The Buffalo Bills face several tough choices this offseason, but securing a franchise quarterback isn’t one of them. With Josh Allen firmly entrenched for the long term, the Bills maintain their status as perennial Super Bowl contenders.
Nevertheless, the Bills need to address their backup quarterback situation. Kyle Allen, though a close friend of Josh Allen, is set to become a free agent, leaving his future uncertain.
Currently, the Bills find themselves $43.3 million over the $255.4 million salary cap limit. Consequently, committing to a sizable contract for a backup quarterback seems improbable. From a financial standpoint, selecting a quarterback in the later rounds of the 2024 NFL draft to serve as a backup makes more sense.
Sal Maiorana of the Democrat & Chronicle highlighted the potential fit of Tennessee’s Joe Milton III, noting his similarities to Allen in size, athleticism, and arm strength. However, it’s unlikely that Milton would be prepared to step in as a rookie if needed. Therefore, even if the Bills were to draft him, perhaps in the fifth round, general manager Brandon Beane would only consider doing so if a veteran backup were already signed.
Beane’s previous draft decisions offer insight into his approach. In the 2020 NFL draft, he selected former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm in the fifth round, while having veteran Matt Barkley on the roster. Fromm spent the entire season behind Barkley on the practice squad before being cut in 2021.
Joe Milton’s ‘Arm Strength Alone Separates Him From the Rest of the QB Class’
Brady Quinn, a former NFL quarterback and CBS Sports pundit, feels Milton will turn some heads ahead of the NFL Combine.
“[NFL scouts will] look at it and say, ‘We feel like we can work with this guy, we feel like we can mold this guy into something special,'” Quinn remarked of the 23-year-old prospect, according to SI. “And that’s where I believe Joe Milton can outperform everyone else. Because his arm strength alone will set him apart from the rest of the quarterback class.
Milton began his collegiate career at Michigan then transferred to Tennessee in 2021. During the 2023 season, he completed 229 of 354 passes for 2,813 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
After opting out of the Citrus Bowl, he played in the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl, which did not go well. He completed 9 of 13 throws, with two interceptions. According to CBS Sports commentator Ryan Wilson, “Joe Milton, who may have the largest arm at any level of football, looked a lot like he did for Tennessee in 2023. That is, he is sometimes cautious to pull the trigger on his first or second reading, preferring to run the ball at the first hint of difficulty rather than compounding a bad mistake and making it worse.
“It will be intriguing to watch how high Milton is drafted. We’ve spoken with teams who are excited about the potential, and the physical tools are clear. But you wonder how long it will take to pull everything together.”
Milton will hope to change that perception with a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. CBS Sports expert Chris Trapasso believes that he will chuck the ball 80 yards at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Bills QB Josh Allen Hasn’t Missed a Game Since November 2018
Over the last five seasons, the Bills’ backup quarterback has never started. Allen has not missed a game since November 11, 2018. As a result, Buffalo may attempt to re-sign Kyle Allen for the veteran’s minimum, as they did last year. Shane Buechele, the Bills’ third-stringer, signed a reserve/futures deal in January.
Beane, speaking to media at the NFL Combine earlier this week, made it plain that he takes his duty as Josh Allen’s backup seriously. “I understand the value of the quarterback,” Beane stated.
Do you do this in the second round, or in the fifth round when you’re looking for other players?”
“If you don’t have a guy under center who can do it, consider what happened to San Francisco in the NFC Championship game a few years back. We’ve been evaluating them for a few years, but in what round are you going to take him such that you’re convinced he’ll be your backup?
“If Josh is out for two to four weeks, at the very least, if you have a decent squad, you will go 2-2. That’s kind of his job; let’s just hold steady till your starter returns. So, in an ideal scenario, you’d want to land that guy, but where do you do that?
Do you do this in the second round, or in the fifth round when you’re looking for other players?”
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