Can Dez Lewis be the Bills Third Wide Receiver?
When looking at the Buffalo Bills‘ depth chart at wide receiver, there’s no debating who is at the top.
The No. 1 and 2 spots are safely held by Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods, respectively. However, the fight for No. 3, that is up for debate.
The Bills entered Tuesday’s first mandatory minicamp workout 13 wide receivers deep – Watkins, Woods, Davonte Allen, Jarret Boykin, Gary Chambers, Marcus Easley, Marquise Goodwin, Leonard Hankerson, Dezmin Lewis, Kolby Listenbee, Greg Little, Walter Powell and Greg Salas. It’s a long list.
While many of the aforementioned wide receivers are most likely just camp bodies – Allen, Chambers, Boykin and Powell – there are some intriguing options for the Bills. And one name stands alone – Dez Lewis. There are much flashier names on the roster, like Hankerson, Goodwin, Little and even Salas, but there’s something that stands out with Lewis.
Hankerson, Little, and Salas have all bounced from team to team, without finding a home. Goodwin and Listenbee are speed guys and not No. 3-type wide receivers, but are still very valuable.
Then there’s Lewis, a seventh-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. He’s a player that the Bills stashed on their practice squad for much of the year last fall before bringing him up to the 53-man roster for Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys.
What makes the former Central Arkansas wideout so intriguing is what’s obvious – his 6-foot-4, 214-pound frame.
However, with Lewis, there’s more there than what meets the eye.
Registering a 4.58-second 40-yard dash during the combine, Lewis has good speed for his size. He’s also known for his route running and his ability to work back to the ball.
As offseason workouts have progressed in recent weeks, Lewis has been one player in the receiving corps that has continued to impress. In a recent Fan Friday at BuffaloBills.com, Bills lead journalist Chris Brown was asked which wide receiver stood out during organized team activities, his response was Lewis.
"“The receiver that has stood out the most has been second-year man Dez Lewis,” Brown said. “He’s made a lot of plays. Now Robert Woods has made a ton of plays too in the OTAs, but I think Lewis is the biggest surprise. Lewis has added good lean muscle mass to his 6-4 frame and has not only demonstrated good ability to win on passes in traffic but has also shown the ability to get separation. He can thank his improved route running for that.“He’ll have legitimate competition in veterans like Jarrett Boykin, Greg Little, and Leonard Hankerson, but so far so good for Lewis in trying to nail down a role in Buffalo’s receiving corps.”"
Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor also cited that Lewis is far and away the best in the weight room. To have that come from your starting quarterback is a very good sign for the young bunk.
If the second-year wideout can continue to progress like he has this offseason, his future is very bright. And it might include the third slot on the depth chart.
And if it’s not him, it’s probably Hankerson.