In less than 24 hours, the Buffalo Bills will make their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. With the consensus leaning towards the Bills selecting a wide receiver, the main question is which one they’ll choose.

According to ESPN insider Matt Miller, there’s speculation that Buffalo will make a bold move to secure Washington’s Rome Odunze. Miller expressed on “The Dan Patrick Show” that he believes Buffalo would be eager to make significant efforts to acquire Odunze. He stated, “I completely agree with this approach. If you’re Buffalo, and you’ve been on the cusp of dominating the AFC but struggle against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in crucial moments… why not go all-in to change that?”

Miller highlights that with star quarterback Josh Allen leading the team, Buffalo isn’t expected to have a high first-round pick in 2025 anyway. He suggests, “If you could package this year’s and next year’s first-round picks to secure Rome Odunze, potentially in the top 10… Buffalo is one of the few teams where that argument holds weight.”

“You have the quarterback, you have the infrastructure. What you need is that rookie wide receiver, that guy making $5 million a year, who can be one of the top players in his position. So, why not go for broke?”

Following extensive inquiries across the league, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also connected Odunze to Buffalo. Fowler noted, “The Bills are leaving no stone unturned in their search for receiver assistance this draft. There’s word that they have a strong interest in Odunze and have a general idea of what it might take to acquire him.”

Fowler doesn’t anticipate Buffalo trading up for Odunze, considering the significant challenge of entering the top 10. However, he suggests that this insight provides a glimpse into Buffalo’s thorough evaluation of the wide receiver position.

On the other hand, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News advocates for the Bills to pursue the steep climb. Despite acknowledging the hefty price tag, Skurski emphasizes Odunze’s star potential and the financial advantage of a cost-controlled contract for five years. He concludes, “Go for it. Rating: 10/10.”

Analysts Consider Rome Odunze a Perfect Fit for the Bills

Odunze’s performance last season speaks volumes, tallying an impressive 92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 212 pounds, he is widely regarded as the third-best wide receiver prospect, trailing behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers.

Despite Nabers’ talent, The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia suggests that the Bills may lean towards Odunze due to his perceived fit with the team’s culture. However, Buscaglia acknowledges that trading up for Harrison Jr. is unlikely given the distance they would have to cover.

In Buscaglia’s view, if the Bills do make a substantial move into the top 10, Odunze appears to embody everything they desire in a wide receiver prospect. He possesses the potential to become their primary receiver, boasting the size, ability to secure contested catches, and skills to create separation on the field. Furthermore, Odunze is reputed as a team leader, aligning well with the Bills’ emphasis on a “smart, selfless, and versatile” ethos within the receiver corps. Buscaglia suggests that acquiring Odunze would likely require parting with a first-round pick in the 2025 draft.

Trading away significant draft capital for unproven talent in the NFL might appear risky to some, but recent moves by the Buffalo Bills suggest they’re willing to take bold steps. The Bills absorbed a hefty $31 million in dead money to trade Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. This unexpected trade of their top wide receiver indicates that General Manager Brandon Beane might be inclined to make another substantial move at the NFL draft.