The Buffalo Bills entered the season with Super Bowl expectations. Instead, after 10 games they find themselves at 7-3, 1 1/2 games behind the surprising New England Patriots in the AFC East, occupying the No. 5 seed in the conference just two games above the out-of-the-playoffs zone.
What’s going on?
The reasons for Buffalo’s underperformance are complex and varied, but one aspect of their game stands out as particularly lacking â the passing attack.
How the Bills have been sluggish through the air despite quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning NFL MVP and a probable future Hall of Famer is a bit of a puzzle. But the fact remains, the Bills rank only ninth in yards through the air (2,398) and 10th in aerial touchdowns (18). Not terrible, but not obviously Super Bowl caliber either.
Bills Receivers Lagging Behind NFL
By contrast, the Patriots, behind sophomore quarterback Drake Mayeâthe 2024 No. 3 overall draft pickâhave thrown for the second-most yards (2,685) and fifth-most touchdowns (20).
No Bills receiver has caught more than 454 yards worth of passes. That would be fourth-year wide receiver Khalil Shakir, but his total places him only 49th among all NFL receivers.
With the trade deadline having passed on November 4, there isn’t much the Bills can do to upgrade their receiver corps in any serious way.
But according to a new mock draft published by CBS Sports on Monday, the Bills will address their pass-catching deficiencies by way of the 26th pick in the first round â which is where the Bills would be positioned if the draft were held this week.
Aggies Wide Receiver to Bills at No. 26
According to CBS draft analyst Michael Renner, the Bills would select Texas A&M wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion, a junior who arrived this year through the transfer portal from North Carolina State â and who is the current SEC leader in touchdown catches with eight.
“Concepcion is the separator the Bills offense has been missing,” Renner wrote in his mock draft summary. “He’d add a vertical element as well as the ability to be their go-to guy on third downs. He’s caught 47 passes for 787 yards and eight scores this year.”
‘Nightmare’ After Catch
Concepcion possesses neither exceptional size nor out-of-the ordinary speed, at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, clocked at a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, according to NFL Draft Buzz.
“Absolute nightmare after the catch â has that slippery quality where the first defender rarely brings him down and consistently turns 5-yard catches into 15-yard gains,” the NFL Draft Buzz scouting report says of Concepcion. “Absolute nightmare after the catch – has that slippery quality where the first defender rarely brings him down and consistently turns 5-yard catches into 15-yard gains.”
Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network ranks Concepcion No. 36 overall on his NFL Draft Big Board, but “among WR prospects, Concepcion ranks 6th at the position, trailing prospects like Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate.”
In Renner’s mock draft, Tyson goes at No. 4 to the New Orleans Saints, and Tate to the Washington Commanders at No. 7. Renner sees Lemon hanging around until No. 28 when he goes to the New York Jets with their second pick of the first round.
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