Andre Reed – Wide receiver
Remember when I said Eric Moulds would be the No. 1 receiver if on the current Bills? Scratch that. Hall of Famer Andre Reed takes that award, as he’s practically the original go-to target for the Bills, and easily their best receiver ever. Without him, the Bills may not have had their famed four Super Bowls stretch.
For 14 seasons–minus 1995–Reed was a model of consistency at the receiver position. Donning a Bills jersey for 13 seasons he reeled in 1,026 catches for 14,324 yards and 95 touchdowns, including playoffs. He was selected as a Pro Bowler seven times, and a second-team All-Pro thrice. He played in 255 total games–including 13 with the Redskins–and missed just one game during the four Super Bowl campaigns.
The culmination of Reed’s efforts was a too-late Hall of Fame induction in 2014. Something most expected wouldn’t happen for a little known fourth-round pick out of Kutztown University. He was a testament to hard work–never particularly athletic, but always one of the most refined receivers in the game, and it was rewarded. He’s currently 14th all-time in receiving touchdowns, 17th in yards, and18th in catches.
Reed’s skillset revolved around toughness; route-running versatility and finesse; trained hands; quick releases; it made him dominant through the ’80s and ’90s, and would translate just as well to the current game. In an era highlighted by spread offenses, Reed would be the benefactor of one-on-one matchups and a scheme to take advantage of his proficient separation-creating abilities.