Bills sign UDFA WR Nelson, ILB Wright

by Brian Galliford on Apr 30, 2010 9:46 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

Bulking up their class of undrafted free agents to ten, the Buffalo Bills on Friday signed former Florida wide receiver David Nelson and former Utah inside linebacker Mike Wright.

Nelson is a 6'5", 217-pound senior with big-time physical talents, but who never emerged as a threat in Florida's gimmicky offense. His 25 catches and 291 yards as a senior were both career highs, but his size and frame did allow him to post seven career touchdown grabs, including five as a junior.

Buffalo has a serious youth movement going on at receiver. Third-year pros James Hardy and Steve Johnson will compete for a starting role. Veterans Felton Huggins and Chad Jackson factor in, and the team has rookies in Marcus Easley, Naaman Roosevelt and now Nelson to compete with the likes of Roscoe Parrish at the back end of the receiving depth chart.

Wright is a 6'2", 235-pound senior that totaled 160 total tackles in his final two seasons at Utah. He adds size and grit to Buffalo's inside linebacking unit, and has added special teams value as well. He'll compete with players like Nic Harris, Jon Corto and Ryan Manalac for a roster spot.

Nelson and Wright join RB Joique Bell, Roosevelt, G/C Jorge Guerra, DE Will Croner, OLB Antonio Coleman, CB Stephan Virgil, CB John Destin and SS Dominique Harris as official Bills undrafted free agent signings. Buffalo's first rookie mini-camp will begin next Friday, May 7.

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Nelson was profiled this morning…

Wright info can be found here:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1116105

Wright enjoyed a solid career at Utah, recording 186 tackles. He made a career-high 36 solo tackles as a senior and had one sack. Despite recording 79 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles in his final season, earned only honorable mention recognition instead of first- or second-team honors in the Mountain West Conference. One drawback for Wright, who was second on the team in tackles last season, was that he was occasionally overshadowed by a talented supporting cast with the Utes. Despite the solid senior season playing for a strong program, he may go undrafted.

http://philly.stats.com/nfldraft/players.asp?id=118482

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by MattRichWarren on Apr 30, 2010 9:53 PM EDT reply actions

I like how many UFA’s they’re grabbing up from all the positions. Like Nix said, competition makes everyone better, and having this many players around will increase the chances of finding a UFA gem quite a bit.

Go Rockies! First and only member of the Manuel Corpas fanclub right here! :/
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by UZ on Apr 30, 2010 10:37 PM EDT reply actions

great pic

love those throw back unis for the gators

Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
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by silverstreak3k on Apr 30, 2010 10:50 PM EDT reply actions

seemed like the last regime would stock up at single postions with undrafteds… and end up cutting most. I think these guys have a better chance of unseating hold-overs from Jauron’s squad, like a Corto, etc.

Anyway, i like the potential of the Florida kid… we will have a yung wr corps, and I hope it pays off as their fresh minds can all delve into Gailey’s system together. Wish we had a great vet QB… but McNabb went to the Redskins… doesn’t mean we won’t have talent and possible positives… just harder to do so with youth everywhere

It is Brohm’s Bills jersey that is the least stained with doo-doo... GO BILLS

by killascript on Apr 30, 2010 10:57 PM EDT reply actions

Well technically, Edwards IS a veteran QB… just not a good one.

Go Rockies! First and only member of the Manuel Corpas fanclub right here! :/
Everyone's favorite Buffalo Rumblings Anti-Tebow blowhard!
THIS IS BUFFALO NATION GODZILLA HAS AWAKEN - abayarde

by UZ on May 1, 2010 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I like Nelson a lot

I mean I know all UDFA’s have an uphill battle, but the dude definetly has the frame to play in the NFL.

The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun

by mob16151 on Apr 30, 2010 11:33 PM EDT reply actions

Nelson’s production in college leaves a lot to be desired.

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by MattRichWarren on May 1, 2010 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, then so does our fourth round pick, Marcus Easley.

Easley has 1 less catch, 1 more Td, about 220 more yards. Though, in less games. But, it’s not like Easley had all these other high recruit WRs around him taking looks away, like Nelson did.

Either way, don’t want to argue Nelson vs Easley, just wanted to point out how if Nelson’s production in college leaves a lot to be desired, well then so does our 4th round pick.

by StroudFanClub on May 1, 2010 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Easley

Maybe I am misreading your comment Stroudfan but per buffalobills.com – Over his last nine games Easley (6’2" 210) had 46 catches for 867 yards and eight touchdowns. The stretch included five 100-yard receiving games.
Maybe you are talking career numbers which I did not check but that last year it wasn’t even close. Stats don’t tell the whole story but it sounds like Easley is a freak athletically.

by chrisf77 on May 1, 2010 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions