Open Market: Potential Free Agent Fills for the Buffalo Bills (Quarterbacks)

The 2010 NFL Draft is less than two months away. The mock drafts are already materializing, we're hearing rumblings of Combine talk, and Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. are prepping for their "big board" battles on SportsCenter. 

The draft is the best resource when starting from scratch—like the Bills are. Many rebuilding clubs search for players of the impact or franchise variety in late April. The youthful energy and athleticism a team can uncover in the draft cannot be rivaled elsewhere. 

Buffalo Bills fans, clean slate in hand, are staring at the current team in near disbelief at the amount of "holes" that dot the roster. With the transition to a 3-4 defense ahead, certain players will have an incredibly tough time not only moving into a new position, but also being effective in one. 

On offense, there's a quarterback vacancy, and the offensive line needs solidification on its edges. With Terrell Owens and Josh Reed as potential offseason departures, the Bills are back, once again, to problems at wide receiver. Poor Lee Evans. 

It all seems overwhelming. Too many holes to plug and not enough draft picks. While we ponder what it'll take to compile a sound draft, let's not forget about free agency and the value it can bring.

Can the Bills find a few experienced, impact free agents to begin the hole-filling process? Here are some realistic names to keep in mind. Let's start with the most important position on the Bills roster: quarterback. (We'll list their ages as of the start of the 2010 season.)

Chad Pennington  

He'll turn 34 this year, and he's coming off yet another devastating injury that sidelined him for the second half of the 2009 campaign.

Pennington rumors have circulated on Bills' message boards because of his experience in the AFC East and his accuracy.

All signs are pointing to him not returning to Miami, so he'll be available.

I'm not the biggest fan of Pennington in a Bills uniform, although Head Coach Chan Gailey has molded similar-style quarterbacks in the past. Quick fix. 

Tavaris Jackson 

I've yet to hear anything about Jackson possibly becoming a Bill, but his status as a free agent should not be ignored.

He's 27, and his release hinges on the "decisive" Brett Favre. If Favre returns, Jackson will most likely be shown the door—which is kind of sad.

Jackson flashed moments when it looked like he had turned the corner, but he also was slow in his decision making.

Gailey, who apparently can work with any signal caller, would like Jackson because of his athleticism and ability to escape from a collapsing pocket. Risky.

Troy Smith

Donte Whitner, his college bud, launched a "Smith-to-Buffalo" Twitter campaign in late January. I'm not sure of Whitner's influence on the Bills front office, especially with a 70- year-old GM and a 91-year-old owner who thinks "tweets" only come from birds.

Beyond Whitner's obvious bias, Smith is another interesting candidate. He would fit the "bill" financially, not demanding a fat paycheck.

As a starting quarterback, I think he deserves another chance behind center. He's elusive and has a very strong arm; we just haven't seen him read defenses yet. He didn't get a shot in Baltimore.

At 26, Smith could be a long-term answer under Gailey's tutelage. 

Reasoning

These players aren't the top-tier guys, but the Bills have settled for players of their caliber in the past. However, this year, when it comes to quarterbacks, faith has been instilled in Gailey. He must get lot of production out of his starting signal caller without Bills' management acquiring the high-profile, high-salary guy. 

Possible QB's To Acquire By Trade

Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick  I'd be surprised if McNabb would be willing to come to Buffalo, but Philly owes him more than $6 million if he's kept into May. There's a chance he'll be dealt, but unfortunately, I don't see him in the Queen City next season. 

As for Vick, this "Eagles-aren't-going-to-trade-him" rumor...it's garbage. Eagles' brass is trying to leverage a Vick deal to get more out of a trade. Kolb is safe, and sticking with a special package player like Vick as a backup would make no sense. There are already mini-campaigns in western New York for Vick, but there are also thousands of fans that won't be happy if he calls One Bills Drive home next season. 

Next Up: Offensive Tackles

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