From San Diego, Dryer played collegiately at San Diego State and was drafted in the First Round by the New York Giants in 1969.  While Dryer's play was strong for the G-Men, he was not happy there and the Giants became frustrated with him so he would be traded to New England, who he refused to play for as there was no new contract and they traded him to the Los Angeles Rams as the Patriots declined to pay him what he asked.