NFL Rumors: 5 trade destinations for AJ McCarron
By Jacob Yturri
No. 5 Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. The team has been without a franchise signal-caller for more than a decade. However, last season featured the emergence of Tyrod Taylor. In his first season as an NFL starting quarterback, Taylor had a very efficient year and was electric through the air and on the ground.
Unfortunately, despite the Bills discovering the team’s first playmaker at the quarterback position in more than a decade, the team may still not have found their franchise passer. One of the biggest concerns with Taylor pertains to his ability to stay healthy. It does not matter how good a player anyone is is if they are always on the bench nursing an injury.
Taylor is certainly solid contributor for Bills, but can he stay healthy?
The lack of certainty surrounding Taylor has created the perfect environment for a trading for an additional starting caliber quarterback. Since the Buffalo Bills are not picking high enough in this year’s NFL draft, it seems more than logical for them to attempt to acquire a quarterback via trade.
Trading for AJ McCarron might just be the best option for the Bills.
Scheme Fit:
The Buffalo Bills are the definition of a Rex Ryan team- plenty of playmakers on defense, followed by a superstar running back that can carry the offense. The quarterback in a Rex Ryan coached offense is primarily concerned with getting the ball to their playmakers, and less focused on making actual plays with their arm or feet.
Running backs are featured in a Ryan offensive strategy, thus making it easier on the quarterbacks. For a younger player like McCarron, a simplified offense should allow him to do less processing on the field and more acting and playing. A lot of times young quarterbacks get caught up trying to over think a gameplan instead of actually playing the game.
Team Need:
The Buffalo Bills certainly need a franchise quarterback. In the seven games that McCarron has participated in, he has not blown the competition out of the water, but he made solid progress in each of the games. Trading for McCarron would not be a day one fix to the team’s problems. McCarron will need to be developed and coached up if he wishes to become a full-time starter.
Ability for the Bills to acquire McCarron:
The Cincinnati Bengals are not going to give up McCarron without gaining plenty of assets in return. However, if a team acquires McCarron, then the Bengals are most likely going to want to receive a quarterback in return (to become Andy Dalton’s replacement) and a draft pick, at least a fourth rounder.
One potential trade that could occur would be the Bengals giving up McCarron, and acquiring quarterback Taylor (a proven backup) and the Bills’ fourth round pick next year.
Next: No. 4 Los Angeles Rams