NFL Trade Rumors and Draft Update 2014: Buffalo Bills Could Trade Up In 2014 Draft, Surround Quarterback EJ Manuel With Loaded Weapons
The Buffalo Bills will pick ninth in the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft, but general manager Doug Whaley revealed on Sunday that the team will consider trading up in the draft.
Sources indicated that the Bills are looking at five to six prospects for their first-round pick. But while some of the big names could fall down to Buffalo, Whaley insisted that they are planning to strike a first-round trade.
Whaley said in an interview that they will not hesitate to trade up in the draft if they get the opportunity to land their top target, who can help them advance to the playoffs next NFL season.
"Never say never," Whaley said when asked about the possibility of trading up. "Not a problem as long as it's not detrimental to our team down the road. It's going to be a calculated risk, but if we think this guy is going to get us over the hump and get us into the playoffs, which is our stated goal, then why not make the deal?"
The Bills' defensive line is already loaded with deep talents, and Whaley said that they will address their offensive needs in the draft.
Starting quarterback EJ Manuel showed a lot of promise in his rookie season, tallying 1,972 passing yards with 11 touchdowns. While the 24-year-old quarterback is still considered a work in progress, the Bills are reportedly ready to build their team around Manuel.
"It's a quarterback-driven league, so we're going to [look at] every avenue and every piece of the puzzle to surround EJ and make him as successful as possible," Whaley said. "What we did this offseason affords us the opportunity to go any way and every way in this draft. Our main focus is making sure EJ progresses."
Whaley hinted that he is looking at the possibility of drafting a tall and athletic receiver to serve as Manuel's primary target.
"It would help EJ just because he can find that guy anywhere and also EJ can basically throw up the ball and you've got a 6-5 guy with 35-inch arms and 30-plus vertical, that's a big target that you can have down the field. So that's an exciting thing," Whaley said.
According NFL insider Marc Sessler, Whaley sounded like he is referring to 6-foot-5, 231-pound catcher Mike Evans, who is considered as one of the best, if not the best receiver in the 2014 NFL Draft pool.