Buddy Nix Says 'Time Is Now' for Bills to Draft a Top QB and Other AFC East News

Buddy Nix has been vocal about his personal desire to leave the Buffalo Bills with a franchise quarterback for the future.

The time for that future to begin is now...well, not right now, but in about four months when the 2013 NFL draft gets here (pending the Dec. 21 apocalypse).

Nix said in an interview with WGR's The Howard Simon Show (via The Buffalo News):

"

Let me say this: I think there's a time that in the era that you're in and the development of your team, there's a time when you can move up a round to take a quarterback. And I think the time's now for us.

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"

I mean, if a guy's there—I keep saying that, and there'll be one out there—if the guy's there, then I think we'll target—as I've said before—drafting a good quarterback. We need a good, young quarterback, and we're going to do our best to get him.

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It's been plainly obvious to anyone watching this year that Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the quarterback of the future for the Bills, as much as Chan Gailey might want him to be.

If the Bills want to be competitive, they'll have to find that franchise-caliber quarterback sooner than later, but is he available in the 2013 NFL draft? Many have regarded this quarterback class as significantly weaker than last year's group (Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and others), so we'll have to see who Nix has his eye on.

Here's some more news from around the AFC East:

New England Patriots

Mike Reiss and Tedy Bruschi of ESPN Boston hook up for their weekly preview of the Patriots' upcoming opponent, this time analyzing the San Francisco 49ers.

Shalise Manza Young of The Boston Globe highlights wide receiver Deion Branch's return to the locker room.

Bleacher Report Patriots featured columnist Mike Dussault lists the keys to a Patriots victory over the 49ers.

Miami Dolphins

Dave George of The Palm Beach Post wonders whether Dolphins running back Reggie Bush could be used as a wide receiver.

B/R Dolphins featured columnist Scott Altman thinks the Dolphins should move on from linebacker Karlos Dansby this offseason.

Buffalo Bills

Tim Graham of The Buffalo News lists 10 facts about Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch's production in Seattle.

Chris Ostrander of BuffaloWins.com highlights Buffalo's problems with the draft.

New York Jets

Joe Caporoso of TurnOnTheJets.com highlights the Jets' chances at the playoffs.

Conor Orr of the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger says wide receiver Braylon Edwards thought he had burned his bridges with the Jets prior to being brought back.

Erik Frenz is the AFC East lead blogger for Bleacher Report. Be sure to follow Erik on Twitter and "like" the AFC East blog on Facebook to keep up with all the updates. Unless specified otherwise, all quotes are obtained firsthand or via team press releases.