Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - History shows us that Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane likes to draft a wide receiver on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
When the Bills selected wideout Kaden Prather in the seventh round this past Saturday, it marked the sixth time in Beane's eight drafts for the Bills that a receiver was added on the final day. The only exceptions were in 2024 when Buffalo used a second-round pick on Keon Coleman, and in 2019 when they didn't draft a receiver at all.
Prather, who hails from Montgomery Village, Maryland, was a four-star prospect coming out of high school. He began his college career at West Virginia University, and played in 20 games for the Mountaineers over two seasons, totaling 64 catches for 676 yards and three touchdowns.
The 6-foot-3, 204-pounder then transferred to the University of Maryland, where in two seasons with the Terrapins, he recorded 98 catches for 1,290 yards and nine touchdowns.
Prather was an honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2023 when he finished third in the conference in average yards per-catch (15.9). Last season, he led all Big Ten receivers in total snaps outside with 484.
In addition, Pro Football Focus gave him the fourth-best hands grade among all Big Ten pass catchers.
Beane called Prather a big, straight-line fast guy after the draft. The 22-year-old ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Bills quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry worked out some Maryland guys before the draft, and Beane said Curry spoke very highly of Prather and his work habits, which made an impression on the Bills' personnel people. Beane added Prather's chances of making the roster would improve if he can help on special teams.
Related
Here is what Joe Marino from the "Locked On Bills" and "Locked on NFL Scouting" podcasts had to say about Prather:
Positives:
The appeal with Kaden Prather is size and athleticism. He stands at over 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, and runs in the 4.40s.
You have a physical profile here that's pretty exciting as a perimeter player that does well to play through contact, get on top of corners, so like stack corners, and be able to run vertically down the field. He's got the size athleticism that translates well to being able to win leverage battles as a possession style player.
You've also seen good growth with drops. Drops were an issue earlier in his career, and it's nice to see that as something that has improved throughout his college career.
Concerns:
You worry about versatility. Is he an outside player only? Does he have the separation quickness to work in multiple alignments for a bigger body guy?
I was hopeful to have a better run blocking profile, and I would say he's got to develop a route tree. A lot of shallow crosses, a lot of down the field, low percentage targets. I think diversifying his route tree to make him a more complete player is important.
I think you can generally look at his college career as a four-star recruit and think maybe he was a bit of a college underachiever at two different schools. A contributor, but was he ever a guy that really delivered on his recruiting profile? I'm not sure you could say that he did.
The rookies will be in town for minicamp from May 9-11.