Terrelle Pryor inspires Bills to sign QB-turned-TE Logan Thomas

The Buffalo Bills made an interesting move on Tuesday, signing Logan Thomas off the Detroit Lions’ practice squad, according to Peter Schrager of Fox Sports. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because he was Carson Palmer’s backup in Arizona, but he’s not playing quarterback.

Despite attempts to make it as a quarterback, Thomas is giving tight end a shot, after seeing the success that Terrelle Pryor has had at wide receiver with the Cleveland Browns. The Bills had an open roster spot because of tackle Seantrel Henderson’s 10-game suspension by the NFL.

Thomas’ signing comes after he was on the Lions’ practice squad for just one day.

He wasn’t immediately open to the idea of a position change.

“I knew I had a high ceiling at quarterback, but there comes a day when you got to say, ‘OK’ and this past week was that day,” Thomas told James Hawkins of The Detroit News.

The move might not be as difficult as many would expect. Thomas was a top tight end prospect coming out of high school, before ultimately switching to quarterback at Virginia Tech.

Thomas added that his quarterbacking days might not entirely be over. “I’m still not ready to completely give up on quarterback because you never know what a fourth quarterback can do — wildcat or whatever it might be,” Thomas said.

Thomas has a big body like Pryor, who stands at 6’4. He comes in at 6’6, making a move to tight end more possible than you might imagine. Many of the game’s tight ends, like Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce, and C.J. Fiedorowicz stand 6’6 or taller.

Just because Thomas has the size doesn’t mean he’ll immediately make an impact. Most likely, the Bills will develop him and hope he can contribute next season, as the Browns did with Pryor. Last year with the Browns, Pryor played in three games and had one catch for 42 yards. This year he’s their leading receiver with 62 receptions to go along with 855 yards and four touchdowns.

Thomas actually compared his situation to Billy Madison. “It’s just a day-by-day step,” Thomas said. “It’s just getting the basics. I’m in kindergarten when these guys are in a pro level, so I’m going to have to kind of be like Billy Madison and go through it as fast as I can.”

In Buffalo, Thomas will have a familiar face at quarterback: Tyrod Taylor, who like Thomas, played quarterback at Virginia Tech. Despite Thomas playing a new position, the Bills will hope there’s some quick chemistry between the two.