There is a lot of buzz surrounding the idea of Buffalo taking a wide receiver in the draft. This includes the idea of them spending multiple picks on targets for their offense. Here is a look at three, late-round receiver picks the Bills could look at.
The Buffalo Bills have done a lot of shifting with their wide receivers this offseason. This inlcudes signings like Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel and trading star receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans.
This leaves the Bills without an official "wide receiver one" and it completly shakes up the position group in Buffalo. So, they could be looking toward the draft for potential players to fill the void that Diggs has left. This is not only limited to their early round picks, but also their later picks in order to create competition within the receiver room during the summer and training camp.
So, here are some receiver options Buffalo can look at in their later rounds if they want to have more options to look at for their new-looking offense under new offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
1. Drake Stoops, Oklahoma
After a long and extensive six-year career at Oklahoma, Drake Stoops leaves following a huge breakout 2023 season with 962 yards and 10 touchdowns with a 11.5 yards per catch rate. He finished second in the Big 12 in receptions (84) and touchdown catches and was also fifth in the conference in receiving yards in a league filled with receiver talent.
Stoops is a quick route runner as he posted a 4.67 at the combine and put it on display throughout 2023 in Norman. He was very good in slipping through holes in opposing secondaries at the intermediate level of the field which fits the identity of a lot of other Bills' receivers right now. The speed he has can also be helpful in short yardage packages like screens and slant routes as well.
2. Ramel Keyton, Tennessee
A wide receiver that quarterback Josh Allen may love is Ramel Keyton out of Tennessee. He spent a lot of time in Knoxville developing out of the slot into a main wideout in 2023. This past college football season, he fininshed with 642 yards and 6 touchdown catches.
What stands out a lot about Keyton was his yards per catch rate at 18.3. He likes to get down the field which can help a Bills' passing attack that likes to air it out as two of thier receivers (Gabe Davis and Khalil Shakir) were in the top 32 in yards per catch out of all wide outs in the NFL.
Keyton is also decent in one-on-one balls deeper down the field making him a matchup nightmare if he can develop right with the Bills in Orchard Park.
3. Casey Washington, Illinois
Casey Washington had a prodctive 2023 season at Illinois with 670 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is very similar to Stoops with his short yardage and great agility that comes with it. It extends beyond the route running itself as it is also apparent in his footwork with getting off of the line of scrimmage.
This footwork sets him up for plenty of opprotunities in the intermediate area of the field as well and unlike Stoops, he was lined up on the outside on plenty of occasions for the Illini during 2023. He also can make the catches in tight windows which is a great NFL trait to have.
Washington looks like a wide receiver with lots of potential to line up on the outside with the complete skill set he brings via his footwork, tight catch radius, and quickness.