1. Do you remember watching the draft when you were younger? If so, does a certain player or moment stand out to you?
You know, I kind of looked at the draft as a whole – just the whole process of it. Growing up in Cleveland, I was a big Browns fan. So, as I got older, the draft that sticks out to me is the one where we could possibly get Donovan McNabb. We didn't choose him. We chose another quarterback, but that one was probably the first time that I was playing football, I was having success. I was of age where I thought I could be in that position. I remember that draft. But the draft, growing up watching it, it wasn't what it is today. Obviously if you played, you watched it. If you knew the players, you saw where they went, who they went to and it was an exciting time.
2. What was the most memorable part of the draft process for you?
For me, coming into that draft, I came in with a different type of mindset. Coming off an injury, and battling back from that, then [I was] trying to figure out, 'Medically, how are they going to look at me?' You hear from doctors that you're good. You played well, had a good season but then when you get looked at by some different doctors, with a different opinion on things, a different way of viewing things, is it still going to hold up? So, that was probably the biggest concern for me – just how they were going to look at me medically and see how they valued me from that perspective.
3. Can you describe how you felt in the days, hours, leading up to the draft? Were you on-site at the draft?
I was not. I was at home. I was at my parents' house. We did it at my parents' house and had all my family around me and we sat there. It was as stressful and anticipation-filled of a situation that I'd ever been in for sure. You just don't know. You go take these visits, you talk to teams and you get a good vibe, but you just never know. You never know what can happen throughout a draft…I came in when there was a ton of receivers coming in at the time. It was pretty stressful.
4. How did you react when you got the call? Did you celebrate after?
It was a huge celebration. Even if you watch it on TV now and guys are at home or at some other place, when they find out they got drafted, they're always on the phone, right? You're talking to the GM…So, the announcement is made, but you, as a player, you're sitting there talking on the phone…I'm in a different room and you just hear the cheers from your family and all of that. It's really a surreal experience.
5. Were you flooded with calls afterward?
Oh yeah. At that point, everybody's reaching out, everybody's saying, 'Congratulations.' It's really a day that's hard to [explain]. It's kind of like your wedding day, right? You meet and talk to everybody, but until you can reflect back on it, you don't really realize how special of a day it is.
6. What memory from that day stands out most?
I was in a separate room than my family at the time it happened. So, when I walked out of the door and saw my family and everybody for the first time, that greeting, that love right there, will be something I'll never forget.
7. Do you have any advice for guys that are draft eligible this year?
Right now, you've prepared, you've taken the tests. Now, you wait. There's no calming. It's just waiting to see. It's the anticipation. If you've done everything to prepare, and you did it to the best of your ability, you can't really anticipate what somebody else is going to do. So, when you get the opportunity, whenever that is, however that is, you just make the best of it.
Scroll through to view some notable images of Bills players on draft day through the years. The 2020 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday, April 23.
Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen reacts after being selected by the Buffalo Bills during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Wyoming's Josh Allen walks onto the stage after being selected by the Buffalo Bills during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen poses with his jersey on stage after being selected by the Buffalo Bills during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after Allen is selected by the Buffalo Bills during the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Perry Knotts via AP)
LSU's Tre'Davious White, left, greets NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Buffalo Bills during the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
LSU's Tre'Davious White poses after being selected by the Buffalo Bills during the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver takes the stage after the Buffalo Bills selected him in the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (left) poses for a photo with a Buffalo Bills jersey next to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on stage after being drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Bills during the 2019 NFL football draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (left) poses for a photo with a Buffalo Bills jersey next to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on stage after being drafted ninth overall by the Buffalo Bills during the 2019 NFL football draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver speaks with NFL Network's Deion Sanders on stage after being selected by the Buffalo Bills during the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Oklahoma offensive tackle Cody Ford walks on stage after being selected by the Buffalo Bills during the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Cody Ford poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Buffalo Bills selected Ford during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Buffalo Bills Eric Wood announces the team's third round pick during the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre on Friday, April 29, 2016 in Chicago. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Star Lotulelei, from Utah, reacts after being selected 14th overall by the Carolina Panthers during an NFL football draft party at their home, Thursday, April 25, 2013, in South Jordan, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Star Lotulelei looks on as his uncle Ti Akau cheers after Lotulelei was selected 14th overall by the Carolina Panthers during an NFL football draft party at their home, Thursday, April 25, 2013, in South Jordan, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, presents Virginia Tech's Tremaine Edmunds with a Buffalo Bills jersey during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds poses with his jersey on stage after being selected by the Buffalo Bills during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds with Buffalo Bills fans during the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Logan Bowles via AP)
