Buffalo Bills: Robert Foster could be a diamond in the rough
Wide receiver Robert Foster signed with the Buffalo Bills after the draft as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama. His size, speed, athleticism and a weak wide receiving group could have him primed for a breakout training camp come late July.
The current group of receivers on the Buffalo Bills roster will never be mistaken for one of the best in the league.
Outside of Kelvin Benjamin, there are no players that stand out as of yet. If he can stay healthy, Zay Jones should be the other outside option across Benjamin. In the slot, Buffalo has Jeremy Kerley as the leader in the clubhouse for the starting position, but rookies Austin Proehl and Ray-Ray McCloud are options as well.
Others such as Andre Holmes, Brandon Reilly, Malachi Dupre, Rod Streater and Cam Phillips have all worked in with the ones-and-twos in OTAs with all trying to prove they’re starter material. However, one receiver has caught my eye because he brings in what the team needs the most: speed.
Robert Foster went undrafted out of Alabama after a disappointing collegiate career. Foster was a five-star recruit from Pennsylvania and has a wealth of talent. In his first three games as a redshirt sophomore, Foster finished with a combined 10 catches, 116 yards and two touchdowns. However in that third game, Foster injured his right shoulder and was out for the remainder of the season.
From that point on, Foster was never able to find his groove again. Despite the lack of production, his physical gifts are evident. He is 6-foot-2, weighs 196 pounds and he adds a 4.41 40-yard dash time. He made plenty of plays in the rookie minicamps last month, but it appears he is continuing to get playing time in OTAs as Sal Capaccio from WGR 550 reports.
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Other than the physical gifts he possesses, Foster is extremely familiar with Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. At Alabama last season, Daboll worked as the offensive coordinator and the two have at least a working relationship from their days in Alabama.
With his raw talent and the wide open competition at the receiver position, Foster could find himself in a fantastic position to make the 53-man roster come the end of training camp.
I can envision him and Josh Allen building a nice relationship due to Allen’s strong arm and Foster’s elite speed on the outside. The two should get to know each other at training camp and in preseason games even further, building what could be a promising partnership.
Elite speed is clearly something this team lacks as no one on the current roster is a burner. With a 4.41 40-time from Foster, it immediately gives him an edge over other players. His speed may earn him a spot on the roster, but his development may earn him playing time.
One thing that cannot be argued is that Foster has an incredible amount of talent. His injuries and a lack of passing offense in Alabama led to him going undrafted, but he has all the tools to be an impact player in the league.
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If he can continue to improve route running and understanding of the receiver position, Foster could find himself receiving some serious playing time come August and September.