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Options for the Buffalo Bills to replace quarterback Tyrod Taylor through the NFL Draft

If the Bills choose to move on from Tyrod Taylor, they’ll have several prospects to choose from in the 2018 NFL Draft.

By grif
Rose Bowl Game - Oklahoma v Georgia Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

All signs point to the Buffalo Bills adding a quarterback through the draft this year, with the long-term goal of moving on from current starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Here are some prospects, divided into tiers, that the team will be evaluating when the 2018 NFL Draft begins.

Tier 1

Josh Rosen, UCLA
Sam Darnold, USC

In order to draft either Darnold or Rosen, the Bills will need to execute some sort of trade for a top-five selection in the upcoming draft. Both prospects are equipped to be first-year starters at the position. Their decision-making, accuracy, and pocket presence are already NFL-caliber. They’d likely suffer from some growing pains in the first year, but over the long-term the quality of their play would eclipse what Taylor has shown throughout his entire career with the team.

Tier 2

Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Josh Allen, Wyoming
Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State

The second tier contains those prospects that are not necessarily ready to start right away, but still have a decent chance of becoming a long-term starter at the position. Either they need to sit and discard some bad habits (Allen, Jackson) or they need to adapt to a more pro-style offense (Mayfield, Rudolph). There’s a decent chance that one of these prospects will be available when the Bills are on the clock in the first round, so a trade-up may not be required.

Tier 3

Kyle Lauletta, Richmond
Kurt Benkert, Virginia
Mike White, Western Kentucky
Luke Falk, Washington State

Third-tier prospects aren’t necessarily “developmental,” they’re more like unknown quantities. Some (Benkert) occasionally flash elite traits, but for whatever reason haven’t been able to find more consistency. Some are from smaller schools, so it’s less clear if they will be able to adapt to the speed of the NFL (Lauletta, White). These prospects can be had on the second or third day of the draft, allowing the Bills to address other positions of need with their two first-round picks, while creating some competition behind a more established veteran starter.

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