Buffalo Bills sign free agent quarterback Kyle Allen to backup Josh Allen

For the fourth straight season the Buffalo Bills will have a new player backing up Josh Allen as Kyle Allen is set to join the Bills, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The Bills were forced to look for a new backup after last year’s backup, Case Keenum, agreed to terms with the Houston Texans. The Texans were actually the last team that Kyle Allen was with and was the backup to Davis Mills. He would start two games, throwing for 416 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.

Prior to Keenum, the Buffalo Bills had Mitchell Trubisky as the backup in 2021 and Matt Barkley in 2020, who returned last season and is under contract for the upcoming season.

Kyle Allen has plenty of connections to members of the Buffalo Bills

This a move that makes a lot of sense as Kyle Allen has plenty of connections with members of the Buffalo Bills, starting with Josh Allen. While not related, even with the same last name, the two quarterbacks are friends. They have worked out together in the past during offseasons alongside Sam Darnold, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason.

They even golfed together at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February and thought Kyle Allen had a hole-in-one. Unfortunately, the shot would come up short.

While Kyle Allen did begin his career with the Carolina Panthers, he was not with Carolina at the same time that Ken Dorsey (who is currently the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator) or Joe Brady (who is currently the Buffalo Bills quarterback coach) was with the franchise.

However, on the defensive side of the ball Eric Washington was defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers in the two seasons Kyle Allen was there and could certainly provide some additional insight from what he saw in practice.

This was a logical move for the Buffalo Bills and one that makes a lot of sense as they shore up a key position on the roster.