Former Utes safety Cole Bishop selected No. 60 overall by Buffalo Bills in NFL draft

DETROIT — Cole Bishop took a chance on Utah football without even getting an opportunity to visit the school.

All Bishop had to rely on was what defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley told him about the program — recruitment during a global pandemic had that effect on players — and the school's development and pedigree of sending players to the NFL, especially defensive players.

So Bishop made the cross-country trek to Utah, with hopes that Scalley and the Utah coaching staff was right in their assessment of where he could be in a few years.

Their assessment and Bishop's faith in the coaching staff was well-founded.

Three years and several accolades later as a three-year starter at safety, Bishop became the latest defensive player from Utah drafted to the NFL. The hard-hitting, versatile safety has a new home.

Hello, Buffalo.

The Peachtree City, Georgia, native (by way of Boston) was selected No. 60 overall to the Bills in the second round of Friday's portion of the three-day 2024 NFL draft.

Bishop becomes the first Utes players drafted this season after leading one of the nation's best defenses last season. He now gets the opportunity to showcases his versatility and hard work in Buffalo, where he is the second player drafted this season by the Bills.

He also joins former Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid, who was selected in the first round last season.

The often soft-spoken Bishop can play at the line of scrimmage while also staying in coverage to provide a unique skillset for the Bills.

"Bishop has man coverage potential on tight ends and is a bona fide striker when crashing down from his zone perch. ... Bishop is an enforcer with NFL size and toughness for consideration in both down safety and split safety alignments," according to a pre-draft assessment by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.

Though one of Utah's team leaders and best assets on defense over the last three seasons, Bishop has more development ahead of him in the NFL. But Bishop has proven to be receptive to coaching and should provide the Bills with a hard-working and humble asset for years to come.

Bishop is expected to sign a contract worth approximately $6.5 million over four seasons, with an average of $1.6 million each season, according to Spotrac, which tracks NFL contracts.

This story will be updated.

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