Bills WR Khalil Shakir (10) - Jamie Germano/Democrat and Chronicle/
With OTA’s taking place at Orchard Park, New York, from May 20 to June 6, the Buffalo Bills have been very lucky to sign nine of their ten rookies to contracts.
Therefore, one more has yet to be signed, and two of them are projected to be Rookies of the Year on their sides of the ball.
10 Rookies Shine at OTA’s
Keon Coleman
Of those ten rookies in the Buffalo Bills 2024 draft class, the one projected to be the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is also not signed yet.
It is wide receiver Keon Coleman.
The Bills drafted Coleman in the second round with the 33rd pick out of Florida State. The 6’4″, 215 lb. wideout is certainly a character.
He shines as a football player with a physical body that can rack up yards after the catch.
However, don’t fret about him only running a 40 time of 4.61, as he has the game speed to put up great numbers on the field once he signs.
Quarterback Josh Allen and Coleman worked together on their bond during team drills at practice.
In addition, Coleman participated in Bill’s rookie minicamp before OTA’s, and the team’s coaching staff took notice of the receiver’s dedicated work ethic.
Cole Bishop
Out of Utah, the Bills selected Bishop in the second round with the 60th pick. He was selected three times to the All-Pac 12 team.
At 6’2″, 207 lbs., Bishop is a tall, athletic safety with speed galore. He ran the forty time in 4.45 seconds.
That is very fast for a modern-day NFL safety. He also plays a physical style of safety, like the old schoolers used to. Think of a modern-day John Lynch or Rodney Harrison.
Bishop will have to replace one-half of the Jordan Poyer/Micah Hyde combination that was a Stallworth. He is also projected to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In other words, if anybody can do it, it’s a player like Bishop. He should be a day-one starter as a rookie.
Dwayne Carter
The Bills picked Carter in the third round with pick number 95 out of Duke. He is a big, athletic defensive tackle with run-stopping abilities.
His 40 time of 4.89 is speedy for a 6’3″, 305 lb. interior defensive lineman. The ACC named Carter a first-team All-Conference selection.
Above all, look for him to rotate in the D-line unit and help Ed Oliver not be double-teamed.
Ray Davis
The Bills chose Davis in the fourth round at pick number 128 out of Kentucky. The strong, physical runner had a school-best 21 touchdowns last year.
Davis grew up homeless and was placed into foster care as a young child. He’s a small but stocky back at 5’8″, 216 lbs.
Now 25 years old with a grad degree, Davis advocates for other foster care kids. The flashy back will be a change agent on and off the field this fall.
Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
Out of Georgia, the Bills took Granger in the fifth round at pick number 141. The big center is a brick wall in the middle of the O-line.
At 6’4″, 310 lbs., Granger is hard-working and gritty. He will look to replace Mitch Morse as the team’s starting center.
Being from Georgia, I know those SEC linemen translate well into the NFL.
Named a First-Team All-American lineman, the big man will look to bring a Super Bowl and his National Championships to the team.
Edefuan Ulofoshio
The Bills drafted Ulofoshio in the fifth round at pick number 160 out of Washington. The huskie product is another one of those NFL-ready linebackers to come out of that program.
At 6’1″, 239 lbs., Ulofoshio can make instinctive plays as a linebacker. He has a great motor to the quarterback and is a ball hawk in coverage.
The twitchy linebacker was key in leading the Huskies to last year’s CFP National Championship game. He also earned AP first-team All-America Honors.
Therefore, look for him to be a bubble roster player and maybe contribute on special teams.
Javon Solomon
The Bills chose Solomon in the fifth round at pick number 168 out of Troy.
The 6’1″, 249 lb. defensive end is second in the school record books in sacks with 33 hits on the quarterback.
Last season, he led the NCAA with 16 quarterback takedowns.
Look for the fifth-rounder to be a sack machine should he make the roster as a rookie.
Tylan Grable
Out of Central Florida, the Bills selected Grable in the sixth round with the 204th overall pick. He started 13 games last year and was an honorable mention All-Big 12.
At 6’7″, 309 lbs., Grable has a lean frame for a rookie OT. He is excellent in both the pass block and the run block.
In addition, look for Grable to either make the team or be eligible for the Practice squad.
Daequan Hardy
The Bills selected Hardy in the sixth round, picking at number 219 out of Penn State.
At 5’9″, 178 lbs., he is mainly a return specialist as he returned two punts for touchdowns and had a career average return rate of 14.6 yards.
Look for Hardy on kickoff returns, as the NFL will use the XFL kickoff style starting this season.
Travis Clayton
The Bills took Clayton in the seventh round, picking at number 221 out of the International Pathway Program. Clayton is a rare offensive tackle prospect with extraordinary speed.
At 6’7″, 301 lbs., Clayton ran a 40 time of 4.75. He already has quick feet for a lineman but needs to work on his technique.
If Clayton pans out, we might have a gem prospect across the pond from England. How bloody awesome would that be?
While having all 10 Rookies Shine at OTA’s, the Bills still have one player unsigned.
Therefore, let’s see if they can get the last rookie signed sooner rather than later.
For another interesting Sports story, please check out:
Buffalo Bills: Are Former NFL Referees Now Joining Teams as Officiating Liaisons?
