NFL draft Day 2 rail (e-edition)
Published 8:13 pm Friday, April 26, 2024
The Buffalo Bills got their wide receiver on Friday night.
So did the Los Angeles Chargers.
After trading down twice and out of the first round, the Bills opened Day 2 of the NFL draft by selecting Florida State’s Keon Coleman to give Josh Allen another playmaker and help replace Stefon Diggs.
The Chargers, who chose Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt over wideouts Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze with the fifth overall pick, traded up to take Georgia’s Ladd McConkey at No. 34. Justin Herbert will be counting on him to fill the void following the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Seven wide receivers went Thursday night, tying a record for most in the first round.
After Atlanta moved up to take Clemson defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro and Washington took Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, New England chose Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk to make it 10 WRs in the top 37.
The Buffalo Bills added a third-rounder and more draft capital after trading twice at the end of the first round, but they still ended up with a receiver in Coleman, who had 50 receptions 11 receiving touchdowns last season.
The Chargers swapped picks with the Patriots to get McConkey, who is a polished receiver with deceptive speed. The most receivers selected in the first two rounds is 13 in 2020.
Oregon Ducks center Jackson Powers-Johnson also heard his name called in the second round. He went 44th overall the the Las Vegas Raiders.