ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The names vary, but in many mock drafts, NFL pundits have been predicting the Buffalo Bills will take a wide receiver in the first round (No. 22 overall pick) in April.
Whether it's Colorado's Laviska Shenault Jr., Clemson's Tee Higgins or Alabama's Henry Ruggs III, many around the league expect Buffalo to add a weapon for quarterback Josh Allen -- and this would be the year to do so. The 2020 NFL draft class is expected to feature one of the strongest receiver groups since the 2014 class that included Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr. and Davante Adams.
However, it's not a forgone conclusion the Bills will draft a receiver in the first round. If the team goes in a different direction at No. 22, a number of receivers with a second-round grade still should be able to help this offense right away.
Receiver might be the most glaring hole, but it is not the only position of need for Buffalo. Depending on who is on the board, Bills general manager Brandon Beane & Co. could go in a variety of directions.
Defensive end
Jerry Hughes will be 33 when his contract is up after the 2021 season and Trent Murphy is likely not a part of the Bills' plans. Darryl Johnson, a seventh-round rookie in 2019, is promising but unproven. Especially if the Bills are unable to retain unrestricted free agent Shaq Lawson this offseason, defensive end could be an urgent need for one of the league's best defenses over the past few seasons.
There should be options available. Iowa's A.J. Epenesa and LSU's K'Lavon Chaisson are noteworthy prospects, as is Penn State's Yetur Gross-Matos. If any of these edge rushers are available at No. 22, don't be surprised if Buffalo jumps on the opportunity to improve its pass rush.
Running back
I know, I know -- 2019 third-round pick Devin Singletary was arguably the second-best rookie running back in the NFL last season behind Oakland's Josh Jacobs. But the Bills don't just need a receiver, they need playmakers. Coach Sean McDermott said he doesn't believe in having one player carrying the ball, suggesting the team wants another back to share the load with Singletary. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay projected Georgia's D'Andre Swift to Buffalo in his first mock draft of the offseason, an addition that could give the Bills a truly dominant run game. Swift is also an adept pass-catcher and could provide a safety net for Allen out of the backfield.
Defensive back
Tre'Davious White is, at worst, one of the three best cornerbacks in the NFL. Opposite him is a question mark, however, as Levi Wallace nor Kevin Johnson are locks as Buffalo's other starting cornerback. Alabama's Trevon Diggs, Auburn's Noah Igbinoghene or even Florida's CJ Henderson could be options at No. 22 -- as could Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Safety is not yet a position of need for the Bills, but with Jordan Poyer's contract expiring after 2020, the team will have a difficult financial decision to make. There are plenty of mouths to feed in Buffalo, and Poyer deserves a far bigger payday than he came to town on; Winfield could be a safety net should the team decide to go in another direction.