The Bills second-round pick Zay Jones had a connection on the team’s coaching staff, but he had no idea Buffalo would draft him.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
Here’s the Bills news of note for May 2.
1 – Zay Jones had no clue Bills would take him
After seeing three wide receivers come off the board in round one of the 2017 NFL draft, East Carolina WR Zay Jones was sure he’d be the fourth selected. While he was right about that, he had to wait until the second day of the draft before he heard his name called. That’s when Buffalo made him the 37th overall pick after trading up to get college’s all-time receptions leader.
Even though Jones’ college position coach was on Sean McDermott’s coaching staff in Buffalo, the receiver said he had no indication the Bills were all that interested in him.
“Obviously I did know my past receiver coach, now current wide receiver coach was there, Phil McGeoghan,” said Jones in an appearance on the John Murphy Show. “I knew there was some interest because he likes me as a player, but I had no inclination they were taking me. I had spoken with some teams before the Bills and they said they were going to select me and I was just patiently waiting to hear my name called and I’m just blessed that it was Buffalo. Such a great organization. I’m thankful to everyone who has given me this opportunity and is believing in me. I’m fired up for the opportunity and I’m ready to go man. This is awesome.”
2 – Jones talking trash with NFL brother
After the Bills made Jones a second-round pick it didn’t take the receiver very long to tell his older brother to be ready when he sees him on an NFL field later this year.
Jones’ older brother is Minnesota WR Cayleb Jones. Cayleb congratulated his younger brother on being drafted, and Zay made things plain in a hurry.
Buffalo’s newest receiver had apparently already checked his team’s preseason and regular season schedule and saw that the Bills will host his brother’s Vikings in the preseason opener Aug. 10th.
“I’m excited for that matchup just to show him that I’m the better receiving brother in the family,” said Jones chuckling during an appearance on the John Murphy Show.
Jones older brother Cayleb went undrafted after playing his college ball at the University of Arizona. Philadelphia signed him last spring as an undrafted rookie where he spent time on their practice squad. He signed with Minnesota this offseason.
3 – Wright remembers facing McCoy
Bills newest cornerback Shareece Wright, who signed with the club Monday as a free agent, played for the Baltimore Ravens the last two seasons. He remembers their Week 1 matchup with the Bills at M&T Bank Stadium.
Wright, who was signed by the Bills because of his strong run support skills had them on display in the season opener last year. He had a season-high 11 tackles against Buffalo in Baltimore’s hard-fought 13-7 victory.
Wright expected to be busy knowing the Bills were going to make heavy use of LeSean McCoy.
“We felt like they were going to try to get him going and a lot of those plays just came my way and I did whatever I could to make those plays,” Wright said. “It wasn’t too much more than that. It’s just that we knew they were going to run the ball and the defense that we were in and the formation that the offense was in kind of put me in position to have to make those plays and I just made them.”
Bills head coach Sean McDermott won’t mind at all if he can make those same kind of plays for Buffalo this fall.