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After the first two days of the Draft saw no Baylor players leave the board, frustration abounded among the Baylor faithful. Then a certain team in New York decided to make our QB, theirs, and things picked up considerably. At the end of the day, all five Bears expected to make the jump to the NFL did so, two as picks and the other three as undrafted free agent signings.
Round 4 | Pick 103 | New York Jets | QB Bryce Petty
Apparently afraid that the Cleveland Browns might trade to the front of the fourth round to take Petty, the Jets decided to head them off at the pass, saving all of us the misery of becoming Browns fans. Petty will presumably start his career in New York as the third-string QB behind Geno Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick, a situation that will both challenge him and give him an opportunity to grow, since the Jets probably don't expect to be very good.
With a complete change in coaching regime from Rex Ryan to Todd Bowles, it's hard to say what kind of offense the Jets will run. Twitter rumors abound that new OC Chan Gailey intends to install more spread concepts for a team that has become synonymous with moribund quarterback play, but we'll have to see. Petty seemed extremely excited, as you'd expect, and we're excited for him.
Unbelievable feeling. Thank you so much to family, friends and all the prayers!! #JETSBABY I can't wait!!
— Bryce Petty (@b_petty14) May 2, 2015
Round 7 | Pick 224 | St. Louis Rams | LB Bryce Hager
Baylor's only other draft pick of the day came off the board in the seventh round when the Rams took Bryce Hager. Hager had been projected as more of a 5th or 6th-round pick, but he'll now join Jeff Fisher's Rams, who traded the rights to RB Zac Stacy to get him.
It's time to do your homework on @BUFootball linebacker Bryce Hager. HIGHLIGHTS: http://t.co/wyn5ttMtCE pic.twitter.com/SEOjE4feGP
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) May 2, 2015
Undrafted Free Agent Signings
WR Levi Norwood -- Chicago Bears
The first Bear off the board after the Draft ended will actually get to stay as a Bear. Levi is headed to Chicago as a WR and return specialist and will take part in their rookie minicamp next week.
P Spencer Roth -- Buffalo Bills
With new Head Coach Rex Ryan running things, the Bills will probably need the services of a pretty good punter, and it looks like they got one in Baylor's Spencer "The Leg" Roth.
WR Antwan Goodley -- Dallas Cowboys
As a combo Dallas/Baylor fan, I am ecstatic that Goodley gets to join Terrance Williams with the Cowboys. Still a bit shocked that he didn't get drafted, but absolutely ecstatic that he gets to stay home in Texas. The big question for Antwan will be how Dallas decides to use him, particularly since, despite all reports that they had to have a RB in the Draft, they never took one. Could Antwan be used in that role somewhere down the line? Only time will tell, but he's got as good a chance as any sticking on the roster there as the 5th WR and return specialist.
*****
All in all, with just two Bears getting drafted overall and both of those coming a fair bit after expected, it's understandable being a little disappointed in how things went for Baylor over the last three days. I'll remind everyone, however, that Baylor brings back 17 starters off the back-to-back Big 12 Champions, and five of the six nominal starters lost were either drafted or signed today. That's pretty amazing.