ORCHARD PARK - The Buffalo Bills closed out the 2024 NFL Draft by taking cornerback Daequan Hardy out of Penn State late in the sixth round, and then coming right back to take offensive guard Travis Clayton, who is an NFL International Pathway Program graduate.

Hardy is a 5-foot-9, 179-pounder who was just a one-year starter for the Nittany Lions, playing almost exclusively in the slot, but he also was a punt returner and that might be his only chance to make an impression and make the roster.

Dane Brugler of The Athletic said, “Hardy has the linear burst and toughness required for slot work, but his lack of size and strength will be tough to mask in coverage and run support versus NFL athletes. His value as a return man can help him stay on an NFL roster while he competes for defensive snaps.”

Clayton will follow the path of former Bills running back Christian Wade, who you might remember was with them for a couple training camps and spent two years on the practice squad though he never dressed for a game.

Clayton is an English rugby player who spent 10 weeks in Florida at the NFL’s IPP training facility and even though he has never played a second in an American football game, he must have caught the Bills’ eye enough for them to take a flier on him.

“So with football, I love the physical side of things,” Clayton said. “Being on the offensive line, being able to take your anger out on people legally, it's great. I can just use my strength to my abilities.”

He stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 303 pounds so he clearly has size and athleticism to work with, but there is virtually no chance that he would be able to make the 53-man roster in 2024. If he has any chance, it will be on the practice squad.

“I was in the NFL Academy in 2019, so I always had the dream of playing in the NFL,” Clayton said. “So hearing my name called out, that's the main goal. That's exactly what I wanted. There is a lot of steps still to be done, but the first step is a big one I've done. It's a blessing. I didn't have visits with the Bills, but look it's the NFL, man. Buffalo came to me. Buffalo wanted me. I'm just ready to work.”

Sal Maiorana can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana. To subscribe to Sal's newsletter, Bills Blast, which comes out every other Friday during the offseason, please follow this link: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Daequan Hardy, rugby player Travis Clayton drafted by Buffalo Bills