The Buffalo Bills have finalized their haul of undrafted free agents as some of the most important prep days of the offseason approaches, including the start of rookie minicamp on Friday.
The team announced Friday the official signing of seven UDFAs to deals, many of which were originally reported to be joining the Bills this offseason following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft last month.
Here are the players:
- Jalen Wayne, WR, South Alabama
- Richard Gouraige, OL, Florida
- DJ Dale, DL, Alabama
- Jordan Mims, RB, Fresno State
- Tyrell Shavers, WR, San Diego
- Braydon Johnson, WR, Oklahoma State
- Bryan Thompson, WR, Arizona State
Buffalo is clearly looking for some kind of spark on offense and particularly in the passing game, evident by the signing of four receivers. Dale is the only member of the UDFA class to play on defense.
But possibly the star of the group is Mims, who posted 261 carries for 1,370 yards and 18 touchdowns last season with the Bulldogs. He's an experienced player who played five seasons at Fresno State, but could earn a 53-man roster spot based on the sole fact that he didn't lose a single fumble during his five years in college. Scoring 45 career total touchdowns while losing zero fumbles at the Division 1 level shouldn't be going unnoticed.
Other notables include Wayne, who is the younger cousin of NFL great and former Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne. Jalen spent five seasons at South Alabama, posting career-high marks in catches (58), receiving yards (817) and receiving touchdowns (nine) last season.
The Bills also added another former Florida Gator with Gouraige after drafting offensive guard O'Cyrus Torrence and receiver Justin Shorter. He made 13 starts at left tackle last season.
Two more SEC and former Alabama products in Dale and Shavers will be joining him. Shavers, a former Alabama and Mississippi State receiver, played the past two seasons at San Diego State. Last season, he posted 38 catches, 643 yards and three touchdowns. A four-year player under coach Nick Saban, Dale finished his Crimson Tide career with 5.5 sacks and three passes defended.
The group will now look to solidify roster spots during the rookie minicamp and hopefully into the start of OTAs.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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