Forgotten Louisville star could be the Bills' perfect free agency gamble

Now that the Buffalo Bills have some more comfort at the top of the wide receiver depth chart with D.J. Moore, there is still work to be done for their depth at the position.

General manager Brandon Beane can still utilize free agency and the NFL Draft to bring in some more bodies out wide to help out Josh Allen in the passing game. With Moore coming to Buffalo with solid veteran experience, the Bills could take a shot at one of the younger, underrated options in this free agency class to flesh out the room a bit more.

One intriguing option for Bills Mafia to ponder in the lead-up to free agency beginning this week is former Los Angeles Rams second-round pick Tutu Atwell, who is still looking to make his mark in the NFL as he did for the Louisville Cardinals during his exciting college career.

Rams WR Tutu Atwell may be the kind of low-risk addition Bills need

Atwell is set to hit free agency for the second time in his young career after playing on a one-year, $10 million contract to play a fifth season in L.A. Unfortunately for Atwell, his most recent season was among the least productive of his career, catching just six passes for 192 yards and a score. In the previous two seasons, Atwell hauled in about 40 passes for around 500 yards each year, so he’s certainly capable of more in the stat sheet.

That said, the 5-foot-9, 165-pound receiver has struggled to stay healthy and available as well as productive. He’s missed 21 games across his five-year career.

Understandably, that’s enough to scare off plenty of Bills Mafia at first glance. The fanbase has soured on “taking shots” at any wide receiver since seeing Curtis Samuel crash and burn in Buffalo, instead hoping Beane will place faith in players who are more of a sure thing. 

Atwell isn’t a sure thing, but with Moore at the top of the depth chart, Beane can afford a low-cost gamble on a player like Atwell, especially if he makes more noteworthy additions in free agency and the draft. The 25-year-old receiver is not set to have a huge market after having such a down season, as Over the Cap’s free agent valuation for him doesn’t even hit seven figures. But that’s why there’s some value in potentially bringing Atwell in on a cheap, one-year deal to see if he can latch on in Joe Brady’s offense and maybe revitalize his NFL career.

Atwell has speed to burn, though his best use isn’t on deep clearout routes; it’s underneath on crossing routes, drags and screens. Buffalo has plenty of big-bodied receivers and even more willing blockers. What could be useful is a player like Atwell, who can bob and weave through traffic in Brady’s ample screen game to make those plays a touch more reliable. 

Of course, that's not to say that he can't get behind the defense and make a big catch in a clutch moment.

Beyond that, Atwell can be a gadgety weapon who moves around the offense before the snap, whether as a primary target on a setup route combination or as a decoy to open up other weapons in the offense. 

The are the things that made him successful at Louisville, where he checked in with 1,276 yards and 12 touchdowns on 70 catches in 2019. He was consistently productive in the shortened 2020 season the next year, too.

Of course, those are the same things the Rams were hoping for when they selected him with the No. 57 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. They didn’t get their money’s worth by a long shot, but that’s why it’s a low-stakes gamble for Buffalo. If Beane kicks the tires on Atwell, he won’t break the bank. 

Instead, the receiver will have to prove himself in training camp and earn a spot on the 53-man roster and potentially a meaningful role in the offense. If it doesn’t work out, Atwell would join the dozens of other players who will be cut ahead of the 2026 season after training camp.