Fan opinion: What should the Buffalo Bills do at backup QB this offseason?

Long-time Buffalo Bills backup QB Matt Barkley is a free agent, so should the Bills move on or re-sign their veteran presence? We attacked that with tons of information on Wednesday. Here are some excerpts from those articles (click the headers to read the full article) and now it’s your turn to tell us what you want the Bills to do.

Excerpt from 2021 All-22 Analysis: Matt Barkley’s game film

By Jeff Kantrowski

Matt Barkley’s best trait is that he seems to work well in a scripted format. That means there’s a high level of dependence on how good the current game plan is going. Barkley is also not a game manager. He’ll chuck the rock if asked, doing a great job of putting aside previous negative results. Should the Bills work to retain Matt Barkley? Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll seems to understand Barkley’s strengths and weaknesses and can scheme to them relatively well.

Read the entire article right here

Excerpt: What’s it gonna cost to retain Matt Barkley?

By Matt Warren

I don’t really think there is an argument to be made that he should make the vet minimum. I don’t think there’s an argument to make that he should be paid more than he made over the last two seasons. Here’s the same contract he signed two years ago:

Two years, $4 million
$600,000 guaranteed

Read the entire article rationale here

Excerpt: Do the Bills have a backup QB already on the roster without re-signing Barkley?

By John Boccacino

During the abnormal 2020 NFL season, Jake Fromm earned a roster spot coming out of training camp, but did not see any game action. His most valuable contribution to the team came serving as Buffalo’s emergency COVID-19 quarterback for the whole season, providing the Bills a worst-case QB option on the chance the coronavirus ran rampant through the team’s quarterbacks.

Davis Webb has never taken a snap in a regular-season NFL game, though he has played in the preseason, most recently in 2019 with the New York Jets. His performance left a lot to be desired. In four games, Webb completed 29 of 45 passes (64.4 percent) for 253 yards with zero passing touchdowns and four interceptions.

Read the entire article here with more information on both players

Excerpt: Free-agent options at backup QB

By Dan Lavoie

Ryan Fitzpatrick
Could Fitzmagic return to Buffalo to ease into retirement? Or does he think he can still start somewhere? Over the last three years, he’s played some of the best football of his 15-year career. He’s an outstanding locker room presence, and he’s very partial to Buffalo.

Cam Newton
Because the Bills don’t have enough former Carolina Panthers on their roster. Last season, Newton was a free agent, and fans were wondering whether the Bills should sign him as a backup—or if his presence might be a threat to the young Josh Allen. But now Allen’s playing like an MVP candidate, while Newton just struggled through the worst season of his career.

Andy Dalton
After the Cincinnati Bengals released him, the Dallas Cowboys signed Dalton to a one-year, $3 million deal. Dalton is a steady pocket passer with nine years of starting experience, and that’s usually what you look for in an ideal backup quarterback.

Tyrod Taylor
Bills fans know what you get with Taylor—a low-risk, low-reward passer with solid accuracy and an elusive pocket presence. He just wrapped up a two-year, $11 million contract, and will probably cost something similar on his next deal. Would he return to Buffalo?

Mike Glennon
Glennon has had his moments in the starting role, and his first couple of seasons earned him a healthy contract with the Chicago Bears, but the pocket passer has spent most of his career on the bench. With seven years of NFL experience on five teams, he fits the “journeyman backup” label to a T.

Read more about each QB in the full article here

Excerpt: 2021 NFL Draft options at backup QB

By Andrew Griffin

Tier I
Kyle Trask (Florida)
Jamie Newman (Georgia)

Tier II
Kellen Mond (Texas A&M)
Feleipe Franks (Arkansas)
Davis Mills (Stanford)

Tier III
Sam Ehlinger (Texas)
Ian Book (Notre Dame)

Read more about all the QBs in our full article here

Opinion excerpt: What I would do at backup QB if I was the Bills

By Bruce Nolan

I think the Bills can upgrade at backup quarterback this offseason and I think they should. They’re in a window where they can make a push for a championship, and having a season come off the rails because Josh pulled a hamstring and missed a few games in the middle of a tight playoff race feels like a risk worth mitigating.

Read all of Bruce’s thoughts, including a bunch of replacement options, in the full article

Now it’s your turn to vote. What should the Bills do this offseason at the backup QB spot?

Editor’s note: If you’re viewing this on a mobile device news service, you won’t be able to vote in the poll. Head to the article on your full web browser to vote.