Bills Locked In on Intriguing Deep Threat at Wide Receiver

Wide receiver is still among the biggest needs for the Buffalo Bills entering the 2026 NFL draft, even after adding DJ Moore in a trade with the Chicago Bears.

There's an expectation that they could look to fill this void with their first round pick, but with Buffalo owning the 26th overall selection, there's no guarantee they will feel comfortable with any of the options. That's why they're kicking the tires on wideouts who could be available in later rounds as well.

One player on their radar is East Carolina's Anthony Smith. The redshirt senior recently worked out at the Pirates' Pro Day. The Bills had scouts on hand for the workout, and according to Ryan Talbot, they held a Zoom meeting with him afterward.

Per source, the #Bills held a Zoom with ECU WR Anthony Smith shortly after attending his pro day. The 6’3” WR caught 64 passes for 1,053 yards and 7 touchdowns last season. #BillsMafia

📸: ECUPiratesFB IG pic.twitter.com/ISmJGytFnQ
— Ryan Talbot (@RyanTalbotBills) April 3, 2026

Smith offers what the Buffalo wide receiver room currently lacks, which is excellent height. At 6-foot-3 and 189 pounds, Smith is capable of winning contested passes and had a career-high 1,063 yards and seven touchdowns during his final collegiate season.

Anthony Smith can be a vertical threat on the outside

East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Anthony Smith makes a touchdown catch over Army Black Knights cornerback Donavon Platt. | Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

Smith is an intriguing player for Buffalo, but not just because of his size.

In addition to his length, Smith proved capable of stretching the field. PFF's Lauren Gray said Smith was excellent for the Pirates after transferring from North Carolina State. He not only racked up plenty of yardage, but had nearly half of his yardage on passes that traveled more than 20 yards through the air.

"Smith found new life at East Carolina, where he recorded 42 catches for 805 yards in his first season with the team (2024). He caught six touchdown passes and ranked sixth in average depth of target (17.8 yards)," Gray wrote.

"His 2025 season was even better. Smith ranked sixth in the draft class in receiving yards (1,053), with 486 coming on passes thrown 20-plus yards in the air. He caught 64 of his 100 targets and moved the chains 40 times with seven touchdowns. Smith averaged 15.1 depth yards per target (11th highest) and ranked eighth in deep target rate (31.0%). He produced 14 catches over 20 yards."

Gray also said five of Smith's seven touchdowns were at least 20 yards. He wasn't as effective on shorter routes, but on a roster with DJ Moore and Khalil Shakir, that won't be necessary.

East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Anthony Smith makes a catch against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. | James Guillory-Imagn Images

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