The Buffalo Bills have undergone a major overhaul this offseason, bringing in some big name stars for what the team hopes will be a playoff push, but rumors indicate that it could be a lesser-known name that emerges as the season’s most important player.
While the Bills have made big moves bolstering the offense, the quarterback position remains largely a question mark. The team has E.J. Manuel returning for his third season, but after losing the starting job last year to Kyle Orton, his position on the depth chart remains unclear.
The team also brought in Matt Cassel to compete for the starting job, but some believe it’s the third quarterback on the roster who could end up as this year’s starter.
In the offseason, the Bills picked up former Baltimore Ravens backup Tyrod Taylor , a physically talented player who has seen very little action behind the reliable Joe Flacco. Taylor was expected to compete for the backup position, but now rumors indicate that the Buffalo Bills could end up starting him.
In his draft assessment of the Bills, ESPN expert Mel Kiper Jr. noted that Taylor has been making a strong push to start.
New Bills coach Rex Ryan hasn’t tipped his hand, saying in April that all three quarterbacks will go in with a chance for the starting job .
“It’s going to be open ,” Ryan told WGR radio, via the team’s official website. “It’s a competition and whoever earns the job will be the guy that’s out there.”
But Tyrod Taylor could be a good fit for the team. The Bills have already made the offense more explosive, trading for LeSean McCoy and acquiring Percy Harvin to go along with last year’s rookie sensation Sammy Watkins. With a stable of playmakers, the Bills could use a similarly talented player at quarterback.
Whatever the Buffalo Bills decided at quarterback, they are apparently content with the three they have competing for the starting job (plus Jeff Tuel, who was on the practice squad last year). The Bills had a chance to pick from the second tier of quarterbacks available in this weekend’s NFL Draft but chose to stay pat and instead fill other needs.
With the rumors regarding the Buffalo Bills quarterback decision spreading, the expectations around the team are also continuing to grow. Many experts have pegged the Bills as a playoff contender, and some are even saying they could finally knock off the New England Patriots for supremacy in the AFC East. But that will likely come down to strong quarterback play, a question the team still hasn’t answered.
[Image via Getty Images/Jim Rogash]