The Buffalo Bills cast a wide net for this year’s rookie minicamp, bringing in a host of draft picks and undrafted free agents — plus one veteran looking for a second chance in the NFL.
The Bills extended an invite to former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton, the former third-round pick who has struggled through the early part of his career before being cut loose by the Bengals. Burton got off to a rough start, with a notable mistake early in the practices.
Jermaine Burton’s Rough Start
As SI.com reporter Alex Brasky noted, Burton had trouble catching the ball through an early drill, registering a drop when he wasn’t being defended.
“Jermaine Burton (3) drop vs. air. Rough start to his tryout at Bills rookie minicamp,” Brasky shared in a post on X.
The 24-year-old Burton has a thin NFL resume, appearing in 14 games in 2024 with one start and making four receptions for 107 yards.
As Chris Roling of USA Today’s Bengals Wire noted, Burton was cut loose last year after issues arose between him and the team.
“After a report of distrust between Burton and the Bengals in the wake of multiple issues, the Bengals cut him last December and he went unclaimed on waivers,” Roling reported. “There was never any question about Burton’s immense on-field upside, but his tenure with the Bengals always meant a second chance would come on a tryout or practice squad basis.”
First Opportunity for Rookie Bills WR
This week’s rookie minicamp was also the chance for fourth-round pick Skyler Bell to make his first impression with the team. Though Bell also had some early drops, he said head coach Joe Brady had some wise advice.
“He was just telling me just to be myself and stop overthinking,” Bell said, via WGR 550. “That’s all it is with me. I was just in my head a little bit, you know, with jitters and things like that. So he was just telling me, ‘man, just be yourself, man. We want you here. You’re here for a reason. So just keep doing you.’ “
Bell could have the chance to climb up the depth chart this summer. Reporter Sal Maiorana of the Democrat & Chronicle predicted he would steal the spot of third-year receiver Keon Coleman.
“Unless something changes, Coleman is going to battle for the No. 4 spot in the rotation, and the only real threat right now would seem to be Bell,” Maiorana wrote. “As ESPN’s Mel Kiper said after the pick was made Saturday, ‘Josh Allen is going to love Skyler Bell’ so if he can seamlessly make the transition to the NFL, Coleman could be in trouble no matter how much love Beane and Brady have showered him with.”
The Bills made some changes to their wide receiving corps after the unit struggled last season, parting ways with oft-injured Curtis Samuel and trading for veteran field-stretcher DJ Moore. Bell will likely compete for a spot lower on the depth chart, but could have an advantage if he lands a regular spot on special teams.
Veteran Bills WR Gets Off to Rough Start at Rookie Minicamp