Dec 30, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

It seems that the trendy discussion as of late is which quarterback should the Bills draft? Is Ryan Nassib the future at quarterback, or is one of the other rookie signal callers? Of course that isn’t the only option, as there are a few veteran players available. It seems since Doug Marrone has come to Buffalo those discussions have toned down.

Buffalo saw firsthand this season what San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith can do. With Colin Kaepernick leading San Fran all the way to the Super Bowl the likelihood that the 49ers are willing to hold onto Smith’s contract is becoming more and more slim. Smith is a strong quarterback who will succeed with the right tools around him. The 49ers were still a strong team when he was at the helm as well. Is he a flashy guy? Not really, but he does seem to make sense for the Bills.

Then there’s Michael Vick, who comes with a few more questions. First of all, we don’t really know if his time is done in Philadelphia. Sure, Nick Foles seemed to have won the job last season. However, this is Chip Kelly’s team now, and he could decide that Vick is their best option. Even if he is on the move, he wouldn’t exactly be a hot commodity. He struggled mightily when he played this season, but the Eagles do have one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Maybe with a little more protection he could be more successful.

So I leave you again with a poll. Is a veteran still an option in your mind, or should the Bills look to the draft? If its up to you, what path do you pursue?

November 25, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) paces the sidelines during first quarter of their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) started the game instead of Smith. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

With the Bills playoff hopes for the most part over, its time to starting looking to next season here at Buffalowdown. One of the biggest question marks going into next season is who will be starting for the Bills at quarterback. This is the first installment of the Buffalo Bills Quarterback options, the players that could possibly be linked to the Bills this offseason.

The first option is probably one of the more obvious choices, Alex Smith. The former first overall pick was beginning to return to grace with the San Francisco 49ers before being ousted in favor of dual threat Colin Kaepernick. With the 49ers likely unwilling to pay Smith’s large contract for him to be the backup, many expect that Smith will be on the move.

With Alex Smith you know what you’re getting. He isn’t going to blow anyone away, but he is a solid game manager with a much better arm than Ryan Fitzpatrick. He’s an eight year veteran with plenty of experience, which would save the team from growing pains. His stats aren’t too shabby either. In his nine games this season he’s thrown for 1,731 yards with 13 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.Last season was arguably the best of his career, as he passed for over 3,000 yards and 18 touchdowns. He led the 49ers to the NFC championship game only to lose to the future Super Bowl champion Giants.

When it comes to Alex Smith, it all depends on how much he costs. The Bills certainly wouldn’t be the only team with their eyes on him. There are plenty of teams in need of a quarterback. The 49ers will likely trade Smith and take the best offer available, meaning the price could be very high. This wouldn’t be a clear cut signing either, some would like the team to go much younger. Of all the options, however, Smith is probably the least risky. What do you think, is Smith a good fit in Buffalo? Make sure to comment with your opinion or take it to Twitter!