Throughout the 2016 NFL Draft process, the Bills have been connected to a number of highly-regarded quarterbacks. The team had even been doing deep dives into Carson Wentz and Jared Goff, although both players are expected to be top ten picks. In fact, out of the list of quarterbacks to interact with Buffalo, there was only one name whose absence stood out: Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook. He didn't attend the Senior Bowl, did not meet with the team at the Combine (to our knowledge), and on his pro day, Rex Ryan was making headlines at the Georgia pro day, while a different Bills contingent was en route to Happy Valley for the Penn State event the following day. There were no connections between the Bills and Cook - until today, thanks to a report from Ian Rapoport:
#Bills ate dinner with Paxton Lynch, will visit with Connor Cook, Cardale Jones, did extensive work on Jared Goff… they are in the QB market
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 6, 2016
Cook is a polarizing prospect, as many know, due to questions about his leadership (he was never voted a team captain). He's an extremely confident quarterback on and off the field, likes to make high-risk, high-reward throws, and was a three year starter for a pro-style program with a stellar win-loss record. Cook also has questions about his accuracy - he's never completed more than 60 percent of his passes in a year, a threshold that probably removes him from some boards entirely.
It's not clear from Rapoport's tweet if this meeting is a pre-draft visit (one of Buffalo's 30) or if the team will be trekking to Michigan to meet Cook. Until the report is corroborated, we'll assume this does not count as a pre-draft visit. Either way, Rapoport is absolutely right. Goff, Wentz, Lynch, Jones, Hackenberg, Hogan, Prescott, and Cook. The Bills are in the market for a quarterback.