It took a while but the Buffalo Bills made EJ Manuel, their first round draft pick, an official member of the team today as they signed him to his rookie contract.
Manuel is just the eighth first round pick to sign with a team from the 2013 draft and the final Buffalo Bill to do so.
He was also the only quarterback taken in the first round as the Bills chose him with the 16th overall selection. The Bills just wrapped up Minicamp and Manuel is currently in a quarterback battle with Kevin Kolb after team released Tarvaris Jackson on Monday.
The Buffalo Bills sent out the following tweet to confirm.
The ink is dry! QB EJ Manuel has officially signed his contact.
— Buffalo Bills ()
“It’s a great feeling and I’m excited to be truly part of the team now,” Manuel told Buffalobills.com. “I had no doubt at all. I knew I was going to be here and it was going to be done before training camp. I’m just glad it was done earlier instead of later.”
Signed, sealed, delivered: with Manuel on board, the complete 2013 rookie draft class has now signed with the team.
— Buffalo Bills ()
“It’s a great feeling, especially with everything wrapping up with minicamp,” said Bills GM Doug Whaley. “Going into the so called offseason it’s a settling feeling to know that we don’t have to worry about him being ready. Once it’s reporting date it’s full go.”
With the Manuel signing complete, it leaves the signing of safety Jarius Byrd atop the priority list.
Feature photo courtesy of buffalobills.com
Quotes courtesy of Chris Brown of buffalobills.com
