The Buffalo Bills added skill to their offense during last week’s NFL Draft and have now asked a quarterback to join their next minicamp.
On April 27, the Bills confirmed that Troy quarterback Gunnar Watson has been invited to a rookie minicamp. Watson generated attention in his last collegiate season, but his name was not called during the selection.
As Creg Stephenson of Al.com pointed out, Watson had a terrific finish to his college career.
“Watson (6-3, 214) had a breakout season for the Trojans in 2023, passing for 3,569 yards and 27 touchdowns with just six interceptions,” Stephenson said in a statement.
Troy Quarterback Earns Shot After NFL Draft
Though Watson was not selected in the NFL Draft, the minicamp invitation could allow him to showcase his abilities in the hopes of landing a free-agent contract. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played six seasons at Troy, passing for 10,275 yards, 65 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions.
Watson demonstrated his abilities for scouts at Troy’s NFL Pro Day in March, expressing his excitement to take the next step following a successful college career.
“That’s crazy. “You know, I’ve been here six years,” Watson told WDHN. “We had some nice times and won two titles on this field. But it was great to come back out here with the men I left with. Our motto for the previous few days has been to just go out there and have fun. So I believe we accomplished that, and that everyone shown their abilities.”
Watson will see a familiar face at Bills minicamp after the team selected Troy defensive end Javon Solomon with a fifth-round pick. The Bills reported that Solomon topped the nation in sacks with 16 in 2023.
Watson may struggle to secure a spot on Buffalo’s depth chart, with Josh Allen returning as starter and Mitch Trubisky returning as the No. 2 quarterback. In January, the team signed Shane Buechele, a practice squad quarterback, to a futures contract.
Milton Madness!!! pic.twitter.com/JK6FPjzY3U
— Troy Trojans Football 8x⚔️ (@TroyTrojansFB) April 28, 2024
Bills Add Talent in Draft, Free Agency
The Bills selected a number of talent players in the draft, including Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman with the first choice. Many analysts anticipated the Bills to address its wide receiver area after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and losing No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis in free agency.
The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia rated Coleman his favorite draft pick, adding that he solved one of the Bills’ most pressing needs.
“The Bills’ top pick joins a depth chart in desperate need of someone with his talent level, one that Josh Allen told general manager Brandon Beane he was a fan of ahead of the draft,” Buscaglia said in a statement.
The Bills also added quality to their backfield by selecting Kentucky running back Ray Davis in the fourth round. Davis is regarded as a suitable compliment to top back James Cook.
“With his quick reads and lateral agility, Davis will juke defenders out of their cleats using dynamic plant-and-go cuts (his performance against Florida in 2023 might be the best running back tape in this class),” The Atheltic’s Dane Brugler wrote.
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