Bleacher Report mocks a polarizing South Carolina receiver to Western New York, prioritizing raw physical upside over immediate refinement to bolster Josh Allen’s future aerial attack.
The 2026 season has barely gotten off the ground, but that doesn't mean you can't look forward to what next year could bring. Teams always have to prepare for the future, and that means starting the scouting process early for the NFL Draft.
The Buffalo Bills are playing with Super Bowl expectations this season, which means they hope to be picking late in the first round again. While you aren't going to get the draft's top-end talent, there's still a good chance you can get a game-changing player.
Or, in the case of the Bills, a prospect with tremendous upside that may be viewed as a bit of a reach.
In their first 2027 NFL Mock Draft, Bleacher Report's scouting department went through the entire first round. For the Bills, they have them picking 31st, which, if you didn't know, would have them making the Super Bowl but losing in this scenario.
That aside, let's look at the pick.
There are a lot of ways the Bills could go in the first-round next year. Some believe Buffalo should target offensive line with Dion Dawkins having one year left on his deal and the left guard position still being a question mark. Others think defensive line is something the Bills need to address, to get them a solid player on the end.
For Bleacher Report, they go to a position that fans always want to see improvement from: wide receiver.
Buffalo has D.J. Moore under contract for a few years, and Khalil Shakir continues to be one of Josh Allen's most reliable targets. Outside of that, there are a few unknowns. Will Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer remain on the roster after 2026? How will Skyler Bell develop as a rookie?
Should those answers not be what the Bills are hoping for, a receiver could make sense. At pick 31, it's highly unlikely Buffalo has a chance at the top prospects like Jeremiah Smith, Cam Coleman, Nick Marsh, or Ryan Coleman-Williams. But that doesn't mean there won't be any solid options.
Rather than go with some of the other top receivers like Indiana's Charlie Becker, Clemson's Bryant Wesco Jr., or Texas' Ryan Wingo, Bleacher Report chose a receiver who's more of a project with large upside than someone ready to fit in on day one.
With the 31st overall pick in their mock draft, Bleacher Report has the Bills selecting wide receiver Nyck Harbor out of South Carolina.
At 6-5, 239 pounds, Harbor is a physically imposing receiver, something Buffalo hasn't had in years.
Bleacher Report scout Dame Parson calls him a "big-play threat waiting to happen." However, he needs some work in other areas of his game.
"[The] uber-athlete is unrefined as a route-runner," Parson said. "Despite a lack of development, Harbor's elite combination of size and athletic traits will force teams to bet on his potential. If he takes a significant step forward this season, his name will be heard much earlier than previously anticipated."
Harbor is expected to have a major role in South Carolina's offense this season. If things progress the way Parson believes, Harbor will either be the player the Bills have been looking for for years, or someone not worth taking in the first round.
