2012 NFL Free Agents: Signing Vince Young Would Be a Perfect Move for Bills

The Buffalo Bills did a terrific job filling holes this offseason, but they still haven't addressed the backup quarterback spot behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Bringing in veteran free agent Vince Young would give the playoff contenders the stability they need to feel safe heading into next season.

Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News reports Young will work out for the Bills on Wednesday. The 28-year-old former Rookie of the Year played for the Philadelphia Eagles last season. The team chose not to re-sign him, and therefore, he hit the market.

He's made his fair share of headlines since being drafted third overall in 2006. Sometimes, it was for the right reasons, such as making two Pro Bowls, and other times, it was for the wrong reasons, like the weird disappearance story from 2008.

He seems to have his head on straight nowadays, making him a potentially valuable member of the Bills roster. He'd be an immediate upgrade over Tyler Thigpen and recently-signed Aaron Corp, neither of whom could be trusted to hold down the fort if Fitzpatrick missed time.

Young, on the other hand, has plenty of starting experience and fits the mold that quarterbacks head coach Chan Gailey has had success with in the past. He's lost a couple steps since his rookie year, but still showed good movement in the pocket in six games last season.

While his numbers for the Eagles while filling in for Michael Vick aren't pretty, it's important to remember that Philadelphia went through a lot of turmoil attempting to live up to expectations. The mistakes were more of a team-wide failure as opposed to simply Young struggling alone.

His presence should help fuel Fitzpatrick's competitive fire as well. The starter was given a contract extension after a hot start last season, and he proceeded to watch his numbers plummet in the second half of the year.

Make no mistake, Fitzpatrick would still have a pretty long leash as the top guy, but it doesn't hurt to have somebody like Young waiting in the wings. The coaching staff would at least have another option if Fitzpatrick's struggles extended for awhile next fall.

The Bills are attempting to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999. That's the longest current drought in the NFL. The team did show signs of potential last season, but it ultimately couldn't put it all together down the stretch.

Adding high-profile free agent Mario Williams to fix a pass rush that has been virtually useless should lead to massive improvement on the defensive side. Fellow defensive end signing Mark Anderson and first-round pick Stephon Gilmore will also help the unit.

On offense, the biggest need was along the offensive line, and the team addressed it by drafting the versatile Cordy Glenn, as well as Zebrie Sanders. With more time and space, the team has more than enough weapons to put up big numbers, especially if T.J. Graham earns his draft position.

Signing Young would be like icing on the cake. The depth he would provide would let the coaching staff rest a little easier at night knowing the offense would be in capable hands if an injury occurred. They don't want one bad break to derail a promising season.

Playoff berths aren't earned with one or two big moves, but rather a collection of smaller ones to help survive the hurdles ahead. That's exactly what Young would be for the Bills, making him a perfect fit.