Bills’ Alex Austin ready to help ‘wherever they need me’
The Bills capped off an eventful day to conclude their 2023 NFL Draft by selecting CB Alex Austin, who brings athleticism, a competitive mindset, good field awareness, speed (4.55 40-yard dash), and size (6-1, 191-pounds 32” arms) to the Buffalo secondary.
“Austin at the end, you’re kind of coming down to ‘who’s got the best chance to help?’,” Beane said to the press. “We just hadn’t had a defensive back, so we liked him and what we think he can add to the team.”
The young corner feels up to the task.
“I’ve never been to New York so this is going to be my first time out there, I’m just ready to go out there and get to work,” Austin shared via video conference. “Just be ready to make plays for the defense and special teams, wherever they need me to be a valuable piece on this team.”
Austin fits the Bills mold in what they typically look for in a corner in terms of versatility, and could be a special teams contributor early on. He also has starter potential down the road as well.
“I’m a DB that can play inside, outside, wherever they need me to.”
He also mentioned that his football IQ may have had to do with his being selected.
“We had a great meeting at the combine,” Austin noted of the Bills. “We went over some defensive scheme things and they tried to pick my brain a little bit. Just being able to show them my football smarts I think is what got me picked here.”
He also described his gratitude for the Bills picking him.
“Extremely, extremely, blessed.”
As a college student, Austin used his NIL money to establish a scholarship for high school students helping them overcome adversity. That type of character mirrors the character off the field that Buffalo often looks for in its players as well.
One member of the Bills defense is especially familiar to the team’s newest defensive back who played his college ball at Oregon State, and that is fellow alum and Bills safety Jordan Poyer.
“Jordan Poyer, he’s a Beaver legend, I’m excited to be able to get up there and work with him, beside him and be able to learn some things from him,” Austin added. “I know he’s been in the league for a very long time and he’s a veteran, so I look forward to just taking on the little bro role and getting to learn and soak up as much knowledge as I can from him.”
