Following news that Shane Buechele will miss significant time with a neck injury, Brandon Beane must consider diving back into the free-agent QB pool
The Buffalo Bills once again find themselves scrambling to field a complete training camp roster, following the news that quarterback Shane Buechele suffered a neck injury last Saturday against the Chicago Bears. As quarterback three in the rotation, Buechele represents a developmental opportunity for Buffalo, and someone likely viewed to land on the team’s practice squad as the emergency and scout team signal caller.
For now, that plan will have to be shelved. It’s uncertain how much time Buechele will miss, but McDermott did state that it wouldn’t be a quick return. As such, general manager Brandon Beane may need to consider other options outside the organization. What free agents are available for the Bills to sign, and what makes the most sense for both sides?
3:02 p.m. EDT update: Bills to sign quarterback Ben DiNucci, per report
Some might wonder if it’s necessary to take great lengths in replacing a QB3. All one need do is be shown the San Francisco 49ers’ situation during the 2022 playoffs, where running back Christian McCaffrey was forced to line up as pseudo quarterback. That year, the Niners endured season-ending losses to quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo before rookie third-string quarterback phenom Brock Purdy suffered an ACL injury in the NFC Championship game, with fourth-string quarterback Josh Johnson suffering a concussion soon after.
It’s reasonable to expect that McDermott and Beane are going to favor making a move to solidify QB3 this close to the regular season. Let’s take a look at a few names in free agency the Bills may be considering.
Matt Barkley
Bills Mafia know him well enough, as Barkley’s spent two separate tenures and three overall seasons at One Bills Drive during Sean McDermott’s time in Buffalo. After a career that fizzled fairly early regarding his prospects as a long-term starter, Barkley has carved out a lengthy NFL career. Important to Buffalo’s decision makers: Barkley was in the quarterbacks room for the 2022 NFL season, when current offensive coordinator Joe Brady was the quarterbacks coach. Could a second reunion be in store for Barkley and the Bills? A thorough journeyman with 11 NFL teams on his resume, Barkley has previously signed on to play QB3 in Buffalo. In seven seasons played over an 11-year period, Barkley has started seven of 20 games played.
Barkley’s career stats (courtesy of Pro Football Reference):
212-of-363 (58.4%) for 2,699 yards, with 11 TDs, 22 INTs; 26 rushes for -15 yards and 10 FUM
Trevor Siemian
The 32-year-old journeyman quarterback has played for seven teams since entering the league as a seventh-round draft pick of the Denver Broncos in 2015. The Bills aren’t one of Siemian’s former teams, but he does have a connection with current quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry. Siemian and Curry were both with the New Orleans Saints in 2021, when Curry coached quarterbacks. That may seem like a thin line of familiarity, but it’s a connection that cannot be dismissed. As a player, Siemian has made 33 starts in 40 games played over seven seasons. He brings starting experience, if nothing else. Teams Siemian has started for have an overall record of 15-18.
Siemian’s career stats (courtesy of Pro Football Reference):
707-of-1208 (58.5%) for 7,751 yards, with 44 TDs, 32 INTs; 84 carries for 251 yards with 2 TDs, 17 FUM
A.J. McCarron
McCarron’s relationship with the Bills goes back to the early days of McDermott’s tenure. He was an offseason/training camp quarterback for Buffalo. McCarron is someone who doesn’t have a wealth of NFL experience, despite playing with four teams, making four stats in 19 games over the course of seven seasons. Still, it’s likely his name comes up in conversations between McDermott and Beane.
McCarron’s career stats (courtesy of Pro Football Reference):
113-of-179 (63.1%) for 1,192 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs | 22 rushes for 68 yards, 1 TD, 2 FUM
Brian Hoyer
At one point early in his career, some penciled Hoyer in as the heir apparent to Tom Brady. That didn’t work out as planned. 16 NFL seasons later, Hoyer remains a backup quarterback having played for nine different teams. At 38, it’s worth wondering what Hoyer has left in the tank. He does bring a significant amount of starting experience for a backup quarterback — 41 starts in 79 games. His best years were with the Cleveland Browns, when he was behind center for 16 games over two seasons in which the teams compiled a 10-6 overall record. Hoyer brings plenty of game experience and notable production.
Hoyer’s career stats (courtesy of Pro Football Reference):
925-of-1,560 (59.3%) for 10,899 yards, with 53 TDs, 37 INTs | 120 rushes for 112 yards, 2 TDs, 20 FUM
Nathan Peterman
(Insert Michael Scott GIF) To deny that Nathan Peterman has a connection to Sean McDermott and the Bills is perhaps the preferred path. Peterman was a fifth-round selection of Buffalo’s during the 2017 NFL Draft, and he spent his rookie season in a backup role. Incredibly, Peterman began the 2018 season as QB1 ahead of a rookie quarterback named Josh Allen. We know how that played out. Despite that, at one point McDermott had full confidence in Peterman, perhaps boosted by a misnomer of a preseason. Of this list, Peterman is the youngest at 30 years old. All told, Peterman has played six seasons for three NFL teams, making five starts in 15 games. Teams Peterman started for have an overall record of 1-4.
Peterman’s career stats (courtesy of Pro Football Reference):
85-of-160 (53.1%) for 712 yards, 4 TDs, 13 INTs | 24 rushes for 87 yards, 1 TD, 3 FUM
Blaine Gabbert
Gabbert has zero ties to the Buffalo Bills, but the former 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft does belong on this list thanks to what’s been a journeyman’s career. Gabbert never lived up to his billing, and he’s found sustained work as a backup since his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 12 seasons, Gabbert has played for six teams, making 49 starts in 69 games. Overall, franchises Gabbert has played for have a 14-35 record. Would Gabbert consider signing with the Bills as QB3, perhaps hoping to surpass Mitch Trubisky as the team’s QB2 in 2024? It’s tough to see him landing in Buffalo if not given a real shot to backup Josh Allen. Something he has over everyone else on this list is a demonstrated ability as a runner. Just don’t spend too much time looking at his fumble numbers.
Gabbert’s career stats (courtesy of Pro Football Reference):
882-of-1,568 (56.3%) for 9,487 yards, 51 TDs, 50 INTs | 201 rushes for 685 yards, 3 TD, 33 FUM
Ryan Tannehill
Everyone wants to discuss Tannehill signing with the Bills. Most see him as Allen’s backup in a move to boost Trubisky off the roster. That’s unlikely to happen at this point in time. Tannehill is probably only coming to Buffalo if something very bad happens to the quarterback room. There’s no way he’d come to town as QB3, and it’s doubtful Trubisky would settle in as QB3 on the practice squad. If Tannehill’s at One Bills Drive, the quarterbacks room is going to look alarmingly different. Whether he deserves starting flowers as a lightning rod 36-year-old quarterback is up for debate. Tannehill has played for two teams in 11 seasons, helping guide those squads to an 81-70 overall record in 151 starts out of 155 games. Simply put: Tannehill isn’t going to play backup quarterback for the Bills, despite being a free agent.
Tannehill’s career stats (courtesy of Pro Football Reference):
3,063-of-4,764 (64.3%) for 34,881 yards, 216 TDs, 115 INTs | 440 rushes for 2,103 yards, 27 TDs, 79 FUM
What are your thoughts on the quarterbacks mentioned here? Players we didn’t cover are Kellen Mond, Ben DiNucci, and Logan Woodside.