The Buffalo Bills are coming into the 2014 season with high expectations after trading for Sammy Watkins, but so far the QB play has not been good in the preseason with starter EJ Manuel as well as backups Dennis Dixon and Thad Lewis struggling and that couple spark some trade rumors, including with backups like Ryan Mallett and Matt McGloin.
The Bills drafted Watkins in the top five of the draft after making a big trade and that came a year after taking Manuel in the first round in the 2013 draft. According to Pro Football Talk, the team is not happy with their backup quarterbacks and Doug Marrone said that the group of Thad Lewis, Dennis Dixon and Jeff Tuel needs to play better and this comes as Manuel has also struggled. The team is looking for big things from Manuel, especially after drafting Sammy Watkins.
According to Pro Football Talk, Mallett has been a target for some teams and the Patriots may want to deal him to give Jimmy Garoppolo a chance to backup Tom Brady. McGloin has also been mentioned in trade rumors, but so far the teams have not made any moves. The Pats would love to move Mallet since he is in the last year of his deal and likely is not returning.
Last season Manuel had an up and down season and also was injured for a time, putting up nearly 2,000 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, while Lewis had 1,092 yards and four TDs on the season. The team traded away Steve Johnson and acquired Mike Williams to join Robert Woods and Watkins and the Bills are hoping for a jump in development from Manuel.
Marrone said to reporters that the team is not happy with the way the backups have played and while a trade might be an extreme move now, the Bills could look at options. If Marrone is worried about Manuel and the backups, names like Matt McGloin, Mark Sanchez or Ryan Mallett could be options to acquire. The Bills are heading towards cut down time and some the backup QBs could be on the chopping block after the way they have played.
The team has one more game left against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night and that leads into the opening schedule with the Chicago Bears on the road in Week 1. The team then plays against the Miami Dolphins next and then against San Diego before matchups with the Texans and then against the Detroit Lions again.
