Cole Bishop makes Buffalo's safety issues a lot less pertinent with his awareness and athleticism, and DeWayne Carter was one of the more underrated interior defensive linemen in his group. I also love Ray Davis, who runs like a Mack truck and has overcome all kinds of personal tragedy to get here. Whatever the NFL throws at him, Davis will throw it right back.

Your sleeper here is Penn State cornerback Daequan Hardy, who has been a lockdown defender in each of the last three seasons. I also LOVE Troy's Javon Solomon — his pass-rushing tape really stands out.

Travis Clayton is a former rugby player who came through the International Pathway Program, and the Bills are clearly hoping for a Jordan Mailata story.

Anyway, throw the performative outrage away. The Bills need a lot of picks. The Chiefs don't. It's as simple as that.