Bills' GM Nix: QB class better than advertised

Buddy Nix believes the Buffalo Bills' elusive franchise quarterback could be in the 2013 NFL Draft.

One of the messages the Bills' general manager sent out during Tuesday's annual draft luncheon at Ralph Wilson Stadium is that the quarterback class is better than advertised. Nix also believes there is a quarterback — or two — worthy of the 8th overall pick.

"I've been saying this all along that this quarterback class is better than everybody says it is," said Nix. "There are about five or six of those guys, maybe seven, who do things good enough to win. You look back at last year and the year before with Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick if you were drafting again you'd take them first or in the top five."

The Bills draft 8th overall when the NFL draft begins next Thursday in?New York, then 41st overall in the 2nd round. While quarterback is an obvious need for the Bills, a franchise that has missed the playoffs 13 straight seasons has plenty of needs on both sides of the ball.

Syracuse's Ryan Nassib would be a natural thought for the Bills considering he played his college ball for the team's new head coach, Doug Marrone.

"He has a strong arm and can make all the throws," said Bills coordinator of college scouting Doug Majeski. "When you talk about Ryan all his intangibles are all positive. All of these quarterbacks will miss throws and throw picks. You have to look at the whole body of work. He can make all the throws and make them well."

Of course, just because Nassib has the inside track with his college coach that doesn't mean he's the only quarterback high on the Bills' radar. The team also spoke very highly of USC's Matt Barkley.

"He's played on the big stage for a long time," said Bills assistant general manager and director of player personnel. "He knows how to get the ball to his playmakers."

The questions about Barkley include an average arm and perhaps a lack of experience in cold-weather games playing many of his college games in warmer weather.

"A guy that doesn't have an outright cannon can still get it done with timing," said Whaley. "We believe he has the chance to be successful with his skill set. You have to take the whole body of work. There's no real specific stamp that's going to make sure you know this guy can get it done."

Whether the Bills draft a quarterback in the draft or not, the team did sign veteran Kevin Kolb and brought back Tarvaris Jackson to join Aaron Corp on the depth chart.

Nix said the signing of Kolb would not change the team's draft plans, but provides an insurance policy.

"It makes me sleep better at night," said Nix.

Who the quarterbacks throws to is a need for the Bills, too. After Stevie Johnson, the Bills are thin at wide receiver with both David Nelson now in Cleveland and Donald Jones signing with New England.

The Bills' draft team all gave this wide receiver class high grades.

"I think it's deep right into the second round," said Bills director of college scouting Chuck Cook.

Tennessee's Cordarrelle Patterson and West Virginia's Tavon Austin drew high praise from the Bills at wide receiver.

"(Patterson) is one of the most unique player I've ever seen with the ball in his hands," said Cook. "They would run him with these sweeps and put him in the backfield. Any time he touches the ball he has a way to drop his weight and change directions."

Cook also spoke highly of the tight end class and the Bills may be in the market for one with the uncertainty of Scott Chandler's knee injury. Chandler suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 16 against Miami and while Nix expects him ready for the beginning of training camp, the team is open to adding depth as an insurance policy.

"It's a real good class, one of the best I've seen in a while," said Cook, who touched mostly on Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert and Stanford's Zach Ertz. "There are a lot of big guys who can detach and do some things down the field."

Nix also did not rule out the possibility of adding more veteran free agents — at any position.

"There are still guys out there," said Nix. "We'll still keep looking. If they fit then we'll be in the market."

Nix also said the team is counting on a healthy Marcus Easley. Since being drafted by the Bills in the 4th round in 2010, the 6-foot-2, 217-pound Easley has battled various injuries and appeared in only three games. Easley has yet to make a catch in an NFL regular season game and returned just two kicks late last season for the Bills.

Nix did make some news with two announcements regarding the Bills' defense. The general manager said talks with Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd on a contract extension are ongoing.

"We're making an effort to get a long-term deal done with Jairus," said Nix. "We'd love to have him here yesterday, but we don't so we've got to worry about the guys we have here right now."

One player that could be alongside Byrd at safety is Aaron Williams. Drafted as a cornerback in the 2nd round by the Bills in 2011, Nix said Williams has been evaluated by the new coaching staff as a safety and will probably change positions for the 2013 season.

That would create more of a need at cornerback, but Nix reiterated that no team can have enough cornerbacks.

"Everybody is playing four and five wide," said Nix. "Plus, those guys are on all the special teams so they're always active on the field."

Nix also said losing guard Andy Levitre and Chad Rinehart to free agency will not impact the draft strategy. The Bills may still look to add a lineman or two, but Nix feels comfortable with their depth.

Sitting at No. 8, the Bills could be a prime position to move up or down. Nix said he is not opposed to either strategy, but is not keen on giving up draft picks.

"I think there is a better chance (to move down) because of the rookie wage scale," said Nix. "All I can say is we're open for business and we'll listen to all of the phone calls."

The Bills are in yet another transition year, firing head coach Chan Gailey after last season and owner Ralph Wilson giving power in the franchise to president and CEO Russ Brandon. Enter Marrone, a brand new coaching staff, and even the promotion of Whaley, who is thought to be a GM-in-waiting.

"We're going to plan for any possible scenario," said Whaley. "With the limited number of picks it will limit what we could do but we will have a plan for any way this draft falls."

Notebook: Bills president and CEO Russ Brandon began the luncheon with a statement regarding the bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday. Brandon said while a lot of the team's focus has been on the draft, their thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragedy in Boston. "It's a credit to the American spirit when you see all the first responders step up around the country to help those victims," said Brandon. ... The NFL announced the regular season schedule will be released 8 p.m. Thursday ... The Bills invited 11 players to try out during the voluntary veteran minicamp — DE Jamie Blatnick (Oklahoma State), LB?Kourtnei Brown (Clemson), CB Mike Holmes (Syracuse), DT?Nicolas Jean-Baptiste (Baylor), K Chris Koepplin (Massachusetts), CB Byron Mulkey (Buffalo), TE Nick Provo (Syracuse), DL?Marcus Robinson (Miami, Fla.), P Brian Stahovich (San Diego State), RB Frank Summers (UNLV), and LS James Winchester (Oklahoma).