Bills’ Peterman: Being drafted on the fifth round puts ‘a big chip on my shoulder’

Some prognosticators had Nathan Peterman being selected in the second or third round of the NFL Draft.

Few thought he would go as low as the fifth, but that’s where the former University of Pittsburgh quarterback ended up being chosen — by the Buffalo Bills. And he was the second of their two picks in the round.

‘It was tough, but I think going forward, it’s going to serve as definitely a good motivator for me’

For Peterman, it serves as a great deal of motivation to prove all 32 teams wrong.

“You know, honestly, there was definitely some surprise with it all,” Peterman told Bruce Murray and Brady Quinn on the SiriusXM Blitz. “I think the toughest part for me, I didn’t really look at much media throughout the pre-draft stuff, but then unfortunately you kind of have to watch it, I feel like, when so much is contingent upon what happens. So I kept seeing my name up there as best available and all that, but I guess it doesn’t really mean anything until somebody takes you.

‘(The coaches) said, ‘Hey, we drafted you for a reason, we believe in you’

“So that was tough, but I think going forward, it’s going to serve as definitely a good motivator for me and a big chip on my shoulder. And I think that’s kind of always how I’ve played, too. So I’m thankful for it and just trying to go to work.”

During the Bills’ recent rookie minicamp, Peterman said he received nothing but encouragement from his coaches. However, he is less concerned about that than he is about making his own statement with how he performs on the field.

‘There’s some good vets here that have already been very welcoming’

“Just when I came here, (they said), ‘Hey, we drafted you for a reason, we believe in you,'” Peterman said. “That’s certainly good to hear, but as far as I’m concerned, I’m just going to work. I’m a rookie, I’m just trying to earn my way, find my way.

“There’s some good vets here that have already been very welcoming, so I’m definitely thankful for that. Just trying to keep working.”