It was widely expected that the Buffalo Bills would select a quarterback at some point in the 2017 NFL Draft. Many expected it would be early, but it ended up happening in the middle of the final day instead, when the Bills selected a guy who is almost the antithesis of the man who has been under center for the last two seasons.
Name: Nathan Peterman
# 2
Position: QB
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 226 lbs.
Experience: R
College: Pittsburgh
Draft: Round 5, Pick 171 by the Buffalo Bills (2017)
Financial Situation (per Spotrac): Peterman is on a four-year rookie deal that will pay him $465,000 this year with annual raises of $90,000. A little less than $250,000 is guaranteed.
2016 Recap: In his second season with the Panthers after transferring from Tennessee, Peterman led Pitt to an 8-5 record. The unquestionable highlight of his season was their 43-42 victory over eventual national champion Clemson, the Tigers’ only loss of 2016. Peterman completed 59.5% of his passes with season-highs of 308 yards and five touchdowns without turning the ball over
Positional Outlook: With Tyrod Taylor locked in as the starter, Peterman is competing with T.J. Yates and Cardale Jones for one of two backup roles with the Bills. Peterman and Jones are both practice squad-eligible.
2017 Offseason: Peterman was the final member of the Bills’ draft class to sign his rookie deal, signing a little less than a month after the draft. Early reports portrayed him as raw and inconsistent at minicamp, which is not out of the ordinary for a Day 3 pick, especially a quarterback.
2017 Season Outlook: The Bills drafted Peterman this year (prior to the exit of ex-general manager Doug Whaley but after the hiring of Sean McDermott as head coach), so it’s not a stretch to expect him to make the team over Cardale Jones. That said, if he plays a single snap this year, something has gone horribly wrong. It’s also not likely that Peterman’s presence will preclude the Bills from taking a top quarterback in next year’s draft, if they’re in a position to do so and have a pressing need.