When former Buffalo quarterback Drew Willy didn't hear his name called Sunday at the 2009 NFL Draft, he was as shocked as anyone.
Hours later, his emotions took a 180-degree turn.
Despite going undrafted, Willy's sadness reversed when the Baltimore Ravens called him later that evening. He later signed with the club.
"It feels good," Willy said. "I feel like I'm going into a good situation where I can compete and get onto a team."
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. had Willy pegged as second day pick.
"He's got a good enough arm and he's got escapability," Kiper said. "He ran a 4.9 [in the 40-yard dash]. Tom Brady ran a 5.22. It's how you maneuver in the pocket and he does that very effectively. He's got more game experience than any quarterback in the draft. I don't know why he lasted until the end of the draft and went undrafted."
Willy passed for 3,404 yards and 25 touchdowns in his final year at Buffalo and will be fighting for a job in Baltimore. Second-year quarterback Joe Flacco is the starter in Baltimore, where former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith currently backs him up. Currently, Todd Bouman holds the third spot, which is likely the one Willy try to earn.
"I'm going to work on my strength and just talk to everyone and get ready for training camp," Willy said. "I have a chip on my shoulder but I'm ready."
Kiper thinks that Willy could make an impact in the Ravens organization.
"He could be a nice asset to the team...I truly believe that," Kiper said. "He's a good athlete. He led [the Bulls] to a bowl game, did a great job with that team along with [head coach] Turner Gill. He's a nice pickup."
Willy said that while seven or eight NFL teams contacted him after the draft, the Ravens won him over. He especially enjoys their development of undrafted free agents into potential starters.
"You see that all around the NFL where first round picks are starters and so are undrafted free agents," Willy said. "They've done great things in Baltimore and I can't wait to get started."
Willy wasn't the only collegiate quarterback without a home after the draft concluded. Missouri's Chase Daniel, Texas Tech's Graham Harrell and Michigan State's Bryan Hoyer were left in the dust as well.
"Quarterbacks slid this year," Kiper said. "A lot of people thought Brian Hoyer was going to be a third-round pick. He didn't get drafted."
At the end of the day, Kiper said he believes that, even though Willy was undrafted, he, like many others before him, have a great shot of staying - and making it - in the NFL.
"A lot of these free agents will beat out the fifth, sixth or seventh round pick," Kiper said. "There's a fine line between being a free agent and a fifth-round pick. These fifth-or sixth-round picks don't come to minicamp saying, 'I went in the fifth round, you have to keep me.' You don't come in saying 'I stink, I'm an undrafted free agent.'...This notion that these undrafted free agents have no chance is ridiculous."
Two other former Bulls will also get a shot at the professional level this summer. Offensive lineman Jeff Neidermier will be among tryout players at the Cleveland Browns rookie camp this weekend, while offensive tackle Ray Norell will try out for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
