By Mark Eckel/Engagement Insider
There were 14 tight ends selected in the 2004 NFL Draft, from Kellen Winslow going to Cleveland with the sixth overall pick to Courtney Anderson going to Oakland with the 245th pick.
None of them were named Jason Peters and none of them have gone to seven Pro Bowls on a road that might lead to Canton. Then again, none of them were moved from tight end to left tackle.
Peters’ story in different. From undrafted tight end out of Arkansas to seven-time Pro Bowl player with the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles.
Let him take you back to the weeks leading up to that 2004 draft.
“I sent in my request like any underclassmen and they sent me back a grade, a high grade, so that’s why I decided to come out for the draft,’’ Peters said. “I mean, all we did was run the ball anyway (at Arkansas), it’s not like I was going to put up big numbers, score a lot of touchdowns. This was an opportunity for me. Everyone knew (Kellen) Winslow and (Ben) Watson (who went 32nd overall to New England) were the first round tight ends. I thought second, maybe third round.
“At the Combines I blew it out of the water. I did all the drills. I caught everything they threw me, I think I might have dropped one ball. I don’t know what happened. I guess they just didn’t know what to do with me.’’
Peters sat and watched as expected Winslow and Watson went in the first round. Then two more, Ben Troupe and Kris Wilson, went in the second round.
“I didn’t know what was going on,’’ Peters said. “I kept asking my agent. Washington called me (during the third round) and said they’re thinking about taking me, but then they took (Chris) Cooley. The Saints called me, too, and they took another guy not even a tight end.
“After the fourth, fifth round I told my agent at this point I’d rather not get drafted at all and be able to pick where I go, instead of just being stuck some place.’’
The draft ended and Peters’ phone didn’t stop ringing.
“I want to say every team in the league called, at least 25 teams did for sure,’’ he said. “Buffalo was the best option for me at that time. They didn’t have any big names at tight end. I thought I had a chance there.’’
Peters appeared in five games as an undrafted rookie for the Bills in 2004, with one start at tight end for a team that finished, 9-7.
“My second year is when it happened,’’ Peters said of the switch to tackle and the beginning of his climb to NFL stardom. “After my first year, I sat down with the coach (Mike Mularkey) at the end of the season and told him I wanted to get on the field more.
“I told him I needed to get on the field more and I would make a difference. He told me the offensive line coach (the legendary Jim McNally) liked me. I said whatever I could do. I told him I’ll play the line, I’ve never done it before, but I’ll do it.’’
Peters started the final 10 games of the 2005 season at right tackle, and then moved to left tackle in 2006 where he started all 16 games. After the 2007 season he was named to his first of five consecutive Pro Bowls and seven in all.
“I have to give a lot of the credit to my line coach in Buffalo, I really do,’’ Peters said of McNally. “I have to credit coach Mularkey, too. He could have easily just released me, or had me stay at tight end. But he took a chance and moved me to the offensive line.
“When I look back on it, if I would have got drafted as a tight end, who knows? I don’t know what would have happened. I might not have played that long. Everything would have been different.’’