Following the Buffalo Bills鈥 opening rookie minicamp practice Friday, running back Frank Gore Jr. was asked if he had taken on a little bit of a leadership role because of his experience with the team last year.
鈥淎 lot of bit,鈥 Gore said with a laugh. 鈥淛ust (helping) the young guys get accustomed. I was in their position last year, and didn鈥檛 know what was going on. I was just letting them know to stay calm, this is a great place to be and it鈥檚 football, so it鈥檚 fun.鈥
Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. warms up during rookie minicamp on Friday.
Gore, cornerback Daequan Hardy and offensive lineman Mike Edwards were the only players present who were on the Bills鈥 practice squad last year, making them eligible to participate this weekend.
Gore took the first handoff during team work.
鈥淚 feel great getting more reps and doing whatever I can to develop for my second year and (also) helping the young guys,鈥 he said.
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Gore signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and carried 33 times for 163 yards and one touchdown in three preseason games. He was cut and signed to the practice squad.
Gore said he benefited from watching James Cook, Ty Johnson and Ray Davis.
鈥淭hose guys pushed me every day,鈥 Gore said. 鈥淓ven though I was on the practice squad, they made sure I was finishing runs and doing everything I could to be ready.鈥
Rogers gets chance
Will Rogers was one of two quarterbacks at rookie camp as tryout players after a college career at Mississippi State and Washington.
鈥淗aving to learn the system in less than 24 hours is always difficult, but it was a really cool (offense) to learn,鈥 Rogers said. 鈥淚 feel like the more you go over it in the classroom and learn it and walk through it, it slows down for you on the field.鈥
Buffalo Bills quarterback Will Rogers warms up during rookie minicamp on Friday.聽
Rogers played four years for Mississippi State (23-17 record), including 4,739 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2021. He transferred to play for Washington last year and went 6-5 with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Draft pick values
The NFL assigns a slotted contract value to every draft pick. The numbers for the four-year contracts signed Friday by six Bills rookies:
- Edge rusher Landon Jackson (second round) 鈥 $6,618,986 total, including $1,453,808 signing bonus.
- Cornerback/safety Jordan Hancock and tight end Jackson Hawes (fifth round) 鈥 both $4,520,212 total, including $320,212 signing bonus.
- Cornerback Dorian Strong (sixth round) 鈥 $4,485,348 total, including $285,348.
- Offensive tackle Chase Lundt (sixth round) 鈥 $4,404,920 total, including $204,920.
- Receiver Kaden Prather (seventh round) 鈥 $4,310,364 total, including $110,364.
Bills add Rogers
Bills general manager Brandon Beane added another defensive lineman to his roster Friday, hours after their first practice of rookie minicamp.
Casey Rogers, a defensive tackle from Syracuse, joined the team as a waiver claim from the New York Giants. Rogers, 26, appeared in two games as a rookie in 2024, with nine of his 33 snaps on special teams. He blocked a 60-yard field goal attempt during his NFL debut in a game against the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 8.
Rogers, who attended Syracuse鈥檚 Westhill High School, became one of six Giants rookies since at least 2000 to block a kick in a game, and is the only undrafted rookie to do so. He spent three years at Nebraska (2018-21), followed by two at Oregon (2022-23), and totaled 95 tackles, 12 for a loss, and four passes defended with one forced fumble in 46 collegiate games.
Rogers, who is listed at 6-foot-5, 305 pounds, played football and lacrosse at Westhill, and his father, Lelan, was the defensive coordinator for Syracuse University鈥檚 lacrosse program from 2008-21.
News Sports Reporter Lance Lysowski contributed to this story.
