Cordy Glenn got an upclose view of the NFL Draft in New York City on Thursday night, but he actually wasn't a part of it until Friday night.
(Photo by UGA Sports Communications)
Glenn had already returned home to the Atlanta area when he became the first UGA player drafted this year. The Buffalo Bills selected Glenn with the No. 41 pick on Friday night, nine spots into the second round.
Despite the wait, Glenn said the Bills were one of the teams he was hoping to join, and it was "probably the happiest moment of my life."
"I am happy," Glenn said in a conference call with reporters Friday night. "One, I get to play left tackle, and two, Buffalo is one of my favorite teams. I am just happy I get to play football. I know where I am playing at now. It is a big relief."
Glenn was the only UGA player picked in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft, as the fourth round will begin at noon Saturday with cornerback Brandon Boykin, tight end Orson Charles, center Ben Jones and all other available Bulldogs still on the board.
Five offensive linemen were drafted ahead of Glenn, who was roundly projected to be in the first round, perhaps going as high as the teens. But it didn't work out that way, as Glenn's weight (he is listed as 345 pounds) and position uncertainty between guard and tackle may have scared off some organizations.
Buffalo, however, was clear that it is going to try Glenn as a left tackle, the position he played this past season for UGA.
"I think football players are a lot like spouses. What looks good to one don’t look good to another," Bills scout Darrell Moody said on the team's official website. "Obviously he looked good to us and I’m glad he didn’t look good to maybe some of the others."
While ESPN analyst Jon Gruden complimented the selection, saying he was surprised Glenn was still available, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock immediately questioned the decision to try Glenn at left tackle.
Brandon Boykin is listed as Mike Mayock's fourth-best available player entering Saturday.
"I don't think he's got left tackle feet," Mayock said. "I think he's got a chance to be an All-Pro guard if they kick him inside. He's a massive human being. ... He is a starting right tackle or a guard. I'm not sure he's a left tackle."
Clearly, the Bills do not agree.
“For us a guy with that size and that type of foot athlete you line him up at tackle,” assistant GM Doug Whaley told the Bills' official website. “We believe that he can produce there at a high level.”
Glenn switched to left tackle for his senior season at UGA after playing guard in 2010. The entire line, Glenn included, struggled in the season opener against Boise State, but "I got better as the season went on as I got more comfortable out there."
"I still do not think I have played my best game out there," Glenn said.
"I think he’s a good athlete," Moody said. "I think he’s a tough kid. I don’t think he’s a trained killer. At this time, I think when you evaluate film, which is unusual when you evaluate college players, I think he’s a better pass blocker than he is a run blocker right now, but I think that will come."
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