Over the past eight years, the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have been closely linked at the quarterback position. In 2017, Kansas City traded up to No.10 in the draft with the Bills to select star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In return, Buffalo received the 27th pick, that year's third rounder, and a 2018 first rounder.
For the Bills, the 2018 first-round pick turned into their franchise quarterback, Josh Allen. While Mahomes has accomplished more than Allen has so far in their careers, Allen is still one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. That said, it seems like the two teams have identified traits they like in an undrafted free agent quarterback.
According to Aaron Wilson of KRPC Houston, both the Bills and Chiefs invited Southeast Missouri State quarterback Paxton DeLaurent to rookie minicamp. Though DeLaurent would likely be just a minicamp body for both teams, it's interesting that both want to see what he can do.
Chiefs and Bills Extended a Rookie Minicamp Invite to the Same Quarterback
The 6-foot-5, 229-pound quarterback is coming off a rough final collegiate season. In 2024, DeLaurent completed just 59.5% (368/618) of his passes for 4,073 yards,33 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. This past season, he threw it more than he did in his other two seasons with the Redhawks.
In 2022 and 2023, DeLaurent combined to complete 62.4% (369/591) of his passes for 4,476 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Furthermore, he added 157 carries for 457 yards and 10 touchdowns in three seasons.
While DeLaurent making it from rookie minicamp to the preseason roster on either team is unlikely, he certainly has an interesting profile. A 229-pound quarterback having some success on the ground is impressive.
No wonder why both the Chiefs and the Bills extended a rookie minicamp invite to the former Southeast Missouri State signal caller.