As always, my mock draft does not include any trades. Yes, I know there will be trades, but they are so hard to predict and once you miss on one, it has a ripple effect on several other picks the rest of the way.

With that said, there are definitely scenarios where I believe the Buffalo Bills could trade either up or down from pick No. 28.

I used the Pro Football Focus Mock Draft Simulator to create this draft.

Here we go. Your first round is on me:

Round 1 mock
Photo credit Pro Football Focus Mock Draft Simulator

28.) Buffalo Bills: Xavier Worthy – Wide receiver – Texas

I’d be surprised if the Bills take anything other than wide receiver in Round 1, regardless of where they pick.

I think general manager Brandon Beane would love Brian Thomas Jr. to fall this far, but that doesn’t seem likely. In my mock, he goes 20th overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers as the fourth receiver off the board.

That still leaves Beane with plenty of options at wideout, either at 28th overall or by trading down. By staying, he still has his choice of receivers like Adonai Mitchell, Ladd McConkey, Troy Franklin, Xavier Legette, Ricky Pearsall, Keon Coleman, and my pick for them – Xavier Worthy.

Every time I think about which receiver Beane wants to add, I keep hearing both him and head coach Sean McDermott repeatedly talk about explosiveness, speed, and RAC (Run After Catch) ability. Worthy not only checks all of those boxes, but those are his three best traits and what separate him from the others in the class.

McDermott has mentioned several times this offseason the way defenses have changed, and why it’s important for offenses to get the ball to playmakers without having to go over the top.

Worthy broke the NFL Combine record with a 4.21 40-yard dash, so he can certainly go over the top. However, he’s incredibly dynamic with the ball in his hands with an ability to make defenders miss.

The 20-year-old averaged more than 14 yards per-catch over a very productive, high-volume, three-year career at the University of Texas. He can line up and be a threat from anywhere, something the Bills value quite a bit under new offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

Finally, Worthy was also one of the top punt returners in college football last year. The Bills don’t have a true punt return threat on their roster right now. He’d be able step right into that role, even if he takes a little time to get acclimated at wide receiver.