Saturday, April 28, 2012

Bills go with small but speedy receiver in 3rd round

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

After shoring up their offensive line in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft, the Bills took North Carolina State receiver T.J. Graham in the third.

Graham, who the Bills ended up trading up for, is the speedster receiver they have been looking for to perhaps line up opposite Steve Johnson and to fill the loss of returner Roscoe Parrish.

Coach Chan Gailey told reporters that “he can run by most everybody,” and general manager Buddy Nix said that teams will “have to cover deep” when he’s on the field.

Graham amassed nearly 800 yards and had seven touchdowns last year with N.C. State and ran a ridiculous 4.39 at the Combine and an even faster 4.35 at N.C. State’s 2011 Junior Day.

Graham’s shortcomings are literally that, however, as his 5-foot-11, 188-pound frame is considered undersized. That said, Gailey is determined to give him a shot to prove he can be a starting receiver and maybe throw him back for some special teams here and there (he had four special-teams touchdowns in college).

“I don’t know that we’ll (have him return) off the bat,” said Gailey. “We’ll let him work at receiver and let him be proficient there.”

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