Bills sign drafted rugby player Travis Clayton | Frank Gore Jr. among 12 UDFA additions

Travis Clayton reacts after being chosen by the Buffalo Bills with the 221st overall pick in the seventh round during day three of the NFL Football Draft, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Bills signed their seventh-round pick, England rugby player Travis Clayton, on Thursday and announced the addition of 12 undrafted players before beginning rookie minicamp.

Among the rookie free agents is running back Frank Gore Jr., whose father played for the Bills in 2019 and retired a year later as the NFL’s third all-time leading rusher. Gore Jr., who totaled 4,022 yards and 26 touchdowns in four seasons at Southern Mississippi, follows Buffalo’s fourth-round selection of running back Ray Davis, joining Pro Bowler James Cook in his third professional season, in the alongside veterans Ty Johnson and Darrynton Evans. on the Bills’ 90-man roster this offseason.

The rest of Buffalo’s undrafted rookies are: Utah guard Keaton Bills, Oklahoma defensive lineman Rondell Bothroyd, Auburn offensive lineman Gunner Britton, Miami cornerback Te’ Cory Couch, Miami defensive tackle Branson Deen, Campbell offensive lineman Mike Edwards, wide receiver Xavier Johnson, Houston defensive end David Ugwoegbu, Tulane receiver Lawrence Keys, Western Michigan cornerback Keni-H Lovely and San Diego State punter Jack Browning.

Clayton is the first of 10 draft picks to sign with the Bills. Clayton, 6-foot-7, 301 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.79 seconds in the International Pathway program combined and is expected to play offensive tackle.

“For me, for my family, for the UK, it’s such a big thing,” Clayton said in an interview with the team’s website after signing his contract. “Finally putting pen to paper after working hard all these months is a dream come true. »

The first practice of Buffalo’s rookie minicamp will take place Friday.