5 quarterbacks who could lead the Buffalo Bills in 2018

With this week’s benching of Tyrod Taylor as the first move in the chess game, here are five quarterbacks who could lead the Buffalo Bills in 2018.

The Buffalo Bills are 5-4, and in contention for a Wild Card spot in the AFC. But with a two-game losing streak, and after a 47-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints last Sunday, quarterback Tyrod Taylor was benched in favor of rookie Nathan Peterman on Wednesday.

The Bills new regime, head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane, were basically stuck with Taylor after his outsized contract was restructured last offseason. And with a $6 million roster bonus due to him on the third day of the 2018 league year, the decision to move on came now instead of in March.

The Bills are giving Peterman, their second fifth-round pick in April, a seven-week audition for the starting job. Even if he proves he’s not necessarily the guy for next season, Peterman will surely be back to occupy a spot on the depth chart heading into the offseason.

But the Bills could be in the market for a quarterback regardless of how Peterman plays down the stretch, so here are five guys who could be the team’s starter under center come Week 1 next season.

5. Tyrod Taylor

Taylor clear has his shortcomings as a pocket passer, and the Bills were trying to make him one. But getting a longer glimpse of Peterman in Week 11 and beyond, outside of the preseason or in garbage time of a blowout loss, may be all it takes for McDermott to turn back to Taylor before this season is even over.

If the Bills decide to shift the course they’re on and keep Taylor next spring, his $10 million base salary is not something that would prevent the addition of another veteran quarterback below the top of the free agent market. So there’s a chance, however faint right now, Taylor is back to at least compete for the starting job in Buffalo.