Former Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans spent Tuesday meeting with the Buffalo Bills, who own the draft's ninth-overall pick.
Whether Evans will be available at No. 9 likely would be a concern for the team.
Evans (6-foot-5, 231 pounds) generally is considered the No. 2 receiver in this draft, behind only Clemson's Sammy Watkins. Watkins seemingly is a lock to go in the top five, and Evans could appeal to Tampa Bay at No. 7. If the Bucs pass on Evans, the Bills, who announced Evans' visit Tuesday, should get an opportunity to nab him at No. 9 unless Minnesota trades the No. 8 pick to a team coveting Evans.
There were questions about Evans' speed coming off last season, but he answered those by running a 4.53 40-yard dash at February's NFL Scouting Combine. Evans does need time to become a more complete receiver, but he definitely has the potential to become a go-to receiver.
Buffalo recently acquired Mike Williams from Tampa Bay to serve as a complementary receiver for Stevie Johnson, but Evans' upside is much higher than Williams'. Evans has compared himself to Chicago's Brandon Marshall, and comparisons to Tampa Bay's Vincent Jackson also are legitimate.
NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt reported earlier this month that the Bills have met WR Odell Beckham of LSU, and the team announced it met with WR Cody Latimer of Indiana. Beckham is a first-round lock, but No. 9 seems too high for him. Latimer is a fast-rising prospect, but no way is he worthy of the No. 9 selection; he would seem to be a guy the Bills possibly could target with their second-round selection (41st overall).
The Bills need to add some receiving weapons for second-year quarterback EJ Manuel, and North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron -- who has met with the Bills -- is another first-round possibility. Indeed, given that Johnson already is on the roster, choosing Ebron at No. 9 might make more sense than taking Evans.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
