The Buffalo Bills did a lot of research on fast wide receivers in this year’s draft class.
Despite doing plenty of work on mid-round prospects, Buffalo waited until their final pick of the draft to address the position. With the No. 240 pick in the draft, Buffalo selected Maryland wide receiver Kaden Prather.
Prather has good size (6′5″) and speed (4.46). NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projected Prather as a priority free agent in the draft, but the receiver was able to hear his name called on draft night. Here’s what Zierlein had to say about the prospect.
Outside receiver with size and speed to create advantages downfield. Prather is not explosive — though he builds and carries speed to create deep windows — and needs to do a better job of finishing routes and catches. He’s too leggy and tight-hipped to beat man coverage over the first two levels and he’s not a natural pass catcher in traffic. Prather is a niche option as a field-stretcher with good height, weight and speed, but he might need to prove he can play special teams to give himself a legitimate roster shot.
Prior to joining Maryland, Prather played at West Virginia. Prather is coming off a season in which he caught 56 passes for 624 yards and four touchdowns. Between his time at West Virginia and Maryland, Prather recorded 162 receptions for 1,966 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Prather will have to have a strong summer to have any shot of making Buffalo’s 53-man roster. He is more likely to spend time on the Bills’ practice squad as a rookie.