The Buffalo Bills want a franchise quarterback. The team drafted EJ Manuel out of Florida State in the first round last year, hoping he could be the future of the team for many years to come. However, injuries piled up for the rookie, causing the Bills to put together another disappointing season. After another knee surgery this offseason, could the team draft a quarterback yet again?
Manuel's rookie year was headline by the term "knee injury." The rookie quarterback played just 10 games in 2013 after injuring his knee on two different occasions. The result was another quarterback carousel as everyone from Kevin Kolb, Jeff Tuel and Thad Lewis took their shots at being the team's starter.
While speaking during Super Bowl Media Day, the Buffalo Bills quarterback confirmed he underwent another knee surgery right when the offseason began. He assured reporters it was nothing more than a quick cleanup procedure that will not cause any lasting issues. Now, Manuel is rehabbing from the procedure and is expected to be healthy at the start of training camp.
The Bills plan on limiting Manuel with a knee brace similar to what Robert Griffin III wore all last year. After two knee injuries in one year, the team is trying to be smart with Manuel, but his knee issues are starting to develop into a popular topic of speculation, leaving many to wonder if the Bills have doubts the quarterback is the player of the future.
NFL coaches live and die by their quarterbacks and as a result the Bills now have three coaches in place to support Manuel. Jim Hostler, Todd Downing and Doug Marrone will all have a say in the development of Manuel, showing the team has not given up on the rookie after one season. However, Buffalo News beat writer Todd Graham suggests the team will draft another rookie quarterback this season as a backup plan.
"There's a sentiment that drafting a first-round quarterback two years in a row simply is not done," Graham writes. That's generally accurate. It has happened six times in NFL history, but the Baltimore Colts were the last to do it in 1982 and 1983, taking Art Schlichter fourth overall and John Elway first. The Colts traded Elway to the Denver Broncos. But money isn't an issue like it used to be. Investing in first-round quarterbacks doesn't jam a team's salary cap anymore. The rookie wage scale is an effective cost control. The Bills are well under the salary cap."
The Bills own the ninth overall draft pick, but the chances they take a rookie early are slim to none. If the team does draft a quarterback, it will not be until a later round, making them poised to take someone like AJ McCarron or Aaron Murray.
Buffalo might also choose to grab a veteran in free agency. Michael Vick, Josh McCown and Matt Cassel will all be available and cheap. They could help develop Manuel into both a starter and leader. Right now, the team does not have a franchise quarterback. That does not mean Manuel will not develop into one, but for a team that has missed the playoffs 14-straight, there is urgency.
