The Bills continued to bolster their offense on day three of the 2023 NFL Draft and also continued to add talent to their receiving corps with attributes that have previously been missing from their roster as well.
After adding the top TE in a historical draft at the position in the first round, the Bills traded down in the fifth to take Florida WR Justin Shorter.
His massive frame (6-foot-4, 229-pounds) and wingspan (33 3/4-inch arms) coupled with his quickness (4.55 40-yard dash) and hands make him the biggest wide receiver on the team.
His combination of speed and size coupled with his hands and eye for tracking the ball in the air make him a red zone and downfield threat with contested catch ability.
What’s more, he was a five-star recruit and the No. 1 rated receiver in a 2018 recruiting class that included current NFL star receivers, Jaylen Waddle and Ja’Marr Chase.
While he’s had some health issues and contested catch inconsistency, Beane selected Shorter based on his likelihood of making the 53-man roster.
“We probably could have gone either way, we had similar grade on a defensive player but felt like he [Shorter] would definitely get a jersey for sure,” Beane said to the media about his newest receiver. “He’s a four-phase special teamer, also gives us another bigger receiver we can develop.
The WR averaged 19.9 yards per catch last season and only had three drops in his three seasons with the Gators. That he has good hands is worth noting, as the Bills led the NFL in drop percentage in 2022 (6.2%). Brandon Beane and company appear to be addressing just that by drafting players like Shorter and Kincaid who combined to only drop three total passes over the last two seasons.
Shorter is motivated to validate their decision.
“I literally watched every single pick and saw who went before me, and feel like it was just fueling my fire up,” Shorter said via video conference. “I got that phone call and I was just super excited, just started screaming and thanking God.”
The receiver was on a top-30 visit with Buffalo before the draft and he also met with Buffalo’s WR coach Adam Henry after his Pro Day for a private workout, and now he finds himself a Bill.
“I’m very competitive by nature,” he added about what he brings to Buffalo. “I just know every single wideout that went before me and know all the teams that picked them, and I definitely know when I get my opportunity I’m gonna definitely tear this league up because I’ve been working for a long time and it’s going to pay off.”
Shorter expressed excitement about reuniting with former Florida teammates Kaiir Elam and O’Cyrus Torrence in Buffalo as well.
“I can’t wait to go up there and just use those guys and just be able to lean on them, and just be able to get better because I feel like me and Kaiir once I get up there we’re probably going to start doing one-on-ones and working out,” he said. “I’m just blessed to know those guys already.”
He even noted a special observation about Torrence.
“He’s a very strong guy and serious guy, he always puts in work. He’s just so consistent with what he does, with his work ethic and everything that he does on the field. I always said to other people that he has ‘typewriter feet’,” he shared. “He’s super fast and quick, so I can’t wait to see what he does up there with me.”
The rookie receiver also had high praise for his new QB Josh Allen when asked about him, calling him a “Great quarterback,” and noting “I’ve been watching him for a long, long time.”
“I’ve watched more games (of Josh Allen) than he probably knows, and I definitely know a lot about him,” the excited receiver said. “Once they called me I asked them for that playbook immediately, so I’m ready to get to work.”
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