Most would highly assume that if the Buffalo Bills do indeed trade up in the draft, it’s to go after their potential franchise quarterback. One name that has been linked to the Bills is UCLA’s own Josh Rosen. He could very come out as the number one pick overall to the Cleveland Browns, but with different talents like Rosen himself, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley and Baker Mayfield, it’s anybody’s guess on who goes number one.
The only way the Bills could even think about drafting Rosen is by trading up. Both the Browns and New York Giants have said that they are open to trading the top two spots. If the Bills like Rosen enough, they’ll need to consider whether to trade their future on this quarterback.
In his three year career with the UCLA Bruins, Rosen passed for 9,340 yards, 59 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. Except for 2016, Rosen threw the ball for over 3,500 yards in 2015 and 2017. He is definitely a great prospect for a quarterback-needy team like the Bills, but unless the team is not in the top three, a team will have to pay up. Is Buffalo willing to take that type of risk?
Some argue that Rosen is the best quarterback prospect in this draft. Even over Darnold, Allen, and Mayfield. Why exactly would the Bills trade up for Rosen?
If the Bills let go of or trade Tyrod Taylor, and make the move to get into one of the top selections in the draft to get Rosen, the Bills will be getting a highly talented quarterback.
In the past three seasons under Taylor, Bills fans have watched quarterback scrambles, short passes and inconsistency. Taylor is not a bad quarterback, but it’s to make the case as to why the Bills should keep him.
With Rosen, the Bills can get a guy who stands at 6’4″, who is not afraid to face any type of pressure that comes his way and figures out ways to work with his receivers to make plays down the field. With positives must come the concerns about each player.
If the Bills somehow get Rosen, the biggest factor is whether or not Rosen can adjust to the snowy and cold Buffalo weather. Once November hits, the temperature starts to drop and that can affect players who haven’t played in the north, specifically the northeast. Another big concern on Rosen is if he can make the big plays down field. With the Bills having a big target in Kelvin Benjamin, Rosen is given that monster target, but the accuracy needs to be there. The Bills have a history of playing from behind and those type of plays need to be made in crucial situations.
Rosen is expected to go in the top ten, if not top five. If a team like the Bills is serious on this quarterback, they’ll need to do a major study on him and go through the pros and cons of trading away a package that could include their two first round picks, possibly second or third round picks, and potentially a player on their roster.
Brandon Ray is a Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage and covers the Buffalo Bills. Follow him on Twitter at @brandon_ray79 and @FPC_Bills for Buffalo Bills coverage.
