Buffalo Bills position room preview: Quarterback
By Avery Duncan
The Buffalo Bills are entering 2019 with a different, potential-laden roster of quarterbacks.
To call the Buffalo Bills’ quarterback situation in 2018 a mess is an understatement. Through the course of one season, the team saw four different signal callers start — Nathan Peterman, Josh Allen, Derek Anderson, and Matt Barkley. With Peterman now off the roster and Anderson enjoying retirement, the team is all in on Allen with Barkley as his backup.
Heading into 2019, the Bills’ quarterback room is about as promising as it’s been since Jim Kelly roamed the streets of Buffalo. With second-year Allen in-fold, there is legitimate potential for a franchise quarterback. Though Allen has a ways to go, he’s shown far more promise than an E.J. Manuel, J.P. Losman, or whatever quarterback the Bills trotted out during their 17-year playoff drought.
General manager Brandon Beane recognizes what he has on the roster; as he’s spent the entire off-season building around Allen. In free agency, the team signed starting offensive lineman Mitch Morse, Quinton Spain, and Ty Nsekhe. In addition, they signed pass-catchers John Brown, Cole Beasley, and Tyler Kroft. In the draft, Beane coveted lineman Cody Ford and athletic tight ends Dawson Knox and Tommy Sweeney were added to the mix.
The result of Beane’s efforts is unknown. The Bills are banking on Allen’s development and health, and now they have the roster to help him succeed in both. Next season, for the first time in a long time, the Bills may find out that they don’t have to upgrade the quarterback position for the foreseeable future.