Nathan Peterman is no longer the solo quarterback on the Buffalo Bills. The team has agreed to terms with QB A.J. McCarron on a two-year deal worth $10 million and can earn $6.5 million with incentives. The Bills missed out on potential veteran free agents like Sam Bradford, Case Keenum, and Teddy Bridgewater, all of whom have left Minnesota.
McCarron has backed up Andy Dalton in Cincinnati since 2014. His career stats include 920 passing yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. While he hasn’t proven much to be the main starter for Buffalo, he has a better case than second year quarterback in Peterman.
He had a great collegiate career at Alabama with a career total of 9,019 passing yards, 77 touchdowns and only 15 interceptions.
After all the quarterback signings that occurred on the first day of free agency, it’s understandable why the Bills went with McCarron. The team did not have to overpay for him, as compared to someone like Sam Bradford who’s getting a one-year, $20 million deal from the Arizona Cardinals. They also did not have to give up anything like a draft pick, as compared to Nick Foles in which the Eagles wanted at least a first round pick.
With McCarron coming to Buffalo, it provides the Bills with a veteran quarterback that will have the chance to compete for the starting job. Even with this move, the Bills are more than likely to move up into the draft to get their potential franchise QB. It’s hard to say who the Bills could get it. It all depends on where they can trade up to, if they even do.
McCarron could win the starting job for the Bills, but draft night will determine who his potential competition will be.
-Brandon Ray is a Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage and covers the Buffalo Bills. Follow him on Twitter @brandon_ray79 and @FPC_Bills for Buffalo Bills coverage.
