After punting on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft and going without a pick, the Bills stayed at all three of their Day 2 picks and added the trio of wide receiver Keon Coleman, safety Cole Bishop and defensive tackle DeWayne Carter. Those are their most significant additions of their draft class this year.
But they’ve got plenty more work ahead of them, with seven selections over the next four rounds. They’ll have one pick in the fourth round (No. 128), four picks in the fifth round (Nos. 141, 144, 160 and 163), one sixth-round selection (No. 204) and the first pick in the seventh round (No. 221).
Whether or not GM Brandon Beane stays and makes all those selections is another story entirely. Regardless, Beane almost exclusively uses his Day 3 selections on positions that could conceivably make the 53-man roster.
Which positions fit that description, and who are some names to monitor? Here is the Bills Day 3 big board.
*Arranged by overall need at position
Wide receiver
The Bills already drafted a wide receiver when they selected Keon Coleman at pick No. 33, though the case to double dip at the position this year is a strong one. Even with Coleman, the team only has four players who are a safe bet to make the 53-man roster this year at this point. The strength of the receiver class this year could bring on someone who could backfill the positions at either slot receiver, Z-receiver or someone who can do both.
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
There is a lot to like in the Bills’ pairing with a player who moves faster on tape than his 4.41 40-yard dash indicates and one with excellent yards after catch and separation skills. Franklin’s size is the biggest concern, but he’d be a natural fit at Z receiver in their offense, which they could use after drafting Coleman. There’s a real argument that the Bills don’t have anyone quite like him on their roster.
Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
Walker’s fit in the Bills offense likely would be similar to Franklin’s, but Franklin is the superior prospect because he is better collecting yards after the catch.
Javon Baker, WR, Central Florida
Baker may wind up as a late-third, early-fourth round target who could play across the formation. He doesn’t have incredible speed, but he has the playmaking ability to outperform his draft position, which would be maybe a round or two higher in most years. He could likely fit in at any of the three receiver spots, depending on their preference. Z receiver is the likeliest first stop.
Malik Washington, Virginia
After the Coleman selection, slot receiver is much more realistic, and that’s just what the small but speedy Washington would provide an offense.
Jacob Cowing, Arizona
Cowing has done a little bit of everything throughout his college career. At UTEP, he was a boundary downfield threat who averaged nearly 20 yards per catch on 69 receptions in one season. Then at Arizona, Cowing was a short-to-intermedia weapon who won with separation from the slot receiver position. He’d be an outstanding fit for the Bills.
Jha’Quan Jackson, Tulane
Anthony Gould, Oregon State
Jamari Thrash, Louisville
Ryan Flournoy, SE Missouri State
Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
David White, Western Carolina
Offensive line
The Bills moved on from center Mitch Morse in the offseason, with the plan of moving left guard Connor McGovern to center, and inserting reserve David Andrews into the starting lineup at left guard. Even though that’s the tentative plan, it’s not set in stone for the long term. The Bills have an opening for a developmental offensive linemen, and could go one of two ways. They could go for a versatile interior line prospect that could challenge down the line to start over either Andrews or McGovern, or they could go after a tackle/guard versatile player in the event right tackle Spencer Brown leaves in 2025 via free agency.
Tanor Bortolini, C/G, Wisconsin
An athletic offensive lineman prospect with experience at both guard and center, Bortolini would project well to the Bills’ defensive scheme and potential role.
Nathan Thomas, T/G, Louisiana
Ethan Driskell, T, Marshall
Mason McCormick, IOL, South Dakota State
Beaux Limmer, IOL, Arkansas
The Bills have looked to add athletic offensive linemen, which is just what Limmer brings. He had one of the best Relative Athletic Scores at the center position in this year’s class, which has shown to be a commonality of the offensive linemen the team has gone for in the draft and free agency. Limmer has experience playing both guard and center and could develop into a starter down the line. If Limmer hits, he could easily replace David Andrews or Connor McGovern in the starting lineup at either guard or center — though the Bills would likely prefer center.
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Georgia
Hunter Nourzad, Penn State
Nick Gargiulo, IOL, South Carolina
Javon Foster, T, Missouri
Christian Mahogany, IOL, Boston College
Kingsley Eguakun, IOL, Florida
Matt Lee, IOL, Miami (FL)
Jacob Monk, IOL, Duke
Dylan McMahon, IOL, NC State
Jalen Sundell, IOL, North Dakota State
Edge rusher
Austin Booker, Kansas
Size, traits and projection sums up Booker the best, but this is the type of edge rusher the Bills have gone for in the past. He has only 505 snaps in college to his name, so he’d be a project and rotational player for the first year or two.
Cedric Jonson, Ole Miss
Brennan Jackson, Washington State
Nelson Ceaser III, Houston
Javon Solomon, Troy
Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
Xavier Thomas, Clemson
Braiden McGregor, Michigan
Running back
James Cook is the clear as day top back in Buffalo, but there is an opening for someone to take over the No. 2 role behind him. The team brought back Ty Johnson on a one-year deal, though the right rookie could earn a consistent role as early as the 2024 season. If the Bills are looking to add someone with a differing skill set, physicality and short-yardage ability could be the lean. Special teams ability would be a huge plus, considering the drafted runner would be the third running back on the 53-man roster.
Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
In a limited role compared to others, Wright showed terrific yards after contact that could lend itself well to what the Bills are looking for in a No. 2 back. He also has 4.38 speed and big-play ability.
Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
If the Bills are looking for a big-bodied back to try and pick up some tough yardage, here is a potential target in that third or fourth round range.
Audric Estime, Notre Dame
Estime is a big back who runs with power and has one of the better short-yardage abilities of the class. The Bills have a vacancy for that type of player.
Ray Davis, Kentucky
Isaac Guerendo, Louisville
Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State
Finding a running back this late with some short-yardage ability who can also be active on game days for special teams is an ideal scenario. That’s just what Davis, who is nearly 218 pounds, would provide. The Athletic draft expert Dane Brugler wrote that Davis “runs tough and balanced with the feet to pick through the defense on early downs.”
Kimani Vidal, Troy
Rasheen Ali, Marshall
Cody Schrader, Missouri
Blake Watson, Memphis
Boundary cornerback
The Bills top three boundary cornerbacks are set for 2024 with Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford and Kaiir Elam, but the group is lacking a fourth to round out the depth chart. The Bills have had success with their Day 3 selections of cornerbacks, and they could go back to the well to find their fourth corner for the 2024 season. Special teams ability would be a major plus for any player they add at corner.
T.J. Tampa, Iowa State
Caelan Carson, Wake Forest
Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn
M.J. Devonshire, Pittsburgh
Devonshire, despite a smaller frame (5-10, 186), has an arm length of nearly 33 inches, which is something the Bills look for in zone-scheme cornerbacks. The Bills have also had plenty of success drafting defensive backs from Pittsburgh, so that certainly helps this pairing.
Cam Hart, Notre Dame
Josh Newton, TCU
Qwan’tez Stiggers, Toronto (CFL)
Kalen King, CB/S, Penn State
Linebacker
The Bills have five linebackers that have a good chance to make the 53-man roster right now, though they’ve kept six in the past – especially for special teams purposes. With Tyler Matakevich, Tyrel Dodson and Siran Neal all no longer on the team for 2024, there is a vacancy for special teams assets, and linebacker is one of the easiest positions to translate to those core-four responsibilities.
Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
Cedric Gray, North Carolina
Jeremiah Trotter, Clemson
Jordan Magee, Temple
Edefuan Ulofoshio ,Washington
Curtis Jacobs, Penn State
JD Bertrand, Notre Dame
Jaylan Ford, Texas
Tyruce Knight, UTEP
Darius Muasau, UCLA
Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State
James Williams, Miami (FL)
Steele Chambers, Ohio State
Michael Barrett Jr., Michigan
Joe Andressen, Buffalo
Safety
The Bills spent the No. 60 pick on Cole Bishop which makes double-dipping on a safety a bit more unlikely. However, if there’s someone sticking out on their draft board, you can’t rule it out entirely because the team can get out of veteran Mike Edwards’ contract pretty easily this summer. Either that, or they’d be committing to keeping five safeties in 2024 if the second safety earns a roster spot.
Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest
Mustapha is likely more of the strong-safety type in the Bills’ scheme as a strong run defender with size. The overall coverage instincts could be a draw despite the limited playmaking production. He would be an interesting partner next to Bishop in a starting lineup.
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Texas Tech
Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State
Beau Brade, Maryland
Evan Williams, Oregon
Daijahn Anthony, Ole Miss
Sione Vaki, Utah
Mark Perry, TCU
Defensive tackle
The Bills spent No. 95 on Duke defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, who fits more into the three-technique role than one-technique. If the Bills wanted to try and find a developmental one-technique on Day 3, they could conceivably make a spot for it. But with some roster limitations, it’s not a necessity.
Khristian Boyd, Northern Iowa
A small-school, yet versatile defensive tackle prospect who could find a home for the Bills as a long-term one-technique over time.
Tyler Davis, Clemson
Davis is an intriguing candidate for a one-technique defensive tackle later on in the draft. He’s not quite as versatile as the Bills prefer, though at this point in the draft, that is less important.
(Photo of Troy Franklin: Ric Tapia / Getty Images)
