NFL Draft 2013: Buffalo Bills Holding Private Workouts With Top QBs
By Josh Sanchez
It is no secret that the Buffalo Bills are looking to add a quarterback early in the 2013 NFL Draft and they forced their own hand whenever they released last year’s starting signal-caller Ryan Fitzpatrick. Now, with the draft approaching, the Bills are doing their due diligence and holding private workouts with a number of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft.
The most high profile signal-caller that the Bills have worked out is Geno Smith. Smith was a stand out at his Pro Day and is considered the top quarterback available in April. If the Bills were looking to lock him up and make Smith their QB of the future, there is a good chance that they would have to trade out after the Jaguars, Raiders and Eagles have all expressed interest in the West Virginia product.
Ryan Nassib is another player that the team has worked out and he makes the most sense.
Nassib would be reunited with his former college coach, Doug Marrone, in Buffalo and the familiarity with the head coach would help his development as a pro. Nassib would be a reach with the Bills first-round pick, but if Smith was gone and Marrone is sold on Nassib as a starter in the NFL, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him drafted high in the first.
The latest addition to the Bills private quarterback workout tour is Florida State’s EJ Manuel. Manuel is set to hold his Pro Day tomorrow and then have a private workout with the Bills shortly after. Manuel is one of the new breeds of quarterback that has the versatility to run any scheme in the NFL.
Another intriguing prospect for Buffalo is Arizona’s Matt Scott, who has been shooting up draft boards. Like Manuel, Scott is a versatile signal-caller. Scott has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the draft process and scouts have begun to fall in love with his skill set. It would not be a shock to see Scott drafted in the second-round. If Buffalo misses out on Smith and Nassib, Scott could be a great consolation prize.
Buffalo has also worked out Washington State quarterback Jeff Tuel, who is a late-round pick or potentially an undrafted free agent.
Bills fans, which quarterback would you like to see your team draft? Should the rookie start right away or would it be best to sit a year or two behind Tarvaris Jackson? Let us know who you’d like your target and your thoughts on the Bills offseason approach by sounding off in our comments section.