The Buffalo Bills first round selection of E.J. Manuel at 16th overall was a bit of a surprise for most. The Bills traded their 8th overall pick to the St. Louis Rams for the 16th overall pick and selected Manuel. Buffalo had sent out many recent reports saying they were interested in Matt Barkley, Ryan Nassib, and even Geno Smith. With Geno Smith and Ryan Nassib still on the board, the Bills passed on what most experts called the best quarterback in the draft in Smith and the best fit for the Bills in Nassib. E.J. Manuel will be viewed as the long-term solution in Buffalo and will have an opportunity to compete for the starting quarterback job in training camp.
What E.J. Manuel brings to Buffalo is size, mobility, and a strong arm. He is 6’4” and has the mobility that Buffalo is looking for with their new offense. The Bills clearly fell in love with Manuel during the pre draft process and had him rated as the highest quarterback on their draft board. He is going to be under a lot of pressure to produce in Buffalo, and will have to live up to being the first quarterback taken.
Along with his size and mobility, Manuel also brings intangibles. He is a strong leader in the huddle, and is a winner. Manuel was 5-0 in bowl games at Florida State and has proven he can win. The Bills need a quarterback that can win. Doug Marrone is trying to change the culture of the franchise, and perhaps Manuel can bring his winning ways to Buffalo.
Buffalo thinks that Manuel is their long-term solution at quarterback. This pick is going to be debated heavily over the next few weeks, and we will see if the Bills made the right call with E.J. Manuel.
