A major question mark heading into training camp for the Buffalo Bills is quarterback, but it won’t necessarily be a race for the starting role.
Another year for the Buffalo Bills where quarterback is a huge question mark, but the question mark isn’t who will start. Instead, the question mark surrounds Tyrod Taylor’s future with the Bills.
This past off-season, the Bills re-negotiated Taylor’s contract which could really be a one year deal, as the Bills can opt out of his contract and not pay Taylor his full salary. The quarterback position is really a unique position entering the 2017 season.
Safe to say, if Tyrod Taylor fails then Bill’s fans will be yelling for Nathan Peterman to come in and start.
Quarterbacks currently on the roster
- Tyrod Taylor
- T.J. Yates
- Nathan Peterman
- Cardale Jones
*Josh Woodrum is also on the roster, but figures to be a camp body and nothing else*
Tyrod Taylor
Like mentioned above, this truly is a make-or-break season for Tyrod Taylor. It could even set the tone for his future as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
If Taylor fails to show McDermott and company that he can succeed at this level and push the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs, then Taylor won’t be on the roster next season.
Either way, next offseason will be an interesting one for the Bills as they can easily move on from Taylor and start fresh and draft a quarterback to be the face of the franchise.
Tyrod Taylor’s Role: Starting Quarterback
T.J. Yates
Yates signed a month or so before the NFL draft to backup Taylor and mentor Cardale Jones. Now, with the selection of Nathan Peterman, Yates is now in a competition with Jones and Peterman for the backup job.
Yates is a veteran quarterback who will be very good for the quarterback room, especially for the younger quarterbacks in Jones and Peterman. Unfortunately, Yates hasn’t shown much in his NFL career for McDermott to just give him the backup job.
T.J. Yates’ Role: Backup Quarterback
Nathan Peterman
The 5th round pick in this years draft now looks like McDermott’s quarterback that he will develop. Peterman was considered a steal to get in the 5th round, as many NFL scouts had him as the most pro ready quarterback out of any in the draft. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network even went as far to say he will be the Dak Prescott of this years draft and will start for the Bills this season.
For now, Peterman will come into training camp in a competition battle with Yates and Jones for the backup quarterback role. Red-shirting Peterman in year one wouldn’t be the worst idea for the Bills.
Nathan Peterman’s Role: 3rd String Quarterback (Most likely won’t see the field unless something really bad happens)
Cardale Jones
Jones appears to be the odd man out in Buffalo, especially after the selection of Nathan Peterman. Jones is a development quarterback who has a massive arm, but needs a lot of work to be an NFL quarterback.
If Jones proves he has taken strides he may find himself on the roster and the Buffalo Bills may move on from Yates. But for now, it appears the writing is on the wall for the 4th round pick in the 2016 draft and a trade seems likely to happen in training camp.
That would mean the Bills quarterback depth chart would look like this:
Starter: Tyrod Taylor
Backup: T.J. Yates
3rd String: Nathan Peterman
Next: Who did the AFC East select in this year's NFL Draft?
What do you think the Buffalo Bills‘ quarterback depth chart will look like? Let us know in the comments section!