Buffalo Bills: Breaking Down Sixth Round Pick Kolby Listenbee
By Paul Taylor
We take an in-depth look at sixth round draft pick Kolby Listenbee, by analyzing the pros and cons of what the wide receiver brings to the Buffalo Bills.
It’s fair to say the Buffalo Bills have received mostly positive reviews in this year’s draft. Everywhere you look, analysts have been giving them A-category grades.
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Of course, no one will know for sure how the picks will pan out for a few years. Regardless, given that the likes of Shaq Lawson and Reggie Ragland were still around to be selected when it was the Bills turn, at least they’ve put themselves in position to reap the benefits.
The Bills draft was such a success, this could extend to a potential gem they picked up in the sixth round. Let’s review Kolby Listenbee and see what exactly they are getting.
High school: Played quarterback at Bowie High School in Arlington, rated three-star athlete by rivals.com, ranked as the number eight athlete in Texas and the number 31 athlete in the nation
College: TCU Horned Frogs
Career highlights: Four-time All-American track star, Two-time Honorable-mention All-Big 12, 2014 Peach Bowl, 2016 Alamo Bowl
Key stats: Came onto the scene in his junior year at TCU, with 41 catches for 753 yards and four touchdown receptions. Took a step back in his senior year, due to missing two games through injury. However, he still led the team in average yards per catch, while finishing with 30 receptions for 597 yards and five scores.
Combine results: Second in the 40-yard dash among wide receivers, joint-fourth in the broad jump, joint-11th in the bench press.
Pros: Speed, speed, speed. Arguably the fastest player in this year’s draft. Throw in excellent acceleration, along with an ability to change direction on a dime and he is a genuine deep threat. Good hands, which helps him go high to fight for the ball. Versatility means he can also be used on kickoff returns and end-arounds.
Cons: At 197 lbs, he might be a bit on the small side for an ideal wide receiver. Can he deal with the physicality of the NFL? Has a habit of preferring to catch the ball with his body, despite having good hands. Doesn’t put in much effort for blocking in the running game.
Overall: It’s never a bad thing to take a risk on a player with so much speed. Despite concerns about his weight and effort in the blocking game, both are areas which can be improved with the right coaching. Is extremely confident and could conceivably overtake Marquise Goodwin as the Bills main deep threat. Overall, getting a player projected to go in the third or fourth round so late on, is a tremendous coup for the organization.
Next: Analyzing fourth round draft pick Cardale Jones
What is your initial take on the Bills drafting Kolby Listenbee? Do you agree with the selection, or is there someone else you would have preferred them to go for in the sixth round? Let us know in the comments section below.