Bills officially add ten undrafted free agents

by Brian Galliford on May 1, 2009 10:30 AM EDT in News Comment 29 comments

The Buffalo Bills have announced that the team has signed ten undrafted rookie free agents. The complete list is below:

OT Joel Bell, Furman
DT John Faletoese, Cal Davis
OL Nick Hennessey, Colgate
DT Ventrell Jenkins, Kentucky
DT David Lindquist, Illinois
TE Travis McCall, Alabama
OLB Ashlee Palmer, Mississippi
CB Lydell Sargeant, Penn State
K Danny Urrego, Portland State
DE Gerald Washington, USC

For more details on each of these prospects, see the team's breakdown of the newest Bills. If you're asking me, Bell, McCall and Palmer are by far the most intriguing names in that list - Palmer, especially, has a shot to make this team outright. He's an excellent athlete.

The team has also invited 30 players to mini-camp, which begins today. That list includes recognizable names such as Clemson QB Cullen Harper, Ohio State RB Maurice Wells, Central Connecticut State RB Justice Hairston, Florida State WR De'cody Fagg, Azusa Pacific WR Jon Davis and Hawaii LB Solomon Elimimian.

One more note - some of Buffalo's draft picks have been assigned jersey numbers for this weekend's mini-camp. First-round draft pick DE Aaron Maybin will don No. 58; OG Eric Wood is 70; FS Jairus Byrd is 31; OG Andy Levitre is 67; TE Shawn Nelson is 89.

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If Ashlee Palmer makes this team, we have to give props to BBfan4ever, for listing him in his sleepers list here.

No night spent pantsless is a wasted night.

by sireric on May 1, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Sporting News had Palmer as the 5th highest rated OLB. Ahead of Clay Matthews cubed and Tyrone McKenzie.

No night spent pantsless is a wasted night.

by sireric on May 1, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds Like Ellison?

Weaknesses: Does not have the bulk or strength to hold his ground against blockers. Is ridden out of the play easily. Does not protect his legs well from low blocks. Seems to disappear for stretches and does not consistently make impact plays throughout games.

Bottom line: Palmer has the tools to make plays in nearly any situation, but he looked thinner and smaller than expected at the Senior Bowl, which could hinder his draft status. Overall, Palmer is not an ideal fit for all defenses because he lacks bulk, but he has what it takes to be a solid outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme.

New York City Buffalo Bills Backers
www.nycbbb.com

by BillsNYC on May 1, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Possiblly, but the kid does have a pretty big frame, so if he catches on say our PS

He can add some bulk and strength over the next season or so and then be ready to be a contributor to our D if he has the smarts and skills to make us want to keep him

If the Bills were a drug, I could only hope they were like speed so I could lose some weight as well.

by WABillsfan on May 1, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fullback

Umm… Is this still a position on the team because they have done nothing as far as bringing in anyone. Mcintyre has got to be the happiest guy on the team right now but I’m not sold on him being the best they can do.

by S2 on May 1, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

.....

Bring in the ageless/teamless Lorenzo Neal…..

by CPT Shawn on May 1, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Neal would be amazing in front of Lynch. Lt has repeadedly given praise to Neal for helping him learn how to hit holes, and then creating holes for him in games. I’d love for him to pass of that same knowledge to Marshawn.

by CanadianBillsFan on May 1, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

don't forget neckless!

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on May 2, 2009 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

mccall is listed as both a fullback and tight end. he’s a big blocker-type guy with some hands – he’s probably more skilled than mcintyre, but mcintyre knows the offense better (obviously). if they keep mccall, it’ll be because he can do both positions.

by the_prophet on May 1, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I keep saying they like McIntyre but nobody believes me.

They are transitioning back away from the FB. They like what McIntyre brings to the table with special teams ability and the occasional run blocking… which I think he isn’t that great at. When the Bills use two back sets it’s usually with Lynch and Freddie doing split backs to confuse the defense, not as a lead blocker.

I, too, am surprised they didn’t at least bring one in for rookie camp or training camp, though that remains to be seen.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on May 1, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“the occasional run blocking” is being kind. How many times did McIntyre run through the hole and whiff on LB’s last year or find no one to hit? Every time? 98% of the time?

I’d rather they keep no FB’s than keeping McIntyre. Maybe move Schouman there part time and sign a veteran blocking TE like George Wrighster or Michael Gaines.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on May 2, 2009 1:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was being kind.

:-) But that’s just how I am. You’re right about McIntyre. He is here for his special teams ability and nothing else.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2009 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Drew Willy?

Please forgive my ignorance (if he has signed elsewhere), but what about Drew Willy? You’re not making a huge committment to a guy by just signing him as an undrafted FA and giving him a shot to compete with Baker in training camp. Might turn out to be like a Pat Kaleta (sp.) good news story

by CPT Shawn on May 1, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he signed with Baltamore

by billsoferie on May 1, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yea....just saw that

by CPT Shawn on May 1, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mo Wells?

Wasn’t he drafted to another team in the second round?

by CanadianBillsFan on May 1, 2009 3:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Aren’t you confusing him with Chris Wells ?

by hightower_mc on May 1, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably am… the fact that there were 2 RB’s from Ohio Stats named Wells might of helped my confusion.

by CanadianBillsFan on May 1, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i keep thinking how boldin would fit in our offense. gosh, i wish we would’ve dealt for him. arizona should do all in their power to appease him and resign him.

by chaucer on May 1, 2009 9:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would rather have Larry Fitzgerald, but that isn’t happening either.

No night spent pantsless is a wasted night.

by sireric on May 1, 2009 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But what number will Ellis Lankster wear!?!?!?!?

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on May 2, 2009 1:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

46.

Buffalo Rumblings - all you care to know about the Buffalo Bills and more

by Brian Galliford on May 2, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ouch

that’s a terrible number for a DB

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on May 2, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Feeling sarcastic today K?

by CanadianBillsFan on May 2, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Always!

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on May 2, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Geronimo Post Was Closed

So not sure where to post this question.

If the Bills knew what they did now before the draft, that they could get Nelson with their 4th rounder without trading up, would they have still tried to trade up to get Pettigrew? Would they still have valued Pettigrew that much?

Just curious how much the space is between how they view Pettigrew vs Nelson.

New York City Buffalo Bills Backers
www.nycbbb.com

by BillsNYC on May 3, 2009 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well Pettigrew was by far the most complete TE in the draft.

So I will have to say yes. Nelson is a great consolation prize, probably the best of the second tier TEs. But Pettigrew was the sole occupant of the first tier. It shows you how much they value Pettigrew that he wasn’t worth the 28th and the 2nd rounder. They liked him but didn’t like him enough to lose the rest of their day one picks.

In the blocking dept there is considerable space between Nelson and Pettigrew. In route running, Nelson has Pettigrew beat. Here’s my take. Right now Pettigrew is a much better player for the Bills offense. But a year from now, maybe two, Nelson will be as good as Pettigrew in every facet but run blocking.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on May 4, 2009 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Pettigrew will never be as fast as Nelson

I couldn’t be happier we got Nelson instead of Pettigrew. Considering we have Fine as our “established” blocking TE and the Bills plan to use Walker at LT, we could afford to go with Nelson over Pettigrew. Now, if we were planning on starting Oher or Bell at LT, then Pettigrew or Hill would have been the better pick.

"Get ready for the pain women…the pain train is coming Whooo Whooooo !!!!!" – Terry Tate Office Linebacker

by Joe P. on May 4, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs