The Buffalo Bills have some decisions to make in the upcoming draft. The team is dealing with a roster full of holes and perhaps the biggest hole at the most important position. The team finally admitted to the mistake of extending the contract of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2011. Buffalo parted ways with Fitzpatrick and signed Kevin Kolb. The move may seem strange at first glance, considering Kolb’s unproven track record as a starter but a cap friendly deal makes perfect sense for the Bills. Kolb will compete with fellow journeyman Tarvaris Jackson for the starting quarterback position this season.
The move to cut Fitzpatrick will hinder the Bills spending for the next couple of seasons. Fitzpatrick’s contract will carry over dead money for 2013 and 2014. This was a consideration prior to the move but Buffalo’s brass went ahead with the move anyway. Fitzpatrick was simply not in the mix for the future of the Bills. This was absolutely the right decision. Buffalo realized their error and cut their losses short. Cutting Fitzpatrick paved the way for the Bills stop gap, enter Kolb and Jackson.
The Bills understand Kolb and Jackson are not long-term solutions. Both are signed to cap friendly deals with lots of incentives. Kolb was given a $1 million signing bonus and can earn a $250,000 roster bonus if he makes the team in September. Jackson was given a $500,000 signing bonus and will earn $450,000 if he makes the team in September. Jackson can earn $2.25 million in additional 2013 compensation if he is named the starter and stays in that role, while Kolb has an escalator in his contract for 2014.
The Bills are in a similar situation as the division rival Miami Dolphins were in 2012. The Dolphins were in need of a quarterback. Miami signed journeyman David Garrard to compete with Matt Moore for the starting quarterback position. Neither was the long-term solution, so Miami drafted Ryan Tannehill with the 8th overall pick. Buffalo is in an eerily similar predicament. Many draft experts predict Buffalo using one of their picks to pick up their future signal caller.
There is little doubt the Bills need to find their future quarterback in a hurry but with a weak crop of quarterbacks in this year’s class, making a hasty pick could prove deadly. West Virginia’s Geno Smith heads this year’s class but he could likely be gone by time the Bills pick at eight. Other names thrown around as possible quarterbacks on the Bills radar are Ryan Nassib and Matt Barkley. Both are intriguing picks but not with the eighth overall pick. Many mock drafts have Buffalo taking a quarterback in the second round.
The Bills need to make the right pick at quarterback. A bad pick could set the struggling Bills back even further down the AFC East totem poll. Bills general manager Buddy Nix has some major decisions coming up in the draft. Bills fans have been patient but their patience is starting to wear thin.