Former Northwestern guard Jeff Roehl signed a free-agent contract with the New York Giants less than 30 minutes after the National Football League draft concluded Sunday.

Because several teams expressed interest in signing him, Roehl was named a priority free-agent. He said he signed with the Giants because they were the best fit for him to have a chance to play.

Four of the Giants’ starting offensive linemen came into the league as undrafted free agents. Roehl said this showed the team’s willingness to develop free agents into starters.

Giants’ offensive coordinator Jim McNally, who Roehl called one of the NFL’s best coaches at the position, and head coach Jim Fassel also played a large part in Roehl’s decision to sign with New York.

“Coach Fassel seemed like a really friendly guy and definitely a straight shooter,” Roehl said. “He said I was going have a chance to make the team, but I’d have come in and play well to do it. He left a press conference to call me when he heard I’d signed.”

Roehl said he felt he would have to establish himself as one of the team’s five best offensive linemen to secure a spot on the team.

Austin King, Roehl’s best friend and three-year teammate at NU, was drafted in the fourth round by the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Roehl said he wasn’t disappointed his roommate was drafted ahead of him.

“I’m glad things worked out for both of us,” Roehl said. “Some people were saying I was going to be drafted before Austin, and I didn’t think that was right because Austin’s a better player than I am. He’s one of the best offensive linemen I’ve ever seen.”

Roehl said teams began contacting him as early as the fifth round of the draft to say they were making him their next pick. But by the end of the draft his name hadn’t been called.

“It was frustrating because three or four teams said they were going to pick me,” Roehl said. “But I eliminated every team that said they were going to pick me from the teams I would sign with as a free agent. I didn’t want to play for a team that was dishonest with me.”