Buffalo Bills: Scouting the 2017 NFL Draft for a Quarterback

Jerod Evans – Virginia Tech

Junior, 6’4, 235lbs

2016: 3,552 yards, 29 TDs, 63.5% completion, 8 INTs

In college, when a team wants to add experience to prevent a developmental player from seeing the field too soon, they typically turn to Junior Colleges. In our case, let’s go to ex-JUCO QB and current Virginia Tech QB Jerod Evans plays.

Evans is probably more ready than Cardale Jones is to see an NFL field, but his upside isn’t as high.  What you are looking at in this pick could be a future backup QB. With all the trials and failures at starter for the Bills, having a long-term backup could be just as valuable to provide some stability.

Evans got a full year as a starter at Tech and surprisingly entered the NFL draft early. At Tech, he benefited from being coached by Paxton Lynch’s college coach, so for at least a year you know he has been getting to QB training. While entering a year early may leave some experience questions, he has less work with his mechanics than others.

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What I like most about possibly getting Evans, is that if the Bills keep Taylor. Evans’ mobility as a dual threat in college would allow the Bills to keep the same game plans should Taylor get hurt.  It also won’t hurt that he has the NFL size at QB, something Taylor lacks.

Bills Projected NFL Draft Round: 6th or Undrafted

The Bills have had good backup quarterbacks in their system. Guys who can come in, and albeit inconsistent, they can win games as spot starts. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trent Edwards, EJ Manuel, Kevin Kolb, Matt Cassell, etc., are all good NFL backups, but were thrust into starting in Buffalo.

They failed to secure the franchise QB spot.

The last franchise QB of the Bills was Jim Kelly and he will be involved in this NFL draft with our next prospect.