AJ McCarron seems like a good enough guy. And I like the contract we signed him to. It's basically a fairly decent back-up QB contract that has incentive clauses that will pay him like a starter should he earn the job. And he says the right things about how he's not going to be outworked when competing with whoever else the Bills bring in. And despite all the nice things everyone keeps saying about Nathan Peterman, we know he's not going to be the starter.
Now, I know it's the Browns, but it makes me suspicious that their powers-that-be, after reportedly being ready to trade second- and third-round picks to the Bengals for McCarron late last season, seemed to abandon going after him in the offseason and instead opted to trade the Bills a high third-round pick for the right to pay Tyrod Taylor $15 million for one-year of service. Basically, the Browns very affirmatively chose Tyrod over McCarron, and now we are stuck with McCarron.
Unless, of course, we plan to draft a quarterback, which I kind of assumed was the plan, but that prospect is starting to look a little dicey. There are basically three to four quarterbacks (depending what you think of Baker Mayfield) that scouts seem to think worthy of being high first round picks this year and it seems like they will be gone in the first five picks of the draft. The Browns and Jets have two of those picks. The Bills have the 12th pick. Granted, we have plenty of draft "capital" to trade up, but after what the Jets paid the Colts for #3, I'm not sure how much I want to give up for #2 or #4. Brandon Beane may be having some of these same questions. After all, the Bills seem to be quite a bit more than a QB away from being a true contending team.
Yes, we made the playoffs last year, but how much of that was flukey? At minimum, we need a WR, an offensive lineman, and a linebacker, in addition to a QB. If we could draft one player at each of those positions with our first and second round picks, and leverage that first pick of the third round (from the Browns) as well, I think I'd feel better than spending it all on a QB.
Or would I?
And if we do trade up and take a QB, who is that QB? Josh Allen? Lot of questions around him. Indications are Browns are taking Darnold. Is Rosen a good fit? Do we sit at 12 and take Lamar Jackson, or is that the type of QB play we were trying to get away from by trading Tyrod, a very dynamic runner with some questionable throwing, but Jackson has a better passing game that Tyrod, doesn't he?
This is confusing. We'll see where it ends up. But I am not comfortable with A.J. McCarron being our top QB going into next year. Or should I be? The Browns have been wrong before haven't they?
Now, I know it's the Browns, but it makes me suspicious that their powers-that-be, after reportedly being ready to trade second- and third-round picks to the Bengals for McCarron late last season, seemed to abandon going after him in the offseason and instead opted to trade the Bills a high third-round pick for the right to pay Tyrod Taylor $15 million for one-year of service. Basically, the Browns very affirmatively chose Tyrod over McCarron, and now we are stuck with McCarron.
Unless, of course, we plan to draft a quarterback, which I kind of assumed was the plan, but that prospect is starting to look a little dicey. There are basically three to four quarterbacks (depending what you think of Baker Mayfield) that scouts seem to think worthy of being high first round picks this year and it seems like they will be gone in the first five picks of the draft. The Browns and Jets have two of those picks. The Bills have the 12th pick. Granted, we have plenty of draft "capital" to trade up, but after what the Jets paid the Colts for #3, I'm not sure how much I want to give up for #2 or #4. Brandon Beane may be having some of these same questions. After all, the Bills seem to be quite a bit more than a QB away from being a true contending team.
Yes, we made the playoffs last year, but how much of that was flukey? At minimum, we need a WR, an offensive lineman, and a linebacker, in addition to a QB. If we could draft one player at each of those positions with our first and second round picks, and leverage that first pick of the third round (from the Browns) as well, I think I'd feel better than spending it all on a QB.
Or would I?
And if we do trade up and take a QB, who is that QB? Josh Allen? Lot of questions around him. Indications are Browns are taking Darnold. Is Rosen a good fit? Do we sit at 12 and take Lamar Jackson, or is that the type of QB play we were trying to get away from by trading Tyrod, a very dynamic runner with some questionable throwing, but Jackson has a better passing game that Tyrod, doesn't he?
This is confusing. We'll see where it ends up. But I am not comfortable with A.J. McCarron being our top QB going into next year. Or should I be? The Browns have been wrong before haven't they?
