The Buffalo Bills need a franchise quarterback. They haven't had one since Jim Kelly retired in 1996. If Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the answer and the draft is a 50-50 proposition, what should the Bills do? Buffalo may decide they want to go after a more established signal-caller, and one just happens to be available.
The Philadelphia Eagles today placed the franchise tag on quarterback Michael Vick. In doing so, the Eagles announced to the league that Vick is their QB moving forward without a doubt, and Kolb is likely expendable. With Kolb explaining earlier this month that "I just want to start somewhere," perhaps Buffalo is "somewhere".
In 2010, Kolb started five games and played in two additional contests. He completed 61% of his passes for 1,197 yards and a 7-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Eagles were offered a first-round pick, plus supplemental picks, in exchange for Kolb prior to the 2010 season. After his injuries and so-so season, that compensation should be lower; a second-round pick might even get the job done.
The Bills have been down this road before. The team traded for fading quarterback Drew Bledsoe in 2002, giving up a first-round pick. Bledsoe made a Pro Bowl and put the Bills on the cusp of their only playoff berth in the past decade, but came up short. In 1998, Buffalo gave up first- and fourth-round draft picks for Rob Johnson, who had one NFL start. Johnson finished his Buffalo career with a 9-17 record.