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Oklahoma wide receiver Ryan Broyles needed to show on Thursday that he's well on his way to a full recovery from a torn ACL in November if he wishes to fulfill his promise as a potential second-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. He did exactly that, and the Buffalo Bills were in attendance for the event, per ESPN.com.
Working out for the first time in the pre-draft process, Broyles reportedly ran without a limp on Thursday, putting up a 4.57-second 40-yard dash and a 32.5-inch vertical leap during the session. Just five months removed from the injury, Broyles appears to have alleviated fears that he might not be ready for the start of the 2012 season.
Broyles is coming off of an ultra-productive career at Oklahoma, where in four years he hauled in 349 passes for 4,586 yards and 45 touchdowns despite missing five games due to injury (including four last year with the aforementioned ACL). Though his 5'10", 192-pound frame will likely limit him to slot duty as a pro, his explosive quickness, open-field elusiveness and reliable hands could allow him to quickly emerge as an elite-level option in that role.
When discussing departed free agent receiver Roscoe Parrish this past January, Bills GM Buddy Nix admitted that he'd like to have a receiver like Parrish on the team. Broyles fits that description. The Bills may not value that role enough to fill it early enough to snag Broyles, but this is a situation worth keeping an eye on.