Buffalo Bills: Re-grading each pick from the 2017 NFL Draft
Zay Jones
Just 10 picks later, Buffalo once again found themselves at the podium.
This time, they addressed the other side of the ball as they selected wide receiver Zay Jones from East Carolina University.
During his time with the Pirates, the Dallas, TX., native appeared in 49 games, hauling in a career 399 receptions for 4,297 yards and 23 touchdowns. In his senior season, he led the AAC in receptions with 158 and in receiving yards with 1,746, earning him first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors.
During his first season with the Bills, Jones only had 27 receptions over the course of the 2017 season of which produced 316 yards and two touchdowns. Jones finished his rookie season fifth on the Bills in receiving yards, 242 yards behind team-leader Charles Clay with 558 receiving yards on the season.
His following 2018 season saw an increase in both reception and yards as he led the team in yards. Jones improved from 27 receptions in 2017 to 56 in 2018 and from 316 yards to 652, adding seven touchdowns.
Midway through the 2019 season, Jones who had only recorded seven receptions for 69 yards was dealt to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft.
Jones is one of three players taken in the 2017 draft to not be on the Buffalo Bills today.