Bills 'Surprise Standout': WR Trent Sherfield 'Rolling' Ahead of Training Camp
Every NFL season, new players emerge as strong contributors or stars, helping make a name for themselves. Sometimes, that player comes seemingly out of nowhere ... But usually offseason workouts are a good indicator as to how a player is developing, at least in the eyes of the coaching staff and teammates.
Buffalo Bills receiver Trent Sherfield might be the latest example, as he's even caught the attention of quarterback Josh Allen.
ESPN has caught wind of this as well, as the site picked Sherfield as Buffalo's "surprise standout."
The ramifications of the Stefon Diggs minicamp drama could still be playing out, but a player who benefited from Diggs not taking part in OTAs and parts of minicamp was Sherfield, one of the Bills' acquisitions to add depth to the receiver room. Sherfield got increased opportunities as the Z receiver for quarterback Josh Allen with Diggs not present and made an impression in that time, with Allen saying of Sherfield during OTAs, "I've loved what I've seen from Trent so far; the dude works extremely hard. He's one of the hardest-working guys on the team. Doesn't complain about anything. He's rolling right now."
Sherfield, who signed with the Bills in March after catching 30 passes for 417 yards for the Miami Dolphins last season, is on a "prove-it," one-year contract.
The former Vanderbilt product received increased opportunities during OTAs, with No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs absent.
Sherfield can make an impact off the ball as well; Pro Football Focus gave the 27-year-old the highest blocking grade of all NFL receivers in 2022. Since going undrafted in 2018, Sherfield has also excelled on special teams, totaling 25 tackles and six fumble recoveries.
In Allen's sixth season, the Bills are serious Super Bowl contenders, with the third-best odds to win the title. Buffalo doesn't have a consistent No. 2 pass catcher to alleviate pressure on Diggs, with Gabe Davis, Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid yet to break-out. Sherfield is certainly making the case for a chance at playing time.
With the Bills in win-now mode, could he help them play deeper into the postseason?
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