The Buffalo Bills have focused a great deal of their attention on the wide receiver position ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. One of those players has been Zay Flowers, who the Bills have a Top 30 visit with the former Boston College wide receiver according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
This visit is after the two sides met at the NFL Combine and it is clear he could be an option with their first pick.
Measurables/Stats
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 182 pounds
Arms: 29 1/4″
Hands: 9 1/4″
Zay Flowers played four seasons for the Boston College Eagles and was productive his first three years with the team. However, this past season Flowers really broke out and finished with 78 receptions, 1,077 receiving yards, and 12 receiving touchdowns.
NFL.com 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report by Lance Zierlein
"Slot target who plays with unbridled energy and immense confidence. Flowers is slightly built but can side-step press and fly into action with above-average acceleration and an attacking demeanor. Flowers has a tendency to rush his routes, but his ability to play with speed and move with athleticism makes him hard to read for defenders. His ball skills will shine brightly at times, but frustrating drops come with the package. Flowers has the skill set to become a valuable playmaker as a pro."
How Zay Flowers fits with the Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are going to be looking for an answer at slot receiver and Zay Flowers looks like a perfect fit to address that need. He is a smaller wide receiver but works the middle of the field very well.
The size unfortunately is going to limit him to being exclusively a slot receiver and the Buffalo Bills may be hesitant to select him in the first round knowing these limitations. He would unlikely be an option to replace Gabe Davis in 2024 if Davis were to leave in free agency.
Another concern with Flowers is that he had a high percentage of drops with a career rate of 10.8% according to Pro Football Focus’ Mike Renner. This is fourth highest among wide receivers in this year’s draft class.
Zay Flowers has been one of the biggest movers over the past few months and has moved himself into the discussion to be the first wide receiver drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft but the Buffalo Bills may want to look elsewhere if they are set on drafting a wide receiver in the first round with the drops and lack of position flexibility.
Grading every first round pick in the NFL Draft for the Buffalo Bills current regime
This is Sean McDermott's seventh NFL Draft with the Buffalo Bills and Brandon Beane's sixth. These are grades for each first round pick during that time.