Buffalo Bills

Getting to Know the 2023 Bills Draft Class (Part 2)

Published

4 months ago

June 2, 2023

Earlier this week, we got to know a bit about Dalton Kincaid, O’Cyrus Torrence, and Dorian Williams the people. Now, in Part 2, we’ll learn a bit about the rest of the 2023 Buffalo Bills draft class. Let’s get to know Justin Shorter, Nick Broeker, and Alex Austin!

WR Justin Shorter

Although the Bills added an offensive weapon in Dalton Kincaid, their wide receiver room was still short on guys. They had signed a couple wideouts in free agency — Deonte Harty and Trent Sherfield — and they had missed out, or rather skipped out, on some big names. Let’s face it: the Bills love their special-teamers.

Bills Mafia eagerly waited for the Bills to take a wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft, and they certainly got one! Justin Shorter was drafted in the fifth round after the Buffalo Bills traded back with the Washington Commanders, and he is anything but short! Standing at 6’4”, 229 lbs, Shorter is a physical receiver who excels at catching the deep ball. Since the draft he has drawn comparisons, by Bills fans, to Gabe Davis. It is thought that he could potentially replace “Big Play Gabe,” assuming he is not re-signed after 2023.

Shorter — a New Jersey native — came out of South Brunswick High School as one of the top recruits in the country. In fact, according to 247Sports, he was considered to be the best wide receiver in his class at the time. This was also a WR class that included Ja’Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle! Unfortunately, injuries suffered at Penn State derailed his trajectory, and he ended up transferring to the University of Florida.

Justin’s upbringing has been one of the key reasons that he had previously climbed the ranks of the wide receiver totem pole in high school. He recalled how his parents, JD and Paula Shorter, helped him to become the man and player that he is today. Mr. Shorter would train with Justin when he was in middle school and high school by having him balance himself on a large exercise ball, and catch passes each and every way around his own radius, according to pennstaterivals.com.

His mother did the same for him when he was in college. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Paula helped her son prepare for games by throwing him hundreds of balls each week (floridagators.com). These rituals proved to be helpful because, according to PFF, he had only four dropped passes in four NCAA seasons. (Talk about reliability!) It is clear that the Bills have prioritized a reduction in drops based off of their two draft picks in Dalton Kincaid and Justin Shorter.

Aside from his parents, Justin has a brother named JT. In his free time, he is a big traveler. He did an interview with the Florida Gators and spoke about his first trip overseas, where he went to Greece. Shorter told the team’s website:

“The first time leaving the country. Really just seeing something else, seeing how other people live, someone else’s culture for a change. That really opened my eyes up. I was kind of like, ‘Whoa.’ They call it wanderlust, where you want to travel the world and do stuff. Now I just want to travel everywhere now after doing that now.”
Justin Shorter on traveling (via BillsWire)

Hey Justin, have you ever been to London?

OG Nick Broeker

Nick Broeker, Buffalo Bills — *buffalobills.com*

The Bills love to stockpile offensive linemen, so it wasn’t much of a shock when they drafted another guard — this time in the seventh round — because, why not? Josh Allen needs all of the protection that he can get, and Nick Broeker is a player who could potentially be the 53rd man.

Nick — the son of John and Missy Broeker — grew up in Springfield, Illinois, where he went to Sacred Heart-Griffin High School (Ole Miss Athletics). Just like Dalton Kincaid, he was an avid basketball player as a teenager, and he’s even a little ‘stitious! According to the Bills website, Broeker once ate a Snickers bar before his basketball game and stuffed the wrapper into his left sock. Then, he dropped a 40-burger, and the rest was history. Hopefully he will continue that tradition as a Buffalo Bill!

Of course, Brandon Beane did extensive research on Nick Broeker. During his final year attending the University of Mississippi, he won the 2022 Kent Hull trophy, which is awarded to the best offensive lineman in the state of Mississippi (buffalobills.com). The award’s namesake, Kent Hull, was a legendary center for the Marv Levy era Buffalo Bills! It’s almost like it was meant to be. Whether it be on the 53-man roster or the practice squad, Nick Broeker will certainly be a culture fit for the Bills.

CB Alex Austin

Alex Austin, Buffalo Bills — *buffalobills.com*

Did I say that the Buffalo Bills love overloading their offensive line room? What I really meant to say is that Beane loves to stock the cornerback room even more! I’ll admit, even with the precedent that has been set in previous drafts, I did not have “the Bills drafting a CB” on my 2023 draft bingo board. However, when the opportunity presents itself, it is never a bad idea to take the most talented player available.

Alex Austin, who was drafted by the Bills in the seventh round via a trade made with the Los Angeles Rams, attended Oregon State — Jordan Poyer’s alma mater! Alex praised Poyer, stating that he is a “Beaver legend” and intends on taking on a little brother role to learn under him, according to Sports Illustrated. If the Bills are able to hold onto Alex Austin, they could look into developing a potential Jordan Poyer-like player at cornerback!

Alex’s parents, Al and Daysha Austin, are both politically active members of their community. Alex recalled how public service is an important part of how his family operates with The Buffalo News. In 2022, he reportedly started a scholarship program for students in his hometown (buffalonews.com)! Based on Alex’s upbringing, he should most definitely fit in with the City of Good Neighbors!