2022 Top 25 Buffalo Bills 25 and Under: No. 22 Marquez Stevenson
The Buffalo Bills drafted Marquez Stevenson in the sixth round of the last year’s NFL Draft but with some changes at the wide receiver position, he could find himself competing for a roster spot this summer.
Stevenson has great speed and that was on display very early last year when he caught a pass over 40 yards in the closing minutes of their first preseason game against the Detroit Lions. He would finish the preseason with six receptions on eight targets for 68 yards.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to continue that momentum into the regular season as he was placed on injured reserve before the first game of the season.
He would return though on Thanksgiving against the New Orleans Saints and would get the start as the team’s punt returner. This was a problem area for the Bills most of last season and Stevenson got a chance to secure that role in place of Isaiah McKenzie.
Stevenson did a pretty good job and had 14 punt returns for an average of 9.4 yards per punt while also having seven kickoff returns and averaging 23.4 yards per return. However, similar to McKenzie he had some ball security issues that probably were a concern for the coaching staff.
Marquez Stevenson’s best chance to make Buffalo Bills’ 53-man roster is on special teams
With all that said, entering this year Marquez Stevenson’s best chance to make the Buffalo Bills’ 53-man roster likely lies on special teams. He should enter training camp competing for the starting job with veterans like Isaiah McKenzie and Tavon Austin.
However, if he doesn’t win that role it is hard to envision a spot on the regular season roster with the depth the team has at wide receiver, especially with the additions of Jamison Crowder and Khalil Shakir this offseason.
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He certainly has the potential to develop into a player who can contribute on offense as a deep threat and if the Bills do release him they will likely try to bring him back on their practice squad. However, it also wouldn’t be very surprising if another team signs him before he reaches the practice squad or is signed off the practice squad at some point during the season.