Buffalo Bills Draft Targets: The X-Receiver Prospects Who Fit the Best

Matthew Golden, Texas WR
Buffalo Bills Draft Targets: The X-Receiver Prospects Who Fit the Best | The Wandering Buffalo

This Wide Receiver draft prospect list is ranked specifically with the Bills in mind. I believe they are in need of an X-receiver, therefore those players are ranked higher than slot guys. The slot guys ranked would be value guys drafted well behind their projection. I have purposely left Tetairoa McMillan off of this list because I do not want the Bills to move up for a WR and he is certainly gone by pick 30. I have also left Travis Hunter off this list as I think he will play CB at the next level with WR plays sprinkled in.

Matthew Golden - Texas
5’-11” 191
Hands - 9 ½, Arm 30 ⅝, 40 Time - 4.29
X-Receiver, 21 years old (turns 22 in August)
Projection - Mid 1st round

Golden is an absolute burner, excelling also as an All-State track star in high school and running the fastest 40 time at the Combine. More than just speed, he has elite route running skills and knows how to adjust tempo in the route, creating separation in both man and zone coverage. Not the tallest guy, he can still high point the ball very well with incredible body control to adjust to off-target throws. He is explosive with consistent big play potential.

His frame is certainly a concern and he could afford to bulk up for the next level. Does have some durability concerns having foot surgery and a rib injury over the last couple years. The medicals could definitely change his draft stock. He has a tendency for drops, sometimes thinking about the run before the catch and he needs refinement as a blocker.

I think Beane really wants to add more speed to the Bills offense and Golden has it in spades. Defenses will have to respect it from day one and this will open up Shakir underneath. Beane will find it tough to ignore his separation ability and reliable hands creating a constant big play threat and Brady would love to add that to his tool box. The impressive 40 time will be tough for other GMs to ignore, but if he falls I think the Bills have to grab him.

Tre Harris - Ole Miss
6’-2” 205
Hands - 9 ⅝, Arm 31 ⅞, 40 Time - 4.54
X-Receiver, 23 years old (Just turned 23 in February)
Projection - Late 1st/early 2nd

I love this guy and to me he seems like a McDermott guy. Former two-star recruit who went from small high school to Louisiana Tech to lighting up the SEC at Ole Miss, Harris has a work ethic that will be tough to match. Though I don’t think he ran his best 40 time at the Combine, he has enough speed and a long stride to create separation. He has elite catching skills with exceptional body control and hands that come down with 50-50 balls consistently. He also has elite field awareness, finding soft spots in the zone and working back to the QB off structure. He is physical and can box out defenders in the red zone while also bringing that physicality to the run game as an excellent blocker.

Though he is physical in the red zone and as a blocker, he doesn't always play to his size against more physical corners at the line of scrimmage. This causes a lack of explosiveness off the line as he needs to build to his speed and can get knocked off his routes at times. He is also not the most polished route runner with a limited route tree.

This is an outside boundary receiver who I think will really impress Beane and McDermott when he gets in front of them. Brady asks his receivers to be an important part of the run game and he is elite in this area. His size is impressive and his speed is fast enough. He also jumps out of the gym with an impressive vertical and broad jump at the combine. I do worry his skill set mirrors Coleman’s maybe too closely, but his consistent improvement and work ethic will make him an enviable pick

Luther Burden III - Missouri
6’-0” 206
Hands - 8 ½, Arm 31 ¼, 40 Time - 4.41
Multi-Role receiver, 21 years old (Turns 22 in December)
Projection - Mid 1st round

An elite prospect since high school, he is a former five-star recruit and was ranked by ESPN as the #1 receiver by several national outlets. The hype didn’t lie as he made an immediate impact at Missouri with 6 receiving and 2 rushing TD’s his freshman year and a sophomore season with 1,212 yards and 9 receiving TD’s. A junior season well below his standards can be explained by a combination of injury and declining quarterback play. He is explosive and fast allowing him to create separation at the line while also being a deep threat. He has elite after the catch ability because of good balance and agility. He also brings that dog mentality to the run game with physical play and the ability to sustain his blocks.

There are questions as to his physicality against press coverage and his ability to play through handsy corners. He also needs to expand and refine his route running. He has the ability to run the full route tree, but gets lazy by rounding off routes rather than exploding out of them. His raw athletic ability can sometimes mask his technical flaws.

Beane will like this guy a lot and his pedigree is hard to ignore, even with a down junior year. Brady will salivate at the opportunity to draw up plays for this guy and should be able to use him both inside and outside. His elite play making with the ball in his hands will also make him a viable option for screens and jet-sweeps. If Beane is looking for his Curtis Samuel replacement in 2026, here he is.

Elic Ayomanor - Stanford
6’-2” 206
Hands - 10, Arm 32 ⅜, 40 Time - 4.44
X-Receiver, 21 years old (Turns 22 in June)
Projection - Late 2nd

Coming out of Alberta, Canada it may be easy to overlook Ayomanor, but he led Stanford in receiving in 2023 & 2024, raking up over 1,900 yards and 12 TD’s in those two seasons. A former track athlete with a big frame, he has the speed to stretch the field and the size to box out defenders on contested catches and high-point the ball. He has excellent body control with an ability to react to off-target throws. A smart player both on and off the field, he has a high football IQ to find soft spots in zone and react to defensive leverage. As a route runner he understands how to adjust his tempo and use head feints to create separation. As a blocker he is great and his size allows him to seal the edge

Due to his larger frame he is not as explosive on short patterns and can be disrupted at the line by more physical corners. His biggest weakness may be working in tight spaces, especially at the line of scrimmage. He also needs to develop a broader route tree and excel beyond the vertical and crossing patterns. Drops have also been an issue as he dropped 12 passes in his two seasons at Stanford.

I know I have this guy higher than maybe anyone, but this is a Bills specific list and I think this pick could fit perfectly with need and draft position. Beane will see this guy as a chain mover who operates best in the intermediate area of the field that I think he expected Kincaid to dominate in. They also love athletic freaks and Ayomanor has a RAS of 9.67 out of 10. Brady will like the deep threat that he can bring to the offense, but knows he can operate at multiple levels and can be an impact on day one. He can thrive off of play action. All this makes him a safe selection as a second rounder with a WR2 floor and a WR1 potential.

Emeka Egbuka - Ohio St.
6’-1” 202
Hands - 9 ⅝, Arm 31 ½, 40 Time - 4.30
Slot Receiver, 22 years old (turns 23 in October)
Projection - Mid to late 1st round

A two-sport athlete in high school, he was the number 1 rated prospect entering college and made an immediate impact as a kick returner. After an incredible sophomore year with 1,151 yards and 10 TD’s, and ankle injury his junior year probably kept him out of last year's draft. A benefit to Ohio St. as he returned to his sophomore form with 1,011 yards and 10 TD’s. Egbuka is an elite route runner who knows how to vary his tempo in order to get open and cuts aggressively at the top to create separation. The guy is electric after the catch with elite speed and vision who could contribute in the return game right away. He can work at all three levels of the field with exceptional ball tracking skills on deep routes and an ability to find soft spots in zones underneath.

Though he is great with the ball in his hands, he can struggle with catches outside of his body. He also struggles against physical corners which contributed to his lack of use on the outside. Though he has the size to play outside, he has limited experience there. He also struggles as a blocker. Ankles can be tricky and he required surgery causing him to miss 3 games in 2023, so the medical from the combine will be a factor as well.

Like Luther Burden III the pedigree is there, but Beane will have to ask himself if Egbuka is a positional fit. He is crafty and technical and just may be the best route runner in the draft, but does he have the ability to play outside is the question. That potential can be very intriguing however because if he can develop into a better receiver outside and against press coverage then he could become one of the most well rounded receivers in the game.

Jayden Higgins - Iowa St.
6’-4” 214
Hands - 9 ⅛, Arm 33 ⅛, 40 Time - 4.47
X-Receiver, 22 years old (turns 23 in December)
Projection - Late 2nd round

A guy who bet on himself, the former two-star recruit started his career at Eastern Kentucky and then transferred to Iowa State where he accounted for over 2,000 yards, 15 TD’s, and became a well rounded receiver in the process. Higgins catches everything with a 3% drop rate and uses his large wingspan to give quarterbacks a large catch radius. He is a savvy route runner who can manipulate tempo to create separation and knows how to find the soft spots in the zone to get open. His high football IQ allows him to lineup in multiple positions and create matchup nightmares for defenses.

His size hampers his ability to burst out of breaks and his straight-line speed can make it difficult for him to threaten defenses vertically. He also needs to be stronger in contested catches and learn to use his large frame to box out defenders. He also needs to develop as a run blocker.

His size is impressive and his ability to consistently catch the ball will make Josh Allen fall in love with him knowing that he just needs to get it close. Beane and McDermott will love this guy's work ethic and he recognizes that he is a playmaker, even if his testing comes up a little short. Brady would see this guy as a matchup nightmare, knowing he can line him up inside and outside to manipulate defenses.

Jaylen Royals - Utah State
6’-0” 205
Hands - 9 ½, Arm 30 ⅛, 40 Time - 4.42
X-Receiver, 22 years old (just turned 22 in February)
Projection - Late 2nd round

Royals is simply an athlete. He is a former high jumper in high school and an AAU basketball player who has a rare combination of speed and size. He has been able to take these tools to the football field. At Utah State he set a school record with 15 TD’s in 2023. His background in basketball helps him to run through cuts like a point guard and he knows how to use his body to box out defenders and high point the ball. He has the vertical speed to stretch the field while having big play potential on short routes with a dangerous run after the catch ability. His quick twitch helps him create separation and he is masterful at making the first man miss.

A former JUCO talent who transferred to Utah State, questions surround Royals about his ability to produce against elite talent. This step up against competition will require development in technique and he needs to learn to run a larger route tree, especially in that 15-20 yard range. He struggles getting off the line against press coverage and he needs a lot of development as a blocker.

Royals is a home run threat everytime he touches the ball. If Beane drafts him he is doing so knowing that he is a player who needs refinement and it may be a couple years before he can produce consistently. Brady will look to get the ball in his hands a variety of ways and look to move him inside and outside. Knowing his vertical threat must be respected, this will soften defenses underneath and could give players like Shakir more room to operate. I think this player's floor may be lower than most, but his ceiling is definitely a number 1 receiver.

Savion Williams - TCU
6’-4” 222
Hands - 10 ¼, Arm 32 ½, 40 Time - 4.48
X-Receiver, 23 years old (turns 24 in November)
Projection - Late 2nd/early 3rd

A championship winning high school quarterback, Williams flew under the radar as a three-star recruit. This turned out to be TCU’s gain as Williams showed consistent development, culminating in a 12 TD (6 receiving & 6 rushing) senior season. An athletic freak, Williams can jump out of the gym and reportedly squat 600 pounds and bench 355. His strength shows up on tape, allowing him to run through contact and maintain balance in traffic. Though his top end speed is middle of the pack, his acceleration off the line is elite, forcing corners to respect him as a vertical threat. He also has impressive lateral quickness for a big man, allowing him to threaten not only vertically, but horizontally as well.

Though he can run through contact, he is less impressive on contested catches. Overall his hands are a concern as he has a tendency to lose concentration and drop routine passes. He needs to develop as a route runner in the intermediate area in order to separate from defenders. He also needs development in running a full route tree. His blocking also needs to improve, especially for a guy with his size and strength. He needs to develop into an edge setter in the run game and learn to maintain blocks.

McDermott has said he wants to add speed, but that speed means both vertical and horizontal and Willians fits this bill. Brady will love his ability to use this player as both a receiver and a runner. His vision makes him a playmaker so Brady will find a variety of ways to get the ball in his hands allowing Williams to make an immediate impact. Beane will know that a refined development plan will be key to turning this player into a top receiver in the league. The athletic ability is there in spades, but he needs to develop the technical aspect of his game.

Tai Felton - Maryland
6’-1” 183
Hands - 9, Arm 30, 40 Time - 4.37
Multi Position Receiver, 21 years old (turns 22 in March)
Projection - 3rd round

A three-star recruit hailing from Ashburn, Virginia, Tai chose to stay close to home for college and attend Maryland, turning down offers from Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Nebraska amongst others. Felton developed steadily at Maryland before making a name for himself his junior year and having a huge senior year. He started his senior year with four consecutive 100+ tard games and finished the season with 1,124 yards and 9 TD’s. He has elite speed who knows how to separate and will torch corners in man coverage. He is an exceptional route runner who can quickly change gears, sell fakes, and use inside leverage to create separation on slants. He has a high football IQ that helps in finding soft spots in zone and excels in option routes. His body control and awareness helps him to use the width of the field on players where other receivers may drift out of bounds.

His lack of bulk can allow him to be bullied against aggressive corners, especially in press coverage. This also causes him to be knocked off line, puts him out of rhythm, and can impact him on timing routes where he can really excel. His lack of physicality affects him in contested catches and in blocking. He struggles to maintain blocks and lacks the strength to slow down linebackers.

Beane will have to ask himself if he wants the speed can he sacrifice the physical traits. All the technical skills are there and this team will love what he can bring to the table. Brady will love his ability to take the top off the defense, while knowing that his ability to separate will have him lining up both inside and outside and move the chains on short yardage situations. Bills receivers have struggled beating man coverage, but this is where Felton might be the best in the class. If Allen can develop a great rapport with Felton then he can freely throw to him with confidence and anticipate where the open space will be. His success as an elite player at the next level will be if he can add size without sacrificing that quickness.

Dont’e Thorton - Tennessee
6’-5” 205
Hands - 9 ⅝, Arm 32 ⅛, 40 Time - 4.30
X-Receiver, 22 years old (turns 23 in December)
Projection - 4th or 5th round

A four-star recruit, Thorton ranked as the 57th prospect nationally and the 7th overall wide receiver coming out of high school. He had a bit of a lackluster college career, spending the first two years at Oregon before transferring to Tennessee for his junior and senior season. He began to show promise his senior year with 6 TD’s and showing big play ability averaging 25.4 yards per catch. This chunk play ability should translate to the NFL, making him a chain mover and a weapon when teams are behind the chains. Thornton has elite size and speed allowing him to stretch the field vertically and catch the ball above everyone on the field, making him a red zone nightmare. He has incredible body control, expanding his catch radius and allowing him to haul in off target throws. For a taller guy, he gets up to speed quickly, allowing him to create separation off the snap.

His college career is puzzling, but it cannot be ignored as he struggled to consistently make an impact in college. His route running is raw and his tree is limited. He needs to be more aggressive in his breaks and learn to create separation against press coverage. Though he has size, he doesn’t show the strength to be effective in the run game and lacks good technique to maintain blocks and set the edge.

This is admittedly a bit of a dart throw, but Thorton is no doubt on Beane’s radar as a day 3 pick. His mix of size and speed is going to make him a draftable project player. His red zone abilities and vertical threat will make him an immediate impact player and Brady will love this weapon. Allen will see him as a vertical option on early downs and know he has a guy who can pick up chunk plays. Beane will find it hard to ignore his athletic upside, but knows this player will be a project. The team will have to know how to develop him to be a more technical receiver and a polished route runner. Though he has a dangerous floor, his ceiling is through the roof as a day 3 pick.

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