INDIANAPOLIS -- Every year NFL scouting departments and coaching staffs swarm to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine to see who might be the best fit for their team come draft day. It's one of the most important weeks during the offseason where scouts and coaches work together to decide what their team will look like the following season.
The week is packed with meetings, prospect interviews, evaluating drills, late nights and more. It doesn't come together without extensive planning done months prior. Bills player personnel coordinator Andrea Gosper was the go-to person this year when it came to organizing combine plans for Bills scouts and coaches.
"All week I need to make sure the scouts, ownership, Sean (McDermott), Brandon (Beane), the coordinators and coaches are okay," Gosper said. "Everybody comes together and I'm kind of like the glue, the one that links everybody together. It's basically me running around, answering phone calls and making sure that everything is put together."
Managing a group of more than 30 is not an task but Gosper wouldn't want it any other way.
"I tell people this is the environment that I thrive in because I love people," Gosper shared. "I love talking to people. Anything that's hectic and involves me running around, sign me up."
Gosper is in the right business because being a part of the scouting department for an NFL team involves a lot of communication and 15-hour days as they approach free agency and the NFL Draft. When she's not at the combine, Gosper has a hand in college scouting, pro scouting and administrative work.
"A lot of my college work is going to All-Star games, being that contact with scouts, anything they need with schools and all that, I'm their go to person," Gosper said. "This year, I've had the opportunity to go out on the road. I shadowed one of our scouts this year, so I went on a three-day road trip down to Virginia and also went to some Buffalo games. On the pro side, it's kind of as (Brandon) Beane and Malik Boyd put it, being the GM of your teams."
Gosper has two NFL teams she's in charge of scouting. Five years ago, Gosper would have never imagined working for the Buffalo Bills but a University of New England teacher helped spark her interest in what would later become her dream job.
"I had a minor in coaching and had to do an internship, so my professor suggested football because I had written about coaching philosophies within the NFL," Gosper shared. "So I started to work with the University of New England football team and got to do everything. I got to learn about equipment, scouting, recruiting, on-field stuff and more."
The former UNE softball player was sold on football after getting her foot in the door and learning about the business from UNE head coach Mike Lichten. At that time, Gosper was getting ready to start grad school for sports nutrition and was hoping to land a job in the NFL after graduating. Little did she know a trip to the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine would change all those plans.
Gosper ended up meeting Bills general manager Brandon Beane and former Bills assistant general manager Joe Schoen in Indianapolis. She let them in on her interest in working for an NFL team. After the conversation, Schoen shared some internships they had available and said he would be in touch.
"I was in the outfield and my watch goes off and I was like, 'Oh my God,'" Gosper said as she looked down at her watch and realized Schoen was calling during her softball game. "So then I called him back and he told me he wanted me in scouting and it was a full year. I was like okay let's do this."
Gosper decided to take a leap of faith and withdraw from grad school to take advantage of what she thought was a once in a lifetime opportunity. She thought she was putting sports nutrition on a brief hold, but what really happened was she found her perfect fit.
"I didn't come in thinking I would do scouting, but I knew that I wanted to have a direct impact on the team," Gosper said. "My personality does not allow me to be away from something. I need to be involved in it. And I realized scouting really fit my personality and everything I wanted to do. I just grinded, learned all about it and absolutely fell in love with it."
Scroll through to learn about many of the talented women of the Bills and Pegula Sports & Entertainment.
Buffalo Bills group picture for International Women's Day, March 7th, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
Now approaching her fourth season in Buffalo and her second year in a full-time role, Gosper can't believe how much she has grown since her first day at One Bills Drive. That growth has been possible due to a scouting department that is open to teaching and valuing everyone's opinions.
"Everybody is so approachable, you can ask them anything and they want to know what you're thinking, what your ideas are, how you see things, what your thoughts are," Gosper shared. "Even as an intern, my opinion and everything mattered. That's what leaders should do is value everybody's opinion, no matter what and the Bills do a great job of that."
One leader she truly admires is Beane.
"I am the scout I am today because of him," Gosper said of her general manager. "And just watching him and how he runs stuff, he's a class act. He does everything the right way. He has relationships with people throughout the league and in the building that I want one day."
Scroll through to view photos of the top prospects that draft analysts have projected the Bills to take with the 25th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
The Bills could opt for a CB here, but Burks would be too tempting as a big addition to their offensive firepower. (NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah)
LB Devin Lloyd, Utah
We've typically had the Bills targeting the secondary in recent mocks but it may be hard to pass on a player of Lloyd's talents here. Every linebacker not named Matt Milano has just one year left on their contracts -- including Tremaine Edmunds and A.J. Klein, and while Buffalo will no doubt re-up some of them, Lloyd has a chance to be special. (CBS Sports, Ryan Wilson)
CB Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson
Swap in Booth for impending free agent Levi Wallace, and the Bills secondary will be even better in 2022. (CBS Sports, Kyle Stackpole)
DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
The Buffalo Bills have made it clear that they prioritize investing in the defensive line and as things currently stand, Buffalo has two defensive tackles under contract for the 2022 season. Considering how much Sean McDermott likes to rotate his players up front, more talent is needed. Devonte Wyatt is an explosive penetrator that would wreak havoc next to Ed Oliver and provide the versatility needed to play over the center and as a three-technique. (The Draft Network, Joe Marino)
DE Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State
He had eight sacks among 52 QB pressures in 2021. Buffalo's aging D-line is poised to be stripped of its depth in free agency, but Ebiketie and 2021 rookies Greg Rousseau and Boogie Basham could form a next-gen nucleus up front. (USA Today, Nate Davis)
WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State
With 32-year old Cole Beasley getting a bit old for the position and 34-year old Emmanuel Sanders slated for free agency (and also getting old), the Bills opt here to upgrade their already strong pass catcher corps. Dotson can play all over the formation, runs sharp routes, and perfectly complements the team's Stefon Diggs-Gabriel Davis duo. Getting more playmakers for Josh Allen can't be a bad thing. (The Ringer, Danny Kelly)
S Daxton Hill, Michigan
Hill is part of a Wolverines defense that could end up seeing three players go in Round 1 next spring. He's underrated nationally, but watch him play and it becomes clear pretty quickly that he's in the running for one of the best defensive backs in this class. He's listed as a safety but he can line up anywhere. (CBS Sports, Ryan Wilson)
WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
Jameson Williams has no business being available at No. 25, but after tearing his ACL in the National Championship Game he could go later than his talent level suggests. Should that be the case, his floor should be the Bills' pick.
I believe the Bills' biggest needs remain at the defensive line, but what Williams brings at receiver is exactly what Buffalo needs to keep its fastball and provide Josh Allen another dynamic weapon in the passing game. Williams is a sure-handed receiver with the ability to play outside and from the slot and features a dynamic vertical receiving skill set. He creates separation down the field and he pairs that with exceptional ball skills. (The Draft Network, Joe Marino)
OT Trevor Penning, UNI
Having had success in selecting fellow Northern Iowa lineman Spencer Brown, the Buffalo Bills tack on another one in Trevor Penning. Though he plays a violent game, the Bills can harness Penning's vicious nature with some coaching, and he would immediately improve their line. Penning gets after it in the run game, pancaking anyone in sight, while he also provides a relatively immovable base in pass protection. (Pro Football Network, Cam Mellor)
DT Jordan Davis, Georgia
Davis could very well go higher in the actual draft come April, but the 6-foot-6, 340-pounder's lack of pass-rushing prowess ultimately drops him to the back end of the first round in this mock. He managed only 30 career pressures in college and totaled just 14 in the 2021 season. Of course, his ability to two-gap and positively affect the run game every time he takes the field should ultimately draw interest in the first round. (PFF, Austin Gayle)
CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
Levi Wallace led Buffalo's corners in snaps played and will be an unrestricted free agent next month. Meanwhile, the team's top cornerback (Tre'Davious White) is recovering from a torn ACL. While you can never have too many talented cornerbacks, McDuffie could be off the board much earlier than this and would be a wise choice for the Bills. (SI.com, Kevin Hanson)
CB Kaiir Elam, Florida
The Bills lost Tre White to injury last season, and everything on defense looked a little bleaker afterward. Granted, this is still an excellent unit even without a stud opposite White. But Elam's size and physicality in Buffalo's scheme just makes sense. He'd give Buffalo more upside at the CB2 spot than they've had under Sean McDermott. (The Pewter Report, Jon Ledyard)
OG Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
Back-to-back Aggies see the Bills getting some interior line help. Green played every position on the offensive line this past season out of necessity, but his true position in the NFL is inside. A powerful blocker, Green can develop into a top-tier guard and help tremendously in the run game — assuming the Bills can find a way to stop relying so much on Josh Allen's legs. (SB Nation, James Dator)
EDGE Travon Walker, Georgia
The Bills need improvements along their offensive and defensive lines, and after drafting Greg Rousseau in Round 1 in 2021, they could go back to the D-line this year. Walker is a 6-foot-5, 270-pound project edge rusher who oozes talent. He has physical traits and length that NFL scouts look for, though he's still learning how to put everything together. He played mostly as a tight 5-technique for the Bulldogs, which means he didn't have many opportunities to rush the passer, but he has a high ceiling. He had six sacks last season. (ESPN, Jordan Reid)
CB Kyler Gordon, Washington
The Buffalo Bills were a coin flip in their favor away from hosting the AFC Championship Game but their defense could not secure a stop. Tre White's on-field presence was missed.
Kyler Gordon is a dynamic athlete with nice measurables. He can play inside and out with a versatile matchup profile. The Bills need a true CB2 and Gordon fits the bill (pun intended)! (The Draft Network, Damian Parson)
IOL Zion Johnson, Boston College
Johnson is one of my absolute favorite prospects in the entire 2022 NFL Draft. He looks like he was created in a lab to combat Aaron Donald. He's a monster. On the field, Johnson is an athletic freak who has the strength, flexibility, footwork, and range to be one of the best guards (or centers) in the league within his first few seasons. (The Draft Network, Bryan Perez)
CB Roger McCreary, Auburn
The Bills are a good football team without many glaring weaknesses. That said, Buffalo has an opportunity at No. 25 to consider a few players who might have the goods to walk into a great situation and still add value.
McCreary doesn't necessarily represent an immediate need for Buffalo, but he's an experienced player who held up well in the SEC. He's another player who had a nice Senior Bowl and could be on the rise. (The Athletic, Nick Baumgardner)
Gosper isn't exactly certain where scouting will take her within the NFL just yet. Right now, she's focused on refining her craft with the hope of taking on more responsibilities each season. At the young age of 24, she still has several years ahead of her.
"I'm still growing and building my foundation, which could take me in so many directions," Gosper said. "I'm just looking a couple days ahead right now. Five years down the road, that's not even in mind yet."
Her mind is full of making sure she's ready for free agency in March and the NFL Draft in April. It's tough to be in the moment with such a demanding job, but sometimes Gosper catches herself soaking it all in. As she looked around the NFL combine this week and saw head coaches, general managers, hall of famers and people who are celebrities to many, Gosper couldn't help but remember where she started.
"I think what I'm most proud of is that I started watching this game with my dad on the couch," Gosper shared. "Now I'm working for a team that I started off watching on the couch. It's so surreal. I'll talk to my dad and he will be like, 'Can you really believe that you're there?' It's insane. My childhood dreams are being lived out.
"I may not be doing the exact job that I thought I would be doing, but it's just wild to know that you really can do it if you work hard."
