Thought Exercise: Best Bills QB (99-2017) who'd be JA17 backup

[boyst]

Since Jim Kelly we have had many pretty good guys come to town and be a good QB, a few even great. We have had some guys who were below par and some barely deserving a roster spot.

 

From Kelly Holcomb, Kevin Kolb, Vince Young, Matt Leinert, Drew Bledsoe, Doug Flutie/Rob Johnson, Todd Collins, Alex Van Pelt, Tyrod Taylor, and Ryan Fitzpatrick we can think of many to take a snap. Any QB who has taken a snap for us since Jim Kelly retired is eligible.

 

But which QB would be the best backup to JA17 in 2025?

Edited 8 hours ago by boyst

[RyanC883]

I’d go with Tyrod.  He’d win at least 50 percent of games if he needed to come in and play. 

[oldmanfan]

I’d say Tyrod.  He’d offer a running option which is closest to Josh’s style of play.

[EasternOHBillsFan]

Drew Bledsoe by far... the best QB after Kelly and JA we had.

[Beast]

Fitz

[The Jokeman]

Easily Fitz.

[Talley56]

Gonna vote Fitz

[MJS]

Fitzpatrick is a perfect backup. Doug Flutie is nice too. He is accurate and has the running ability as well. Tyrod is another good option.

 

Drew Bledsoe I think is one you want as a starter or not at all. He was old and at the end of his career having been a starter for most of it. I don't think he would take well to the backup role.

 

Ultimately, I'd choose Fitzpatrick. He would be great buds with Josh Allen, too.

[Gunsgoodtime]

Like many others I'm going with Tyrod

[Bruffalo]

Prime Flutie for me and I don't know that it's really close. Fitz is a distant second.

 

Flutie could make magic happen, I'd prefer having a wildcard backup QB who can make plays out of nothing when things break down over a gunslinger like Fitz.

[Don Otreply]

Flute or Tyrod,  

Edited 8 hours ago by Don Otreply

[transient]

There is only one answer… the Chroisen one himself, Gibran Hamdan. 

[JK Fan]

I would take Bledsoe to back up JA.  Bledsoe is the only QB on this list to win a Super Bowl.  There is one missing on the list and that is Kyle Orton.  

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Flutie Flakes battling it out with Josh’s Jaqs? Interesting indeed…

[Brandon]

Fitzpatrick or Tyrod Taylor.  

 

 

[4th&long]

Flutie by far. He even had the same style of play as Josh. Then Bledsoe his first year with us. 

[Low Positive]

Both Bledsoe and Flutie wouldn't accept roles as backups. Flutie would cause endless trouble in the locker room because of this. Fitz has that whole history of the starter getting injured. I vote Tyrod. 

[boyst]

11 minutes ago, JK Fan said:

I would take Bledsoe to back up JA.  Bledsoe is the only QB on this list to win a Super Bowl.  There is one missing on the list and that is Kyle Orton.  

Can be any QB who took a snap as a Bill in a game or practice.

[BuffBillsForLife]

Tyrod, because he plays so safe that he'll never lose (or win) you a game. I love Fitz but he has voodoo dolls of the starting QBs when he's the backup.

[folz]

Options not listed by the OP (to round out the impressive list): J. P. Losman, Trent Edwards, Brian Brohm, EJ Manuel, Thad Lewis, Jeff Tuel, Kyle Orton, Matt Cassell, Nathan Peterman, Derek Anderson, Matt Barkley (not that anyone would chose any of those guys). Oh, and Billy Jo Hobert. He never officially had a start, but played in two games (and was obviously a fan favorite. 🙃)

 

I think you could make a case for Bledsoe (year 1 in Buffalo) and for Flutie too. But I think I'm either going with Fitz or Tyrod. Bledsoe's age and lack of mobility and Flutie's height would worry me in today's NFL. Fitz is the classic backup, smart, and with our running game and short passing game, he wouldn't be asked to go out and win games in the 4th quarter (which is when he would throw most of his INTs during his stint in Buffalo), and Tyrod isn't going to win the game for you, but he also isn't going to lose it for you. So, again, with the strength of our team, Tyrod could be a good game manager and use his legs when in trouble. I almost just convinced myself into picking Tyrod. But, ultimately, I think I'd take Fitz as Josh's backup.

 

But, if the question were just best Bills QB ('97-'17) then I think I'd vote Bledsoe in year 1 with the Bills. Flutie #2. Fitz #3. Tyrod #4. The rest really aren't worth mentioning.

 

Edited 6 hours ago by folz