Who are the players and games that the Buffalo Bills front office should be watching in Week 9?
We head into Week 9 of the college season and games are getting tenser as the Top 15 teams in college football start to take shape. While we continue to heat up toward rivalry week there are still extremely meaningful games to be played.
Let’s check out three players who you should keep an eye on this week and one game of the week loaded with prospects the Buffalo Bills could have their eye on. The 2023 NFL Draft is far away but it is never too early to speculate who the Buffalo Bills could potentially be looking at come this spring.
Buffalo Bills 2023 NFL Draft: Prospects and games to watch in Week 9
Player #1: A.T. Perry, WR Wake Forest
#10 Wake Forest @ Louisville, 3:30PM
A.T. Perry is such a unique receiver; Perry has an incredible physical stature for a receiver standing 6’5″. He is incredible in contested catch situations and knows how to use his size to his advantage.
Perry has the speed to win in the NFL on the outside but by no means is an elite sprinter. He does play fast and should test well speed-wise at the NFL combine, but his game is not predicated on speed. Perry has excellent hands and great physical traits. His ability to track the ball down the field on deep routes makes him a true deep threat.
He does run a limited route tree and has not shown that he will come into the league with the ability to create separation off running routes.
Perry’s projection with the Buffalo Bills is intriguing. The Bills already have Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs, in addition to Khalil Shakir and Isaiah McKenzie, on the inside, all under contract for 2023.
However, outside Gabe Davis, all three options are 6-0 or smaller and under 200lbs. Davis has some size at 6’2″ and 210lbs but is more of a route-running specialist than someone who will make contested catches.
I think the addition of Perry could give the Buffalo Bills more versatility at receiver. Perry could come in on a rotational basis and offer the Bills a unique outside skillset they currently do not have. This also could help the Bills get creative in moving around their other receivers to create more mismatches.
Perry is a little bit of a project in terms of refining his route running and separation. A limited role with the Bills could help his development throughout his early years as he offers the Bills a skillset they don’t currently have, likely at the cost of an early third-day pick.