NFL Draft 2013 results: Robert Woods selected by Bills with No. 41 pick

The Buffalo Bills used the No. 41 pick to select USC wide receiver Robert Woods.

Apr 26, 2013, 11:20 PM UTC

Jeff Gross

With the No. 41-overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the Buffalo Bills selected USC Trojans wide receiver Robert Woods. Woods is the No. 51-rated player in the draft rankings from SB Nation's Dan Kadar and the fifth-rated wide receiver.

More on Woods

Robert Woods is a great wide receiver who had the honor of being overshadowed by his sidekick on the outside, as Marqise Lee eventually became the primary performer within the USC offense. Woods is still an excellent prospect and is very much efficient in his own ways. He's a polished route runner and knows how to adjust at every aspect of the route. He knows how to operate within the parameters of a pass-heavy, pro-style attack. He adjusts to tough catches and knows how to run with it, and also can settle in and find the vacancies within the zone.

Woods, 21, was a very productive receiver with the Trojans, racking up 21 touchdowns receptions to go with more than 2,000 yards receiving and in his first two seasons with the team. While Biletnikoff Award-winner Marqise Lee stole the spotlight some in 2012, Woods still finished his junior season with 846 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns before foregoing his senior season to enter the draft.

The Bills have wide receiver Stevie Johnson on the roster, who finished with over 1,000 yards receiving in 2012, but had no other receiver on roster with more than 500 yards. Woods will be favored to beat out Donald Jones and step into the starting lineup opposite Johnson.

Woods was extremely productive during his time with the Trojans and left as the school’s all-time leader in receptions with 252, despite skipping his senior campaign. That type of elite production makes up for less-than-elite size and less-than-elite speed for the receiver.

After being named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award in 2011 and earning AP First-Team All-America honors as a sophomore, his role declined in 2012 behind Lee. The production of quarterback Matt Barkley dropped off as well, as the Trojans had a disappointing season after opening the year as the preseason top team in the nation.