The Buffalo Bills had one of the worst quarterback situations over the past two years in the NFL and the team feels it has an upgrade in former Arizona Cardinals starter Kevin Kolb and the quarterback himself has the confidence to say that he wants a Super Bowl for the franchise.
According to ESPN.com, Kolb officially signed with the Bills on Monday and said at his first press conference that he was with the team to win a Super Bowl. Despite the signing, the Bills could possibly target a quarterback in the first round with the number eight overall pick, considering he played with coach Doug Marrone at Syracuse and he appears to be the biggest riser in the draft.
Peter King at SI.com reports that many teams see Nassib as the number one quarterback in the draft and that if the Bills want him, they may need to take him with the eighth pick since other teams most likely would take him before their second round pick at 41. Geno Smith has been the number one rated quarterback on most boards, but many scouts have elevated Nassib in recent weeks and King also reports that Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel is also rising.
The Bills have worked out a number of quarterbacks leading up to the draft, including Smith, Nassib as well as Tyler Bray and Landry Jones from Oklahoma. The team likely won't want to use its high pick on a quarterback, but as Jon Gruden says, if you like a player, take the player.
"If the Bills really like him, and they think he's the best guy on the board, why not take him at eight?'' coach Jon Gruden told King. "Why take even the slightest risk he wouldn't be there later?"
Kolb was signed as a free agent after his release by the Cardinals to compete with Tavaris Jackson for the starting job and since neither quarterback is seen as a long term option for Buffalo, the number eight pick for a quarterback could still be in play. The Bills have not made the playoffs for 12 years and went just 6-10 last season, giving them good reasons to find a long-term young quarterback they can groom.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was a disappointment with the team after signing a six-year extension in 2011 and he went just 20-33 as a starter for Buffalo and is now with the Titans after being released. Kolb is on a two year contract and since the draft rules are different with money than in the past, the Bills could select a quarterback like Nassib with the eighth pick and not get stuck paying him a ton of money down the line.
Kolb threw for just 1,169 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions while with the Cardinals last season and was injured for part of the year and he will be looking to bounce back. He was originally traded from the Eagles to the Cardinals after being drafted in 2007 and if he proves himself in Buffalo, he could be the bridge quarterback the team is looking for as they draft and develop a new young quarterback for the future.
