Bills sixth-round pick Tony Steward became the latest in a line of Buffalo draft choices to sign his rookie contract. The linebacker made it official on Monday.
"It feels awesome," Steward said of his signing. "Earlier I actually forgot about signing the contract. I was just out there playing football, but it feels good to make it official and put it on paper and it's awesome to be part of this organization."
The Clemson product put together a strong senior season for the Tigers with 73 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a team-high 13 quarterback pressures in 12 starts last year.
"Yeah it's shocking that I'm an NFL player right now," Steward told Buffalobills.com. "I'm encouraged that they drafted me just being here."
Also encouraging is the fact that just four linebackers on Buffalo's roster have NFL game experience, putting Steward on a pretty level playing field with the other young linebackers vying for a role on Buffalo's 53-man roster.
"Obviously everybody on the roster at the linebacker position is pretty young," Steward told Buffalobills.com. "It's also a new system so everybody is still trying to learn so it kind of helps me and levels out the playing field. But really it just comes down to getting it down."
During the Bills rookie minicamp Steward spent time at both inside and outside linebacker, but in all likelihood projects inside at 6-1 and 241 pounds. Working in Steward's favor as a rookie is his track record of success as a special teamer.
"Tony Steward is an outstanding special teams player and is a two-time captain," said Bills head coach Rex Ryan.
Only one member of Buffalo's 2015 draft class remains unsigned, top pick Ronald Darby.
