The Buffalo Bills missed out on signing Josh McCown and now Rex Ryan will look at other targets on the free agent market, as Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, Mark Sanchez and Jake Locker all could be potential options for the team to start over EJ Manuel and this comes as there is also interest around the NFL in trades for Jay Cutler, Kirk Cousins, Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon.
UPDATE II: Reports have the Bills trading for Matt Cassel from the Minnesota Vikings. The deal includes undisclosed draft picks, according to Adam Schefter at ESPN.
UPDATE: Reports have the Bills and Eagles working on a trade with LeSean McCoy and Kiko Alonso. McCoy's agent says that no deal is done yet. More to come.
The Bills were the first team to talk with McCown after his release with the Buccaneers, but he did not sign right away and also negotiated with the Browns. According to the Buffalo News, the quarterback search now turns to the other players on the market, including Hoyer, Mark Sanchez, Christian Ponder, Matt Moore and Ryan Mallett. Sanchez played for Ryan in New York and he had the chance to start eight games last year for the Eagles.
Sanchez was solid in spots and the Eagles won 10 games with Sanchez and Foles splitting time, with sanchez taking over after Foles was injured. Hoyer had a strong start to the season for the Browns, winning seven games and putting Cleveland in the playoff race, but he faltered down the stretch and dealt with an injury. Mallett was traded to the Texans last year and he said that he was interested in staying in Houston for next season. Houston is another team that could make a change at their starting quarterback position.
McCown signing to the Browns opens up options for the other players on the market and the teams in need of a QB, as Cleveland is no longer in the mix for a quarterback. The Bills could look at a trade, but after moving up for Sammy Watkins last year, the team doesn't have as many draft picks for Ryan to work with. The Bills have a strong defense and they also have some solid talent on the offensive side of the ball with Fred Jackson, Watkins, Robert Woods and Scott Chandler. The Bills also have a nice amount of cap space and new ownership that could be willing to make big moves, including bringing back Jerry Hughes.
Some other quarterbacks mentioned by the Buffalo News include Shaun Hill and Colts McCoy, while Kirk Cousins, Jay Cutler and Chase Daniel were mentioned as trade bait. Hill has a ton of experience and he could help mentor EJ Manuel if he is brought in and it comes after he made eight starts last year. Hoyer made 13 starts last season and had 12 TDs and 13 picks and now he likely will be with another team after the Browns signed Josh McCown.
Sanchez has been linked to the Bills because of Ryan and he comes in after throwing 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in nine games last season. Cutler would cost a ton of money, but the Bills could be a good fit for the Bears quarterback if he is traded. Cutler likely won't get traded by the Bears because his contract is so big and the Bills likely don't want to take such a risk right away with Ryan coming. Cousins or Matt Cassel could be cheaper options, while Chase Daniel is another name mentioned by the Buffalo News as a potential target.
